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Butcher Block Countertop Pricing

3/14/17       
Josh Member

Website: http://www.stijlwoodcraft.com

I've been making wood countertops for my cabinet clients for a couple of years now and have done pretty well at it. Pricing however has always been a crap shoot just making sure I'm covering my bases. I was recently approached by a rep agency looking to put my wood tops in their dealer's showrooms which has forced me to get serious about my prices. I know I'm not going to compete with the big production manufacturers, but was curious if any of you had experience pricing this sort of product. I've found that putting a flat square foot charge doesn't work well to compensate for the labor. For example, it doesn't take me much longer to make a 48" x 60" top than it does a 48" x 60" top. But a 12" x 12" cutting board takes almost as much setup and finishing time. Thoughts?

3/14/17       #2: Butcher Block Countertop Pricing ...
rich c.

You mean you haven't been serious about your pricing for years? I don't understand the issue of not knowing costs when you have been making them for a couple of years. You should have it to the dollar in that amount of time.

3/14/17       #3: Butcher Block Countertop Pricing ...
Bill

I think he means he has to publish a price list so dealers can quote from it. Much different than costing a job one at a time.

He intuitively prices now and he needs a set method that can be put in a simple format so others can use it. Not so easy.

I understand your problem unfortunately I have no experience in that area so I can not help you much.

An idea off the top of my head.

Door companies have a design charge. A charge that represents the complexity of the style. Then they have a square foot charge.

You have to think like that so the 12 x 12 has the same design charge as the larger one but the material is made up in the square inch/foot charge.

I would shop other makers and see how they charge, not how much but what format.

Bill

3/14/17       #4: Butcher Block Countertop Pricing ...
Ricky

Did you do a Google search? This is the first thing that came up when I did.

"The average minimum cost per square foot of butcher block countertop is $39.87. The average maximum cost per square foot of butcher block countertop is $56.30."

Keep your price list simple. A square foot or lineal foot price, charge even footage, (2'/4'/6'/8' and so on) measure into and out of the corner. Apply minimum pricing for short lengths. (I use three feet) base you price on one wood, for any other wood I'd add the cost of material board footage used to fabricate (not marked up). expand from here.

3/15/17       #5: Butcher Block Countertop Pricing ...
rich c.

Bill;
What's the difference? After years of making tops, he should know exactly how much labor goes into it, and what material costs are. Sure if he increases production, he certainly knows the square footage and that sure is easy math to calculate material savings. All he really has to figure out is what kind of profit he is willing to cut for quantity orders. Before the samples hit the showroom, doesn't he build inventory? Surely not every single top is going to be custom made. If every top is custom made, then there should be no price cuts for quantity, it's a custom order.

5/1/18       #6: Butcher Block Countertop Pricing ...
Jim Lewis

If he doesn't have the price structure, there's really nothing to say but that he should get one. After that, it's just pure judgement and no help at all.

I've been in the same boat as the OP. I prefer to price custom— I know all the math and all the adjustments, but when I make a comprehensive price list it just doesn't work. Frustrating, but there it is.

My only suggestion is to price high, but that probably won't get him the jobs.


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