What Do I Charge for Tractor Work?

[Travis_R]

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

Thank you David for the advice... Greatly Appreciated!

 

[LD1]

All great advise so far, except I dont like charging by the hour.

I like to make $50+ per hour, but that is where experience comes in. You have to have a good understanding of how long it will take you to do a job, that way you can quote a flat price, and still be in the $$$/hr range you want.

Reasons as to NOT charge by the hour:

First thing a customer will ask is "how long do you think it will take?" And that is a loaded question. If you go TOO slow, they think you are milking the clock. If you hurry the job, you shoot yourself in the foot.

You dont want to end up finishing a job, handing a customer a bill, and them be in sticker-shock because they didnt think it was going to take that long. And also, when someone hears $50/hour, they think that is nuts, because "they dont make that much at work" or whatever. They dont have any clue what goes into maintaining equipment.

And for the customers that just have several odd jobs they want done, like a little bushhogging, gradeing a drive, leveling an area here and there, etc, I usually tell them that it may be best to just hire me for the whole day for $500. And that will get them up-to 10hrs of work. I have done this several times. And if chance I finish up in only 6-7hours, I ask if there is anything else they may want done. If not, I usually only charge $400. And they are always tickled since they were expecting $500.

 

[Bota Bum]

Folks that own acerage should have an idea what it costs to maintain, unless they are 1st time owners. Around here guys charge an hourley rate, plus damages. Landowners will have their own equipment in the shed, and hire out so they do not trash their own equipmnent on hidden stumps/rocks. Beware of the conditions or it will cost you bigtime.

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with LD1 for the most part, flat price for the job and stick to it.


I bought a new MX6 back in 2005 and it still looks like new for good reason, it is one of the least profitable things you can do with your tractor. In the landscape business it is much more lucrative to build an initial landscape for the right customers rather than to perform mowing maintenance. Mowing 30 acres that you are not personally familiar with in tall grass and weeds is what I consider undesirable work, lots of chances you are taking with your equipment. I wouldn't go faster than I can see the ground ahead of me and bid accordingly.

 

[LoneCowboy]

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!

I would do that job for $900 and I'm considered on the expensive side around here. In rural areas he'll find someone to do it for $500 or so. (some farmer with no insurance, taxes, etc). Take me about 5 hours. I do this for a living. (that's not a typo BTW, 5 hours is a good number)

Unless it's something really custom, you'll find charging by the job is the better way to go. You'll also find that some things either require bigger equipment and you simply can't do them. You'll find some jobs that are perfect for your sized tractor. And you'll find some jobs are too small to be worth doing. (you need a minimum charge). And sometimes you find that your great idea isn't such a great idea and the area doesn't support the work.

It COSTS about $30/hour to run a compact sized tractor. maintenance, depreciation (you have to replace it sometime), tires, fuel, etc, etc, etc. You have to account for transportation time/truck/trailer/etc. You have to account for insurance (both liability and commercial vehicle), workman's comp (if required in your state), advertising, marketing, communication (cell phone), etc, etc, etc

someone in there you're supposed to get paid.
somewhere in there your supposed to make a profit.

I charge by the job, but I'm not getting out of bed for less than $90/$100 an hour. And I"m not making much of a killing, but at least I'm not working for free.

You'll find that ALL bushhogging jobs have crap out in the field, they don't call you til it's real tall and you'll never know what's out there. That's the business and that's why it's not free.

 

[jenkinsph]

Well a 10' cutter would need to average 5.0 mph for five hours non stop to do it. In Louisiana with tall thick grass (4' to 5')it would take a much larger tractor to keep this mower turning up to speed. Just guessing but a 75 hp @pto tractor might work, maybe a few more.

Larger tractors and mowers are certainly more efficient to do this job but beyond the scope of the posters equipment. He certainly can't do this job for $700 or $900 either regardless of what others may charge. The competition may wery well beat him at this game if they are set up more efficiently. I say let them have it before he loses money and time on the deal at that price.

 

[Travis_R]

Well, now the guy has changed his mind. He wants to cut 15 acres instead of the 30... What should I charge now? LOL... This changes everything!

 

[AKfish]

That 15 acres is likely to be where all the "problems" are... stumps, trash - everything that's hard on equipment!

I'd say $700 is a good "final" cost estimate! :thumbsup:

Good luck.

AKfish

 

[Travis_R]

Went and looked at it today. It's VERY BAD. Some places are impassable. Will have to cut my way in there. Thick and tall bahiagrass and cottonwood trees. Some 3-4 inches in diameter.

I'm thinking about renting a skid steer with a brush cutter attachment. Either that or put 2 or 3 tractors on it.

 

[jenkinsph]

Sounds more like "clearing" than bushhogging to me. One of the worse things you can do starting out a new business is to under bid the job. The second mistake is working for someone who can't or won't pay enough for you to make a profit.

I can understand your wanting to work and make some extra cash but I have a bad feeling that this job is going to COST you money and time.

 

[Travis_R]

Sounds more like "clearing" than bushhogging to me. One of the worse things you can do starting out a new business is to under bid the job. The second mistake is working for someone who can't or won't pay enough for you to make a profit.

I can understand your wanting to work and make some extra cash but I have a bad feeling that this job is going to COST you money and time.

This is exactly why I didn't give the man an estimate today. My goal is to give him a fair price with excellent service, AND to where I won't take a beating. I'm taking someone with me tomorrow (with more "bidding" experience) who can help me decide on a quote. He has a 43 hp Kubota 4x4 w/ FEL and a 6' Bush Hog Squealer. He'll be helping me cut it if I can't rent the skid steer.
I might could do it all in a day's time with the skid steer. It would be cutting it close if I didn't finish and nothing broke.

Will be the worst stuff I've ever cut.

I have a chance to make some decent money. It's right there in front of me. I don't wanna lose this job!

The property owner asked me if I thought it would be more than $1200 for the 15 acres and I told him I wasn't sure. I have to get back with him tomorrow evening after I go look at it again. This tells me that I can ATLEAST get $1200 for the job. I think it's worth more than that though. If I give him a good deal, he might even wanna go ahead and clear the whole 30 acres. Especially if I can rent that skid steer...

The man has money, but i REFUSE to take advantage of ANYBODY. I love doing this type of work!

I know I've gotten good advice on here, but I'm still needing a lot of help. Thanks!!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

What do you estimate the per acre value of the land as is and then after the clean up is completed?

If it is the same as before the clean up then anything will seem high.

 

[Travis_R]

What do you estimate the per acre value of the land as is and then after the clean up is completed?

If it is the same as before the clean up then anything will seem high.

The land in that area is $8,000 - $10,000 per acre as it sits now. After it's bush hogged it will, in my opinion, be worth more because it'll be considered "fully cleared".

There's no trees or obstacles to go around. It's wide open land. The land was "clear cutted" about 2 years ago according to the owner and MY how it's grown!! It's just SO thick with grass, weeds, brush, some stumps, ruts, dried up mud holes, and 2 - 4 inch diameter cottonwood trees in "spots". Most of it is over the tractor high. Basically impassible with an ATV...

Property is low in the front, high in the back. A natural "swell" runs across the front of the property.

If I get the job I'll make a video of it with my iPhone.

For my tractor (38 engine hp/34 PTO hp), it will mainly be a "low range, first gear" type of cutting with my 5' Bush Hog.

Besides the friend with the 43 hp Kubota, I also have another friend with a Mahindra 3510 4x4 with an FEL and a 5' Woods Brush Bull 60 rotary cutter, if i need him. But it has a shear pin protected driveline, instead of a slip clutch and I'm VERY nervous about that on this job... It's that bad!

It will be pushing it mighty hard to even get this job completed with a skid steer in a day's time. It might would even take a day and a half, but for sure no more than 2 days with it as long as nothing breaks.

If I can't get a skid steer, we'll DEFINATELY see what each tractor is made of. There will be LOTS and LOTS of standing up on the tractors to see what's in front of them...

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That is a job were a FEL to ride them down is helpful. Do keep us updated.

 

[boggen]

bush hogging unknown terrain. is risky. even known terrian in my case can be risky at times.

do not cut/sell yourself short. it costs time and money to do things. flat land is much nicer than hilly areas. less chance for wash outs and ravines to worry about and rolling tractor or finding yourself rolled over into a creak or needing to forward / reverse non stop as you go down a creak bank or lake bank.

stumps can be high off the ground vs cut low to the ground. and can do some damage not only to cutter but also wheels. and tear your rear right of the seat and put ya down on the ground. ((hitting a brick wall))

thorn bushes / thorn trees can do some nasty damage to tires and find ya dead in middle of thick weeds. needing a tire change / repair.

tree limbs that have fallen down over last couple months let alone a couple years can cause some pretty good entanglements under decks of bush hogs. and can tear up radiators in a heart beat if you do not have a good strong grill protector.

not trying to scare ya, but warn ya. having damages written in, can save you a good amount of cash. and it might cause owner of given property to say they are more willing have a land clearing done. vs a bush hogging done. meaning ability to use FEL and drop the bucket down and just push all the brush into a pile. and back drag other spots. while bush hogging what ever is left standing.

it may not be best thing in the world to have a couple large piles of weeds and dirt on property. and owner may ask for pile to be buried. but.. *shrugs* but if you can scrap things down just to what ever scraps down to dirt and nock weeds down. you are more likely to find the danger zones. with the FEL bucket and not risk as much damage to tractor and cutter.

 

[jenkinsph]

TravisR,
Curious where this property is located, I am a native of New Orleans.

Sounds like you need to start on the edge and work your way into this cleaning up a path out of there as you go. How big and how high are the stumps that were cut two years ago?


I suspect the way to come out on this long term is if you can get the job of keeping it cut down low in the future. It will take some time to get rid of the stumps and while they are there they will be in the way making bushhogging time consuming. An excavator of the appropriate size to remove the stumps would make a big difference long term. If the stumps are small enough a large backhoe may work too.

I would talk to the property owner about clearing and stump removal as a joint project so that this problem doesn't reoccur in three months time. A stump grinder is another possibility too. At any rate what would be desireable is to get everythig cut down to a manageable height so that you can keep it cut down on a regular basis. That would be best for the property owner and for you too.

 

[Travis_R]

TravisR,
Curious where this property is located, I am a native of New Orleans.

Sounds like you need to start on the edge and work your way into this cleaning up a path out of there as you go. How big and how high are the stumps that were cut two years ago?


I suspect the way to come out on this long term is if you can get the job of keeping it cut down low in the future. It will take some time to get rid of the stumps and while they are there they will be in the way making bushhogging time consuming. An excavator of the appropriate size to remove the stumps would make a big difference long term. If the stumps are small enough a large backhoe may work too.

I would talk to the property owner about clearing and stump removal as a joint project so that this problem doesn't reoccur in three months time. A stump grinder is another possibility too. At any rate what would be desireable is to get everythig cut down to a manageable height so that you can keep it cut down on a regular basis. That would be best for the property owner and for you too.

Sorry, I can't say where the property is located. Also, this is a one time deal. I will not be maintaining the property.

The property has to be cut to see exactly what the owner has and what he needs to do.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Sounds more like "clearing" than bushhogging to me. One of the worse things you can do starting out a new business is to under bid the job. The second mistake is working for someone who can't or won't pay enough for you to make a profit.

I can understand your wanting to work and make some extra cash but I have a bad feeling that this job is going to COST you money and time.

Quoted for truth

very wise man here.

You can learn these lessons the easy way, or the hard way (like the rest of us)

 

[LoneCowboy]

BTW a 5' rotary cutter will cut about 1 acre per hour (in relatively normal stuff, this is not relatively normal stuff)
a skid steer bush hog style cutter is SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

figure half that rate.

no way can you do 15 acres in a day with a normal tractor, much less a skid steer.
You're looking at 2 to 3 days if it was just grass with your equipment (/skid steer)

You should walk away.
it's a loser

he should be hiring a land clearing guy (who charge a couple hundred an acre), but he's going to ruin your equipment so you can "make money"

Look, I mow unknown stuff all the time, that's the business, you run over stuff, you break stuff, you fall into ditches. , but this job is ridiculous. I wouldn't touch it for any amount of money. I would send it to a land clearing guy.

One cut rear tire is about $800. Just FYI.

 

[Travis_R]

As of this evening, I have the job.

I never could come up with a "total cost" or "estimated guess".

What I'm doing is cutting it with my tractor, at an hourly rate, up to a certain amount of money. When I reach that certain amount, we'll see how much more land is left to cut and how much more money he may have to spend by then (if any).

I feel this was a wise decision.

Me and a friend rode my atv around the place (for what we could get thru) this evening. It's not gonna be as bad as I thought, as far as having stumps and stuff. It's mainly just thick, overgrown grass and underbrush. I don't think the cottonwood trees are as big around in diameter as I thought, but they are bunched up thick in some spots.

This will be the biggest, toughest bush hogging job I've ever had to do with any tractor. My Massey Ferguson and I will for sure get a workout!

I'm actually excited about it to be honest. I will take some pictures and videos as I go along.

I also wanna say that I feel like I'm being Blessed...

On the way home today from looking at the previous property, I got another phone call to go look at 3 acres to bush hog! :thumbsup: This job is in the opposite direction though.
Supposedly, the lady said it's just wide open flat land with tall grass. Don't know what I should charge yet, but I've got a somewhat figure in my head. Gotta go look first...

Thanks for all the replies!