LD1
Epic Contributor
Glad you got a quote accepted and hope everything works out for you. Now I'll give you my input for things going forward, but bear in mind every region is different.
I do custom mowing/bushhogging And I mow ~400-500 acres per year, with jobs ranging from really small to 30+acres each.
First, dont charge by the hour. Several reasons:
1. I have a 8' twin spindle mower and can cover alot more ground than someone with a small tractor and a 4-5' mower. So obviously I would charge more by the hour. But the customer doesnt understand the difference in capability of equipment. IE: if I charge $100/hr, and someone with a old ford tractor and 5' mower charges $70/hour...I can guarentee you I can do the job chceaper....but all the customer sees is the fact that it looks like I am charging more. Likewise if someone has a 15' batwing and charging $150/hr they are probably cheaper than me on a large acreage job.
2. If you charge by the hour.....you are gonna get watched like a hawk. Be prepared to answer questions like "why were you going so slow" or "why did you go over that area twice" or "you stopped for 15min to clean the radiator and refuel and Im not paying for that"
3.Customers tend to flip out when you start thowing around hourly figures that are easily 2x-3x what they make at their day job. Tell a customer $100/hour (and they think this is unskilled service labor) and they think thats just crazy because they are a white collar managment type that barley makes $30-$40/hr. But they have no idea the cost of doing business.
4. And lastly......if someone calls and asks "how much do you charge to mow_________________" and your reply is "I charge $xx/hr".....you can bet their next question is gonna be "how long do you think it will take". This is the customer baiting you to try and give a hard quote instead of a blank check. And if you answer "probably 3-4hrs" you for damn sure better not go over because they aint gonna be happy. You take 6hrs for some unforseen reason....they gonna be like "I thought you said 3-4 hours....I only have $XX to pay you with"
Second, Dont charge by the acre. Again, several reasons:
1. Every acre is different. An acre of smooth flat field that was just mowed two months ago is a whole lot different than an acre of CRP ground that hasnt been touched in 5 years.
2. Location. I used to advertise with a line in my advertisement that said something like "prices typically $50-$60 per acre, minimums apply, call for free quote". And trust me, I had no shortage of calls from people wanting 1/2 acre cut, 45-min drive one way. Id simply say my minimum for loading equipment is $175 (its $200now). And They'd reply "I thought your ad said $50/acre" Like seriously, did they think I was gonna mow it for $25?
Save yourself all these headaches and simply bid it by the JOB. Sounds like you did that on this one. A flat price....for better or worse. They agreed to it and you need to honor it. IF it takes you 2 hours or 10 hours doesnt matter......
Once you get a few under your belt, you get a good feel for your equipment and its limitations. Its okay to have a target per/hr price in your head....ask relevant questions when quoting:
1. Location so you can factor drive time
2. Location also allows me to look up satellite image of property as I am speaking with them so I can already be assessing the property.
3. Size/acreage. Can confirm this with satellite image and make sure I am looking at the right property. (like is your place the one with the pond in the back? and is it the field to the north of the house you want cut?)
4. When was it last mowed....(helps gauge just what I am in for. Again....something just cut "last fall" or just this spring is gonna be pretty smooth sailing as opposed to "it hasnt been mowed in several years".
Armed with all of that information....I am figuring in my head how many hours I think its is gonna take from the time I leave my house til the time I return to my house. Multiply that by my target hourly rate and I arrive at a hard flat price to quote the customer.
For a job like you describe....my price would be more in line with what haydude said. 8-acres knee to waist high I'd be figuring ~3hours to mow. 2 hours drive, and MY target is $100/hr. MY price would probably be in the $500 ballpark.
IF this is something you plan on continuing to do....you need a GOOD cutter. Not a cheap POS from tractor supply. And you NEED to get liability insurance anytime you are working off your property.
I do custom mowing/bushhogging And I mow ~400-500 acres per year, with jobs ranging from really small to 30+acres each.
First, dont charge by the hour. Several reasons:
1. I have a 8' twin spindle mower and can cover alot more ground than someone with a small tractor and a 4-5' mower. So obviously I would charge more by the hour. But the customer doesnt understand the difference in capability of equipment. IE: if I charge $100/hr, and someone with a old ford tractor and 5' mower charges $70/hour...I can guarentee you I can do the job chceaper....but all the customer sees is the fact that it looks like I am charging more. Likewise if someone has a 15' batwing and charging $150/hr they are probably cheaper than me on a large acreage job.
2. If you charge by the hour.....you are gonna get watched like a hawk. Be prepared to answer questions like "why were you going so slow" or "why did you go over that area twice" or "you stopped for 15min to clean the radiator and refuel and Im not paying for that"
3.Customers tend to flip out when you start thowing around hourly figures that are easily 2x-3x what they make at their day job. Tell a customer $100/hour (and they think this is unskilled service labor) and they think thats just crazy because they are a white collar managment type that barley makes $30-$40/hr. But they have no idea the cost of doing business.
4. And lastly......if someone calls and asks "how much do you charge to mow_________________" and your reply is "I charge $xx/hr".....you can bet their next question is gonna be "how long do you think it will take". This is the customer baiting you to try and give a hard quote instead of a blank check. And if you answer "probably 3-4hrs" you for damn sure better not go over because they aint gonna be happy. You take 6hrs for some unforseen reason....they gonna be like "I thought you said 3-4 hours....I only have $XX to pay you with"
Second, Dont charge by the acre. Again, several reasons:
1. Every acre is different. An acre of smooth flat field that was just mowed two months ago is a whole lot different than an acre of CRP ground that hasnt been touched in 5 years.
2. Location. I used to advertise with a line in my advertisement that said something like "prices typically $50-$60 per acre, minimums apply, call for free quote". And trust me, I had no shortage of calls from people wanting 1/2 acre cut, 45-min drive one way. Id simply say my minimum for loading equipment is $175 (its $200now). And They'd reply "I thought your ad said $50/acre" Like seriously, did they think I was gonna mow it for $25?
Save yourself all these headaches and simply bid it by the JOB. Sounds like you did that on this one. A flat price....for better or worse. They agreed to it and you need to honor it. IF it takes you 2 hours or 10 hours doesnt matter......
Once you get a few under your belt, you get a good feel for your equipment and its limitations. Its okay to have a target per/hr price in your head....ask relevant questions when quoting:
1. Location so you can factor drive time
2. Location also allows me to look up satellite image of property as I am speaking with them so I can already be assessing the property.
3. Size/acreage. Can confirm this with satellite image and make sure I am looking at the right property. (like is your place the one with the pond in the back? and is it the field to the north of the house you want cut?)
4. When was it last mowed....(helps gauge just what I am in for. Again....something just cut "last fall" or just this spring is gonna be pretty smooth sailing as opposed to "it hasnt been mowed in several years".
Armed with all of that information....I am figuring in my head how many hours I think its is gonna take from the time I leave my house til the time I return to my house. Multiply that by my target hourly rate and I arrive at a hard flat price to quote the customer.
For a job like you describe....my price would be more in line with what haydude said. 8-acres knee to waist high I'd be figuring ~3hours to mow. 2 hours drive, and MY target is $100/hr. MY price would probably be in the $500 ballpark.
IF this is something you plan on continuing to do....you need a GOOD cutter. Not a cheap POS from tractor supply. And you NEED to get liability insurance anytime you are working off your property.