What is Driveway Repair Work Worth a Hour?

[Scooby074]

I think everything has been covered for the OP.

But, I have to ask, how can you guys run a tractor, and a business for $35/hr? Thats crazy!

 

[RDrancher]

I think everything has been covered for the OP.

But, I have to ask, how can you guys run a tractor, and a business for $35/hr? Thats crazy!

I don't do any "by the hour" work, but at 35 bucks I sure hope they have a regular job to support the losing money driving a tractor habit.

 

[swick1]

Lots of people mow for 35/hr on craigslist that should tell you something.

 

[daugen]

Lots of people mow for 35/hr on craigslist that should tell you something.

if you figure at least ten bucks an hour on fuel, and that's for a small tractor, likely double that on a larger one, you had better want to
be working on your tan, or something, because you sure aren't going to make a profit.

I do a fair amount of charity field mowing and will never accept money, other than for fuel. But then the landowner makes a nice donation
to my local Quaker Meeting and of course get a nice charitable donation credit. I'm retired and happy to do it. Everyone goes home happy.

I have the TNT and all the gizmos and zero talent to use them. Simple inexperience with three point hitch gear. I'll learn, but I'd be better off having a more skilled operator use my tractor than me, and there's no ego issues here. Need to know your own limitations.
No substitute for experience here; can't read this in a book. Lot of trial and error and no one wants to pay for your unsuccessful trials and errors. I'm quite sure an experienced guy with an old 8N or MF135 and a heavy rear scraper blade could do a seriously better job on a ditch than I could with all my hydraulic levers and adjustments, and just as importantly, in half the time.

 

[pjbci]

Yep... you've lost all forward momentum! :laughing: However, your vertical position could be much, much worse!


AKfish

True. I usually stop and go get a dzr before i dig it in too deep. Notice i said "usually"! Haha

 

[pjbci]

I don't do any "by the hour" work, but at 35 bucks I sure hope they have a regular job to support the losing money driving a tractor habit.

I run 7 machines "for hire" none of which lose money at the rates i charge. I know my operating cost per machine. I pay my men more than any body else around here. I have a good reputation for doing an excellent job at a fair price. Im booked up at 47 jobs pending. I make money by putting hours on machines, lots of hours! If i only wanted to work a day or two a week then i would have to go up on my rates. But working hard and being fair with people is who i am and it has provided well for me. And before someone ask, the answer is yes i have a healthy liability policy.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I run 7 machines "for hire" none of which lose money at the rates i charge. I know my operating cost per machine. I pay my men more than any body else around here. I have a good reputation for doing an excellent job at a fair price. Im booked up at 47 jobs pending. I make money by putting hours on machines, lots of hours! If i only wanted to work a day or two a week then i would have to go up on my rates. But working hard and being fair with people is who i am and it has provided well for me. And before someone ask, the answer is yes i have a healthy liability policy.

Well said :thumbsup:
You are the guy I would hire.

 

[daugen]

Well said :thumbsup:
You are the guy I would hire.

:thumbsup:
me too.

Getting things "done right" is not cheap.
47 jobs in the pipeline, looking good for the summer.
Has the improving economy/investment market helped open some wallets to
get backburnered projects now done? I hope so. Or maybe you are that busy year after year.
In which case, I guess I can't borrow your bulldozer, just for a few days...

 

[rmorey]

I run 7 machines "for hire" none of which lose money at the rates i charge. I know my operating cost per machine. I pay my men more than any body else around here. I have a good reputation for doing an excellent job at a fair price. Im booked up at 47 jobs pending. I make money by putting hours on machines, lots of hours! If i only wanted to work a day or two a week then i would have to go up on my rates. But working hard and being fair with people is who i am and it has provided well for me. And before someone ask, the answer is yes i have a healthy liability policy.

The problem is, getting from where Bullitt is today (just starting out with 1 job ahead) and where you are today (47 jobs ahead), most folks go broke because they didn't charge enough to survive.

 

[pjbci]

:thumbsup:
me too.

Getting things "done right" is not cheap.
47 jobs in the pipeline, looking good for the summer.
Has the improving economy/investment market helped open some wallets to
get backburnered projects now done? I hope so. Or maybe you are that busy year after year.
In which case, I guess I can't borrow your bulldozer, just for a few days...

I never really slowed down for the poor economy. 2009 seems to have been the worst but really the only difference i saw was the average job got smaller. People now are still wanting to do jobs in phases instead of all at once. Its coming back tho. Im seeing more calls about ponds than the last few years. Ponds are what you might call "backburner or luxury" projects for most people.

 

[RDrancher]

I never really slowed down for the poor economy. 2009 seems to have been the worst but really the only difference i saw was the average job got smaller. People now are still wanting to do jobs in phases instead of all at once. Its coming back tho. Im seeing more calls about ponds than the last few years. Ponds are what you might call "backburner or luxury" projects for most people.

I stayed pretty busy through the bad economy, but this year is off the charts.

The main difference around here has been the shift in the type of projects I'm getting calls for. For the last three months I've been looking at a lot of newly acquired properties. That's an excellent sign. Most of these properties are on old farm and ranch land that's now being split and the majority of new owners are city folk moving to the country.

 

[springer]

a concern here for you 94Bullitt... the instant you accept a penny for work completed, your homeowner policy ceases to exist as far as
"odd job" liability. Do it for free, most likely fine. But charge a fee and then the question is, do you want to run bare without insurance?

Excavator liability and workers comp insurance are seriously expensive. Deal breaking for many small businesses, even if you opt out of
sole proprietor workers compensation coverage. So many small businesses become cash only and pray that nothing happens. Problem is that it does, and particularly with equipment capable of digging,
the consequences can be catastrophic, e.g. hitting a LNG line.

Unlikely you have any such concerns doing ditch work, but it's a slippery slope, no pun intended, so if you do this on the side, your pricing should be significantly less than a true commercial contractor with full insurance.
Just be careful not to put your personal assets on the line for a three hundred dollar job...or as many zeroes as you feel comfortable adding to that.

totally agree....have the proper insurance, workers comp, correct licenses, work knowledge and the right equipment.

 

[94BULLITT]

I want to thank everyone who answered my original question. I found some of the comments to be offensive. I had to take some time off from TBN to cool off. My family runs a small business so I know what all is involved. I don't know why everyone seems to think I need insurance, a business license, and workers comp to do ONE side job. I have seen several threads on here before with people asking how much is my tractor worth a hour plowing a garden, plowing snow, or mowing. I don't recall anyone telling them that insurance, a business license, and workers comp. At this point in time I think I am just going to reply to my subscribed threads because I noticed in my emails I had a few people ask me a question, then I won't be doing any more posting.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Roger, there are so many variables out there it's truly unbelievable as I am sure that you are aware of. I think that many of us are worry warts and just don't want anything bad to happen. I know that I was sued once for over 3 million dollars. :shocked: I only had-have a million dollar policy. Courts won't even let you on the property to show that I was not at fault in any way. Man I was sweeting bullets. Long story short, my insurance was able to take care of it. Without having the insurance, I most likely would have been in a bad way. The killer was that I had done NOTHING wrong, in fact had taken care of many problems. The legal system won't even let you defend yourself.

Enough about that, just didn't want bad things to happen to you.

I'm sorry :sorry: that you took offense to anyone's advice and or warnings.

 

[Scooby074]

Roger, Im with Brian .

The legal climate has changed.. Once money changes hands it opens you up for some serious liability. 99.99% of the time nothing goes wrong, but if something does... That one time job could be that 0.01%. Would I do a quick job for beer money, for somebody I knew? Likely I would, but I'd always have the worst case scenario at the back of my mind.

I think the guys here just had your best interests at heart.

 

[daugen]

I found some of the comments to be offensive.

well that's pretty strange because everyone's advice was well meaning.
And you asked for advice.
Most of us don't know you, we don't know that you have business experience,
so you received some broad advice and not specific enough for you apparently.

One side job is like one time not putting on your seat belt.
We all wish you well.

 

[Gordon Gould]

If you found my post offensive then I apologize. It truely was not the intension.

 

[dave1949]

I found some of the comments to be offensive.

well that's pretty strange because everyone's advice was well meaning.
And you asked for advice.
Most of us don't know you, we don't know that you have business experience,
so you received some broad advice and not specific enough for you apparently.

One side job is like one time not putting on your seat belt.
We all wish you well.

x2.

You give folks here good advice, I have noticed. I think the replies were trying to give you good, sincere advice too. You only replied once during the "advice giving", and didn't redirect or clear-up the info, your business experience, etc. People can only operate on the info they have available, and we can't see your face to get any visual clues.

I think you took offense where absolutely none was intended.

Like RdRancher said, I wouldn't charge by the hour. Ask what you think it is worth to you to do the job and live with the outcome. That way your uncertainty about how efficiently you can do it is a non-issue.

 

[johneking]

I am relatively new to TBN and what little I have used it has been positive. I too have had some "interesting" replies to questions I had but understand that on my keyboard there is a delete button and if it isn't working properly, I can simply choose to ignore the "comments/experts advice" and continue looking for the ones I want.
Personally, I didn't see anything that should have upset me and also have learned through over 40 in construction that there are miriads of "experts" in every field -- some who don't know jack sh*t about what they comment on but like to hear themselves talk.
I suggest you re-consider your intention of leaving what could help you with a mechanical problem {for FREE} -- this is where I found some quality help with my problem WITHOUT paying $90/hour at our local Kubota dealer who undoubetedly would have replaced my alternator/regulator/battery THEN found the broken wire and replaced it fixing the problem but I would have had hundreds of dollars of "repairs" that were not needed to fix a connection!!! -- if you have one in the future and just pay attention to the posts that will help you and forget "the experts".
All the best.

 

[rmorey]

Roger, I totally agree with you. SOME of the comments that I read seemed to assume you were either ill equipped for this job or hadn't thought this thing thru, even though you explained yourself completely.

I've only been here a short time and don't know you from Adam, other than seeing your comments on various threads. What I have noticed, is that any comments you've made were well meaning and informative to the thread OP. Other folks here, as I've learned, are not quite so thoughtful.

I also agree with Jason, that MOST folks had your best interest at heart.

If you leave, you take away access to knowledge/experience from "one of the good guys", lowering the value of this type of forum.

I would ask you to reconsider.