Should DJs Charge for Setup and Pack-Down Time?
CalcProfits Editorial Team · 4 min read
Many mobile DJs quote for the set and treat loading in, setting up and packing down as free. It's a common complaint: hours of work that never show up on the invoice. Here's what that does to your real pay.
The hidden hours
Take a 5-hour set. Add 1.5 hours of setup, 1 hour of pack-down, 1.5 hours of prep, 1 hour of admin and 1.5 hours of driving, and you've worked 11.5 hours, not 5. Setup and pack-down alone are 2.5 of them.
What a £450 booking really pays
| At £450 | If you ignore setup & pack-down | Counting every hour |
|---|---|---|
| Hours worked | 9 | 11.5 |
| What you earn per hour | £46 | £36 |
| Price you need for a 25% margin | £465 | £584 |
Leave setup and pack-down out and £450 looks almost right. Count them, and you're £134 short of the price that pays you £35 an hour plus your margin. You keep the same £416 either way — it's just spread over more hours than you think.
How to charge for it
- Build it in: price from total hours, not set length. Clients see one price.
- Or list it: "Setup and sound check included (1.5 hours before guests arrive)" shows value.
- Charge extra for early setup or late pack-down when the venue demands it.
The Pricing sheet counts setup and pack-down for every hire length automatically, so each price already includes them.
Worked examples use one operator's saved dashboard figures (£35/hr owner rate, £16/hr crew, £0.45/mile, 1.5% payment fee, 25% target margin, no fixed costs or equipment entered). They are for planning only, not industry benchmarks or financial advice.