Need some advice about charging for travel.

I was wondering when charging for travel do you guys charge for both ways or just one? I have a pretty good idea what to charge but it starts to get a bit pricey if I charge both ways. Just would like some feedback on how you guys work this.
Thanks, Tammie

I charge for both ways. No one questions it, and so far they all seem to understand completely.

Most people would charge for total distance ... by the mile or kilometre. That means round trip. Why would you only charge for half the distance? You are using gas up both directions?

When I decided to up my prices I wasn't really upping my prices I was just basically building in my travel fee of $25.00 because I was ALWAYS traveling...even within 20 miles I would be in the car at least 30 minutes both ways. I just did it as a flat fee to pay for gas and time...if I have to travel farther than $25 will cover, I'll be able to add it on easily...so far I haven't had to.

I also went to a flat fee per party (as many have suggested) with a limit to the guests and I've really liked it so far because neither the hostess or I has to watch the clock. It just helped at a big family party that was supposed to be a small party because I basically said to moms that mentioned they wanted to get painted "I contracted to do 10 kids" and so I was able to shut that down and on the flip side I was also able to assure the hostess that I would be doing 10 kids no matter the time. It was nice to have more control. At the end of the party when they said they would probably have me back to one of their family parties I said "next time we'll have quick designs so everyone can get painted"...the moms seemed really happy about that. I don't think the adults plan on getting painted until they look at my book and then they want it.

figure it out for both ways for sure...
I had everything set up for no travel fees within my county and if it were outside my county, then it would be $0.40/km... BUT when they would call me, I didn't have a computer nearby to work it out and I'd say,"it'll probably be about xx" ... and it wasn't, but that's what I told them, so I stuck with my estimate. We're going to be doing more events further from home this summer, so I might end up with more bookings outside my regular area. What I've done now is figured out an average travel cost for the surrounding counties and if they are in this county or that county, the travel cost is X. It just makes it easier to have a set amount.

I've been struggling with deciding on travel fees as well.

I used to have .50/km anywhere more than 20km roundtrip away from me. I found it annoying to give them a travel fee of 7 dollars and 12 cents or something, so I switched to this:

Under 10km (roundtrip) → No travel fee

11 - 20km (roundtrip) → $5.00

21 - 30km (roundtrip) → $10.00

31 - 40km (roundtrip) → $15.00

41 - 50km (roundtrip) → $20.00

I'm not sure if it's too high, but I dunno. I have an old car that goes through gas like crazy, and if I have to spend an hour travelling back and forth to your 1 hour party... I want to be compensated for it!

I'm $0.50/km... so it is an easy calculation. 25 kms there means, $25 as it is 25 kms back .... .5 X 50 kms = $25. Simples.

Part of the reason I haven't put up my rate is the easy math! LOL

You can correct me if I am wrong but I think there is a limit on what you are allowed to charge for mileage. I think it is $0.50 a Kilometer in canada not sure about the states. Now with gas prices I hope the limit has gone up.

You can actually get in trouble for charging more if you had a sticky client who wanted to call you on it which could potentially put you up for audit. Which I like to avoid at all cost!!


But then again that is only if you atate it as milage if you call it something else I think you would be ok.

I hope that makes sense.

I think there is a difference between what you can deduct for tax purposes and what you can make a client pay...I think they are two different things. I still have to pay taxes on a collected travel fee but I can get a tax credit of .60 per mile when I file.

I'm not positive if it's the same in Canada but a face painting contract is a contract between individuals and so if you charged $10.00 per mile and the client agreed to it then it is between you and the client but when you try to get mileage credit, then you are restricted to a government table.

Am I full of unicorn farts?

D.

I would like to put a page together like this as it relates to us:
http://www.kurtdeutscher.com/web/music/274
and then we could all just add a link onto the bottom of our e-mails/websites!

do you really think your customers would read it? do you think anyone reads that page of their site? I can barely get people to look at my pricing page half the time... so many of my calls and emails are asking me how much it costs and I've got it all completely spelled out on my party services and event services pages. As much as we work so hard on our FAQ pages, nobody reads them.

I was guilty of this. I ordered a bunch of brushes a week ago and I got mad because I wasn't hearing from them so I wrote a snippy "where's my order" short email and they basically said "read your confirmation email"....

It was right there that some of the order was on backorder (not REALLY my fault) so the order wasn't going to be sent until it arrived....ooops.

Anyway...they refunded back the amount of the missing part (Martha Stewart pouncers that I can get at Michaels) and are sending out the rest of the order. I'm so mad at myself for not reading it...I could have had my brushes by now.

I'm a BAD client.

D.

Ok, I think having come from country towns in Australia, I get where you are going with this. I am guessing most of your jobs are going to be 70+ KM away? I suggest doing it the rural way which is you know how much petrol you use for a round trip then calculate and round up and add $5 for wear and tear.
eg I know that going to Sydney a 60km ish round trip I am going use as much petrol as driving to say Colo vale (a friends house) a 140km round trip it. and it will take about as long as well. because going to Sydney I get stuck at traffic lights, am moving in and out of variable speed zones have roundabouts, traffic and accidents all to delay me. Going to Colo Vale I have an open strech of highway on which I am pretty much going to be doing 110km and hour and I am going to be able to park when I get there without having to pay! I think being in your situation you have to use your common sense.
but bear in mind I used to live in the outback population 32 for a 150KM radius not a big city like Echuca with a whopping 12 300 - LOL.
and did you get the winery Job in Benalla? (at least think it was there) you were the closest face painter I could think of?

So true, Perry--but it would do ME good to vent, ha!

faceandbodyfx wrote:You can correct me if I am wrong but I think there is a limit on what you are allowed to charge for mileage. I think it is $0.50 a Kilometer in canada not sure about the states. Now with gas prices I hope the limit has gone up.

You can actually get in trouble for charging more if you had a sticky client who wanted to call you on it which could potentially put you up for audit. Which I like to avoid at all cost!!


But then again that is only if you atate it as milage if you call it something else I think you would be ok.

I hope that makes sense.

Actually, how it works is that you can CLAIM up to 57 cents a kilometre as travel/auto expense on your taxes. You can CHARGE anything you want.

And to claim it you have to keep a mileage log and all records relating to the business use of your vehicle.

Yeah that's what I am getting at Sue! Most of my work is in Echuca (which believe it or not has just clocked 35000 people!! woo hoo!! ) But I am getting calls to work up to an hour away and which is 50+ kms. I am going off the tax departments listing as to what you can claim on travel which is about 60cents per km. So its adding up to $100 plus for some trips. It just seems like a lot of money! Maybe I am being over sensitive??!!

Didn't do the job in Benalla. I was already totally booked for Easter here (working on the Paddlesteamers here which was fantastic fun). I would have loved the job! Payment plus accomodation was an awesome package!! Was it you who passed on my details? Thanks so much if you did. It was nicely suprising that someone knew about me so far away!! You weren't at the ABAA in Daylesford were you? I went this year for the first time, it was mindblowing!!

Once again thanks to the rest of the feedback. Its been really helpful. Don't know what I would do without you lot!!

I'm in oz too, I charge .85c per km after 20km and they pay all tolls, parking, ferry travel etc. I only charge for one way too, I'm not sure why... I might change this...

To keep it simple I got a map of Brissy and Gold coast, and I am working out a 10, 20 30 40 km radius and any suburbs within that I can quickly calculate.

I think the thing with us Aussies is that everything is so bloody far away, so we feel like it is very expensive.

I was I think the only face painter not working easter lets just say family obligations (brother and my sister in law), sigh. although I have told them next year I am going to be working. The Benalla one I found out about on Good friday, I decided against it as It was too far for short notice. I was willing to skip the in laws for that one.

Couldn't go to Dalesford this year due to My husband - he is seriously messing with my facepainting schedual, due to his all of a sudden casual job doing kicking and streching tours/seminars/gradings/talks guest apperances He was the former 7 time Aus champ demonstration martial artist - no contact just the pretty stuff. i.e. backfliping while pulling swords cool stuff. And now out of the woodwork gyms/dojo's/dojang's are seeking him out. Which would be OK but I get paid more I have told him next year I am going, hes on board with that.

With regards to travel keep it sensible, and use good judgement/common sense. everyone will expect to pay some travel tis the nature of rural Australia but not a through the roof sum, and with the smaller towns word travels super fast. Just make sure you accomodate in wear and tear on your car as well as fuel and cover a round trip.

Wow, you have a semi famous hubby!! That's something to be proud of but I can see how it must be a little frustrating!! Thanks for your ideas on the travel issue Sue, really appreciate it.

OK, since this thread started I decided on charging travel for those who think they deserve a discount for only Heaven understands what reason...and now this daycare mom in a very high-end area nearby is not sure she can afford the travel ($.80 per mile)...sheesh. I think I just became unavailable.

I charge 0.50/mile for travel over 30minutes per googlemaps. They have my business address at the top of the contract and my contract has a box for them to check if it's more or less than 30min. If it's more, there's an area to write the travel fee. Putting the owness on them to check and calculate if I'm going to charge travel has been mostly working. There are some who don't check and I need to followup with them before I accept payment but nobody has balked since the expectations are clearly laid out on the contract.