your mark up is not just for profit, it allows you to be able to cover return calls if things need replacing etc. So some people dont mark up at all, whilst others will stick on 200% or more on some items. It is all part of running a profitable enterprise that will be there in 10 years time.
I carry a lot of stock, being in the oil side of things, there are no merchants near me carrying any decent stock so I buy it in online. That means I have to factor in the cost of the money just sitting there and ensure it isnt costing me. So if I turn upto a job and use the parts I can add a decent mark up which covers my costs. The customer is happy as I get it fixed in one visit so no excess labour charges for a return call etc, so my mark up factors this in, sure they can buy the bits online cheaper, but their boiler is working short shrift if I turn up. So my mark up is high on oil parts I carry, but for good reason. For example, I popped out to a leaking gas boiler today, AAV failed, whpiped out the guts and new workings in, cost them over £100, but they got there boiler working first thing monday morning, in less than 30 mins and they were chuffed all round, others would have charged a lot less and had to go to a merchants 10 miles away for parts, who is going to get the next callout???
