Pricing large acreage mowing jobs

[Kyle_in_Tex]

We have many post oak trees on our 25 acres. I usually mow it with our 6' shredder (time consuming). I have in the past, hired the neighbor with his 15' batwing for $75/hour and believe it or not, he gets about 80% done in about 3 hours. I come back and mow in between and close to the trees and pond.

I would guess his price would be closer to 100/hour nowadays.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Hey Rocky, yeah, $25/acre would not be to good at 10 acres. But at 100 acres it's not too bad. I charge on a sliding scale that begins at $40/acre for up to 5 acres ($200 minimum). As the acreage increases, the price per acre decreases. This works for me for two reasons. One, I have a transport charge built into the rate and the transport charge becomes less of a factor as the acreages increases. Two, I have found that my mowing efficiency increases as the acreage increases. So far I have not been adjusting for efficiency but it could be a negotiating point on larger acreages.

Ha, I really figured I'd get dinged for being to expensive, not too cheap

Tim

If your happy that's the main thing. but If you call repairman such as A/C or plumber etc. there going to charge at least 75 dollars to just show up in a van or pickup not pulling trailer with 30 grand worth of equipment. and people don't think anything about paying it kinda makes you wonder. Gave a guy an bid of 1 acre bushhogging of 250 dollars pretty rough job he balked at price. I said ok check around and call me if you change your mind he checked on renting equipment I did job the next week. Its like this the days of the neighbor kid mowing your grass for five bucks is gone. Man I wish you well in al you do Rocky

 

[RDrancher]

Hey Tim...I think you did okay.

Rocky, here in Texas EVERYONE has a tractor...well almost. Guys will knock the dirt daubers off of their 8N and mow for beer money, or less. Besides a couple of long-time customers, the only jobs we tractor mow are the ones the cheap guys can't (or won't) do. Mesquite, steep hills, gullies, lots of rocks. Those kind of mowing jobs do pay a premium.

 

[RDrancher]

Double post.

 

[tmc_31]

Thanks John,

Yeah, I did ok with this one. But yours and Rocky's point is well taken. I have made it a point to not take a mowing job without looking at it first. I learned this the hard way. There are jobs that command a premium price. I have run across a few of them and have priced them accordingly. Some if them I have gotten and some I haven't and that is ok. My rate sheet is simply a guideline.

Tim