giving quotes on jobs

[tylertown]

Without seeing the job I couldn't tell you if it will take 30 hours or 30 days, but $2500 for 30-40 hours of operating time isn't expensive by any count. Have you ever figured actual cost per hour for your machine, fuel, maintenance, insurance, etc? What about replacement of the machine after a given number of hours? Do you have that figured into your hourly rate? You can't just throw numbers at a job and expect to be around very long.

And...How are you going to move the dirt once you've hogged it out with the mini? Another machine? Did you figure that in?

well I was going to attempt to place it in a good spot I wont have to be in later and rent a skidsteer for 8 hours at the end of the job or call a buddy with a jd w/loader.. my first job I don't know the business to well but its work. I don't do this full time. yes ins and maint fuel figured in. I was thinking maybe 30hrs at the most!

 

[dave1949]

Hope it goes well.

Take your camera along, it would be good to have a catalog of before and after pics to show future customers examples of your work.

 

[tylertown]

tyler -
You should have asked here before giving the quote and provided us some pictures. If it's anything like your trailer escapade it's liable to cost you $2500.

About the cheapest I've heard around here is $75/hr for backhoe or dozer work and that includes travel time WITH AN ADEQUATE TRAILER AND TRUCK.

I will upload some photos tomorrow! yeah id hate to be shooting to low but im trying to get experience as well as a little change in my pocket. im going to call him in the morning and go over there again. I figure the mud hole now is 20ft wide and 15ft across.. he pretty much wants 12ft more on each end and that's about it. im going to try to make it atleast 5ft deep from where I start on the sides and some in the center but I guess if I did quote him to low I will tell him you get what you pay for I guess. I did tell him I will put 20 hours in it and that's 2500 basically and if it takes longer we will have to re evaluate the cost or I will just pull off. that's why I said cost may vary. this is my first actual job I landed for someone I don't know. so im going to give it a shot.. By the way im using a friends 1 ton and equip trailer this time!! he was busy the other day

 

[tylertown]

Hope it goes well.

Take your camera along, it would be good to have a catalog of before and after pics to show future customers examples of your work.

thanks! yeah im going too