What do you charge?

[wagne223]

^^ 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.

Yes it can be abused, mostly because people dont know how the process works.

If the customer pays without getting the release of lien, then they risk having to pay twice.

I miss they days of handshake deals where both parties held up their end!

 

[Fuddy1952]

I would say $30 for a 1/2 hr.(Or less...includes travel time) mow...extra if you weed eat, cut shrubs, etc. sounds about right. If you know these people, then they tell other neighbors that's a plus.
You said "One thing that bugs me though is the liability issue."
Before cutting of course check things out, ask if there are any obstacles.
Their homeowners policy should cover anything, but you should be fine.
There's a fellow around here that cuts people's grass, weed eats, cuts shrubs, etc. and charges $15/hour...but he uses the homeowners equipment. All he owns is a hat and gloves!

 

[Steppenwolfe]

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.

Don't fool around with the IRS. They will know more than you think.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I would say $30 for a 1/2 hr.(Or less...includes travel time) mow...extra if you weed eat, cut shrubs, etc. sounds about right. If you know these people, then they tell other neighbors that's a plus.
You said "One thing that bugs me though is the liability issue."
Before cutting of course check things out, ask if there are any obstacles.
Their homeowners policy should cover anything, but you should be fine.
There's a fellow around here that cuts people's grass, weed eats, cuts shrubs, etc. and charges $15/hour...but he uses the homeowners equipment. All he owns is a hat and gloves!

I made our lawn care guy sign a liability waiver and it had to be notarized. If he cut's a foot off on my property, it's his problem not mine. His equipment... his liability.

 

[Redlands Okie]

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.

On some houses that I do maintence on the renter hit a natural gas line right below the meter with her mower. No fire but heck of a leak.
Seen several issues of mowers hitting sprinkler heads, $50 or more each for the repair around here easy. Perhaps handled personally. When the mowers hit one of the control boxes and chewed up some of the wires, valves, solenoids it was in the $500 repair range.
Catching the mower in fences is another issue. Especially chain link. Several hundred dollars easy.
Hitting and scratching the paint or that darn vinyl siding on the siding of homes adds up darn fast. Usually going to have to at least paint or replace that wall, not just the scratch. 4 digit range easy on the repair cost.
Rocks or other debris hitting windows several hundred dollars at best. Can quickly go up, a LOT. Personally had a rock go into a drive in theater sign out by the road when I was young. Mowed that place almost all summer for free before I got even with the repair bill.
Rocks and other debris impacting automobiles can easily be in the 4 digit range.
Just a few quick ones that came to mind easy.
Keep in mind even if the repair is something you could do or know someone who could do the repair, it is likely your not going to get the chance to fix it.

 

[joefromga]

Who the **** is mowing so close that they scrape aiding, rip out chain link fence, and run into irrigation valvw boxes? You're supposed to walk the lot first, do a check, then discuss with the customer as well as be a professional.

I got rid of guys foe simply using the bottom of the weed string trimmer as a grinder on the concrete and sanding off the cap. People who are in business should be responsible and driving a mower so closely to something that you scrape it is irresponsible.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Your profile does not show where you are located but here are a few links.
I was doing the same thing a few days ago trying to figure out the difference from a 5' to 6' cutter and speed rates for next spring.

Mowing Calcuator | How many acres can I mow in an hour

This one is for ag tasks the full gambit. May not apply but it is a good start for maybe others looking into shredding for profit.
There also a few other states that have a similar study from their AG schools, so maybe you state has one that will be more accurate for you area.

http://counties.agrilife.org/gregg/files/2011/04/16custom.pdf

 

[Redlands Okie]

Who the **** is mowing so close that they scrape aiding, rip out chain link fence, and run into irrigation valvw boxes? You're supposed to walk the lot first, do a check, then discuss with the customer as well as be a professional.

I got rid of guys foe simply using the bottom of the weed string trimmer as a grinder on the concrete and sanding off the cap. People who are in business should be responsible and driving a mower so closely to something that you scrape it is irresponsible.

The world is full of careless people. It’s annoying but it does help me earn a living.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Joefromga said what I thought. 1) you approach neighbors offering your mowing service. 2) business cards are cheap! Have some printed up. Politely say you're a hard worker who wants to make extra money.
3) if they're interested...walk the area...ask questions (sprinklers? rocks? pipes, etc.).
4) give a price! $xx for mowing, +$xx if you get grass up +$xx weed trim.
If you're responsible, do nice job they'll tell their neighbors.
I just now cut our front yard...just over an acre. I cut along a wire fence I installed a few months ago. Mower deck lightly touched the posts. Then I swept with an Agrifab tow behind brush. It looks like a green carpet. It was an easy 1.5 hour. I cut so close to trees I pulled the few weeds by hand.
You could make extra money with mulch around trees which makes cutting even easier. Any hard working dependable person out there will have plenty of work.
Do the math...$40x4 a week that's an extra $8,000/year you wouldn't have otherwise.

 

[4570Man]

More like half that much since you can’t mow year round but cutting 8 yards a week isn’t hard either