What should i charge for tank maintance?

charge by the hour? Does it take people an hour to do a water change and change the filter medium? It doesnt take me that long, half at tops!

 

Also understand if your un-insured you need to be frank with people about that as well, i got insured to do tank maintenance for people since one of my clients frequently will have several fish that may be $500+ each if he got mad and said I killed one, whether I did or not it's a price for CYA.

With all that said I charge about $50/hr to friends, and anyone else is $75/hr but I do water quality testing and things for them as well, I also try and do most of their livestock orders, I still refuse to order my buddy sharks though for his restaurant I make him find those on his own

 

To back up what was mentioned by Iraf after many many many yrs of Plumbing and HVAC and electrical business Insurance is a must a I would get that first at least a Million for property Liability . Working in peoples homes and offices is tricky business.. I have been on a call for a GFI out in the garage circuit and then a A/C or boiler would go out and It was my fault or fix a tub faucet and a radiator would leak and It was my fault .. It can get expensive.. Ge a business license and insurance or maybe end up working for free the rest of your life.. You service an aquarium a child gets shocked ! you best have some really deep pockets and good lawyers.. believe that..It will happen if you do it long enough..Somthing will flood or short out !

 

OR work for cash only and give a fake name.



I'm joking.

But you could do a release form before you start any work explaining this and that. I think the effectiveness of a release form varies state-to-state though.

 

That about covers it. CYA is a big thing in my business. When it comes to people's health, there is no room to make mistakes (implied or otherwise).