Mowing With Own Equipment For Extra Cash (Good or Bad)

[jeff9366]

After owning three tractors I figure my tractor-loader operating cost, including depreciation but WITHOUT insurance, at $30 per hour. Depreciation on implements additional. Insurance additional. Transportation additional.

 

[TerryR]

After owning three tractors I figure my tractor-loader operating cost, including depreciation but WITHOUT insurance at $30 per hour. Depreciation on implements additional. Insurance additional. Transportation additional.

And compensation for you time additional? Profit additional? Without them, what's the point?

Terry

 

[jeff9366]

In a rational business model you must determine your costs before setting a price.

After owning three tractors I figure my tractor-loader operating cost at $30 per hour.

While I know my costs, I work only for myself; nothing outside.

 

[TerryR]

While I know my costs, I work only for myself; nothing outside.

I was speaking to the OP, who said he was interested in earning some spending money. My point was that to do that he would have to add something to the costs you described in order to earn anything.

Terry

 

[TSO]

After you do a good number of jobs, you'll be able to determine what is an acceptable price... both for the customer, and for yourself. And you'll learn pretty quickly...

Personally, I won't typically work for less than $50/hr profit (after I account for fuel, travel, equipment costs, etc)... And $50 is even low in some cases.

Remember, many "tractor" related jobs require equipment that most folks don't have, and/or don't have experience with (in the case of renting equipment). I've had jobs where I've charged folks more than their cost would have been to rent equipment to do the jobs themselves... but they've said "I'd rather have you do it right than me spend all day trying to figure it out, & maybe not do as good of a job".

And yes, I wouldn't do any of it without a good insurance policy. I have my equipment all covered, and $1mil in liability, just in case.

Good luck!

 

[Deere Dude]

When I was younger 35 years ago I was going to begin a rototilling service. The first job was a garden. $15.00 per hour.

I loaded the tractor then transported the garden tractor tractor 10 minutes into town. I unloaded it, went to the small garden and got stuck. After an hour of sweating I finally got out. I finished the garden which took an hour. I loaded the tractor and gave the guy the bill for $15.00. The owner asked if I would knock a few dollars off. That is my one and only job and only business venture with my equipment.

But if a friend wants something done, no problem. It would probably be free.
I would rather have problems helping somebody out doing a free bit of work than as a job or business.

 

[k0ua]

When I was younger 35 years ago I was going to begin a rototilling service. The first job was a garden. $15.00 per hour.

I loaded the tractor then transported the garden tractor tractor 10 minutes into town. I unloaded it, went to the small garden and got stuck. After an hour of sweating I finally got out. I finished the garden which took an hour. I loaded the tractor and gave the guy the bill for $15.00. The owner asked if I would knock a few dollars off. That is my one and only job and only business venture with my equipment.

But if a friend wants something done, no problem. It would probably be free.
I would rather have problems helping somebody out doing a free bit of work than as a job or business.

You should have told the guy, hang on for just a minute and I will do it for free.. go unload tractor again, and take FEL and scrape all of his topsoil into a big pile on one end of the garden, and go back and tell him "no charge" "buddy". Geez the nerve of some people. When I hire someone to do a job, and I see they are having a hard time, or it is taking longer than they thought, I usually get out some extra money and pay them MORE than they asked for. Unless they just did a terrible job or something, but if I want them to come back ever, I darn sure make sure they made some money on the job. I have done this several times with tradesmen and believe me it pays off in quality of work, and when it comes to them choosing a guy like me or a guy like you described when they are busy, who do you think the tradesman is going to service first?

Most tradesmen will appreciate you taking care of them and looking out for their welfare. I hate cheap bastich's that try to beat you out of the last dollar. They are penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've done a few mowing jobs for realtors who want to clean up a property that they have listed. It's always been pretty easy money, but not really something that I pursue. They also send other work my way that I like and I can make a lot more money on, so it's more of a favor to them. Like others have mentioned, the unknowns about the area to mow is what kills you. Garbage, pipes and random wires coming out of the ground are all very common. Things that somebody started, then gave up on, or something that was torn down years ago are all over the place. For me, it's just not worth it when I can make money doing something easier like painting or sheetrock or tile.

Eddie

 

[flusher]

I nearly rolled my 5525 mowing a neighbor's field as a favor (he paid for the diesel). Weeds were chest high and I hit an irrigation ditch hidden in the weeds. It's always a good idea to walk the field before mowing--but sometimes that's not possible (e.g. tall weeds).

Proceed with caution.

Good luck.

 

[TomSeller]

I nearly rolled my 5525 mowing a neighbor's field as a favor (he paid for the diesel). Weeds were chest high and I hit an irrigation ditch hidden in the weeds. It's always a good idea to walk the field before mowing--but sometimes that's not possible (e.g. tall weeds).

Proceed with caution.

Good luck.

I nearly did the same last year clearing brush with a drop off I did not know about on my own land.