Pricing Guide
The goal is not to be the cheapest. The goal is to price every job so it covers labour, materials, overhead, tax planning, profit, and business growth.
Protect The ProfitCore Pricing Rule
Never price from fear.
Price from the real cost of doing the job properly. If the price does not cover labour, materials, travel, overhead, mistakes, taxes, and profit, the job is not priced correctly.
Deposit Policy
A 40% deposit is required to book the job, order materials, and reserve production time.
A job is not officially scheduled until the deposit is received. This protects the business from last-minute cancellations, material costs, and customers changing their mind without commitment.
Travel Zones
Zone 1
0–30 km
Core area. No travel fee. Best for small and medium jobs.
Zone 2
30–75 km
Add a $50–$100 travel fee or waive it for strong jobs over $1,000.
Zone 3
75–150 km
Premium jobs only. Best for boats, commercial contracts, and large interiors.
Minimum Job Rules
- ☐ Avoid leaving the house/shop for less than a profitable minimum.
- ☐ Small repairs should still cover setup time, communication, travel, and admin.
- ☐ If a job blocks better-paying work, it needs to be priced accordingly.
- ☐ Do not discount just because the customer says it looks easy.
- ☐ If the job is custom, old, damaged, dirty, or unknown, build in risk.
Job Costing Formula
Price = Materials + Labour + Travel + Overhead + Risk + Profit + Tax Planning
- ☐ Materials: vinyl, leather, foam, thread, zippers, adhesive, snaps, hardware.
- ☐ Labour: teardown, patterning, sewing, fitting, install, cleanup.
- ☐ Travel: pickup, delivery, on-site visits, fuel, time.
- ☐ Overhead: tools, machine maintenance, insurance, phone, software, shop costs.
- ☐ Risk: hidden damage, old foam, brittle panels, customer changes.
- ☐ Profit: money left after all costs, not just wages.
- ☐ Tax planning: HST and income tax set aside.
Automotive Pricing Starting Points
Small Seat Repair
Use for small panels, seam repairs, and minor vinyl/leather work.
Starting point: $250–$450+
Two Seat Panels
Common for bolsters, inserts, and damaged panels.
Starting point: $400–$750+
Leather Conversion
Kit install or custom upgrade depending on vehicle.
Starting point: $1,900+
Convertible Top Work
Glass reattachment, boot adjustment, top replacement, repairs.
Quote individually.
Marine Pricing Starting Points
Boat Seat Repair
Small marine vinyl repairs, panel replacements, or seam fixes.
Starting point: $300–$600+
Full Boat Interior
Seats, cushions, panels, engine cover, sundeck, and trim.
Starting point: $3,500–$6,000+
Bimini / Canvas
Fabric replacement, snaps, zippers, panels, or custom work.
Quote by size and complexity.
Premium Rule
Marine work has sun, water, patterning, fitting, and liability risk. Price accordingly.
Residential Pricing Starting Points
Dining Chair Seat
Basic recover depending on fabric, foam, and condition.
Starting point: $100–$160/chair+
Dining Chair With Back
More labour due to disassembly, sewing, zippers, or details.
Quote individually.
Cushions / Foam
Foam, batting, zipper, sewing, and fabric all affect price.
Quote by size and material.
Custom Benches
Commercial or residential benches should be priced for fitting and finish.
Starting point: $800+
Commercial Pricing Starting Points
Dental / Medical Chairs
Pickup, teardown, material, infection-control expectations, durability.
Quote carefully.
Salon / Barber Chairs
Repeatable work can be profitable if priced properly.
Starting point: $160–$250/chair+
Gym / Clinic Pads
Commercial vinyl, foam condition, and high-use durability matter.
Quote by size and quantity.
Bulk Work
Do not go too low on volume jobs. Repetition still takes time, space, and materials.
Do Not Undercharge When...
- ☐ The customer needs it rushed.
- ☐ The item is old, brittle, or already repaired poorly.
- ☐ You have to pattern from scratch.
- ☐ The customer wants custom stitching or design changes.
- ☐ The job requires pickup and delivery.
- ☐ The job uses expensive material.
- ☐ The job takes up a lot of shop space.
- ☐ The job prevents you from booking better-paying work.
Pricing Confidence Script
“This price includes the material, labour, teardown, sewing, fitting, and the time required to do the job properly. I don’t like cutting corners because I want the finished piece to last and look right.”