I'm trying to figure out what would be a reasonable charge to push mow an acre of land that's around three feet tall in rural or suburban Alabama. The owner is providing the mower and gas, but I'm concerned about how the heat—over 103 degrees with high humidity—could impact the job. Any thoughts on how to price this fairly?
3 Answers
Check out a mowing calculator online to estimate how long it'll take. When you're pushing through super tall grass, it can clog your mower every few minutes, so plan for that. The average speed of a self-propelled mower is about 2.5 MPH. If you stick with that, you could be stuck mowing all day!
For doing a big job like this, I’d say charge at least $20 for your services, and maybe even more. If it gets rough, just make the client understand that they might be paying for a full day's work. Don't forget to treat yourself to lunch after!
Honestly, if it's truly three feet high, push mowing might be a nightmare. I'd recommend charging by the hour, factoring in breaks—like work for 25 minutes and take a 10-minute breather to combat the heat. Just be sure you’re getting a fair rate for your effort; only you know your value!