Small Jobs

[southsoundtree]

For your market being expensive cost of living, these days $500 seems more reasonable.

I'm going to go with $500 now. Too many jobs I turn away to do little things for less.

As well, I'm quoting an hourly pruning rate for myself bringing my f350 equipment truck and optional chipper or grinder, and an additional rate for bringing a ground worker. No hauling.

Hauling is also available.
I'm my market, lots of material can stay/ is wanted onsite. I have a lot of homeowner cleanup jobs by comparison to most people, I'm told.

 

[cory]

I think I've had a bad run of fussy clients and cheap peeps recently.

Cheap peeps in Boulder?!!? Say it aint so!!!!

 

[data farm 26]

Cheap peeps in Boulder?!!? Say it aint so!!!!

Some of the people I work for bought houses here 40+ years ago and are struggling to keep up with the new world.

 

[ATH]

Wow, I'm really glad I made this post. So many good insights here. My minimum was $180 for many years, just put it up to $240 in the last few. But after reading this I'm going to $400!

....

It really depends on what you are running. One truck and a pole saw, in and out in 45 minutes. Or....3 trucks, lift setup, get loader off of the trailer, etc... Then, yeah, $400 seems pretty low.

 

[Lumberjack]

After you factor in your bid time with travel, then you get back to the job to do work... $400 doesn't offer much profit.

 

[flushcut]

Or....3 trucks, lift setup, get loader off of the trailer, etc... Then, yeah, $400 seems pretty low.

No way am I rolling all that for $400 minimum. Fuel cost, insurances, man hours, taxes, consumables… naw! $400 are the sub one hour with chipper or no clean up jobs or the “ just flop it for me and I’ll do the clean up” jobs.

 

[flyingmosstreen]

Wow, I'm really glad I made this post. So many good insights here. My minimum was $180 for many years, just put it up to $240 in the last few. But after reading this I'm going to $400!

I had kinda forgotten about days with lots of small jobs. I used to line those up when I first started, definitely can be very profitable.

I think I've had a bad run of fussy clients and cheap peeps recently. I need to switch up my clientele somehow and get with some better vibes for 25.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to type out some feedback, much appreciated.

Ha, there is a skit from the show “Impractical jokers” where they are waiters at a restaurant and they start charging customers a fussy fee. It’s pretty hilarious.

“Ah I see you’ve been charged the fussy fee…”

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I will deflect jobs to small one person operations too... I dunno. The crew is set up for full day jobs and so that’s where we make the most profit. $1000 is about the smallest job we see unless it’s an add-on for a neighbor.

 

[Chris Schultz]

Some of the people I work for bought houses here 40+ years ago and are struggling to keep up with the new world.

Heartbreaking…….

 

[Lumberjack]

Some of the people I work for bought houses here 40+ years ago and are struggling to keep up with the new world.

That is unfortunate… it’ll also be you if you don’t take care of yourself.


A bid from yesterday, $700 minimum to clear the driveway leaving the debris adjacent on site. The bid took longer than doing the job would have took. Didn’t get the bid, but no one else had either as of our deadline last night if she wanted it done this morning.

I’m not sweating it.

 

[Matias]

I hear those $50 chainsaws run well enough to get a job done, if they really need to save money...

 

[southsoundtree]

I'm figuring for new customers, a minimum charge is 2-2.5 times my solo hourly. Must of my new customers are well- heeled.

Regular folks, like the existing customer who is a retired school bus driver with a very modest home gets a better rate. She and her husband cleaned up, too, so only my equipment p/u truck went out, 1 mile from the shop.