Making a buck or two

[NWO Islander]

Hello everyone,

I am just curious to see what others are charging to do odd jobs to make some extra cash with their tractors. Jobs such as garden tilling, driveway grading and repairs, and stump grinding. Iv found lots of info on what people charge for stump grinding services but I would still like to hear what you guys do. Also what do you charge for transport fees or minimum charges and why. Any info at all lay it on me or point me in the right direction if this has been gone over before in the forums.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

 

[Rdrcr]

This amateur doesn’t charge anything for his professional services

Mike

 

[fried1765]

Hello everyone,

I am just curious to see what others are charging to do odd jobs to make some extra cash with their tractors. Jobs such as garden tilling, driveway grading and repairs, and stump grinding. Iv found lots of info on what people charge for stump grinding services but I would still like to hear what you guys do. Also what do you charge for transport fees or minimum charges and why. Any info at all lay it on me or point me in the right direction if this has been gone over before in the forums.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

Even if you do not charge for services, you still need liability insurance for work on another person's property.
Insurance for machinery work done for hire is very expensive.
Be careful!
One little accident, and a job for cash, or even free for a "friend", could turn sour very quickly!

I tell people who ask.
Sorry: I do not have insurance for any work done off my property.

 

[hedgerow]

Even if you do not charge for services, you still need liability insurance for work on another person's property.
Insurance for machinery work done for hire is very expensive.
Be careful!
One little accident, and a job for cash, or even free for a "friend", could turn sour very quickly!

I tell people who ask.
Sorry: I do not have insurance for any work done off my property.

I second this. My farm insurance won't cover me working on other folks property unless I am renting the farm under a written contract. I don't do any work for anyone free or pay. Had a farmer friend a couple years ago got to buy a guy a new five thousand dollar overhead door being a nice guy and moving the guys snow. He bumped the door and the guy turned it into his insurance and they in turn came after my friend and his farm insurance denied the claim. My buddy bought the door.

 

[rc51stierhoff]

I don’t have many friends…But they are good friends…and I would not need insurance for them. I gladly help them and they help me. They bring their toys my way and I reciprocate. It does require patience of availability though. If it involves bring the truck trailer and equipment the requestor (friend) pays the fuel (if not a neighbor) and feeds / hydrates the other. We don’t charge each other for our labor. Having extra help is a better trade off for me. If I had to charge my time and equipment, I’d start with matching the rate of a rental place and time would need to match my wage or price for a contractor. My skill would not be a wise choice for anyone trying to save a buck. To be safe insurance would be a must, but me personally I would not take my stuff to help if insurance was needed.

 

[Labman]

I get $75/hour with a 1 hour minimum for mine. I charge that from when I leave my shop.

 

[NHSleddog]

I did charge 80.00/hr but it seems like everyone is voting for the new fuel prices so I will probably go to 100.00/hr. I could buy a new tractor every year off side work if I wanted.

Same rate for travel.

I have a stump grinder and it works but it is crappy work and does not do close to the job a dedicated grinder will do so I only offer it on small jobs where it is benefiting or aiding something else (getting it out of the way of a fence for instance).

The debbie downers that tell you to be afraid of everything would not even be sitting in a house right now if SOMEONE didn't make it for them. Never fear work or compensation for doing it.

For me, tractoring is the healthiest part of my life.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

$100/hr, Once the worms are up,$125.

 

[Henro]

I did charge 80.00/hr but it seems like everyone is voting for the new fuel prices so I will probably go to 100.00/hr. I could buy a new tractor every year off side work if I wanted.

Same rate for travel.

I have a stump grinder and it works but it is crappy work and does not do close to the job a dedicated grinder will do so I only offer it on small jobs where it is benefiting or aiding something else (getting it out of the way of a fence for instance).

The debbie downers that tell you to be afraid of everything would not even be sitting in a house right now if SOMEONE didn't make it for them. Never fear work or compensation for doing it.

For me, tractoring is the healthiest part of my life.

You don't mention if you carry insurance...Just wondering.

Seems like having insurance would be wise, especially when doing a lot of work off one's property.

 

[SteveBX23]

I did charge 80.00/hr but it seems like everyone is voting for the new fuel prices so I will probably go to 100.00/hr. I could buy a new tractor every year off side work if I wanted.

Same rate for travel.

I have a stump grinder and it works but it is crappy work and does not do close to the job a dedicated grinder will do so I only offer it on small jobs where it is benefiting or aiding something else (getting it out of the way of a fence for instance).

The debbie downers that tell you to be afraid of everything would not even be sitting in a house right now if SOMEONE didn't make it for them. Never fear work or compensation for doing it.

For me, tractoring is the healthiest part of my life.

I was just thinking, "here we go again with everyone saying, DONT DO IT!!"

 

[GreensvilleJay]

gee, I just did... neighbour asked me to dig a grave for their 20 year old cat...
I was happy to do it, sad that I needed to.

 

[fried1765]

I did charge 80.00/hr but it seems like everyone is voting for the new fuel prices so I will probably go to 100.00/hr. I could buy a new tractor every year off side work if I wanted.

Same rate for travel.

I have a stump grinder and it works but it is crappy work and does not do close to the job a dedicated grinder will do so I only offer it on small jobs where it is benefiting or aiding something else (getting it out of the way of a fence for instance).

The debbie downers that tell you to be afraid of everything would not even be sitting in a house right now if SOMEONE didn't make it for them. Never fear work or compensation for doing it.

For me, tractoring is the healthiest part of my life.

Sure hope your luck continues forever ........and that you don't hit an unmarked electric, or water, or gas line!
We live in a very libelous society.

 

[Lil Foot]

Years ago I would have said go for it, and even did some of that sort of thing myself, but in today's "SUE EVERYBODY FOR ANY REASON AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE" society, I'm going to stay away from that sort of work.
It just isn't worth the risk.

 

[Deleted member 47704]

Last storm my neighbor kept looking at me like he wanted help shoveling his driveway.No way I was going to help.
Not because I'm afraid of anything, its because I don't like the guy.

 

[NHSleddog]

Sure hope your luck continues forever ........and that you don't hit an unmarked electric, or water, or gas line!
We live in a very libelous society.

LOL - How do you think holes get dug and things get done?

Commercial liability insurance is very affordable and if you qoute work errors and emissions is an easy add.

You call digsafe (in our area) and they mark the utilities. The rest use common sense, if you have none, don't do that type of work.

I've been jobbing for over 25 years and tilling is still tilling, raking is still raking, grading is still grading, good people are still good people.

I have not had the chance to work in any mission critical environments yet so you never know - lol.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Commercial snowplowing insurance in Ontario is 70-100K$....

 

[NCL4701]

Getting proper insurance to cover off premises liability for business use and cover your equipment is part of the cost of doing business. Any contractor who has made it past small homeowner handshake deals has to have it as any general contractors they’re subbed to or more sophisticated customers are going to require certificates of insurance as a condition of the contract.

For a small operator with no or few employees and a one or two machines, the cost varies widely depending on where you’re at and what insurer you’re with. I wouldn’t let insurance cost dissuade you at least until you’ve researched it in your area, build it in to your price, and see if you can compete with local pricing for similar services.

I have off premises coverage for both the equipment, including implements, and liability (non-business use) for about $400/year. That allows me to go to my Dad’s place, my brother’s place, church, friends’ places, etc. with the only caveat being I do NOT accept payment other than work in kind when I could use a return favor. That covers my equipment at actual cash value (not replacement cost) for theft, collision, rollover, fire, and a long list of other stuff plus $2.3 million liability coverage. Comparable coverage for business use varies in cost based on gross receipts and payroll. For a one man side business doing the type work you can do with a CUT type TLB, it would be about triple what I’m paying for non-business. If you’re forever hitting stuff underground or tearing up your equipment, you’ll be cancelled but the price set by each carrier pretty much is what it is. The above is applicable for NC only. Commercial coverages and prices vary widely because that market is much less regulated than more ubiquitous consumer products such as personal auto and homeowners, which is why you need to research with a competent local agent.

All that is to say proper insurance isn’t the death knell of a startup. You just need to clearly communicate exactly what you’re doing to a local agent who has commercial experience, preferably an independent agent who can shop coverage for you.

And no, I’m not an insurance agent. However, when there is a question on insurance coverage in NC, I don’t call my agent; my agent calls me.

 

[fried1765]

LOL - How do you think holes get dug and things get done?

Commercial liability insurance is very affordable and if you qoute work errors and emissions is an easy add.

You call digsafe (in our area) and they mark the utilities. The rest use common sense, if you have none, don't do that type of work.

I've been jobbing for over 25 years and tilling is still tilling, raking is still raking, grading is still grading, good people are still good people.

I have not had the chance to work in any mission critical environments yet so you never know - lol.

You are apparently a lot more trusting of insurance companies than I am.
If you should ever have a large claim against you....look out!
Your insurance company very likely will be looking for a loophole, and they will often find one.

 

[NCL4701]

You are apparently a lot more trusting of insurance companies than I am.
If you should ever have a large claim....look out!
They will be looking for a loophole, and will often find one.

Insurance is like toilet paper. If you buy based on price to the exclusion of anything else they’ll both chap your butt when you try to use them.

 

[Biker1mike]

I have been asked several times by 'summer' residents to move gravel or stone for them. They drive up my drive while I am on the tractor. Each time I gave them the business card of a friend who does lawn maintenance and fire wood for a living.
Even he has been sued by property owners that insisted on work to be done after being told of the possible damages that could be incurred by his equipment on soft ground.