Charging for Bush Hogging/Clearing Around Retention Ponds

[Hay Dude]

Charge by the hour, or by the job not by the acre. That way you don’t get burned. Wealthy land owners try to get me to mow by the acre. Works great for them, not so much for you.

We do a bunch of retention ponds and charge one rate to weed whack, another rate for the F-3680 and a different rate for the farm tractor with the CX-15.

Think of it this way. Let’s say you mow for $50/acre.

Property 1 is a rectangular 20 acre field and takes 5 hours. You make $1,000
Property 2 is a 20 acre maze of hills, trees, rock outcroppings, fences, etc and takes 10 hours. You make $1,000

Property 1 pays $200/hour
Property 2 was harder more stressful work and you make $100/hour.

If you have time to bid each job, that is best. Next best is by the hour. Least desirable is by the acre.

When I get a new Customer, I look at the job, estimate the time it will take and multiply that x $XXX/hour.

 

[sandman2234]

I mow 10 acres adjoining the Church with a large pond. It takes me 10 hours to do it, as long as the grass isn't too high. Last year we went from 3 cuttings to 4 because the second cutting was too hard on the tractor due to how thick it had gotten. I mow with an 8 foot bush hog twin spindle and it can get bogged down if I wait too long on that second cut.
I would go for more cuts per year, as that would help with your time incurred.
No way would I cut it for $100 an acre, but in reality I actually do, but it was calculated at a fixed dollar per hour, which is probably too cheap for someone making a living off of their business.
David from jax

 

[LD1]

Impossible to answer without seeing the property, or at least better descriptions.

Just what are these "retention ponds" like? And how big are they?

Certainly if the retention ponds only comprise ~5 acres of the 15 mowing, you arent gonna use the ventrac on the 10 easy acres?

How steep are the banks? And how long?

Are these retention ponds dry ponds and only wet when it rains hard? Or are they full of water all the time? How much does the level fluctuate?

Just too many variables. And I'd also be inclined to mow it ONCE before you enter into a contract that may screw you for 1-3 years. And whoever owns the property should understand that their property is unique. They should give you the opportunity to mow it ONCE for a set price....so you can get a handle on the scope of the work, and they can get a feel for your quality of work.

By doing it once....protects BOTH of you from being stuck in a 3 year contract. They dont want a 3-year contract with someone that does sub-par work or in general....not what they are expecting. Also keeps them from being stuck in a 3-year contract where you grossly overprice the job. Which is exactly what I would do if I were required to price it. I'd bid it pretty high due to the unknown. Then if it goes better than expected, you can dial it back and lock them in for 3 years at a price that makes you both happy

 

[Hay Dude]

Most customers would not allow a one-time “test” mowing. They want a contract offer so they can compare with other offers first, or get the contractor to commit to a low figure so they can feel like they got a great deal.
If they allow a “trial mowing” TAKE IT. Ask for a fair price, see how it goes, then decide if you need to go higher on the price knowing if you do, they might walk.

 

[LD1]

The way he is describing the job, I dont know any contractor that would bid a 1-3 year contract without grossly overbidding the job simply due to the complexity.

Maybe guess it as close as you think reasonable, but put a clause in the contract that price is subject to change after first mowing until its extablished the condition of the pond slopes and difficulties? Dont wannal lock yourself into 3- years of shooting yourself in the foot.

Just too many unknowns for us on the other side of a computer screen without seening some pictures or a satellite overhead view of the property.

I still dont know if we are talking about a 8-10' pond bank, or a 30' bank. OR if its 10° slopes or 25° slopes. Or if its wet/muddy within 8' of the water line, etc.

Maybe its a regional thing....but "retention" ponds around my parts are shallow and large. And ususally dry 90% of the year. They have like a 5-6' bank/dam/dike around them. Nothing a 7'-8' sickle mower cant walk around the top at a decent clip and get everything to the waterline. Then drop sickle and put hog on and go to town on the rest.

 

[LD1]

Also.....kinda vague when they have a certain height they want maintained.....Like say keep it 15" or less.....then want a flat price for the year.

Depending on the dirt and vegetation and growing conditions/rainfall.....how is anyone unfamiliar with the property gonna know if that requires 2 mows a season, or 7.

Just too vague of information to price it. You dont want to "assume" its only gonna need mowed twice.....then have them calling you to mow it 4-times a year because its growing fast and above their trigger and you contracted for a yearly price and not a per-mow price.

 

[tradosaurus]

I would ask who had the contract before and why they (the customer) is bidding it out again.
If possible call the previous contractor and get more information.
$12K for this offset rotary cutter.

 

[old and tired]

They need you, more than you need them, I would look for other people to work with. My guess, if you offer them a "good" (realistic) dollar amount, they would not except it. They are most likely looking for the cheapest price and lock it in. My guess, the last guy was looking forward to the end of of the contract and getting the heck out of there!!!

 

[GoldenCityMuse]

I would insist on a fuel surcharge and or inflation rider in the contract.
Real inflation is above 10% a year, if not more.

 

[stso9d]

Charge by the hour, or by the job not by the acre. That way you don’t get burned. Wealthy land owners try to get me to mow by the acre. Works great for them, not so much for you.

We do a bunch of retention ponds and charge one rate to weed whack, another rate for the F-3680 and a different rate for the farm tractor with the CX-15.

Think of it this way. Let’s say you mow for $50/acre.

Property 1 is a rectangular 20 acre field and takes 5 hours. You make $1,000
Property 2 is a 20 acre maze of hills, trees, rock outcroppings, fences, etc and takes 10 hours. You make $1,000

Property 1 pays $200/hour
Property 2 was harder more stressful work and you make $100/hour.

If you have time to bid each job, that is best. Next best is by the hour. Least desirable is by the acre.

When I get a new Customer, I look at the job, estimate the time it will take and multiply that x $XXX/hour

I know there are several threads on what to charge for bush hogging. I've read all of the recent ones and I still need help.

I'm looking at 15 acres with 5 retention ponds that's 10 miles away from the farm. None of the mowing is an unobstructed rectangle where I can mow long, straight rows. So there's lots of inefficiencies going around obstacles, turning around, etc. There's also the aspect of the retention ponds, which I've never had to mow or trim around. With the steep banks, tight turns, and wet ground I couldn't do that work with my current tractor and bush hog. I'd probably be looking at buying a Ventrac 4520 with a Tough Cut. I have a lot of other work that I could use the Ventrac for so it wouldn't be solely for this project.

I have a legitimate business. Licensed, insured for $1,000,000+, etc. This would be a contract for 1-3 years. I was initially figuring $100/acre per mow. It should only be two mows per year. Am I crazy? I'm worried that the retention ponds are a lot more work than I'm calculating and I'm going to get into a contract where I'm losing money. What do you guys charge for retention pond work?

Only way I would do a contract is allowing me to mow it first. It is only fair of the customer to agree. No way would i do it without knowing what is required. are you doing it as a favor or to make money?