That was part of the point I was making - it's a round trip, so the 20 miles is really double that.
Regardless, if the ONLY reason you are going to charge more is because of the rising cost of gas - which is the reason given in the OP - then nothing else changes. The two-hour drive is there no matter what the cost of gas is, and that time should already be factored into your pricing. Same for the wear and tear on the car - rising gas prices don't affect that at all, and it should have already been factored in. So what you're left with is a charge of $25 for maybe 2 gallons of gas needed to drive 40 miles. Yes, gas is getting more expensive in some parts of the country (it's still under $3 here), but it's not approaching anything near $12/gal anywhere, as far as I know.
If you haven't already factored in the extra time and other expenses for driving a longer distance, then yes, a rate increase is probably long overdue. But the OP doesn't say that - it says the reason is that gas is getting more expensive. Given that and no other reason, I think an extra $25 for 40 miles is excessive, and I don't know how you sell that to your clients without making it sound like you're gouging them. You'd be better off NOT giving a reason for the increase, hoping they won't ask for one, and being prepared with a reasonable explanation if they do. "Gas is getting more expensive" is not going to cut it. |
