Side jobs with your tractor

[Industrial Toys]

I have a Harley 8 foot rake. I never know when to stop. The first pass is always the most impressive and then it's a case of diminishing returns. I guess if it's hourly, you can ask, is that good enough, but often the person paying the bill, isn't around.

On a side note, I guess you could also argue the merits of bringing in top soil vs Harley raking.

 

[ededic]

We should all have insurance to cover our tractors and us using them even if you are doing good deeds or being a good neighbor. If you get hurt it may not be you that sues. It will be an insurance company or hospital that is looking to recoup a loss. Can make a good deed turn into a lost friendship or ugly situation and you did not initiate except for a good deed.

 

[Torvy]

Insurance! Make sure you are up front with the agent about the commercial work. If you, God forbid, have a problem while on a job and have just a home/farm policy, they can (and will) deny coverage.

 

[oosik]

I have neighbors who ARE NOT a joy to deal with socially. There is no way I would want to get involved with any of them - on any type of commercial venture. I'm just very pleased to work on my own property and deal with any problems I might encounter here. For me - life is too short to be dealing with commercial squabbles.

 

[bdhsfz6]

When I bought my Kubota B7100 with FEL & hoe back in 1979, sub compact tractors were just becoming popular. I bought it mainly for excavating around the house I was building. While I was digging the trench for the underground electric service, an electrician, who was passing by, stopped to look at the small machine. He had a few trenching jobs in tight locations and asked if I would be interested in sub contracting for him. That got me started in the contracting business.

A similar thing happened when I was digging a septic system perc pit for a neighbor. The local sewer inspector was impressed by the little tractor and I wound up working for him part time as well.

I never started an official business and didn't advertise, but word of mouth brought a lot of work my way. I was always covered by the insurance of the contractor I was subbing for, so my overhead was quite low. My biggest expense was buying an old trailer to haul the tractor around. At one point, I was so busy, I considered quitting my day job.

I'm glad I didn't though, since in the next few years, sub compact tractors became more popular. Eventually, around here anyway, it seemed like everybody had one and the demand for my services dried up.

 

[Yander]

I do a little side work but I limit it to low risk things like garden tilling, yard grading and leveling, driveway grading and bushhogging and small jobs at that. I turned down a job last week because it was too large and my equipment was too small. I wouldn't use a backhoe at another persons property if I didn't have experience and a lot of insurance. Way too many risks with using a backhoe.

As others have said, don't work for cheap. I have a $150 minimum and unless it is a neighbor or they have close neighbors, that I don't have to trailer, to I won't bend from that minimum. Don't go doing work for $50 or you are losing money. I'm not really making a lot of money at the minimum I set. I don't make a living at it, just gets me out of the house since I work from home.

I have a small yard grading and and a tilling job (Waiting ground to dry out) that will probably take me about 5 or 6 hours combined and have already quoted them a total of $500 for the two jobs and both were fine with that. Just to give you some idea. I have a small tractor or I would have higher prices.

 

[kneedeep]

My new neighbor asked me to disk his newly mowed grown up acre to plant a new food plot.
We agreed on $50/ac.
He was upset when it took 10 times over the acre to even see dirt
My charge was $500.
I did tell him one trip with planter @ $75/ac.
He went and bought his own equipment .

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I was quoted about $700 to open one acre of virgin clay loam sod. I then realized I'd need to till that several times each year for planting, so I bought a tractor and tiller. Each year I save over $1000 by doing the job myself, and I have fun. I'd do side jobs, but some people will want something for nothing.

 

[kozal01]

I bought the tractor for my use but since I have it neighbors and friends have asked for favors. I usually just do it because I enjoy my seat time and we all take care of each other. Its nice to know though that if SHTF I have my tractor, lawn equipment, saws and hand tools that can all make me money if need be. For now its just for fun.