Brush hoggin

[Farmall97]

I'm looking at starting a brush hogging business on the side. I'm going to use a farmall H with a 6FT brush hog. It's burns about 4 gallons an hour while its working. Where I'm at fuel is 3.49 a gallon right now. My question is do I charge by the hour or by the acre? And
How much do I charge? I've seen anything from $35 to $75 an hour and $50 to $200 per acre. I don't want to scare any one away with high prices but I
Also don't want to sell my self short. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[bcp]

Customer's viewpoint:

If you charge by the hour, the customer will not know at the start their final job cost, and will suspect you are going slow.

If you charge by the job, the customer knows their cost, and you will get better and better at estimating costs beforehand.



Bruce

 

[Farmall97]

So about how much should I charge per job? I'm assuming
It's by the acre?

- Nic

 

[bcp]

Some acres will be much easier than others. I don't think a flat rate per acre would work.

How much? Can't help you there. Depends on local costs, conditions, and competition.

Bruce

 

[PANHAPP]

If you get more of that $200 per acre stuff then you can handle give me a call.

Pan

 

[xring100]

Some acres will be much easier than others. I don't think a flat rate per acre would work.

Perfect ! very true a smooth open field like my neighbors mows more than twice a fast as my yard too many obstacles and tight places to mow flat out very much

 

[xring100]

I can mow my neighbors 5acre field at between 5 and 6 mph with very little stopping or backing up one cluster of trees and one bolder to mow around. my 5-6 field gets mowed at somewhere between 2 and 4 mph never in high range and hundreds of direction changes. Ive been working on thinning out box elders to make it easier

 

[xring100]

I usually try to guesstimate close to $75 an hour. But would quote a definitive number. Or you could quote an upper limit of what you would charge and offer an hourly rate charge the lower of the 2 amounts

 

[MESSMAKER]

Four gallons an hour is pretty high fuel usage. I think you would need $65-$75 per hour at least. You can quote it by the job, but you will miss some when you are getting started. Don't be afraid to walk the property to get a feel for the job and you can step it off to calculate acreage. Don't be afraid to charge more for tough jobs . I charge $2 per mile hauling fee and $50-$100 per hour($50 for most) for a 4wd tractor and 5 foot cutter. You can always cut them a deal if it goes really easy , but it is all but impossible to charge more if you do it by the job. I find price does not matter as much as being dependable and honest for the majority of customers.

Their is no misery like mowing a couple hours for free due to a misquote on price.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

I work by the hour and tell the customer before I start to feel free to stop me and the job anytime they feel its taking more time/money than what they planned on. :wave: