Getting the most use out of my log splitter

[Brad Burnette]

In addition to just selling fire wood, I'm going to try and offer a log splitting service involving taking my splitter to said persons location and splitting their wood. I debating how to price this service and looking for some suggestions. Around my area they are getting $100.00 a day to rent a log splitter so I would like to charge accordingly. If all I have to do is show up and split I will probably charge a show up charge of $50.00 and give them 2 hours and any aditionals will be $15.00 an hour. If I have to cut and split/stack the price will go up and be agreed on between the two of us.

If any of y'all have done anything like this please chime in.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

If you're gonna show up with your own splitter and work for $15/hr, you can come to my place and work as much as you want! That's too cheap. You gotta figure it what it COSTS you to run that machine. Divide the purchase cost (or more importantly the replacement cost) by the number of hours you think it'll last over it's lifetime. A cheap box store splitter, maybe 1000 hours. Then add your fuel, filters, hydraulic oil, tires, motor oil cost to that. Total you're gonna be in the $4-10/hr range. Plus, I'd imagine you're gonna drive the thing over there. That costs something. So what's left for you? $5/hr maybe. All this is assuming you do it under the table with no insurance, which isn't a great idea. If you're running any piece of equipment on someone's property you should have liability insurance. Probably not real expensive, but not free either.

 

[lknchoppers]

If you have a truck, you will be much better off stock piling as much split firewood as you can. Then selling it. It takes a season to dry. Try to never run out, Sell it for a premium. One of my customers bought a half cord of wood from me and had about 2 cords of bucked rounds in his yard from a couple trees he had taken down. I charged him $250 to pull my splitter there and he split with me for 4 hours and we got it all done. I wouldn't charge by the hour, charge by the job.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I wouldn't even get off the couch to drag myself and equipment somewhere for $15/hr. That barely covers fuel and wear and tear. Never mind insurance, damages, etc. Blow a tire... you'd working for free all week?
Just in hauling the machine to and from you've spent ~$40-60 in fuel and time.

We bill out at $135/hr for equipment operation to compare. Sawmill, log truck, processor, land clearing, etc.

When I used to offer to stack (don't anymore) it was $30/hr per person.


One thing to go help a buddy out and want "beer money" but if you plan to run a business, you need to cover lots of expenses.