Agree that you need to price by the job.
Its unlikely that you will get many jobs in the way of dirt work or digging. A skidloader or mini-ex work circles around a tractor when playing in the dirt. Same way with a post hole auger. Especially if you are talking about one on the 3PH. Because those almost take two people to ensure a straight hole....AND you have no down pressure. What if you hit roots, or rocky soil, etc. I own a 3PH post hole digger. I WONT use it for hire.
Your bread and butter is likely going to be just like mine. Mowing with that rotary cutter. Maybe throw in a few driveway re-grades or spreading of some stone, but mostly mowing. Which is what I like, because when it comes to digging.....insurance needs change big time.....and alot more money. And for the very few calls I get about it, cannot justify the cost.
So when it comes to mowing....just a simple price per job. Get all the details.
Location (to figure drive time and look up a satellite view to measure or confirm the acreage)
Condition. (when was it last mowed? Just waist high weeds and grasses, or over your head briars and saplings that has been untouched for 10 years)
Acreage. (Total acreage.)
Once you have all the details, you can figure an approximate time to do the job. I figure the time it takes me from the time I pull out of my drive, til the time I return. And factor my hourly rate....and just quote the customer a flat price. And stick to it.
If you just tried to tell them $60/hr.....two problems arise. Number one....you will have the customers that feel this is just insane. As they only work for ~$20/hr at their day job....and they just dont have a clue what expenses there are in operating a business. Second problem.....if they are okay with the $60/hr.....they will ask....."how long do you think it will take". And whatever you tell them, you for **** sure better not go over....or deal with them saying "I though you said it would only take 4 hours.....not 5". And when working for the customer by the hour.......its an uneasy feeling when on the seat of the machine. Does the customer want perfect quality cut? Meaning go slow and double cut some bad areas? Or are they concerned with efficiency. Just get it knocked down and dont really care about a few stragglers that stand back up? And heaven forbid you gotta stop for 5 min to clean a radiator screen, refuel, or take a phone call.
Pricing by the acre is also a loosing proposition. Not every acre is the same. My average job works out to be about $50 per acre, all things considered. An average 5 acre job takes a few hours to mow, and an hour drive time round trip. My number is $75/hr for my equip. So I figure 3 hrs x $75 and just quote a flat $225. Larger jobs like 10-15 acres of smooth pasture grass....I can mow that fast. Might be closer to $30-$35/acre. So I used to put in my ad that "prices typically around $50 per acre." (ad also says minimums apply). Well, you'd be surprise at the number of calls I got from someone.....45 min away......that had 1 acre they wanted mowed.......and I quote my minimum of $175, and they get mad and say "I thought your ad said $50/acre"....:laughing: So I took that out of the ad.
End game....just bid by the job. Its ok to have a per-hour number that you use for figuring the job.....but the customer doesnt need to know this number. Quote them a flat price for the job........thats what they pay. Some jobs may take longer than you though, others may not take as long. But you will get better with experience.