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.