Side income after the cut
Leave a margin for a wider kerf
If a job’s costs are unclear, quote with a buffer or break the work into stages with written changes.
Some jobs look neat until the first revision. A margin is how you keep the cut from eating the whole board.
Two practical buffers
- Price buffer: add a clear amount for likely extras, named in the quote.
- Scope buffer: fix the number of revisions; further changes are a new line item.
Write both in the confirmation message. A wider kerf that was planned for is manageable; a surprise kerf is what burns people out.
Educational content only. Not financial, tax or legal advice; talk to a qualified professional about your situation.