Price per hole!!

Temp97 · Apr 17, 2009

I just bought a new PHD and talking with this guy over a bottle of liquid entertainment he asked how much I would charge per hole for his horse ring

Didn't really plan on making any money with it but why not. He just wants the hole dug, no post setting. Thoughts.

thatguy · Apr 17, 2009

No experience with it.. BUT I would try to figure out how many you can dig in an hour (make sure you figure in how deep he wants the posts) and then decide what your time and machine are worth per hour.. IIRC - the magic number seems to be at least $50/hr or more..

Around here with red clay you can dig quite a few now, but later on as the ground gets dry I bet you would be looking at only a few per hour.

OR depending on how good a friend he do it for a free dinner (steak NOT mcdonalds) lol

Good luck

Brian

Bird · Apr 17, 2009

I agree with thatguy. Unless you know for sure what kind of soil you'll be in, and it might be different as you go deeper, I'd only price it by the hour, not by the hole.

two_bit_score · Apr 17, 2009

Bird said:
I agree with thatguy. Unless you know for sure what kind of soil you'll be in, and it might be different as you go deeper, I'd only price it by the hour, not by the hole.

Or....maybe by the steak? If you get into hard ground the price goes from a sirloin to a t-bone to a ribe eye to a filet migon.

kthompson · Apr 17, 2009

Horse ring sounds like some of this would not apply but: be sure to take into consideration travel time, any permits required, will you need to have underground utilities marked, if you charge him will you need a license?

Redneck in training · Apr 17, 2009

If it is a small job (one day job or so) I prefer barter especially with friend or neighbors. You help them and they will help you when needed. Works well for me.

radman1 · Apr 17, 2009

Temp97 said:
I just bought a new PHD and talking with this guy over a bottle of liquid entertainment he asked how much I would charge per hole for his horse ring Didn't really plan on making any money with it but why not. He just wants the hole dug, no post setting. Thoughts.

Have you used a post hole digger much in the past? If not, you will have a bit of learning curve. You need to practice on getting a straight hole. Also what is the ground like? Rocks? Dirt? Hard? Most horse arenas will have curved ends which can be a bit of a pain to get the curve right. If you do this, I would have him set a flag at each post location. Then it is up to him to get the curve right, spacing, places for gates etc. Then it is his fault if he doesn't like it. He can buy 50 flags for several bucks.

On open ground and holes marked, I could probably dig each hole in 2 minutes (or less) with skidsteer, vertical lift and hydraulic auger. I would guess 2-3X longer for pto drive PHD - if good conditions. A riding arena should be flat, open ground.

AKfish · Apr 17, 2009

radman1 has some very good advice.. Let your buddy be responsible for the layout; location of holes, etc.

Depending upon the soil type; the going could be tough - shear pins broken and jammed auger bits. Sometimes worse things can happen - broken u-joints, twisted pto shaft, broken gear drive.

Who pays if something goes south...?

Best of luck.

AKfish

Cat_Driver · Apr 17, 2009

Always a tough decision when someone wants a price on soemething done when one doesn't "normally" price that type of work.

One way to get it off your back and back onto his is say - get three honest bids from contractors and I'll beat the lowest one you get as a favor to you.

But like other have said, not being in the" business" one breakage could make YOU the one IN THE HOLE.