Pricing bushog jobs?

[EasyE]

I just purchased a 4' bushog for my JD2305. I have a commercial mowing business and I needed it for a undeveloped piece of property I maintain but, I don't know how to charge for bushog work? Do I charge by the hour or by the acre?

 

[Soundguy]

Look in your local paper and see what other tractor services charge by. Here in florida.. most trractor services charge by the hour whether it is hogging, disc, plow.. seed.. etc. Plus a delivery fee.

A 4' hog is a tad small.. most here that do comercial hogging use a 6' unit.

You will have to keep that in mind when setting prices.

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I just purchased a 4' bushog for my JD2305. I have a commercial mowing business and I needed it for a undeveloped piece of property I maintain but, I don't know how to charge for bushog work? Do I charge by the hour or by the acre?

Going rates here are generally based on tractor size, figuring mower size is relative to tractor power. Prices seem to be around $1.25 to $1.50 per tractor HP. (i.e. 40 HP= $50 to $60 pr. hr.) That'll be with a 6' mower.

Some local contractors cut bigger tracts with bigger tractor/mowers for a "per acre" rate. That ends up being around $18 to $20 an acre, with a "big tract" being 25 acres or more generally.

"By the job" prices are in line with per hr. rates for the most part.

A buddy of mine cuts smaller lots with a Kubota 7515 (???) and a 4' mower. He gets $40 pr. hr.

 

[greenthumb]

I used to advertise for brushogging in the local paper then got to busy to keep up( with other things). I still have a few people who call each year from past jobs. I charge $100 for the 1st hour and $85 for each there after. with a $100 being the minimum charge I feel like I am robbing after those prices mentioned in the above post. I have not had anyone bat an eye yet. I guess it is still cheaper than buy or renting your own machine. Not a bad way to keep a little fun money each summer

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I used to advertise for brushogging in the local paper then got to busy to keep up( with other things). I still have a few people who call each year from past jobs. I charge $100 for the 1st hour and $85 for each there after. with a $100 being the minimum charge I feel like I am robbing after those prices mentioned in the above post. I have not had anyone bat an eye yet. I guess it is still cheaper than buy or renting your own machine. Not a bad way to keep a little fun money each summer

One bit of info I need to post with ANY pricing subject. This area is one of the cheapest places in the U.S. in which to live. (except for gas) Houses that would sell in other parts of the country in the $200,000 range typically sell for $125,000 to $140,000. Pay scales are lower than national average, but it all equals out in the end. You ask $100 per hour for a 40HP tractor and 6' hog here and you'll get chased down the driveway with a big stick!

And a further note, I wouldn't do someone elses mowing for $50 an hour, but there's a raft of folks that will.

 

[RonR]

As someone that is trying to do a side biz with a Bota BX, I figure that if I don't make $50-60/hr, I don't want the jobs, and I'm providing my labor for free.

I try to figure the time it will take, then give a fixed price based on $60/hr plus a little more for travel.

I don't do bushhogging, but would add in something for risk of damage to equipment if I did that.

Ron

 

[JJT]

As someone that is trying to do a side biz with a Bota BX, I figure that if I don't make $50-60/hr, I don't want the jobs, and I'm providing my labor for free.

I try to figure the time it will take, then give a fixed price based on $60/hr plus a little more for travel.

I don't do bushhogging, but would add in something for risk of damage to equipment if I did that.

Ron

$60/hr for BX work? That would never fly here, (upstate/central NY). I have neighbors that get less for much bigger equipment. I'd be happy with that rate on my L3710, but don't get it.

 

[EasyE]

Look in your local paper and see what other tractor services charge by. Here in florida.. most trractor services charge by the hour whether it is hogging, disc, plow.. seed.. etc. Plus a delivery fee.

A 4' hog is a tad small.. most here that do comercial hogging use a 6' unit.

You will have to keep that in mind when setting prices.

Soundguy

Soundguy, yeah I agree with the 4' hog being small but on a JD2305 that is as big as I could go so, I'm stuck in that aspect. It looks like from the other post I may want to charge by the hour. Thanks,

 

[lawn_king]

We get $75. per hour for a 30 hp tractor with a landpride rotary cutter.

 

[DmansPadge]

In Southeast Texas... hogging with a 6' hog will get about $35-40 an hour.