What do you charge for your services?

High Compression · Apr 13, 2012

pjbci said:
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 · Apr 13, 2012

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 · Apr 13, 2012

the6shooter said:
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 · Apr 13, 2012

High Compression said:
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 · Apr 13, 2012

pjbci said:
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 · Apr 13, 2012

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

galaxie428 · Apr 13, 2012

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 · Apr 13, 2012

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 · Apr 14, 2012

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 · Apr 14, 2012

sparc said:
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.