what is a good per acre price for a land clearing? | LawnSite

It's hard to say from the picture but that field look like it's timothy and alfalfa. There is value to that as hay. That's where the money is to be made.

If that's the case here is how I would quote it.

My Costs @ my billing rate for a 50hp Utility tractor & OperatorCutting25 Acres @ 3.0 Acres per Hour8.33 Hours X $75/Hour = $624.75(Cutting with a Sickle then a quick pass with a BushHog after Bailing)

Bailing25 Acres @ 1.5 Acres per hour16.66 Hours X $75/Hour = $1249.50

Loading6 hours @ $75/hour = $450

Hauling $300

Costs $2624.25Quote to customer$2624.25 X 1.5 = $3936.38

Cost to Customer $157.45 Per AcreThe key to making money on this is YOU keep the hayA conservative estimate is 2tons of Hay per Acre.Hay Yield 50 Tons50 Tons = 100 Large round bales @ $85/Bale (Current price here for mixed forage around here) = $8500 PROFIT !

Profit for the jobWhen factoring in Labour & Equipment costs I am making $26/hour for the operations.

30.99 hours @ $26/hour = $805.74 (and this is paying a operator $22 a hour) If I'm doing it myself I'm making $48 /HourValue of Hay $8500

Total Profit for the job $9305.74

When pricing a job keep in mind all sources of possible revenue.

I think the prices you are seeing of $3000-$5000 a acre have to be for clearing heavily forested area. Even that seems high, Around here you can get heavy bush cleared for about $700 a Acre.

Maybe I should move down that way.

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what is a good per acre price for a land clearing? | LawnSite