hmm, age differential? I'm 55 & went I started sewing, stamps were 5¢. Fabric was under $1/yc. Are these older ladies?

Your obligation is to you, your family & your equipment. Do your research, write up a price list. Until you know what you charge, just say, I'm still researching, I will get back to you.

Self employed people need to make a living wage, enough to pay social security (was 15.3%, but FICA ee went down), state, federal taxes, supplies, for VACATIONS, RETIREMENT and EQUIPMENT. If you are worth $15, so is your machine, and that is $30 per hour. lol - can you tell what I do for a living? (accounting)

First of all, your quilts a beautiful. Second, around here I would pay at least twice that and I provide the backing and batting. Don't let anyone guilt you into doing something you don't want to do.

In our area they charge by the square inch, depending on the type of quilting. Meandering or simple pantographs are one price, more challenging pantographs are another price, and custom heirloom type is the most expensive. Plus the maker provides the top, backing, batting and pays for the thread.

As a favor to my neighbor I offered to quilt her queen sized quilt and give her batting too for $50. She's a senior citizen and I don't mind doing it for her really cheap. She turned me down!! So, don't feel guilty!!

Definitely shop around and see what other prices are. Don't be afraid to price yourself in the top tier if that's what's going to be fair. You DO NOT want to be the cheapest show in town or you're going to end up backed up and doing all your quilting for everyone else and nothing for you. Charge a fair price and get a fair amount of business and don't worry about making EVERYONE happy.

You said it perfectly!

The other LAQer is plumb tuckered out. You don't want to go the same way. Take enough business to pay off your frame ($100 for a twin with meander is reasonable) if they supply the batt back and thread. Charge extra if you supply it (you may like certain brands) I am not a LAQ and I would be glad to pay that. Remember, you are going to put wear and tear on your machine and especially your body. Don't over do, so you can still enjoy quilting.

Offer to rent them time on your machine. They supply everything, including the "elbow grease", as my Mom used to say.

Make sure the rent is enough to cover maintenance, and, of course, renting has to be scheduled at your convenience, not theirs.

I don't think I'd want to do that, either, as it ties you down so much. It would take the fun out of quilting for me...

If you want the practice, take whatever money you can get - it won't last forever as you start to get more clients.

If I take a large quilt top to LQS for quilting, she will charge me .015/inch for a basic stipple, batting is extra. And then the prices go up from there. I could very easily end up at over $200 for a large queen/king. And what I am getting is all computer guided and pantos, no custom work. It's the main reason I have learned how to FMQ on my domestic machine - I simply cannot afford to have someone else do it.

I know nothing about LAQ except what I've picked up on this board, but I think a sign I've seen applies perfectly: "Work for free or for full price, but never work for cheap!"