What to charge for tilling

[Mosey]

I've been asked if I would till a garden for someone. I don't have a trailer, so it would be about a 2 mile one way drive on the road. The garden is about 40' x 60' and has been tilled once already. He said he might decide to make it a bigger, maybe twice as big, so that would require tilling the sod (hard clay). I have a KingKutter 5' tiller that I would do the job with. I have no idea what a reasonable fee is for this type of job. Any ideas?

 

[tawilson]

With travel time it sounds like around a 3 hour job. I'd say $120.

 

[Laminarman]

Depends on how much you like playing with your toy. If I had the time I'd do it for free just to get seat time.

 

[Mosey]

OK, so far the average would be ($120 + $0) / 2 = $60. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I asked the guy to let me know what he is willing to pay, so we'll see what he comes back with.

 

[RonR]

I'm always leary of asking what someone would pay, as some would say "here's $5, thanks for doing it for me."

Few people know what you have invested in the tractor, tiller, trailer, INSURANCE, taxes, diesel, and time.

I'm running a side biz doing work with mine, and I figure at $45 an hour, I'm barely makin' any $$$ for my time. I don't charge more than that though, as it would limit what work I'd get.

So far, people haven't balked at that price. If they have a neighbor that will do it for free, I encourage them to do that. I mean I would take free over paying too!

My two cents.....


Ron

 

[Archdean]

"I'm running a side biz doing work with mine, and I figure at $45 an hour, I'm barely makin' any $$$ for my time. I don't charge more than that though, as it would limit what work I'd get."

If you are barely makin' any $$$ for your time.
My friend what you have is a HOBBY!!!

"I don't charge more than that though, as it would limit what work I'd get."

Well how much time do you want to devote to your HOBBY???

MY time/skill is worth X amount of $$$, you must add this to your costs of doing business or continue with the HOBBY!!!

Why don't you give a job price after you look at it? If they say no say fine, when your tired of spading this garden, my # is xxx-xxx-xxxx most will call you after they try it! Those that don't call consider yourself saved from further investment in your own HOBBY!!

Dean

 

[JoshJ]

i thought $45 bucks an hour was pretty good myself. Heck if you did that 40 hours a week, you could clear 90 grand in a year. I dont think its a bad chunk of change. Granted you do have wear and tear on your machine, and i dont know how much you make your regular job, so maybe your time is worth more.

 

[KiotiJohn]

What work I've done for others is at $45/hour with double that for the first hour for load time. It's sufficient and I could buy extra tractors and still have some profit. Backhoe work is $55/hour. John

 

[DannyD]

Mosey,


Where is this, we could hook up and till it together, I have a 4 footer, that would nine feet at a time, do it in 45% less time and have a ball doing it...........plus no doubt some very interesting pics of our tractors tied up in a ball of mess for TBN.

Around here 45 an hour is a bargain. 2 miles on your country roads would be tough on tires I would think. You may also get lots of other folks wanting work done while going there.

I am going to get my new trailer this week from Shewmaker, 18' X 6'3", dual axles, with brakes and a brake away. I will be putting new tires on it.

 

[GRUMPA]

You eastern folks get off lucky. Before I got my tractor, work for anything with a tractor in this state STARTS at $60hr. Everyone here charges that. And theres a 4hr min.