Hourly rate

[steven1784]

Hi folks I'm just double checking that what I'm charging is a correct hourly rate for an operator and hire for a 2.5ton digger.......£28 + diesel?
I'm based in Scotland about 10miles south of Glasgow I'm doing work on new house projects,caravan parks,driveways and some landscaping

 

[doobin]

Hi folks I'm just double checking that what I'm charging is a correct hourly rate for an operator and hire for a 2.5ton digger.......£28 + diesel?
I'm based in Scotland about 10miles south of Glasgow I'm doing work on new house projects,caravan parks,driveways and some landscaping

Stupidly cheap.

 

[DaveDCB]

Stupidly cheap.

Don’t forget in Scotland they don’t even have mains water! So can’t compare it to the fancy southern monkeys rates!

 

[hiluxman]

Look at your local market, that's the only sensible way to do it. Once you get a feel for that, you can work out if it suits your overheads and a profit ect.

 

[DaveDCB]

Quite simply If your busy and turning work away put your prices up…

 

[Furniss]

Quite simply If your busy and turning work away put your prices up…

Is that actually a strategy ....if you have more work than you can do put your prices up ?

 

[DaveDCB]

Is that actually a strategy ....if you have more work than you can do put your prices up ?

Why wouldn’t it be??
I’ve always done it, never had any issues in doing so. I did end up with a spreadsheet with all my customers and different prices for everyone on, easier jobs/customers got charged less, hardwork was more

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Is that actually a strategy ....if you have more work than you can do put your prices up ?

It’s a strategy that’s worked for me for 20 years!

 

[Furniss]

Why wouldn’t it be??
I’ve always done it, never had any issues in doing so. I did end up with a spreadsheet with all my customers and different prices for everyone on, easier jobs/customers got charged less, hardwork was more

Yes it makes sense ...comes down to character - some of us are better business people than others in that regard.

 

[DaveDCB]

 

[Furniss]

I agree you should do it, we're not in it for the fun !

 

[fred]

350+vat a day, even then you be working for minimum wage after deducting all your overheads.

 

[Simon edwards]

I have a couple of regular customers that give us a lot of work and their rates are a little lower than a one off customer, it’s the extras that make the difference really, machine and operator plus a dumper, wacker plate, breaker etc. plus a ground worker stacks up well. Operated machine alone even on reasonable rates only just works financially,in my experience the smaller machines do give a far better margin due to lower cost of ownership,it’s a pretty tough game these days really.

 

[Nick...]

You want £50 an hour.sit down and work out your costs.I did mine during covid.I was charging £33 hour at time and I was massivly under charging.to hire a 2.5/3 ton machine here is £100 day.just took this from a local hire company price list.another £150 day for operator which ain't enough self employed taking into account non working wet days,looking at jobs,site meetings and paperwork,all unpaid.30 litres of diesel a day at around £50.insurance and maintenance on top of that and 20/25% for profit and you can do the maths.plus transport on top.I've charged £25 each way for 10/15 miles but people complain at times.not cheap running a newish hilux and ifor.after 40 years I've really had enough and I do the odd job with my machine but do operate a couple of takeuchi diggers for a builder customer who is my best mate and if he was not my mate I would not do it.I've got 40 years of experience too which I advise people with having done most things in this time.plenty of people hire diggers because they think it's easy and then make major f**k ups.I've done loads over the years clearing up and sorting out problems after people hire machines and make a complete cock up of things.
nick...

 

[heritage machining]

250 a day basic then at least 100 machine hire plus attachments plus diesel plus transport if a short job gotta allow at least a hr for transport even if close by loading unloading ECT. welding and body work on cars which I also do is 60 an hr plus gas wire consumables all plus vat

 

[V8Druid]

250 a day basic then at least 100 machine hire plus attachments plus diesel plus transport if a short job gotta allow at least a hr for transport even if close by loading unloading ECT. welding and body work on cars which I also do is 60 an hr plus gas wire consumables all plus vat

I know which I'd rather NOT be doing .. hateful, thankless task

 

[Steve]

I know which I'd rather NOT be doing .. hateful, thankless task

I was going to say worth every penny.

 

[Canal Navvy]

Somebody asked me a while a go if I did "welding to MOT standards " .....easy answer to that .......NO ...... soul destroying sinking that low

 

[Lancs Lad]

Somebody asked me a while a go if I did "welding to MOT standards " .....easy answer to that .......NO ...... soul destroying sinking that low

One word.. Sikaflex.
Oh and a rattle can. "Modern technology" we called it. Everythings bonded now innit ...

 

[pettsy]

One word.. Sikaflex.
Oh and a rattle can. "Modern technology" we called it. Everythings bonded now innit ...

Seam sealer
“Grinder and paint makes me the welder I ain’t”