Q: I am about to embark on my own cottage industry building birdhouses, butterfly houses, ladybug houses etc. The only thing I don't know is how much to charge per hour. What is the going rate?

Kevin Hancock: The rate would be based on the income of the birds, butterflies, and ladybugs.

Carol Reed: If only life were so simple! There is no "going" hourly rate for any kind of woodworking. Things to consider include cost of materials, cost of overhead (utilities, office expenses, shop supplies, equipment acquisition, equipment repair and maintenance, marketing expenses, vehicle expenses, mortgage amortization or rent, etc.), your salary, salary of employees, taxes and profit. Any community college offers classes in small business. Take the classes. It is a relatively inexpensive education and could be extremely enlightening.