Connie, You are asking the 64 dollar question. I just e-mailed a lady that called my guild requesting information about having a quilt quilted. We have several good longarmers in our guild but all have waiting lists. I know from experience that their prices are starting to go up. When it comes to making a quilt from start to finish we are talking a different kettle of fish. Keep track of how many hours it takes you to make and finish a quilt then multiply by at least $10. By the time you add in the price of the fabrics etc. we are talking a lot of money. There is an Amish market in my general area. They have some handmade quilts for sale. There was one beautiful, probably king size white on white so it was wholecloth, beautifully handquilted. The price tag was at least $1100. I wouldn't have purchased it because it was marked with #2 pencil that usually doesn't come out. I have seen smaller quilts done by the Amish in the Lancaster area for up to $5000.
Several years ago I handquilted at least 6 quilts for a local lady who owns a custom framing shop and who was formerly the curator of our local Historical Society. She had no problem paying me at least $.10 a square inch to finish her grandmother's quilts. She routinely gives local people a 10% discount. I did the same for her. Those people who keep asking you to make them a quilt need to realize that your time is just as valueable as theirs.
These are the same people who will pay $25 an hour to have say a wedding gown altered. Almost 20 years ago I worked in a shop that did custom dressmaking and alterations. People were willing to pay us $14 an hour to sew on buttons and repair zippers etc. If you can't do it yourself you have to pay.