Are we all rubbish?

[jnoon]

I'm sure TCD would agree?!?!?

 

What can you achieve a day mate?

[eggsarascal]

This is another key point - most trades make a margin on the product they supply on top of their labour input. Tree surgeons don't really have that option.

 

Logs!

[Rich Rule]

 

How much would climbing kit and saws cost to go and do a days work for a climber? Labour only. I bet it's not three to four grand.

 

Click one of the links on the side mate. See for yourself. I turn up a couple of toppers, 441 full climbing kit and rigging if needed but charge more for that.

 

Not added it up but I reckon it is more than you stated, but then again I float to site so my transport costs are minimal.

[jnoon]

What about truck, fuel, insurance, etc, etc, etc,???

 

That's in on my price

Agreed if it's a journey time and diesel is charged for

Insurance is not mental

Like I said would be interested to head a few more day rates from people

[Matthew Storrs]

I'm sure TCD would agree?!?!?

 

What can you achieve a day mate?

 

My tree setup used to be 2 blokes, tracked chipper, landy and trailer, usually around £350 for that. More than that and I'd lose the work, believe me I tried plenty. I can make that with my tractor and postbanger doing a good days fencing price per meter, hence why not undertaking tree work much anymore.

[jnoon]

My tree setup used to be 2 blokes, tracked chipper, landy and trailer, usually around £350 for that. More than that and I'd lose the work, believe me I tried plenty. I can make that with my tractor and postbanger doing a good days fencing price per meter, hence why not undertaking tree work much anymore.

 

So at £360 I'm very close to you,

[Matthew Storrs]

Ha ha dam right whatever the trade.

 

My trade probably 30k worth of kit 25 years experience plus free design. Charge the customer £15 per hour. Ah well I will die poor but happy.....ish

 

That's the attitude to have I think, I'm sure we're not starving! Personally I find living in a beautifull area a richer existence then earning top wedge.

[Tom D]

Edit.. This is a response to post 30. Things have moved on as I write.

 

 

Thats my point, you don't get £500 per day every day..

 

 

You get 350 one day and 750 another, forget about a day rate, learn to know when you can charge the good money and when to go cheap.

When its "your job" here's how to price it:

Look at the job carefully taking into account the timber and chip and how much of it there is, more than one load?, assuming there isn't look at the hours that it will take you to do the job, not rushing like a headless chicken but working at an easy friday kind of pace, you need to think of your £500 daily target and divide by 8, so you want £60 per hour, then you need a minimum call out of 2 hours... £120...

Now, £120 for the first hour + 7 hours at £60 makes you £560 for the day, too much perhaps? so charge £120 for the first hour and £50 per hour thereafter.

 

I suspect you have got into the bad habit of just slapping your 360 day rate on most jobs, some will be easy and you will feel that you have done well some will be hard and you will really earn it. With my system you will earn less on some jobs but way more on others, and its a fairer system of pricing for the client too. You will get days where you can string 3 little £250 jobs together and these will be your £750 days.

 

Try the above system and stick with it for a month at least, let us know if it works.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Tom D

[Gareth Dalzell]

Logs!

 

I know what you mean but hold on, aren't we giving away our split logs a below market value. So once again we are undervaluing our selves.

[Mark Bolam]

That's interesting thinking there Tom.

I find those 2-3 hour jobs the most difficult to price in a way.