How much to charge for backhoe work and RIG welding

[newbury]

How about arborist work. I figured my labor + chainsaw was worth at least $30 per hour. <snip>

Once you get more than about 10 feet off the ground prices escalate geometrically, especially if you have to avoid obstacles like buildings. LOT's of people don't like being 50 foot up in a tree cutting branches with a chain saw.

 

[rbtjr]

I'll put in my 2 cents worth: $300 for 8 hours is $37.50/hour, including the use of equipment and whatever supplies were consumed. I am assuming that the 8 hours is legit--i.e., that you kept after it, didn't have a lot of breaks or downtime or interruptions, etc. I am also assuming that the work was well done. In our area in south Piedmont NC, I would be happy to pay someone $300 for the full day's work you describe. The range of charges here is great. I think that I might have found someone to say they would do what you did for maybe $20/hour. I would not have been surprised at a quote of $60-70/hour with the equipment involved and the welding knowledge. Above that, I would have been surprised. So, if I were the buyer in this equation, I would be glad to pay the $300, especially in a barter. In fact, my only concern as the buyer would be to make sure that you were happy with your side of the deal. Our philosophy about doing business is that we want both sides to have a good outcome and be happy with the deal. Really good long-term relationships are much better in all respects than short-term bargains or short-term money grabs.

 

[ErikVann]

If there is a chance you may do work for this guy in the future on other projects, you should establish a good profitable fee structure for yourself. One that includes operating costs, insurance costs, transportation,maintenance, etc. that is if you are interested in doing more work for him or others. Don't sell yourself short. You'll go broke quick if you are trying to operate your equipment on $300/day. The costs of doing business are always more than they should be. Doing neighborly chores for folks down the road is one thing but doing a solid 8hr days work of skilled labor, using your own equipment for a business owner/investor is a different ball game. Get paid for your time!

 

[MESSMAKER]

Given the scope and range of work, all requiring different equip an skills, but totaling 8hrs, I somewhere in the $300 ballpark sounds fair.

I agree

 

[Gary Fowler]

Using guidelines from TBN members I have decided that $65 per hour for welding, $60 for backhoe and $30 for chain sawing would be about right. That comes to $405 total. That figure I think is over 50% lower than he could have a professional do it for. Most everyone wants minimum of 4 hours work to warrant moving their equipment. Full sized backhoe runs about $70 per hour.
I think that this is way better pricing for him than he would get anywhere else.

 

[LD1]

If you feel you did $405 worth of work, and he is happy with that on barter terms, nothing wrong with that.

I think the per/hr rate for welding is a bit high. Not as much overhead as the backhoe, and I'd say skill level to be proficient is comparable. I am not a pro welder, neither am I a pro backhoe operator. But I'd charge more for backhoe work than I would to weld something up for somebody. Unless I had a mobile welding truck and tons of overhead. But sounds like you used a few bucks of wire and a set of torches.