Rush fees: price fast turnaround before you promise it
A rush request can displace other work, overtime, supplier costs, and payment timing. Price the faster schedule before you commit.
A rush fee should reflect capacity cost, not annoyance. Before agreeing to a faster deadline, compare the normal schedule with the new deadline, estimate extra labor and coordination, and make the changed price and timing clear in the quote.
Start with the normal schedule
Write down when the job would normally fit, what work must move, and which approvals, materials, or subcontractors control timing. A deadline is only quote-ready when the capacity tradeoff is visible.
Price the capacity cost
Add overtime, weekend work, expedited materials, admin follow-up, payment fees, and the risk of delaying other booked work. Compare the result with your hourly floor and target margin before setting the rush amount.
Confirm the promise in writing
Put the rush price, deadline, client dependencies, deposit or invoice timing, and what happens if approvals arrive late in the quote. Confirm contract, consumer, labor, tax, and industry rules before adding customer-facing rush fees or schedule penalties.