What Do I Charge for Tractor Work?

[Travis_R]

Didn't know where else to post this topic. Hopefully it's the appropriate forum...

I'm in South Louisiana and was wondering what I should charge for bush hogging, repairing gravel driveways, and spreading dirt? Also, right before deer season I could bush hog and disk food plots for people. What should I charge?

I have a 38 hp Massey Ferguson 2 wheel drive tractor (with no front end loader), a 5' medium duty Bush Hog, 5.5' grader box, and a 6.5' set of gang disks.

I MUST be fair to people and WILL give them the work they pay for. But it takes money to keep and maintain equipment also.

What is the "going rate" down here?

Thank You!

 

[TripleR]

There are several threads on this, I don't know a figure around here just about everyone has a tractor and you would starve to death doing custom work.

Maybe these will help, check search for more. Good luck.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/190026-brush-hogging-rates.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/mid-atlantic-southeast/175676-rates-tractor-work.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/177039-bush-hogging-rates-2010-a.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/104544-price-per-acre-bush-hogging.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/9059-bush-hogging-prices.html

 

[RoyJackson]

Don't forget to calculate your transporting costs (loading and unloading the trailer...jobsite to jobsite fuel and time) when bidding a job.

 

[thavil]

If you don't already have it, you may want to buy some liability insurance. People are sue happy nowadays.

 

[two_bit_score]

Didn't know where else to post this topic. Hopefully it's the appropriate forum...

I'm in South Louisiana and was wondering what I should charge for bush hogging, repairing gravel driveways, and spreading dirt? Also, right before deer season I could bush hog and disk food plots for people. What should I charge?



Thank You!

I think you should charge $10 per hour if I am paying you.

 

[jwatt51]

I live in the northeast and have a BX25.I put an ad on craigslist and have gotten a lot of jobs through it. I charge $320 a day with a $200 min. I do mostly clearing brush,leveling for pools or patios and some stump digging,to a certain size.I listed it as a small tractor that will fit through a 5ft.opening and that it has turf tires,so it will be easy on existing lawns. I've picked up quite a few jobs just from word of mouth from others I did work for. I hope this helped.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I get a $45 per hour +$2.00 a mile for transport. Tractor,loader,bush hog.

 

[Travis_R]

WOW! Thanks for the replies fellas. I haven't been on my computer for a couple days, sorry for the delayed response...

I know I need insurance, but haven't got any business yet. Once I get enough I'll definately get the insurance. Do you think it's better to charge by the hour or by the job? I told somebody the other day that I charge by the job.

What would you charge to bush hog 10 acres of pasture that's about 2 ft. high with some trees to go around, that's about 15 miles away?

Again, Thanks for the replies!

 

[Mounted Madness]

With my BX24, I was charging $50/hour and I've kept that rate with my B3030. I charge by the hour or part, simply because it's sometimes difficult to determine how long the job is going to take until you're into it. Ballpark numbers are available if asked, but I stress it's ballpark.
When factoring transport, the charge clock starts from the moment I leave my house (ie: 1/2 hour to get there costs $25). I figure that covers fuel and time fairly well.
As previously mentioned, get insurance asap. Talk to your insurance broker and tell him what your doing. If they don't understand, go somewhere else and get a quote.
And finally, good luck - paid seat time is best :thumbsup:

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I estimate net cost to be $50 per hour. When bushing have got into on wagon frames, harrows, chopped up concrete blocks. Now if you do the same place over and over it is different.

 

[djw250]

A fellow that I know in the Gonzales, LA area charges $60/hr. from the time he leaves his shop until the time he leaves the job. I believe he has a $200 minimum. He has a business license and insurance. Hope that helps.

 

[Travis_R]

Ok, I have to go look at 30 acres to bush hog in the next couple days. I was told there may be some stumps to watch out for. Some of the grass is chest high, but not all of it. What would be a good estimate to give?? Using my 38 hp tractor and 5' Bush Hog... Thanks!

 

[Carykong]

With an unknown propertyand an unkown customer, it is really simple. Trailer time plus actual tractor engine time x dollar hourly rate= your bill. I would suggest an hourly rate around $50/hr.

 

[the6shooter]

Ok, I have to go look at 30 acres to bush hog in the next couple days. I was told there may be some stumps to watch out for. Some of the grass is chest high, but not all of it. What would be a good estimate to give?? Using my 38 hp tractor and 5' Bush Hog... Thanks!

30 acres with a 5' hog ? your looking for a round $1200, buck here in oklahoma, and your looking at around 3 days in the field, and a sore back side if your not used to sitting in the seat for that much time. with the heat and bugs your going to eat. I do some of my estimats at $40.00 hr. If you try and over price yourself, you'll be out of buisiness quick. and I might add with what you discribe here, with the hidden stumps I reccemend using your seatbelt at all times. or you may wind up out on the hood. ben there and done that, and never again.

 

[638]

You are looking for a lot of trouble with chest high weeds and stumps! I don't think I could go slow enough to keep from tearing something up.

 

[Ford tractor]

Tall grasses will probably slow you down to 2.5 mph. That means 22 to 25 hours of cutting depending on how much time going around stuff with an average effective width of 4.5' per pass.

The "guess" is how fast you can go and still be effectively cutting. If you are dealing with "grass" and not brush, sharp sharp sharp blades are wanted. If you are dealing with brush, a dull blade that shatters the plant is desired to help kill it.

Your tractor could handle a 7' and probably an 8' cutter depending on what you are cutting. The 5' cutter is not your friend.

 

[Travis_R]

30 acres with a 5' hog ? your looking for a round $1200, buck here in oklahoma, and your looking at around 3 days in the field, and a sore back side if your not used to sitting in hr. If you try and over price yourself, you'll be out of buisiness quick. and I might add with the seat for that much time. with the heat and bugs your going to eat. I do some of my estimats at $40.00 what you discribe here, with the hidden stumps I reccemend using your seatbelt at all times. or you may wind up out on the hood. ben there and done that, and never again.

So far, you are thinking exactly what i am thinking... $40 per hour/ $1200... I told the guy $40 per hour... Problem is he said "he only has about $700 to spend on the job"... I told him that he'll be very lucky if he can get it done for $700. I know that I wouldn't do it for that... He still wants me to come look at it and give an estimate and he's aware that I have a 38 hp tractor and a 5' Bush Hog.... I'd like to charge a flat rate... I definately need the job, but will not do it for $700. That's just crazy!

 

[jenkinsph]

I suspect it will take $10/acre for fuel alone in tall grass. When you look at possible repairs and unknown property I would want about $1500 to do the job. Otherwise you are just spending your time and wearing out your equipment without any profit. The fact that the property owner only has about half the money for the job is his problem and shouldn't become your problem. Stick to your guns or you will be the loser.

 

[Travis_R]

I suspect it will take $10/acre for fuel alone in tall grass. When you look at possible repairs and unknown property I would want about $1500 to do the job. Otherwise you are just spending your time and wearing out your equipment without any profit. The fact that the property owner only has about half the money for the job is his problem and shouldn't become your problem. Stick to your guns or you will be the loser.

I agree...

 

[the6shooter]

If you are needing the pay then do up to the $700.oo limit, and come back later to finnish the rest. Your $40 per. hr. will and is part of the price per. hr.
What I would do, I.E. quote him a price for around 1/2 the property, for the $700.00 and include the property perimiter, follow the fence line, and then split the property in 1/2, Mow the front 1/2 first.
I myself have no charge for transport within 15 miles, this I give my customers. the $1.00 per mile after the first 15 miles. but that is why I have repeat customers.
When the customer thinks he's getting something for free, they tend to call you back later on in the yr.
I myself like my customers, and give a little. but you can tell which one will call you back and the ones that won't.

Have fun with you tractor....
david