What do you charge?

[Redlands Okie]

I have to say I’m on the side that thinks it’s ridiculous. Without factoring in deprecation to zero you can’t get to the $35 dollar an hour cost to operate a compact tractor. A zero turn isn’t that bad either. It cost me $10 a day to feed my diesel ZTR and maybe $200-300 a year for maintenance.

See, that's me. If I decide to buy one, I'd have it for my own use and all those costs would be on me no matter what. If I can get $50 a mow, that's $50 I wouldn't have had other wise whether it goes to the machine payment, fuel or the beer kitty.

But aside from the liability issue, I also have to keep in mind the 'legally required' reporting options for such 'income'. We all do that, right? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge!) So what if I run over the bed of freshly planted Petunias and the friendly neighbor lady decides to call the Tax Man? Yes, I have considerable stock in a Tin Foil Hat company.

Nothing the matter with any of that. I get the idea of some extra cash in the pocket is better than none.

I just seem to have a hard time using my money to pay for the wear and tear on my equipment to do work for others on the cheap side. I want to be paid enough to repair, maintain, and REPLACE my machine and I want to be paid for my time and labor. Or I can go get a job that just requires me to show up and do what I am told to do. No overhead involved. Lots of places I can do charity work that does not require me to invest a lot of money to help out. Not trying to flame anyone, just have a bit different thought process

 

[4570Man]

I don’t think you should go backwards to work for people but I don’t think it cost $35 an hour to operate a compact tractor either.

 

[Sigarms]

Silly to make a list of what it costs. It's about the going rate and competition. You are competing against the guy driving the Saturn pulling the home made trailer with the Yard Man Mower.

It's not about the going rate and competition, it's about your cost of doing business vs sales, breaking down some key point indicators by percentages vs sales on your profit and loss statement, and how much money you can generate to stay in business (and meet and future business goals). I'm not saying if you're the most expensive rate you'll stay in business, but you also shouldn't be the cheapest. The only way to know for certain what you HAVE to charge to at least by breaking even, you will have to figure out what everything is costing you.

Redland Okie has a good list, but if anything, he's still missing some variables to consider.

Now, if the goal is to make some beer or tool money at the end of the month, charge what you want and go with it because everything is already paid for and anything extra is just gravy

 

[Sigarms]

I want to be paid enough to repair, maintain, and REPLACE my machine and I want to be paid for my time and labor. Or I can go get a job that just requires me to show up and do what I am told to do. No overhead involved. Lots of places I can do charity work that does not require me to invest a lot of money to help out. Not trying to flame anyone, just have a bit different thought process

You would be amazed at the amount of guys in business who already own everything per tools of their "trade" (bought and paid for), and thus, they believe they have no overhead because they work out of their house to boot.

 

[CobyRupert]

I worked for myself in a different line for 20 years. The first time that I got burned- gave a guy a price to prune some apple trees, half a day's work so I didn't write a contract- when I finished he handed me a check for 1/2 the amount (barely enough to pay for my gas) and a big s---eating grin on his face, daring me to try to get the rest.
After that I always had a contract, and always charged enough to cover my insurance and all applicable taxes. If they can't afford to pay their way, I didn't have time to deal with them.

What!!??
You let him get away with that!? :mur:
He walked all over you because he knew he could.

I would of told him "Oops, I see I missed a couple limbs, let me finish that up for you" then fired up the chainsaw and cut the whole f-ing tree down to the stump. It would of taken very little "time to deal with them". Just say "That's what you wanted right?" Not like you had a contract saying anything different.

...and the satisfaction would of been worth every dime he shorted you.
...then quickly go cash his check.

p.s. ....it's never too late!
Dang, your story pisses me off (both of you). Where does this a-hole live? Got an address?

 

[wagne223]

I worked for myself in a different line for 20 years. The first time that I got burned- gave a guy a price to prune some apple trees, half a day's work so I didn't write a contract- when I finished he handed me a check for 1/2 the amount (barely enough to pay for my gas) and a big s---eating grin on his face, daring me to try to get the rest.
After that I always had a contract, and always charged enough to cover my insurance and all applicable taxes. If they can't afford to pay their way, I didn't have time to deal with them.

Unfortunately this is a growing trend effecting all types of service providers and contractors.
In Florida, a bill was passed that allows contractors and service providers to fairly simply lein a property if the work exceeds $2k.

It protects the contractors right to be paid.

The property owner is notified of each lein, and is responsible for requesting the release upon payment.

It is not without flaws, and some people are still ripped off, both owner and contractors, but it is far less now.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Those can be abused from the other side. I've read stories of people who have lost their cars over 'mechanic's liens' for minor work.

People used to be more honest and things were done with a grin and a cup of coffee.

 

[Wakey]

Everyone keeps talking about liability but as someone that has been mowing grass since I could reach the handle, I don't recall ever tearing anything up. How about you folks? People who do this every day might have some input.

 

[shooterdon]

I have about an acre of grass with about 18 trees and a short fence row. It takes 2 hours to mow and trim with a riding mower. I was paying $50 and started giving the guy $70 per cut. I still think that is cheap.

 

[Sigarms]

Unfortunately this is a growing trend effecting all types of service providers and contractors.
In Florida, a bill was passed that allows contractors and service providers to fairly simply lein a property if the work exceeds $2k.

It protects the contractors right to be paid.

The property owner is notified of each lein, and is responsible for requesting the release upon payment.

It is not without flaws, and some people are still ripped off, both owner and contractors, but it is far less now.

In NC any HVAC work deemed commercia and over 20k in servies rendered must be insured and bonded.

The reality is once you start charging over 10k for anything (residential or commercial work) and even if you collect 50% up front before the work is to begin, 5k is a LOT of money to make up on the gross margin side.