£38K is the current UK average wage, are business owners working for less??

[Billy]

Personally, I think a 50k gross salary is a pipe dream for most running a small U.K tree firm with 2-3 staff.

 

Here in France it's purist fantasy.

 

Ty

 

 

all these sort of replies make me wonder...Are you lot claiming this is unobtainable just trying to defend your interests by playing down what you're earning, or you genuinely make substantially less than this and see no other way ?

[swinny]

It isn't, but the longer people keep thinking that way the harder it is to achieve and only a few will achieve it.

 

I priced the removal of 2 medium-sized spruce, I said £300+VAT. The customer was delighted, it was much lower than he anticipated and wanted to know how soon I could do it. But he had another chap coming to quote in the morning, so it was only fair he let him quote.

 

Other guy quoted £180:001_rolleyes:

 

So many put so little value on their time and skill:thumbdown:

 

Ouch they must be desperate for work!

[skyhuck]

Ouch they must be desperate for work!

 

Indeed.

 

The stupid thing is that customers are happy to pay more, its not a job they can do themselves.

[Johny Walker]

It isn't, but the longer people keep thinking that way the harder it is to achieve and only a few will achieve it.

 

I priced the removal of 2 medium-sized spruce, I said £300+VAT. The customer was delighted, it was much lower than he anticipated and wanted to know how soon I could do it. But he had another chap coming to quote in the morning, so it was only fair he let him quote.

 

Other guy quoted £180:001_rolleyes:

 

So many put so little value on their time and skill:thumbdown:

 

was it half a days job,

[skyhuck]

was it half a days job,

 

Little under with my kit.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Ouch they must be desperate for work!

 

£180 - £36 tax (assuming it's declared and at the lower rate)

 

= £144

 

£30 Weigh in for waste (assuming it's taken away and disposed properly)

 

= £114

 

£80 Something for a second bloke (maybe)

 

= £34 (excluding fuel & kit costs)

 

and then back in the real world - single bloke, burn the brash, make a few quid on the logs, takes 2 days to bash through it, paid cash undeclared, he might make a ton a day for 2 days....

 

I suppose it's better than being on the dole.... Unless he's claiming as well then it's probably a nice little tickle....

[Mick Dempsey]

Let's not get bogged down on pricing individual jobs please.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Let's not get bogged down on pricing individual jobs please.

 

Fair one, what I should of added was, although I guess you can't blame 'em, it's not the sort of customer I'd waste any future effort or time on, that's what was on my mind but I got distracted and forgot to finish it off.....

[skyhuck]

Let's not get bogged down on pricing individual jobs please.

 

Its simply indicative of what drives down rates in our industry.

 

If the guy had said "Oh I did not expect it to be £360, that far more than I wanted to pay" that would suggest I'm too expensive. The fact is I often get people who are more than happy with my price, but are they are then shocked by a much lower price.

 

20 years ago I ran a 3.5t pickup and 6"chipper, at that time I charged £280 per day on average for a two man team. I know that there are guys near me charging similar today, its madness.

[Richard 1234]

Its simply indicative of what drives down rates in our industry.

 

If the guy had said "Oh I did not expect it to be £360, that far more than I wanted to pay" that would suggest I'm too expensive. The fact is I often get people who are more than happy with my price, but are they are then shocked by a much lower price.

 

20 years ago I ran a 3.5t pickup and 6"chipper, at that time I charged £280 per day on average for a two man team. I know that there are guys near me charging similar today, its madness.

 

 

What you you charge you old setup out at today in comparison to the £280 you did then?

Obviously with your kit now you need more but if you still ran the same would you still have to be on the same kind of money do you think?