Hourly rates

Na. I have one full-time employee and I can gather a hand full of part-time week end warriors (if necessary).
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However, I worked solo for about 4.5 years. It wasn't the safest practice, but I worked safe. I only had two minor handsaw cuts in that time period. --Thank God
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My goal, not always reached, is $100 per man/hr, on the job. This works out to $1950 (3 man crew, all good arborists) for 6.5 hrs, on the job, or 8 hours total time. Reality is, I'm happy with $1800 per day... or was, till fuel prices went through the roof.
 
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3-man crew = $250/hr. I would never give money back to a client or lower the price; the value of the work is what counts. If I could point a laser at a tree and make it disappear, I would have a valuable skill. It shouldn't cost less just because it happens quicker.

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Agreed, and good point. But think of it from this perspective if you have already done quality work for this individual or its a refferal then there is no reason to give money back they know you do quality work and are priced accordingly. If it is a new customer and you think to yourself this is probably a $2,800 doller job to every one else but with my equipment and expertise I think I will be done in less then a day so you say $2,500 but if I get done early I will give you a break so you role the big crane in and do a 2,800 doller tree in 4hrs give the customer back 2-3 hundred and you bolth make out well. You now have a happy customer that will praise you and your company to every one else. This is how I look at it and I stay busy year round. If I was established to the point were I could afford to lose more jobs maybe I would not work so hard at cutting the customers a deal but right now this type of thinking keeps me and the guys working day in and day out.
 
I take the approach that it's not about how long it takes but the skill and expertise needed to do the job. The first price is already a break based on your equipment and skills. When you then further discount then that is what you become known for not the quality and talent you bring to the job. They will sing your praises about the work you do rather then the break on the price you gave them.

I'd rather get business because the client said, "They're not cheap but they do great work". If there's extra time based on your estimate then you could spend it on doing an immaculate clean up. That always makes a lasting impression.
 
Giving a customer a rebate doesn't necessarily cheapen the work.

One way to look at the rebate is to consider how much goodwill, advertising and marketing value could be bought by that much money.
 
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Giving a customer a rebate doesn't necessarily cheapen the work.

One way to look at the rebate is to consider how much goodwill, advertising and marketing value could be bought by that much money.

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My point exactly. And to refer to the post above our attention to detail is second to none. I am a true believer in the key to a quality job is in the detail. You could do the best job on a tree removal possible but if you leave the details out at the end you are just another guy that cut there tree down. Given them a kick back is a marketing device nothing more nothing less I certainly do not give customers a second rate job because I am giving them a kick back its just buisness as usuall.
 
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Well, would it cost more if it happens longer?


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Ha ha, good one! Guess that depends upon how it was bid! I can see giving some back in the situation you described, but that doesn't happen too often. Honesty is the best policy. Good on ya' Jamin.
 
Jobs are bid on what they are worth regardless of how long they took in the end. Obviously, time is a factor as it is tied in with labor. Fuel, eqiupment wear and tear, and disposal fees are considered of course. If I bid a job and we get done in half the time, well thats a perk for us. On the flip side, if a job takes longer then it should have we can't go back and up the price. We have to eat that cost. If equipment goes down, you can't adjust the price for that. Bottom line, it cost money to run the show, so take your breaks when you get them. I promise there will be plenty of days you are not so lucky, and hopefully you can compensate. I don't believe in giving away money when times are good. The customers are not at the repair shop when I have to cut a check. If you have employees, you have an obligation to keep their checks coming even when its slow. I also believe loyal customers should be taken care of. That discount comes in the beginning not the end.
 
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I know when we do landscaping, it's $45 per hour for a 3 man crew. For tree work, it's around $55 an hour for a 3 man crew. I'm pretty sure though we raised our charges due to higher gas prices, etc. I don't know what they are now, but the 45/55 was oringal prices.

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I will hire you guys seven days a week.
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Sorry guys, my bad. Didn't have all the info like I thought I did. It's $55 per man per hour on tree jobs and $45 per man per hour on landscaping. I got mixed up there for a few and it wasn't until Dad read this and told me that I came to fix it!!
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We try to bid out our jobs at 100.00 per crew hour. thats myself and two groundpounders with chipper. I do all the climbing. One of the ground pounders is my wife. I pay the others between 10 and 12.00.
 
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