Even $75 an hour isn't cheap.

That's $600 a day or $3,000 per week or $156,000 per annum.

No wonder people are giving up their day jobs. Lol

As long as the person doing the pinball work is fast at diagnosing and fast at fixing, $50 an hour cash sounds better but if u can get more than that, well done.

Pinballs have become a nice and unique money earner to a small amount of those with the experience.

Yes - But try hiring a litigation lawyer or Barrister ! The Barrister we used in 2013 cost us $500 per hour to submit paperwork to a court (3 hour wait and 1 hour to submit the paperwork).

In my business, I charge $75 PH for repair work. Nothing like that for restoration work. I quote restorations and stick to the price. I often spend hours tracking parts. placing orders, doing prep work. There's no doubt that if I didn't love what I do, it would be difficult to justify the true hours with a basic pay rate. The other thing to realize (as per the barrister fees), customers are paying for 35 years of experience and some of the most hi tech diagnostic and repair equipment money can buy. I repair my own ramps (TIG Welder in house), professional Rivet Press, professional soldering and desoldering equipment (not bunnings battery terminal irons!). The compressor I use for painting is the high end commercial Peerless setups. Spray guns are expensive. Paints are VERY expensive. Airbrush I use is worth $400 alone. Eprom programmer is worth $1500 - these all add up. Not once have I ever complained about "overheads"..

I'd be surprised if others in the industry have outlayed what I have to run my business. The building alone is 492 sqm and is full of machines and parts. My motivation is simple. I LOVE what I do.