roto-tilling

[the6shooter]

Can any of you let me know how to charge for garden tilling, I am going to purchace a 60" tiller to do gardens with.
I would like to charge a fair price for doing so.
Hopefully some of you have done this and can fill me in.
I am in the southern midwest.
thanks for the help
david

 

[BTDT]

Lot's of variables. Soil types are different, rocks, was land previously tilled/plowed, stumps, etc. etc. Your time hauling from your place to wherever your going to do the work, amount of cleanup needed before tilling (is it an abandoned pasture, with junk piles scattered through out head high grass). Good luck, maybe check with someone in the area to see what they are charging. Will you be charging by the hour, or by the acre? Insurance?

 

[Kubotasrking]

Can any of you let me know how to charge for garden tilling, I am going to purchace a 60" tiller to do gardens with.
I would like to charge a fair price for doing so.
Hopefully some of you have done this and can fill me in.
I am in the southern midwest.
thanks for the help
david

Call some local businesses and find out what they charge...decide your rate from there.

 

[2nstonge]

Like the other guys have said, pricing will be a regional thing. I do between 30-40 gardens in the spring, by garden I mean an approximate 25ft x 25ft plot. My lowest price for a cleared plot that has been tilled before is $50. Bigger gardens, virgin soil, lousy access, etc all cost more - sometimes alot more. I can make 2-3 passes thru an existing garden in 15 minutes (30 minutes if the home owner is watching and I want him to think it's harder work than it actually is!).

I start getting calls in March/April & wait until I have a several customers in the same area, that way I can do 6-8 gardens in a day without criss-crossing back and forth across town. I generally get all the gardens done in a week.

I won't get rich on it but it pays for some new equipment or annual maintenance and besides, it's just fun to get out in the warm air on the tractor after the winter. Oh, and I do have insurance. An add-on to my contractors policy that wasn't too expensive but I use the tractor for repairing gravel driveways and occasionally other construction related projects too.

-Norm

-Norm

 

[the6shooter]

Thanks guys, for the replies.
I was going to do the local gardens you know the one's, in people's back yards, say 25' x 50'. alot of people tell me they are tired of the produce prices, and starting to grow thir own.
I have a new massy 1528 w/ 60" tiller

thanks david

 

[BTDT]

I'm sure you will find plenty to keep you busy. Beware of septic lines/tanks, underground utilities and the like. Once you get a fan base, I bet you will have a lot of repeat business. Then again, it may prompt them to go get their own tractor and implements.

 

[LoneCowboy]

untilled soil needs to be ripped first. Otherwise you'll just total out your tiller real fast.
Tillers wear pretty quick even with ripping first.

I charge a $100/hour for ripping/tilling.
I can do a 30x30 plot in about 1/2 hour, (ripped, then tilled)

I also have a minimum charge if i have to truck everything over.