jsthomas44
New member
How much should I charge per hr. for compact tractor, front bucket and box blade work?
charging per hr.
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LD1
Epic Contributor
To get the most accurate response, you are probably gonna need to provide more information.
And even then, I dislike charging by the hour and prefer to charge "by the job". Imagine this: Customer calls you up and wants to hire you. You look at the job to see if you can handle the work, and the customers asks "what do you charge". You reply "$XX" per hour. Customer pauses a few seconds....then asks "well how long do you think it will take".......At this point, if you choose to respond with an estimated time, you for darn sure better not go over.....or the customer is gonna likely be upset and not hire you again. And if you dont respond......how does the customer have any idea weather they are looking at an hours worth of work, or 10 hours worth of work..........
And when you charge hourly........you will have a customer want to be watching you like a hawk. Maybe thinking you are going too slow, or taking too long of a break on purpose just to run the bill up....
So, if you still insist on charging by the hour, by all means go for it. But whats your background? How skilled of an operator are you? Just got your first tractor last year? or been on them all your life? And CUT covers a pretty broad range from 2000lb 25HP machines to ~50HP 6000lb machines. Obviously there is a big difference in what they can do and operating costs.
Do you have business insurance and doing this legit? Or are you an under-the-table operation? How are you going to calculate transporting the equipment/milage to/from job?
There is a lot involved. When I am doing work for hire, I see what needs done, then bid the job. Just a total price of XX for me to do job YY. End of story. When the job is done, if job YY was completed to customers satisfaction, there is no issue handing over $XX. When I bid a job, for my 34HP tractor, my target is $50-$60/hr. But also have minimums and factor in drive time.
Assuming you are talking about your SC221 and you are a decent operator.....maybe $40/hr. But that could be too high or too low. Just depends on what the competition in your area is, and what the market will bear, and just what types of work you are versed at doing.
And even then, I dislike charging by the hour and prefer to charge "by the job". Imagine this: Customer calls you up and wants to hire you. You look at the job to see if you can handle the work, and the customers asks "what do you charge". You reply "$XX" per hour. Customer pauses a few seconds....then asks "well how long do you think it will take".......At this point, if you choose to respond with an estimated time, you for darn sure better not go over.....or the customer is gonna likely be upset and not hire you again. And if you dont respond......how does the customer have any idea weather they are looking at an hours worth of work, or 10 hours worth of work..........
And when you charge hourly........you will have a customer want to be watching you like a hawk. Maybe thinking you are going too slow, or taking too long of a break on purpose just to run the bill up....
So, if you still insist on charging by the hour, by all means go for it. But whats your background? How skilled of an operator are you? Just got your first tractor last year? or been on them all your life? And CUT covers a pretty broad range from 2000lb 25HP machines to ~50HP 6000lb machines. Obviously there is a big difference in what they can do and operating costs.
Do you have business insurance and doing this legit? Or are you an under-the-table operation? How are you going to calculate transporting the equipment/milage to/from job?
There is a lot involved. When I am doing work for hire, I see what needs done, then bid the job. Just a total price of XX for me to do job YY. End of story. When the job is done, if job YY was completed to customers satisfaction, there is no issue handing over $XX. When I bid a job, for my 34HP tractor, my target is $50-$60/hr. But also have minimums and factor in drive time.
Assuming you are talking about your SC221 and you are a decent operator.....maybe $40/hr. But that could be too high or too low. Just depends on what the competition in your area is, and what the market will bear, and just what types of work you are versed at doing.
Sprinklerman
Platinum Member
Prices are regional to start with . What I get here in the Balto Wash suburbs is MUCH more than someone will get in northern Pa. What LD1 said is all true read it twice . There is very little money in doing dirt work "by the hour" its just like plowing snow by the hour . Bid the job , grading , raking seeding and straw for one money . Thats where you make it . Now some jobs you do have to give an hourly price , I charge xxxx for the tractor then an additional amount which is different for the implement . I tell them I bill in 4 hour increments and that includes travel time . When I am done I am done .
If you are good , real good working by the hour you sell yourself short . I can put a final grade on a 1/3 acre lot around me , rake , seed , fert and straw in 5 to 6 hours solo average . (sandy soil) This is about a 3 grand job materials included . Another guy does work for the same builder gets the same money but he uses a toro dingo and 2 labors , takes him 2 days to do the same thing .
If you are good , real good working by the hour you sell yourself short . I can put a final grade on a 1/3 acre lot around me , rake , seed , fert and straw in 5 to 6 hours solo average . (sandy soil) This is about a 3 grand job materials included . Another guy does work for the same builder gets the same money but he uses a toro dingo and 2 labors , takes him 2 days to do the same thing .
roadhunter
Elite Member
For skid steer work I usually figure around $75 per hour on a construction site. For a Cut I'd guess it woudl be worth a little less in most cases depending on the situation. The kicker is the Mob. Loading, chaining, driving, etc... that has to be accounted for if you value your time and do lots of small jobs.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I bid everything, have not worked for an hourly rate in years. If you are a good operator you will be able to do the job better and faster than a novice. If you do good work in most cases there isn't a problem getting paid in my experience. You will quickly figure out what is a fair price to charge and it varies tremendously with the work and services performed. If the customers agree with you then you will have work.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I once read somewhere that an education costs something. To figure out what you can make, and how to bid a job will cost you something to learn this. Go into it expecting some time to learn what the market will pay in your area for what you have to offer and know that it is probably less then you where hoping for. Then in time, decide if you are wasting your time or if the profit is enough to keep doing it.
Start off by bidding the entire job and if you get the job, never mention money again to the client and accept payment with a smile on your face regardless of how far off you where.
Start off by bidding the entire job and if you get the job, never mention money again to the client and accept payment with a smile on your face regardless of how far off you where.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
I agree with Eddie on this^^^ and some very good points made.
If you agree to do specific work for a price then stick to it without changing. If the customer adds work then negotiate the change order before proceeding.
If you think you bid the job too cheap then remember this and apply this experience to your future bidding. Believe me you will learn how to bid work quickly this way.
Sprinklerman
Platinum Member
Thats how I learned
TSO
Elite Member
That's how I leaned also - experience is extremely important. Go bid some jobs and learn from there.