Tractor work

[oosik]

When all costs involved are considered - I don't see how anybody could cover just the operating expenses - let alone make a profit. When we first moved here I opened up a garden with my brand new Troy Bilt Horse. It was 80 x 120 and was no easy deal even with that big 'ol 8 hp rototiller. Unbroken ground can be a real tough row to hoe.

 

[Shaneard]

I know a guy who started an ad on craigslist like this a few years ago and he now does it full time and has a new truck and new cab tractor. Some people would rather pay to have it done because they don't want to buy the stuff to do it or they don't know what to get to do it or simply don't know how to do it but want a garden.

A neighbor ask me a couple years ago to plow his garden, he lives 1/2 mile away, I drove the tractor there, plowed it and he gave me $25. I told my wife it's not worth wearing the point on the plow for $25 much less driving there, burning gas/fuel etc. He came by the other day and ask me about the new to us 4630 with the loader on it, he said we have a stump that the tree people left, here's my number call me and you can push it up with your loader. I threw the number in the trash ASAP. The stump is about 20" in diameter and green, NO THANKS! I'm not tearing the tractor up, spending 2 hours trying to dig it up, tearing your yard all to pieces for $30. Call someone with a stump grinder and I'll leave my stuff at home in the shed and it won't cost me anything.

 

[MacLawn]

That boy better raise his prices quick!

 

[bigtiller]

I have been tilling gardens for 24 years. Whenever someone questions my prices, I tell them what a walk behind rental would cost them and remind them that they would have to drive 15 miles to get it, load it, unload it, till the garden, load it, drive 15 miles, unload it and drive 14 miles back home.

At $75 I doubt the guy has any insurance, so one little mishap with a sue-happy customer and he is life as he knows it could be finished.

 

[Alien]

Too cheap, I wouldn't do it for that.
Take in real life costings and it is costing him.
Wear and tear on his machine and equipment + fuel costs and I would want my labour to be worth something as well.
Minimum of $150 + travel cost or you are wasting your time and money. Ok for now but how about when you are looking for money for repairs or tractor replacement. There won't be any.

 

[TnAndy]

He came by the other day and ask me about the new to us 4630 with the loader on it, he said we have a stump that the tree people left, here's my number call me and you can push it up with your loader. I threw the number in the trash ASAP. The stump is about 20" in diameter and green, NO THANKS! I'm not tearing the tractor up, spending 2 hours trying to dig it up, tearing your yard all to pieces for $30. Call someone with a stump grinder and I'll leave my stuff at home in the shed and it won't cost me anything.

20" stump you could easily work all day and might still not get it. Tractor loader simply isn't meant to do something like that.

 

[cat fever]

Just a few random questions and something I seen advertised. I was browsing Facebook and some guy was advertising breaking gardens for people. He was charging $75 to break and till a 40ft by 60ft garden. That is within a 15 mile radius of our small town. That seems like an outrageous price to just work a garden. What do people in your area charge to work a garden? Do they charge by the job or by the hour?

It does not matter what the charge is; 10 bucks or 1000 bucks. If the client agrees to the price and gets the work he paid for, it's fair. :2cents:
After all, as a client we are all free to shop around.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I do a few gardens in the area. It's a minimum of $100 and the gardens all get done on the same day. That way I can make an efficient route and I'm not having to hook up and unhook the trailer all the time. I'll do garden's in town for less as long as I don't have to get a business licence and I can drive the tractor from garden to garden.

If someone thinks I charge too much then they can get someone else to do it or rent a tiller. I can do a far superior job over a rented tiller.

 

[TSO]

I agree that he probably doesn't have insurance if he's charging that low. And I think that anyone operating for profit without proper insurance is a fool.

Consider that a basic landscaping policy will probably start at around $600/yr and go up from there

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . As others have mentioned, tally up the associated costs including insurance and then see what you think of the price. Honestly, I wouldn't hitch up my trailer, load my tractor, secure it, drive 15 miles, till a garden, load my tractor, secure it, drive home, unload, unhitch my trailer for $75. No chance.

That's what I was thinking.

Several years ago, I had a neighbor that asked me to cut and bale his hay meadow. (about 35 acres) He was in a bind, and couldn't get anyone else to do it. We agreed on a price and I took it on. Didn't really want to, but I thought I would help him out. He was very pleased with my work. Told me that he estimated that my bales weighed almost twice what the last guy's bales weighed. Thought it was a bargain.
After two hay seasons, he wanted to me to cut the price. Didn't happen. I politely told him that he could find someone else or buy his own hay equipment. Some people don't get it.