Those itsy bitsy teensy weensy

[ropensaddle]

What do ya'all do on those tiny jobs that take up your time and really have no profit? You know, the one stump and I have a small limb going over my driveway, can you come give me an estimate! I get a lot of those calls in a year and try to estimate them over the phone and add fuel to the equation as well as, knowing they will be worse than they let on! It usually scares them off when I tell them I have a 100.00 minimum and fuel surcharge of 2.00 per mile.The minimum does not get you far and your stump may be more than a minimum depending on how deep,big,how many rocks etc. If I get the job I also tell them it may be a while until I am in that area but will call you before coming!

 

[arbor pro]

Charging a minimum is about all you can do. I used to shutter when I would hear the minimum charged by plumbers, electricians, etc but, when I put it in perspective, their charge actually isn't any higher than what I charge for a minimum.

I still go under my minimum from time to time to help someone out who I know can't afford the minimum fee for 10 minutes worth of work but, for those who I think can bear it, I charge what I have to charge to stay profitable.

Part of why doing small jobs works for me is because I'm part time and want these smaller jobs since they're easier to schedule into an evening or weekend. Maybe you should try to find a good responsible part-timer to sub out the smaller jobs to? If that's not a feasible option, then up your minimum.

$100 minimum plus fuel sounds pretty darn good compared to my minimum of $40. However, I understand that your operating expenses in your area of the country may be different from mine in the midwest.

Rope, how do you apply your fuel surcharge? Do you note it at the time of your bid as a seperate fee or do you just add it into the price.

 

[ropensaddle]

Charging a minimum is about all you can do. I used to shutter when I would hear the minimum charged by plumbers, electricians, etc but, when I put it in perspective, their charge actually isn't any higher than what I charge for a minimum.

I still go under my minimum from time to time to help someone out who I know can't afford the minimum fee for 10 minutes worth of work but, for those who I think can bear it, I charge what I have to charge to stay profitable.

Part of why doing small jobs works for me is because I'm part time and want these smaller jobs since they're easier to schedule into an evening or weekend. Maybe you should try to find a good responsible part-timer to sub out the smaller jobs to? If that's not a feasible option, then up your minimum.

$100 minimum plus fuel sounds pretty darn good compared to my minimum of $40. However, I understand that your operating expenses in your area of the country may be different from mine in the midwest.

Rope, how do you apply your fuel surcharge? Do you note it at the time of your bid as a seperate fee or do you just add it into the price.

It is stated as one way miles driven and disclosed in the conversation.
100.00 is too cheap I depreciate more per day than that and at 300.00
per set of teeth some jobs cost more than you ever make. One small limb
cut over the driveway ends up being twice what they say it is. I need to
gross 750.00 to a 1000.00 per day to keep trucks and bills maintained,
one tire is 400.00! The cost benefit analysis always stinks and if I did not
like the work would be out already. Too many fly by nighters, no insurance
illegal workers etc. It always amasses me at how many new adds go in the
already flooded market each year and how cheap the are willing to risk
life and limb for! I would not even crank my saw for 40.00 but
wth I guess I look at things different.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It depends on where and what it is. Quite often I have told the person that the minimum, and that I may be able to go less if I pick it up on a route.

Often will have climbing equipment with me running bids, so I tell them I will do it for XX right now if I can leave the debris.

Stumps are easy, pick them up when doing bids in the area, You have a minimum to "just do" that is smaller then if you bring out a crew with you.

A few weekends ago, I did a small storm cleanup for $100 when my minimum is usually $400 since I'm with a large crew most of the time

 

[arbor pro]

It is stated as one way miles driven and disclosed in the conversation.

I guess I read your statement as applying 'mileage' not a 'fuel surcharge'. Maybe we're talking about two different things.

In my business, I always charge mileage outside of a set geographic area. Its x dollars per mile per trip and is different for various equipment. The fuel surcharge I am asking about is whether or not guys in this forum are charging x dollars in addition to their normal mileage fees due to increasing fuel prices (and noting it on the bid as such) or if they are just upping the bid by x amount and hiding the fuel cost increase?

Do you bid:
1) $500 for job plus $20 mileage plus $5 fuel surchage
2) $500 for job plus $25 mileage ($5 surcharge added in)
3) $525 for job (both mileage and fuel added in)

I realize that, in the end, the price is the same but, I'm looking at it from a customer's perspective as to what looks better to them. When I used to order in supplies by truckload, there would sometimes be a $50 fuel surcharge added to the price I was earlier quoted for shipping due to fuel cost increases. I'm just wondering if any of you do this when you bid a job 2 months ago at x dollars and x mileage but, to do it today will cost you more money because fuel has gone up x amount. Do you suck it up or impose a fuel surcharge and, if so, how do you do it so it goes over with the client?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If one puts the blinders on and refuses work under the minimum all the time, then you risk not getting into other areas.

Though another way to do it is to say this is my minimum and I will gladly do that much work on your tree/property whatever to give you your monies worth.

Either way, it is goodwill and exposure, especially on the weekends.

 

[mckeetree]

We charge $200.00 minimum no exceptions.

 

[chucknduck]

Yup, $200 minumum here too. a six inch stump=200 one tiny dead limb 5min=200, get the bucket out=400, get the grapple out=750. We loose a lot of small jobs, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[Slvrmple72]

Gotta love knocking out a bunch of those small jobs in a weekday or two inbetween big jobs or grabbing one on the way out or in from a big job. I will charge anywhere from 100 to 200 but sometimes less if it is a "quickie". People see you out there cleaning up some sticks that took a 90+ yr old lady all day to pile up and charge her like 15 bucks or that rotting pile of wood that never made it to the fireplace for 40 bucks and next thing you know you get a bunch of calls in the area for work. The bigger fellas see it as a waste of there time and in most cases,rightly so; but I call it priming the pump on the ole cash flow. Having a small pickup with a little gear would be a great way to knock these out. A lot of homeowners are intimidated by projects or problems and lack the motivation or resources to do things that we can accomplish almost effortlessly given our hardworking nature and equipment. I find it refreshing to see the picnic patio built after I cleaned out the pile of brush and logs that sat for years, or the nicely made up flowerbed under a row of pines that I cleaned up. The newly planted Magnolia taking the place of the dead topped Maple that I removed.

 

[treeman82]

I just tell people that I'll do it when I get bored. Sometimes that will be right away, other times it will not be for some time. Depends on how my schedule and route looks. I know the jobs that I have to do, and if I finish early on something sizeable, I'll try to knock it out on the way home. However if I've got a bunch of small stuff in one area, I'll go and do all that small stuff during the course of 1 day.

 

[juststumps]

small stuff, leads to bigger stuff....if it's not from the owner,, it's from word of mouth,,, or from ,,just being seen in the area...even if you have to take a loss on your hourly rate on some small jobs.. some $$$$, is better than no $$$$ and the exposure is worth it.. jmho

 

[arbor pro]

I don't dispute the need for minimums but I also can't see charging $100-200 for 10 minutes of work to a little old widow lady who's on a fixed income. Call me a softy or a bad businessman if you wish but, there are times when a minimum has to be waived for the sake of good will.

There is still some good will left in our industry, I hope...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I don't dispute the need for minimums but I also can't see charging $100-200 for 10 minutes of work to a little old widow lady who's on a fixed income. Call me a softy or a bad businessman if you wish but, there are times when a minimum has to be waived for the sake of good will.

There is still some good will left in our industry, I hope...

For most the minimum is a guideline, not a hardset rule. I'm sure everyone here has done some "pro bono" (for good) work.

Though one problem with small jobs is that many people see the work, but forget the travel and setup/teardown cost.

It is one little yew in front that needs a quick shear, you can cut it and rake it into a tarp in 15 minutes. Or the same with a small ornimental that needs "suckering".

...but is that 15 from rolling up, what about gassing up, getting stuff in and out of the truck, talking to the little old lady ect... Very seldom have I been on little jobs that can be less then .5 hrs rollup to rollout. then there are usually 2 guys standing around waiting to rake...

The good part is that you can often get these jobs the next year, and often twice a year. If you can schedule them so that you show up when you are in the neighborhood "at my convenience" then they may make money by padding out the day with an easy $50, you might get the neighbors on the same schedule.

When I ran pruning for the local TG-CL branch I had nearly 10k in revolving shrub accounts that I could schedule in the winter for "June to before the 4th of July" then I would keep the invoices in the truck so I could do as many as I wanted on the way home from other jobs.

Rules help keep track, but do not let them become blinders.

 

[ropensaddle]

For most the minimum is a guideline, not a hardset rule. I'm sure everyone here has done some "pro bono" (for good) work.

Though one problem with small jobs is that many people see the work, but forget the travel and setup/teardown cost.

It is one little yew in front that needs a quick shear, you can cut it and rake it into a tarp in 15 minutes. Or the same with a small ornimental that needs "suckering".

...but is that 15 from rolling up, what about gassing up, getting stuff in and out of the truck, talking to the little old lady ect... Very seldom have I been on little jobs that can be less then .5 hrs rollup to rollout. then there are usually 2 guys standing around waiting to rake...

The good part is that you can often get these jobs the next year, and often twice a year. If you can schedule them so that you show up when you are in the neighborhood "at my convenience" then they may make money by padding out the day with an easy $50, you might get the neighbors on the same schedule.

When I ran pruning for the local TG-CL branch I had nearly 10k in revolving shrub accounts that I could schedule in the winter for "June to before the 4th of July" then I would keep the invoices in the truck so I could do as many as I wanted on the way home from other jobs.

Rules help keep track, but do not let them become blinders.

I agree,they don't see the countless hours spent on maintaining
equipment, sharpening saws etc. Small jobs wait until I can get to them
and the problem is, sometimes that is a lengthy wait and may have been
better to turn it down. I never know when I will have time to do them
and always say when I am in the area, week later the call are you going
to grind my one stump? They don't get it and thats is why I have a minimum for anything, because they don't get that one stump is not worth me turning off a big job.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

my minimum is $150. If I need to bring another guy $200. Chipping minimum $150. If I need to get off the ground $200. Occassionally an old woman right next door will ask to chip something or remove a sapling. Thats usually free or like $50. If I'm already there and have time the price is much lower. Usually I try to get them to think of other things they need done so one limb doesn't cost $150.... Mike