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| Starting my own horse care business; Could use your advice on my prices | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 2 2009, 02:38 PM (326 Views) | |
| tbtrailrider | Feb 2 2009, 02:38 PM Post #1 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I hope this post is OK with the mods. I have decided to start my own business and was hoping to get some feedback from you guys on these prices. I haven't decided on anything for sure...not too certain if they are reasonable or if I am not asking enough. Daily Equine & Farm Animal Services Horse Feeding 1 to 3 horses($6.00/horse)4 or more($3.00/horse/feed) Horse Feeding + Cleaning 1 to 3 horses($8.00/horse/stall)4 or more $4.00/horse. Stall cleaning includes dumping and refilling water bucket. Stall Cleaning only ($4.00/stall) (includes buckets) Paddock Cleaning ($7.00/paddock) ( $10.00 a paddock with trough cleaning.) *Shaving re-bedding (add $1.00/stall) *Turnout ($1.50/horse) Note: turnout conducted in conjunction with other services, add $3.00/horse/visit if service taken separately. Turnout includes a close inspection of your horse for injuries and lameness, hoof picking, a quick grooming and blanketing. Feed Pick-up & Delivery ($10.00/order) Hand-walking ($5.00/15mn session) Hold for Farrier($10.00 an hour) *Administer Medication (add $1.00/treatment) Overnight Horse Sitting 10pm-7am ($50.00/visit - up to 2 horses)Overnight Horse Sitting Add'l horse ($15.00/horse) Grooming and Horse Care Services Light Grooming - Bodycurry, mane & tail brushing ($7.00 )I will spend at least 30 minutes on your horse. Show Grooming - Light Grooming + Shampooing + Clipping face/legs ($ 35. 00) Full Body Clipping - Horse ($ 125 .00) Body Clipping - Pony ( 75 .00) Pulling Mane ($10.00/visit) Braiding Mane - Basic braiding ($ 10 .00 Braiding Tail - Basic braiding ($10.00) Light Grooming - Facial Clipping only ($15.00) First Aid Equine Services First Aid Wound - Old bandage removal, wound cleaning, dressing, fomentation & antibiotic spray application ($ 7.00/application) Stable Bandaging ($10.00) Cold Hosing ($ 10.00) Hot Soaking ($ 10.00) Hot Poultice ($10.00) Thanks....Tbtrailrider |
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| Trialbyfire | Feb 2 2009, 02:54 PM Post #2 |
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You're BANNED!
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I've only taken a quick look and want to actually "add up" what you'd charge me for my regular chores and then compare them to what I pay my horse sitter. But my first impression is that based on the set up of a farm, feeding could be a 5 minute or a 30 minute thing, so I'd be hesitant to box yourself into a flat fee or you may end up regretting it eventually....pulling horses from the back 40, leading in and separating into stalls for dinner v. feeding horses already in.....you wouldn't necessarily want to charge the same price for that. I think if I were you I might establish a price range "based on the customer's preferences, farm layout and distance to your farm" and then give some examples. Let me take a better look later and see how it compares to what I pay. |
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| LaBonnieBon | Feb 2 2009, 06:23 PM Post #3 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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i have a flat fee per visit... and then i add upon that if i think the duties the client wants is above what i would consider fair for the fee. i don't add per duty, but just make a generalization like... those things sound like an extra $5 or $10 per visit. i just roll the extras into a flat per visit fee. it makes bookkeeping easier and you dont come off as nickle and diming the client. i charge extra per stall i clean.... and charge extra if the person comes across as a PITA. i don't charge extra for dressing wounds or filling troughs... those can generally be done on the way to or from taking a horse to the field, etc. i came up with this fee plan after asking myself how i would want to be charged if i was the client. i know this one girl who charges .50 for putting cat food in a dish..... 2.50 for letting the dog in the back yard... 3.00 for scooping litter, etc. to me, that is knickle and diming the person. it may take some trial and error on your part, but you will end up finding what works best for you. the best thing is that it's your business and you can change fee structure when you want to...
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| LaBonnieBon | Feb 2 2009, 06:26 PM Post #4 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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also, my stall cleaning fee includes re bedding as needed... i do think your holding for the farrier fees, etc. are too low.... |
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| Trialbyfire | Feb 2 2009, 07:15 PM Post #5 |
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You're BANNED!
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Well, based on this it looks like you'd charge $24 for daily stall cleaning & feeding for my 3 horses (when I had 3) and I paid $30/day. So not too far off but you're short changing yourself, in my opinion. I think what I'd probably do is something like LBB suggests - a daily rate for "basic" services to include turning in/out, feeding, mucking, changing water, etc. You could do it based on # of horses; I used to approximate $10/horse/day but when I had 2 horses I paid $25 because I felt that less than that might not be worth someone coming out. You could advertise a rate of "$25-$50/day for 2-5 horses depending on setup and customer's requirements" and then have a list of "add-ons" like administering medications or the like. I would probably always have a **these are suggested rates only and may differ somewhat from quoted fees based on numerous factors** type of disclaimer on any ads that you post, and maybe offer "free farm visits with rate estimates" or something. That way you can decide if a job is super easy and discount your rate, or say...gee, based on the mile-long hike through waist deep mud....I'm going to have to charge more. Things like rebedding stalls should be included in the price of the stall cleaning. If they need rebedding, you do it; if not, you don't. Charge assuming you have to...if you don't, you get a little extra, and if the horse is a pig, you make a little less. It will probably even out without having to itemize. Holding for farrier is low but if it's really local and easy horses...hey, $10/hour for standing there, right? But what if you have to drive and hold an obnoxious horse...is it enough? Maybe again, a range of $10-15/hour or a flat fee....sometimes you get extra, sometimes less. I'd pay more than $10/hour because my farrier is slow and that's a god-awful job in the winter! I think it sounds like a great opportunity for a lot of people; I'd really suggest trying to lump some things together as flat fees and minimize the "extras" so you dont' end up nickel & diming -- for your sake (not having to keep track of every little thing you do) and also for your customers, so they dont' wonder what the bill will actually be when they get home. Good luck! |
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| Delia | Feb 3 2009, 08:37 AM Post #6 |
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You're BANNED!
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I agree with TBF's approach. Additionally, whether you're just feeding, or feeding, bringing in from the field, cleaning stalls, etc., you still have the same expense of getting to/from the customer's barn. So you need to make it worth your while to even go there at all, regardless of how much time you spend there. And I also think your price for holding a horse for farrier, etc. is low, although I'm not sure where you're located so your area may not be as pricey as mine (Northern Virginia). But if I can't be there to hold my horse, I pay a neighbor $15/hour to do it, and she only has to walk across the driveway to get to my barn. Regarding braiding -- if you're talking about braiding for a show with yarn & pull-through, then your fee is too low. I pay $35 for a mane and $20 for a tail at A shows. But if you're just talking about braiding with rubber bands to train over the mane, then $10 sounds fine. |
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| tbtrailrider | Feb 3 2009, 07:06 PM Post #7 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I really appreciate the input.... I realize some fees are kinda low, but I don't want to scare people off with high fees.I I agree about the nickel dime thing...a flat rate may be better going to do a bit of revising...will post back. |
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| Fish Cheeks | Feb 3 2009, 09:44 PM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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I agree with nickel-and-diming. You have too many fees there. You might just pick $xx per hour or per day or overnight stay with a note that xx services are xx more money (bathing or clipping or braiding or things you don't do on a daily basis). Who are your clients and for what purpose do you expect that people will hire you? If I want you to come feed, clean stalls, turnout or bring in, blanket, I'd be willing to pay you hourly, not by each little job. If I hire you to stay and farm sit while I'm out of town, I pay by the day and would expect that fee to include all of the things we discussed in the initial visit (the basics - feeding, watering, blanketing, turnout, mucking). If there was an emergency, I would pay extra if you had to haul my horse to the vet or hold for the vet, but for the basics - a flat fee is best. |
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| tbtrailrider | Feb 6 2009, 12:30 PM Post #9 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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My clients are none right now. If I get any at all, they will most likely be backyard horse owners. Probably not too much braiding and such going on, but I put that in there to cover the bases. I won't be charging an hourly rate because I need to make at least ten dollars an hour, and the area is rampant with illegals who will work all day for five dollars an hour. No one will hire me. I have been in contact with a TOC member and will probably be doing some mane pulling and possibly some riding for her, but that is the only person so far. You think I have too many fees, I bet this guy will crack you up... http://www.barnboy.net/servicelistprices.htm Edited by tbtrailrider, Feb 6 2009, 12:36 PM.
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