What do you charge for your services?

[galaxie428]

I have a CT230 with several attachments, backhoe, tiller, box blade, bucket, forks and so on. I have found myself here lately doing some side work for other people and never know what to really charge them. My time is not free and with the cost of fuel and wear and tear, I want to get a fair price without over charging. What are some of you charging for your services?

 

[shortthrow50]

I have a CT230 with several attachments, backhoe, tiller, box blade, bucket, forks and so on. I have found myself here lately doing some side work for other people and never know what to really charge them. My time is not free and with the cost of fuel and wear and tear, I want to get a fair price without over charging. What are some of you charging for your services?

I don't charge friends or neighbors. If I do side jobs that reuires me to use my work backhoe or track steer to do some excavation work, at least a thousand bucks for a full day but ill complete the job that day mostly. I do site improvement and development for a local builder. Look at it this way, if you were to rent a tracked skid steer like a cat or takeuchi, it will cost 400 bucks for the day along with delivery. And you have to top off with fuel. Costs ad up. Especially wear and tear on your own machine

 

[pjbci]

I charge 35 an hr for my 40pto hp tractor. Even tho your tractor is considerably smaller, I wouldnt charge any less than 35 considering how much $ you have invested in the machine.

 

[High Compression]

These are some local prices that I charge. I know they vary from region.

Loader = $90/hr 4hr min
Backhoe = $90/hr 4hr min
Trackhoe = $120/hr 4hr min
Tractor Overseeder = $120/hr or 1.5 cents per square foot. 1 acre min
Tractor and snow plow = $105/hr 4 hr min
Loader and box blade =$110/hr 4 hr min
Mowing =$65-$110 hr depending on height and quality of groom
Tilling =$1/sq.ft. 400 min

 

[galaxie428]

Yeah, friends and family get the "discount". I don't charge them anything but most of them give me a little for "fuel" although to be honest, what they give me doesn't cover my cost of what it takes me to haul my tractor there and do the job.

Do you guys charge some sort of mileage or fuel charge?

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Favors.
You want as many owed to you as you can get.
They're priceless.

 

[namesray]

depending on what it is, between $15-$25 per hour. i base everything on how hard it will be on the machine. i will go bush hog someone's field and if it is a flat, smooth grassy field, then $15 will do (plus fuel charge). if they want scrub trees pushed out or field is rough, steep, then price goes up. i tell every customer first that i will not go full bore, so don't expect me to fly through a job. i will go slower if it is easier on the machine. most don't mind a bit and i always find myself busy. one thing to keep in mind is those who charge those high rates are usually licensed/insured so that will make a difference. becareful who you do work for as it can be a risk without insurance. i personally wouldn't do it without insurance. i carry a general liability policy at min.

 

[pjbci]

No mileage. 4hr min helps me with transport cost.

 

[pjbci]

High compression, did I read it wrong or do you really get a dollar a square ft for tilling?

 

[RDrancher]

If you're not making at least $450 a day after fuel (tractor and truck) you might as well stay parked and watch soaps all day. Equipment isn't cheap to run and costs even more to fix. Not to mention insurance, rain, or the days you miss after it rains...or a breakdown. Clog and split your radiator on a little brush hogging job, break off a blade or break a sway arm or two grading and see how you feel about going out for $35 an hour.

Charge beer money prices and that's what you'll make...until you break something. I'm in it for the long haul and to feed my family.

 

[High Compression]

High compression, did I read it wrong or do you really get a dollar a square ft for tilling?

Yeah, for little tiny gardens. Price/sq.ft. goes down on larger square footage.

 

[the6shooter]

Don't forget the insurance cost also, don't do anything on someone elses property without insurance. Frends or not.... Been there done that.
david

 

[shortthrow50]

Don't forget the insurance cost also, don't do anything on someone elses property without insurance. Frends or not.... Been there done that.
david

Smart man you are! some of us are just stubborn like me and say "it wont happen to me" lol. We all have to learn the hard way and until then........

 

[pjbci]

Yeah, for little tiny gardens. Price/sq.ft. goes down on larger square footage.

Your my new hero! Some folks just dont understand what it cost us to run equipment for hire. I had a guy call me last night wanting me to haul my dozer 50 miles to do an hour and a half of work. Needless to say, I declined!

 

[shortthrow50]

Your my new hero! Some folks just dont understand what it cost us to run equipment for hire. I had a guy call me last night wanting me to haul my dozer 50 miles to do an hour and a half of work. Needless to say, I declined!

What a tool!

 

[tractorski]

I charge $70/hr plus $1.50 per loaded mile for transport

 

[galaxie428]

I certainly understand about the insurance but I don't have it, at least to cover any mishaps while doing one of these jobs. I do mostly tilling, I haven't done much excavating though snapping a fiber optic or phone line or whatever could ruin a person without insurance. I have done a few smaller jobs for friends and I actually have a form to sign stating that I am not responsible for any property damage but I don't know if that would really hold up in court.

I have a $40 min charge for tilling then I add some fuel cost on top of that depending on how far I have to travel and how much tilling is required. $40-$50 seems like that is about what tilling is going for around here. A few times I have been lucky enough to pick up other gardens once I get to the place I am tilling. Neighbors come over and ask if I can do theirs. That is nice when that happens and I feel like I make a little money that way. One garden at a time doesn't pay much but I hope to get a list of clients built up and then I can try to group them come next year so I can do a few at a time.

 

[galaxie428]

I charge $70/hr plus $1.50 per loaded mile for transport

What kind of equipment are you talking about hauling for the $1.50 per loaded mile? My neighbor has a dump truck, track hoe and dozer and I think he told me once he charges around $80/hr to run either the track hoe or dozer. I am not sure what he charges for his time or if he charges milage. His rate sound pretty cheap though.

Your my new hero! Some folks just dont understand what it cost us to run equipment for hire. I had a guy call me last night wanting me to haul my dozer 50 miles to do an hour and a half of work. Needless to say, I declined!

I don't think people understand the costs associated with these machines. When I have told some people what I would charge them, they look at me like I am ripping them off. I know times are tough for many people and I would really like to help most of them but I can't do it and it cost ME money!

 

[sparc]

I am not responsible for any property damage but I don't know if that would really hold up in court.

I doubt it would if you damaged some UG utility. First thing they would bring up is did you make a call for markout? If NO then in most states you'd be looking at footing the bill for an expensive repair and maybe a fine on top of that. Here (NJ) its the person doing the digging not the property owner or if you are a sub the prime contractor who will be found at fault. And here (NJ) anything deeper than 6" requires a call to 811, no matter where it is on your property. PITA but that's the rules here (just sat through the seminar sponsored by the State a 2 months ago). I would expect most states would have similar requirements.

 

[RDrancher]

I doubt it would if you damaged some UG utility. First thing they would bring up is did you make a call for markout? If NO then in most states you'd be looking at footing the bill for an expensive repair and maybe a fine on top of that. Here (NJ) its the person doing the digging not the property owner or if you are a sub the prime contractor who will be found at fault. And here (NJ) anything deeper than 6" requires a call to 811, no matter where it is on your property. PITA but that's the rules here (just sat through the seminar sponsored by the State a 2 months ago). I would expect most states would have similar requirements.

Yep, 811 is the first speed dial on my phone. You'd be surprised how many things you can hit 2-3 inches under the surface around here, especially fiber optics. I've found cable when just scraping off grass! If you call and they mark and the service isn't located where they mark...and you hit it, you're covered. If you didn't call, it can get expensive. And you're right, it's a PITA but it's cheap insurance.