Originally Posted by
bradywatson
Exactly & an important point to make. Be sure to have minimum charges for turning on your machine. One part might cost $150, whereas 100 pieces may cost $30 each. It all boils down to you getting paid for doing all of the legwork required to do the job - machining time is only a small portion of the entire job. Once you have a job of substantial quantity, toolpath optimization and tweaks like this, reduces machining time even further, as you discover what you can get away with on that particular part, while still maintaining enough quality to put your name on it.
Many times, especially for larger companies that tend to have a large accounts payable 'machine' to deal with, I charge them standard rate reflected as a discount if paid within 15 days. Otherwise, they pay 15% more if after 15 days. Most go for the discounted rate, and the pokey puppies who don't pay the 15% more for me being their bank.
Also, it is sometimes important to do a sample part before taking on the entire order, so that you can be sure you want the job & to verify the customer is happy with what you are going to do, so that there are no surprises when it comes time to collect your money. You should be charging for samples, which may or may not be discounted from the larger order should you get it. This way you are still getting paid for your time & verifying that the customer is in fact going to make good on his end. This allows you to feel out the customer to be sure that they aren't going to jerk you around. This is of course no guarantee - but it at least gives you a taste of how they are to deal with on a sample basis. They get no product until they pay, unless they are an existing customer in good standing.
-B