Getting your pricing right

Pricing electrical work is one of the most important skills a sparkie can develop. Price too high and you lose the job. Price too low and you lose money. The sweet spot takes experience, local market knowledge, and a solid system.

Start with your hourly rate

Before you can price any job, you need to know what your time is worth. This is not just about what you want to earn — it is about covering all your costs and making a fair profit.

Factor in your overheads: vehicle costs, insurance, tools, licensing, phone, accounting software, and super. Most electricians in Australia find their true hourly cost (before profit) is significantly higher than what they initially expect.

Calculating materials

Always get current supplier pricing before quoting. Prices change frequently, especially for cable, switchgear, and lighting. Build in a materials margin to cover waste, unexpected requirements, and price fluctuations between quote and job day.

Keep a price book updated with your commonly used materials. Talk2Quote lets you import supplier price lists directly from CSV or even a photo of a catalogue page.

The importance of a site visit

For anything beyond a simple job, a site visit is essential. What looks like a straightforward downlight replacement can turn into a re-wire job once you get into the ceiling. Document everything during your site visit — photos, measurements, access issues, and any existing wiring concerns.

Building your quote

A professional quote should include:

Clear scope of work
Itemised materials list
Labour breakdown
Timeline for completion
Payment terms
Your licence number and ABN

Using voice-to-quote

Instead of typing all of this out on-site, you can use Talk2Quote's voice feature. Describe the job naturally — the AI will structure it into a professional, itemised quote with pricing suggestions based on your trade and location.

Key takeaways

Know your true hourly cost including all overheads
Keep your price book current with supplier pricing
Always do a site visit for complex jobs
Present professional, itemised quotes
Use tools that save you time so you can focus on the work

How to Price an Electrical Job: A Tradie's Guide