What to Charge for Rototilling

[Spudland_Dave]

I decided to charge about what you were talking about. $60 an hour for my time lus a $60 minimum.

The problem is most people are blown away when you tell them that.

That being said, when I talked price nobody tokk me up and doing their garden. The only way I will get some people to use me would if thety had a 1/4 acre garden or larger. There isn't many of those and people in mid Missouri are pretty frugal.

Unfortunately you can talk quality all you want, but people are reluctant to pay $60 or more to get their garden tilled.

Jack

Cant disagree with anything in your post...but IMO 60.00 is fair. I had the same issue with snowplowing..

60.00 may seem like alot to some people but heck we have more then 60.00 of hydro oil in the tranny... it costs money to keep these machines fueled, serviced, etc... add wear & tear to the tiller and 60.00 starts looking cheaper & cheaper all the time. ESPECIALLY with tilling....the risk is there to damage the tiller and/or related components. How much profit will you have made if you smoke a few tines off, or bust the chain?

Ultimately you need to decide weather you want to make money/break even or enjoy seat time...

 

[JackMentink]

I'm with you that you really can't run a newer tractor with a tiller for less than than $60 an hour and thats why I just list the service it on my local internet site and if I get clients I will till and if not then I won't waste my time.

 

[Sackett2]

Last year was our first doing gardens, dad and I agreed on 50 dollars an hour, not extra charges in our area. Everyone we tilled for was thrilled and said we be called the next year, and no garden took over an hour; even the large community garden for the churh.
Dad (age 74) had a great time offering this service and we look forward to doing more this year- am working on more advertising...

 

[Car Doc]

I finally got hired to do a garden yesterday it turned out to be 1800 sq ft in grass so had to make several passes but when I got done the land owner was very pleased with the $60 I charged him and thought it was money well spent.

I had exactly 1 hour in from off loading and tilling to chaining my tractor back down to leave.

He had started to do it himself and gave up just making a once around the border to have a idea how big he wanted it with a walk behind he borrowed.

Steve

 

[atgreene]

Doesn't sound very profitable, but as long as you had fun, that's all that matters.