charge for time?

[John Ross]

MessageIn my auto expense columns, I debit my auto expenses, and credit any charges for travel my customer pays. That way it is the difference that is claimed. Hence no conflict.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Geoff Sykes 
  To: 'Cy Shuster' ; 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 2:43 AM
  Subject: RE: charge for time?


  At the end of the year I deduct all my business miles, as a business expense, at whatever the governments going rate is for that year. I can't believe that it's possible to both charge the customer for those miles and then deduct them as well. Is it? I would think that it's either one or the other. Which one benefits us the most?

  -- Geoff Sykes
  -- Assoc. Los Angeles



    -----Original Message-----
    From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Cy Shuster
    Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 10:11 PM
    To: Pianotech List
    Subject: Re: charge for time?


    Most customers know the IRS mileage rates for business expenses, as it's the rate they get back when they use their car for business:
    http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=163828,00.html

    This is a good thing for them, so they think of it kindly, and it has an independent rationale (rather than being an arbitrary fee).

    I charge about half of that as a separately listed mileage fee for trips of more than about half an hour away from home.  I set my trip odometer to zero at home, and note what it is when I get onsite, and charge for the round trip.  If the price of gas goes way up, I adjust the rate accordingly.  By using the round trip, it's pretty easy for customers to verify with Mapquest.

    I also split the charge between all customers on the same day (because I schedule them in the same area).  This encourages them to find other customers for me, and it's a win/win/win for all of us.

    Dan Levitan has a great concept to use: establish a "policy".  This lets you make exceptions, without rolling over completely.  For example, "My policy is to charge for mileage on out-of-town trips, but in this case, Mrs. Jones, I'm waiving it for you.".

    --Cy--
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