Mowing Some people...

STx · Sep 17, 2015

I do some contract mowing but only smaller stuff, 2 - 15 acres, as I've only got a 6' cutter. Yesterday a guy contacted me about doing ROW mowing totaling about 400 acres 4 times per year. It would require a 45' ROW so it's really a job for 3 or 4 100 HP +/- tractors with 15' batwings. I don't have the equipment but figure if the job can be profitable enough, I'll make the investment so I ask him what he's looking to pay per acre or per cut. He comes back with he'll pay $200 PER DAY for the tractor and operator and $100 PER DAY for a worker and line trimmer to do the trimming.

He must be on crack. My operating costs for my TC40 are about $20/hr for fuel, maintenance and repairs, without even considering the cost of the tow vehicle and trailer. I can't imagine he's going to be able to find anyone to do that work at those prices and can't imagine how he came to them and thinks they're fair. Anybody that would run a 100HP machine and 15' batwing for $200/day would be money ahead to just stay in bed, there's no way that's going to cover their operating costs, much less leave any money to pay an operator (remember the need 3 - 4 machines running at a time) or make a profit. You'd need more like $1,000/day (or $125/hr).

I haven't responded to him, I don't really know how to do so politely...

GPintheMitten · Sep 17, 2015

Just say no thank you.

SPYDERLK · Sep 17, 2015

STx said:
I do some contract mowing but only smaller stuff, 2 - 15 acres, as I've only got a 6' cutter. Yesterday a guy contacted me about doing ROW mowing totaling about 400 acres 4 times per year. It would require a 45' ROW so it's really a job for 3 or 4 100 HP +/- tractors with 15' batwings. I don't have the equipment but figure if the job can be profitable enough, I'll make the investment so I ask him what he's looking to pay per acre or per cut. He comes back with he'll pay $200 PER DAY for the tractor and operator and $100 PER DAY for a worker and line trimmer to do the trimming.

He must be on crack. My operating costs for my TC40 are about $20/hr for fuel, maintenance and repairs, without even considering the cost of the tow vehicle and trailer. I can't imagine he's going to be able to find anyone to do that work at those prices and can't imagine how he came to them and thinks they're fair. Anybody that would run a 100HP machine and 15' batwing for $200/day would be money ahead to just stay in bed, there's no way that's going to cover their operating costs, much less leave any money to pay an operator (remember the need 3 - 4 machines running at a time) or make a profit. You'd need more like $1,000/day (or $125/hr).

I haven't responded to him, I don't really know how to do so politely...

Dont do it politely

Kyle_in_Tex · Sep 17, 2015

sounds like the guy is trying to be a middle man and just make money with out doing anything.

STx · Sep 17, 2015

He is but that doesn't mean you try to pay people less than their costs. Our main business is residential lawn care and we use sub-contractors to do the actual work. I pay them more than this guy is offering to mow regular neighborhood lots, most of my subs with 2 guys are making $400 - $500 per day and don't have near the equipment or fuel overhead that this would require. I don't have a problem with people subbing work but it needs to be a profitable arrangement for everyone, not someone taking advantage of others.

He said they're doing the work themselves right now so I know they know what the operating costs are. $200/day is what I would expect to get paid to come drive your tractor, not for me to bring mine, feed it, maintain it and repair what's going to get broken.

wcampbell47 · Sep 18, 2015

I considered something like this a couple of years back. The reading I did indicated that jurisdictions that let the contracts talk a lot about contract price using per lane mile and center line mile bids. In Texas the DOT lets these contracts and actually has them laid out by roadways. I was looking at ROW mowing for a small private subdivision with 21 miles of roadway. I mowed some for them. I found ROW mowing to be much different than lot mowing which is what I was doing mostly.

Look into this closely as to DOT rules and regulations for ROW contractors. You may have to put out signs etc.

MF283 · Sep 18, 2015

Like you, i used to mow for a residential builder years ago, had a guy stop one day & ask if i was interested in mowing 200 acres , he took me to look at it, i just told him i didn't have the equipment to handle what he wanted done & what it would cost me to get the equipment. He had no idea & said WOW.
Ronnie

Ed of all trades · Sep 18, 2015

Ask him for his social security number so you can claim him on your taxes.:cool2:

STx · Sep 18, 2015

Ed of all trades said:
Ask him for his social security number so you can claim him on your taxes.:cool2:

Best answer yet, he would definitely be a dependent if I took the job at his prices.

meos1 · Sep 18, 2015

The most polite way to decline a job is by pricing it high as a response. For example "That's not in line with our typical pricing and would not come close to meeting our overhead. Our baseline service is 287.37/hr with a 3% fuel surcharge. Let me know if you are still interested. We would be happy to help."