Post Hole Digging Service

bcf

Well I'm getting a mini skid loader next week, and I've been thinking about trying to go a new way with the business. I was thinking about marketing just digging holes. I know this works in other parts of the US and Canada, so why not here? I'm just curious if you deck builders all would/are using this service, and what kind of pricing there is. I'm in SE PA, and was thinking about $10/hole( fence hole), with a $200 min. I figure my main customers would be deck builders and DIYs. I can't think of the best category in the phone book to advertise under. Any thoguths, advice, or criticism welcome.

maj

Who would be responsible for the one call?

Who would be held liable if utilities are hit?

Who's fault would it be if hole locations are off?

What if you hit rock to big or tight to dig with the auger? Would you hand dig out the rocks for that $10/hole?

I'm sure you have thought through all the scenarios, but just a couple points I was pondering.

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ron schenker

A good friend of mine just paid $32/hole. Thirty six inches down,4x4 10 ft. PT post all inclusive. Not sure if this is reasonably priced but was happy not to have to do it himself. He's pretty handy (finished the fence himself) but had no intention of doing the holes, so ya there's probably a good demand for this work.

AtlanticWBConst

bcf...Don't know if this helps...

We are currently doing several addition jobs (my point comes later in this post) and Next week.... we are scheduled to start a wrap around farmer's porch addition with a large sunporch (supported by footings). Off of this porch will be a large deck leading to a pool. As you can imagine, all of this require's ALOT of footings.

Since we have some excavating to do already in this project, our excavation sub. is involved...
We asked him about the cost of augering out all our footings (Roughly 30 of them : 12" dia. @ 4' depth)

His price: $300.00 for his equipement and one of his guys ---- for the day. ("Auger all the holes you want to...") - I love this guy.

I know this is a bargain...but we do alot of work and have some big projects that he will be involved in soon too.


I Just thought I would pass that bargain price on.


Normally...I would expect about:

$800.00 + Plus ...... for doing all the holes (with us taking care of the actual footings, dirt, etc.)

Needless to day...I think there is a market for this. But you would need to price it right...per hole and also based on the condition of the soil (Rocky soil , etc....)
...and... if there is a need for the soil to be moved off-site.

-My 1 cent-

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- Build Well -

DecksEtc

My guy does them for $17/hole, 42"-48" deep with me supplying the post.

AtlanticWBConst

Decksetc....

Is that US or CA dollars?

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- Build Well -

joasis

We do 9 and 12 inch holes for $10 a hole, or $80 hourly, 1 hour minimum plus milage, 24 inch holes are $15 and same hourly, etc. I get a few calls a month to do this and if I didn't already own the equipment, I wouldn't buy it hoping to even pay for it with that sideline. I do work the Bobcat (763G) enough to justify it even if I wasn't using it for our own job site work.

If I were looking for a sideline business, I would consider a full size skid loader with attachments.

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DecksEtc

Canadian.

bcf

Thanks for the replies guys. I currently install fences fulltime, so I didn't buy this machine on a whim to move some controls and make big bucks. Just looking at some options of where it could take me. I'm still working on the pricing as far as One Calls, which I would have to put in the contract for the liabilty. I was thinking If I had to do contact them, I would be liable, thereofre the price would be different then if I was subbing to a deck builder who did it himself. About the marking,again, different pricing if I had to mark them, versuses pull up and start digging. I always have a hard dig clause. But I'm looking into those expensive carbide teeth augers for them rocks. Just the good ole electric jackhammer for now.

The minimum has me stumped, too. It costs $284 for a day rental at HD for this kind of machine, more from other rentals with better ones. My concern is that I don't want to drive across town to make $50 with $20,000 being trailer behind me.

I do think the best, or at least biggest, customer would be the DIYer. I was really jsut thinking about digging, but maybe using setting the posts and cleanup as add-ons.

My dad has an old 753 just for moving stuff around at the shop, so I also have that to start with the skid steer type work. I do have excavating in the back of my head, but it's really faint, as a bobcat is abotu the biggest piece of ezuipment I am comfortable with.

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Matt Ehrenzeller-General Manager
A Great Divide Fence Company
www.agreatdividefence.com

joasis

Buy an auger for the 753 and try it out first...see if it will work. Then you are not out the big bucks. I bought a very used 743 with 6000+ hours for my first skid steer because i didn't want to sit on a 20k machine and find out I really couldn't justify it. Now I have a '2000 763G low hour machine, and the reason for the 763 is the size is still small enough to get in really tight places and not rut a yard too bad.

A skid steer is a great side line type of business if you are willing to bucket concrete, bore holes, place fill for HO's, etc, etc.

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