brush hog hourly rate

leonardo · Apr 22, 2012

need some input please as to an hourly rate to charge for brush hogging. there is a guy in my area that was charging $45/hr last year with a 2 hour minimum. i was thinking $50-$60/hr was more in line, considering fuel prices and what i have invested in equipment. also what is a fair mileage charge to get the equipment on site. thanks for any input.

smstonypoint · Apr 22, 2012

"How much to charge?" is a recurring question on TBN. I expect that if history repeats itself, several folks will respond with what they charge. If not, do a search here and you will find a range of charges.

IMO, you need to figure out your variable (operating) and fixed (ownership) costs in order to answer your question. As part of this exercise, you need to place a value on your time. You also need to determine what you want to obtain in the way of a profit.

Let's say that you come up with $60/hour, but your competition is quoting $45/hour. (Some (many?) folks don't know their costs and do not charge enough to cover both their variable and fixed costs and will eventually go out of business.) You may be able to obtain customers at your higher rate by offering superior services. If so, great. If not, you can charge a price that will hopefully cover your variable costs and at least a portion of your fixed costs in the short run. If you can't cover your variable costs, forget about it.

A "fair" price to you is one that covers your costs and gives you a profit. Your customers may have a different idea of what constitutes "fair."

Steve

raptor749 · Apr 22, 2012

I charge $55.00 to $60.00 an hour. B7800 w/ 4' rc mower. If there close ! , if not you need to add more for travel time and fuel . Some people around here charge a 4 hour min. even if it only takes 1.5 hours . And I take my time to do the best possible job. I have to suit myself , if i dont like it , the customer won't like it either. Just my 2cents. Good luck.

hosspuller · Apr 22, 2012

Size of your equipment makes a difference in an hourly charge. 14 foot batwing cuts a lot more than a 5' bushog behind a CUT.

And cost more to operate... Plus your labor charge.

Plus ... an abandoned field has lots of unknowns...stumps, holes, hidden junk. Could be very costly and dangerous. VS a field you do regularly.

Nothing is quite as simple as your question.

Carykong · Apr 22, 2012

what to charge for bush hogging? This subject has received a huge amount of attention at TractorByNet. Just search "mowing" and enjoy the posts. There is a poster,"FarmWithJunk" that has a professional mowing business and has shared plenty of wisdom on the correct pricing for mowing service. Good luck.

DIRTROAD · Apr 23, 2012

smstonypoint hit the nail on the head with his answer. Variable costs vary in total dollar amount as the level of activity changes. Fixed costs tend to remain unchanged, regardless of the variations in activity level. If you are unable to cover either of these, you are better off sitting at the house rather than working just to occupy your time. Price each job so that you are making a set percentage profit over and above your fixed and variable costs.