hourly rates?

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jklingel

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Feb 8, 2008
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Just curious what people are charging, by the hour, and in what area of the country, for a large-frame skid steer doing general "dirt work". Thanks. john
 

BubbaDirt

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Mar 17, 2007
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Good question. I hope you get some responces. I try to charge $85/hr for any combination of 853/11'backhoe/forks/4t dumptruck. Less than 7 hrs. need one extra hr for move. Need to go to at least $95, but now's not the right time, IMO. That's in Charlotte NC
 

perry

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Aug 22, 2006
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Good question. I hope you get some responces. I try to charge $85/hr for any combination of 853/11'backhoe/forks/4t dumptruck. Less than 7 hrs. need one extra hr for move. Need to go to at least $95, but now's not the right time, IMO. That's in Charlotte NC
I offer by the job ???, by the hour $65 or by the day $475. Of course with the current economy, I'm negotiable
 

BubbaDirt

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Mar 17, 2007
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I offer by the job ???, by the hour $65 or by the day $475. Of course with the current economy, I'm negotiable
By the job has a lot of advantages. Unfortunately, I do not know "unit pricing" or, for example how much per foot for footings say 16" deep? I do spread dirt per load, usually try to figure $200 per tri axle load (17 ton).
 
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jklingel

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Feb 8, 2008
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By the job has a lot of advantages. Unfortunately, I do not know "unit pricing" or, for example how much per foot for footings say 16" deep? I do spread dirt per load, usually try to figure $200 per tri axle load (17 ton).
Thanks, so far. Yes, I hope to get more info from others, too. Up here you can rent a Bobcat for $250/24 hrs, w/ a max of 8 hrs on the meter (plus a $35 delivery fee). I figured an operator must be getting $20/hr , so a contractor would have $285 in the 'cat, then $160 for the operator, giving $445/day, or $55/hr. I don't think I want to undercut that, or maybe even compete w/ it. A person isn't going to get rich at $55/hr day in and day out.
 
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Nov 1, 2007
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Thanks, so far. Yes, I hope to get more info from others, too. Up here you can rent a Bobcat for $250/24 hrs, w/ a max of 8 hrs on the meter (plus a $35 delivery fee). I figured an operator must be getting $20/hr , so a contractor would have $285 in the 'cat, then $160 for the operator, giving $445/day, or $55/hr. I don't think I want to undercut that, or maybe even compete w/ it. A person isn't going to get rich at $55/hr day in and day out.
I'm new to the business and have tried bidding work out at $65 and have not gotten it, lowered it to $55 and I'm getting some work. This is just thru a local Craigslist ad. Most of the other guys are advertising on there anywhere from $45-65 and hour for skid steer work, $65-95 and hour for small dozer work.This is in Austin Tx, new housing starts have slowed but have not come to a stop and the local economy is better than most.
 

pelpel

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Jan 28, 2007
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I charge $55/hour plus $75 setup&delivery. Things are still slow here. The jobs I didn't get where not due to cost but rather logistics / not being available. I never had anybody gripe about cost. I am on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
 

perry

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Aug 22, 2006
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I charge $55/hour plus $75 setup&delivery. Things are still slow here. The jobs I didn't get where not due to cost but rather logistics / not being available. I never had anybody gripe about cost. I am on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
I forgot to mention, my advertised rates are for within 20 miles. Fuel, wear and tear added for more than 20 miles.
 

perry

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Aug 22, 2006
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I forgot to mention, my advertised rates are for within 20 miles. Fuel, wear and tear added for more than 20 miles.
Depending on the size of the job, a fella once told me it's better to buy a piece of equipment, do the work then sell it. He was right, I bought a small 12 ac. farm and wanted to clear 5 ac.. I bought an older international dozer that needed some work, fixed it, cleared the five acres and sold it for more than I paid.
 
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jklingel

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Feb 8, 2008
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Depending on the size of the job, a fella once told me it's better to buy a piece of equipment, do the work then sell it. He was right, I bought a small 12 ac. farm and wanted to clear 5 ac.. I bought an older international dozer that needed some work, fixed it, cleared the five acres and sold it for more than I paid.
•• $55/hr in Canada? Nobody BETTER complain; that is pretty cheap, as last I heard, your fuel price is still way above ours. Don't worry: George W is working on that. •• Yes, sometimes a person can buy a machine, do the work, and resell it. I am hoping to do just that w/ my old loader. I hate to even let anyone demo it, though, for fear of it breaking somewhere! That way is always a gamble that a lot of people won't take (thankfully).
 

BubbaDirt

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Mar 17, 2007
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•• $55/hr in Canada? Nobody BETTER complain; that is pretty cheap, as last I heard, your fuel price is still way above ours. Don't worry: George W is working on that. •• Yes, sometimes a person can buy a machine, do the work, and resell it. I am hoping to do just that w/ my old loader. I hate to even let anyone demo it, though, for fear of it breaking somewhere! That way is always a gamble that a lot of people won't take (thankfully).
I often hear homeowners quote a lowball price for a rental and they say "I'll just rent one". Rather than explain, I usually encourge them to do so replying "The're fun and easy to operate". I just called United Rentals. To rent a minimal S-175 is only $185 a day...this is the price people like to use. Here's the rest of the story... $185 S-175 $ 85 deliver $ 85 p/u $ 25 ins/damage waiver (500 ded) $ 26 sales tax (7%) Fuel ? Total for 1 day over $406.00 again for small machine. Don't let potential customers BS you on the rental deal.
 

mllud

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Jun 29, 2007
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I often hear homeowners quote a lowball price for a rental and they say "I'll just rent one". Rather than explain, I usually encourge them to do so replying "The're fun and easy to operate". I just called United Rentals. To rent a minimal S-175 is only $185 a day...this is the price people like to use. Here's the rest of the story... $185 S-175 $ 85 deliver $ 85 p/u $ 25 ins/damage waiver (500 ded) $ 26 sales tax (7%) Fuel ? Total for 1 day over $406.00 again for small machine. Don't let potential customers BS you on the rental deal.
Theres something else that rental doesnt come with. An experienced operator.I own a skid steer , but before I did,I paid for getting my work done. There has never been a time that I didnt feel I got my moneys worth.The ocasional renter will spend half the first day getting comfortable with the controls. and still wont come close to getting his moneys worth.The hourly rate in my area is about 70.00 dollars an hour. Mike
 
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jklingel

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Theres something else that rental doesnt come with. An experienced operator.I own a skid steer , but before I did,I paid for getting my work done. There has never been a time that I didnt feel I got my moneys worth.The ocasional renter will spend half the first day getting comfortable with the controls. and still wont come close to getting his moneys worth.The hourly rate in my area is about 70.00 dollars an hour. Mike
Bubba: Food for thought. I was told $250/day, "any loader", max of 8 hrs on the meter, BY the rental agency. I did not inquire about these "add ons" you mentioned. Surely there must at least be some kind of insurance cost. I'll probe more. In the meantime, I sure am not working up here for $45/hr; not intentionally, anyway.
 

BubbaDirt

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Mar 17, 2007
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Bubba: Food for thought. I was told $250/day, "any loader", max of 8 hrs on the meter, BY the rental agency. I did not inquire about these "add ons" you mentioned. Surely there must at least be some kind of insurance cost. I'll probe more. In the meantime, I sure am not working up here for $45/hr; not intentionally, anyway.
The insurance is the $26 (waiver/ins) add on. Usually ins is around 15% of rental price. amen on the "working for $45/hr...not intentionally" I've done it but as we say in the South, "I didn't set out to..."
 

jack26

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Jul 2, 2008
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The insurance is the $26 (waiver/ins) add on. Usually ins is around 15% of rental price. amen on the "working for $45/hr...not intentionally" I've done it but as we say in the South, "I didn't set out to..."
It depends on your market...
 
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jklingel

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Feb 8, 2008
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Some guy is advertising on the local craigslist, he will rent his 753 with bucket for $100 per day or $500 a week. Heck! if I had a long job I'd rent his........
Something smells here. Either he is desperate for short-term money, or he knows something I don't. No way in hell would I rent my machine, let alone for $100 a day. Rental anything gets pretty well abused, in my limited experience watching people w/ rental equipment. That said, if it was my neighbor's machine and he happened to be on vacation...
 

destro

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Dec 20, 2005
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I charge $ 65.00 per hour flat in B.C. interier; I feel that a good deal for an a300
 

skidsteer.ca

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Jan 20, 2006
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I charge $ 65.00 per hour flat in B.C. interier; I feel that a good deal for an a300
We are $75 to $100 for most general skidsteer work. (higher for stump grinding and severe service work) There will always be someone who can maybe do it for less. Chances are they don't come with the arsenal of attachments and maybe the experience to do the best job. I don't try to compete with a low price, most customers can be sold quality. If they can't pay what I'm worth, then I may as well stay home.
Always trying to beat the last lowest price you were told will only result in everyone working for nothing.
I try to bid most work by the job, and keep my rates to myself. The customers ultimately just want the total cost anyway, no point in giving them a number to compare too.
We are in northern Ontario
Ken
 
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