Brush hoggin

[GManBart]

Welcome!

Something that happens here (all forums really), is that new folks cost themselves a lot of time waiting for answers that have been posted many times before....not being mean, we've all been guilty of it You could say this topic has come up before....this is a fraction of what you can find:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-how-make-tractor-pay-itself.html#post3326222

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ow-much-charge-custom-mowing.html#post3295702

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/61482-bush-hogging-rates.html#post686426

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...esting-inquiry-about-tractor.html#post3158911

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/255084-what-charge-mowing.html#post2970372

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/252037-how-much-charge.html#post2933267

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-small-field-mowing-business.html#post2693365

 

[Egbert]

Gman - I don't have the answer to this - but - the results of searching can be highly variable. And, you can turn up conversations that are often dated.

For myself, I appreciate when someone points me to previous discussions - as you have done here. But, that doesn't necessarily mean I want to forego a new thread.

 

[LD1]

Another vote for "by the job"
BUT......playing devils advocate since I do alot of side work like this

I personally like to shoot for $50 per hour, and thats from the time I leave my house, til the time I return. But this piece of info I dont tell the customer. The customer calls me, I ask a few key questions.
1. Location
2. Acreage
3. When the last time it was done

When it was done last gives me an Idea if I am mowing just field grass, or if I am mowing 3" trees, briars patches, etc. Or anything inbetween.

With that info, I can fairly accuratly guess how long it will take me, then I just quote a flat price. And I stick to it. If it takes longer than I though, I eat it. If it takes less, I make more $ per hour. But I am usuall close. Depending on the conditions, Some I can mow @ 3 acres per hour, others slow me down to 1 acre per hour. Just depends.

Now the devils advocate part:

I have a 6' hog and 29 HP at the PTO. You know what I charge now.

You have less HP pulling the same size cutter. So you wont be able to mow as fast. AND you burn 4 gallon per hour??? (I think thats high), so right off the top, it is taking you ~$15 per hour to operate your equipment. I burn 1 gal/ per hour. And there is ALOT of competition around me. So if your area is like mine, it is going to be tough to be competitive, and still make money with your equip.

Around me, what you would need to charge per hour to be profitable with your equipment, is what guys are getting out of 8 and 10' cutters behind 60-80HP tractors.

 

[Blaneypark]

I have a Lawn Care business and do brush hogging. For the most part the charge is $1.00 per minute, or $60.00 per hour. A dollar a minute scares alot of folks for some reason. Call around to some Lawn Service places and ask what they would charge you to do an acre and see what the price is in your area.

 

[GManBart]

Gman - I don't have the answer to this - but - the results of searching can be highly variable. And, you can turn up conversations that are often dated.

For myself, I appreciate when someone points me to previous discussions - as you have done here. But, that doesn't necessarily mean I want to forego a new thread.

Gotcha. The theory that some forums subscribe to is that if you're diligent about limiting the number of threads on any particular topic, all of the information is in one place, making it easier to find. That limits dead threads, etc, etc. In other words, it's better to have one monster thread on brush hogging, than 20 small threads that aren't as complete. It also saves the time of the true experts (not me) that seem to spend a lot of time answering the same questions over, and over...how many threads do we need on R1 Vs. R4, for example?

That theory only works for things like the topic at hand. For comparisons of machines, those change as current models change, so it's a different ball of wax entirely.

The big problem is that it's sort of hard to get this trend started, because it requires work on the part of moderators to merge threads, etc....not always possible since they typically volunteer their time and efforts (which are greatly appreciated!). On some forums, I've seen experienced folks put together stickies with links to all of the prior threads on a particular topic...sometimes it's shocking how many already exists.

Anyway, that's just one theory, and I don't want to sidetrack the thread...was just throwing that out there. R,

 

[mikehaugen]

$75/hr is about what I aim for but I quote by the job... slightly more if I have to travel far. I only do it about two or three times a year and am not that great at estimating. It has worked out as low as $45 and as high as $100 per hour.

One thing I have found is that people either lie about property size or just don't know. Once you have seen the property, use google planimeter to find out actual size, unless you are good at estimating. It uses satellite images and you can trace a property and it tells you the area.

 

[LD1]

Mikehaugen: what size tractor and hog do you have that you shoot for $75/hr with??

And ditto the planimeter. That's how I estimate acreage

 

[mikehaugen]

Nothing big... about like yours- 35pto hp with 6' mower. I am not in desperate need of the money and free time is limited so I make sure it is worth my time. I don't hardly advertise so I don't get a lot of inquiries, but about half turn into a job. I don't add for my travel (just a slightly higher per hour) and most of what I get is 25-50 miles away so it doesn't work out as high as it may seem. I also usually end up doing 3 or 4 acres, if someone asked me to do 20 then I would be considerably cheaper.

I try to compare it to lawn mowing- my mom had to pay a guy to mow her 1 acre lot a couple times and he charged $80. That 1 acre lot becomes probably a half acre when you consider buildings, driveway, and a section she lets grow wild. These guys can cut grass a lot faster than I can mow brush and with smaller, easier to transport equipment and less risk.

I don't think I'm too far off because I had a guy call me and then he ended up going with a guy that was just slightly lower than me. Called me back a few days later because the other guy couldn't get it done with his equipment.

As I said, I don't seek a lot of work because (I'm sure I'll get flamed for this) I am not a legitimate business. I have thought about going legit, but I need to prove to myself that there is a market. If/ when I do, I will advertise much more aggressively, but I don't know how much I would really change my rates- I would really have to put a lot of thought into my actual expenses. I would also add some equipment, probably smaller because i get a number of people that want 1/2 acre or so done. I either way over bid or outright turn it down. I have thought about a walk behind or even higher power handheld. This is just kind of an experiment for now.

 

[LD1]

I don't add for my travel (just a slightly higher per hour) and most of what I get is 25-50 miles away so it doesn't work out as high as it may seem. I also usually end up doing 3 or 4 acres, if someone asked me to do 20 then I would be considerably cheaper.

We are probably pretty close on price then. Cause I DO shoot for $50 an hour and thats from the time I leave my drive till the time I pull back in. So that also includes loading and unloading at the persons house. And I do quite a few jobs that are an hour or so away.

I did a ~3 acre job last month. An hour drive each way and I guessed 2 hours to do the job. I quoted $200. Did the job in 2 hours as planned. So by the way you figure, it was a $100/hr job.

Did another about an hour away. Was 8-9 acres and I knew it wouldnt take long. It wasnt tall, and was a cornfield last year, so not dense at all. Guessed 4 hours. With the hour each way drive, I quoted $300. Took right at 4 hours. With your numbers, we would have been spot on.

My biggest competition is the guys with a $2000 tractor and bushhog combo working for beer money and charging $25 per hour with a $50 minimum. I wont load my tractor on the trailer for less than $150.

 

[mikehaugen]

I wont load my tractor on the trailer for less than $150.

Me neither, that's why I don't usually get the 1/2 acre jobs :d