How much to charge for this job?

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Lil Red

ArboristSite Member
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Jan 31, 2012
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Location
Portland, or
This is relatively new to me and I am not quite sure how much to charge my customer. I trimmed up two fir's 50ft of branches over hanging her driveway (she had a couple widow makers in them) it took me maybe 2.5 from planning out everything to cleaned up. She has a bit more work to do, but the rest I have to rig out because they are over hanging her house, probably about 7 more surrounding her home. I don't plan to take them so high (or should I?).

What are some of your thoughts about how to price it?
 
This is relatively new to me and I am not quite sure how much to charge my customer. I trimmed up two fir's 50ft of branches over hanging her driveway (she had a couple widow makers in them) it took me maybe 2.5 from planning out everything to cleaned up. She has a bit more work to do, but the rest I have to rig out because they are over hanging her house, probably about 7 more surrounding her home. I don't plan to take them so high (or should I?).

What are some of your thoughts about how to price it?

how long is it going to take you to do the additional work? how much did you charge here for the other two trees?

so amount charged divided by 2.5=x
time to complete additional work times x= what to charge

of coarse this is only true if you are still working with the same amount of man power and equipment or
tell her 50 bucks plus she provides lunch :D that should cover the cost of fuel
 
I am going to talk with her tomorrow, but probably around $130 (too much?) I am removing the debris as well.
 
You should trim every single limb on the trees over the house and then take out 30 or 40 ft of the top ,just for good measure.
Make sure you leave the stubs long enough for steps for the next time you trim them just in case you dont have your spikes with you that day.


As for price: I'd start it at about $13.00 pr hr that way you have some wiggle room if they try to talk you down.







PS Don't forget to put a yard sign out front to showcase your work.
 
You should trim every single limb on the trees over the house and then take out 30 or 40 ft of the top ,just for good measure.
Make sure you leave the stubs long enough for steps for the next time you trim them just in case you dont have your spikes with you that day.


As for price: I'd start it at about $13.00 pr hr that way you have some wiggle room if they try to talk you down.



PS Don't forget to put a yard sign out front to showcase your work.

Really $13 an hour? I know I was over priced, but she is loaded. lol. But I do want her to be ok and keep me around for the rest of the work.

I will take Shauns advice and bring it down to $60 she will be thrilled with that.
 
Too cheap. go for the 130 and see what she says... what I would do..

Too much, you have remember that if lil red lands this job, all of this lady's rich friends will hire him to trim their trees too! I think the 13 an hour figure is pretty close to fair that way if the job takes too long lol red ain't workin for peanuts! hahahaha
 
Do you think we ought to have some sort of disclaimer or warning for people posting in the commercial section? On the odd occasion that I'm feeling repentant after kicking too many cats or punching out 6 year olds I do sometimes give useful advice in 101, but I can't help but feel people have it coming to them posting in commercial.

Shaun
 
View attachment 256682

Typically I don't discuss prices so its your lucky day. I charge 2 dollars a branch and three dollars a branch if the tree is in the backyard, hate those long drags. That way you don't ever have to leave the living room for bids. Many idiots make the mistake of driving all over the place for free. A big money maker is stumpgrinding, just bought this sweet lil stumper. Two days a week covers my weekend bar tab. GO get em lil red.
 
View attachment 256682

Typically I don't discuss prices so its your lucky day. I charge 2 dollars a branch and three dollars a branch if the tree is in the backyard, hate those long drags. That way you don't ever have to leave the living room for bids. Many idiots make the mistake of driving all over the place for free. A big money maker is stumpgrinding, just bought this sweet lil stumper. Two days a week covers my weekend bar tab. GO get em lil red.

What the hell is that thing?
 
I cant take it any more. Lil Red, dont post this stuff in the commercial forum and disregard all the bs there feeding you.
If your gonna do this job for $13 bucks an hour, what am i gonna pay you when you come down to learn some stuff?
Anywho, how long do you expect this job to take you? Any equipment or just you and your climbing gear?
 
I cant take it any more. Lil Red, dont post this stuff in the commercial forum and disregard all the bs there feeding you.
If your gonna do this job for $13 bucks an hour, what am i gonna pay you when you come down to learn some stuff?
Anywho, how long do you expect this job to take you? Any equipment or just you and your climbing gear?

It is a pretty simple job, the rest of the trees and branches are over hanging her house so I will probably have to rig it out, not a big deal. She does have a huge fir tree leaning towards her house, and it looks like a number of years ago someone took almost 70% of all the limbs on one side (opposite side of the house). Now it sits really tilted really loaded on the side leaning towards the home, I might mention something to her about. That job is a little to much for me :)

Oh guys, I decided $13 was to much so I just charged her minimum wage, didn't want her to get away from me. :laugh:

I have heard comments about the commercial category, so why does that section have a bad wrap? (this one is gonna get me some flammage)
 
I have heard comments about the commercial category, so why does that section have a bad wrap? (this one is gonna get me some flammage)
most questions and ideas are best suited for Arborist 101. If you post this kinda stuff in the commercial forum they get all whiney. Its more of a braging rights kinda place.
 

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