except from my chair watching Youtube videos of them. I'm not at all shy about doing an extraction and I've even got a friend/contractor who is hyped to work along with me, but I just don't know what fees to charge. I've read some posts from the archives on this subject - but from 2009 - and I'm curious about what you all would set as a removal fee at this time. I'm in upstate New York where most of these calls come from second homeowners who are aware of the plight of the honeybee and who could comfortably afford to pay for a removal. Looking forward to your answers.
My first one was free so I could get my feet wet. I now charge $300 min.
$100 an hour, with a $250 minimum charge. The homeowner is responsible for all repairs. You are just there to smash and grab - make a hole however big you need to remove the colony.
With myself and a helper, most cutouts take usually about an hour and a half. I leave the box until nightfall to allow all the bees to move into it, and then pick up the box at dark.
If you do repair work after the extraction, that should be billed separately.
Thanks for the advice, Countryboy.
"Smash and grab" Hmmm. Interesting expression. Never heard that one before.
I just received an inquiry from someone who is gutting an interior and wanted the bees removed. It was good of them to contact me to save the bees first. I told her $300 minimum. Haven't heard back yet.
QuoteI just received an inquiry from someone who is gutting an interior and wanted the bees removed. It was good of them to contact me to save the bees first. I told her $300 minimum. Haven't heard back yet.
Maybe it doesn't pay to be greedy. Take the bees for free and do whatever renovation for the local going rate.
consider that the job will take at least 3 hours. i have never done one in less and some have been more. then you have the repairs to do if you are going to do them. since your first few will take longer, you might want to charge a flat fee for those first ones.
gutting, out buildings, tear downs, are the easiest most of the time because you don't have to be as careful. they are great for learning.
Removing bees from structures for a fee is not greedy, its a job, some tougher than others but still a good bit of work and time to get it all done and over with.
To make a comment that charging to perform a removal is greedy is just plain ignorant and I don't mean that in an offensive way. Fact is most people who perform free removals wind up charging after a few once they learn how much work is involved.
...JP
and that's why i didn't' mention that i do them free. BUT i am picky about those i take and i only do a few. i do no repairs. i have the time and motivation to not charge, although i take donations to the gas tank and find most people to be generous. for most beekeepers removals are work and should be paid as any work would be.
i didn't know you could use "ignorant" in a non-offensive way. i'll keep that in mind :evil:
I told her $300 minimum. Haven't heard back yet.
That's pretty common. They decide a $5 can of Raid is a better deal for them. Sometimes homeowners call an exterminator first, and get a ridiculous price. Often they decide to call a beekeeper to get them for free, rather than buying a $5 can of Raid. They end up going with the Raid.
Quote from: kathyp on February 27, 2011, 09:46:28 PM
and that's why i didn't' mention that i do them free. BUT i am picky about those i take and i only do a few. i do no repairs. i have the time and motivation to not charge, although i take donations to the gas tank and find most people to be generous. for most beekeepers removals are work and should be paid as any work would be.
i didn't know you could use "ignorant" in a non-offensive way. i'll keep that in mind :evil:
Now Kathy my sweet dearest one, look at a few posts before the one I made. My post does not have any bearing on what you have stated. Look at the one that contains the word "greedy".
...JP ;)
QuoteFact is most people who perform free removals wind up charging after a few once they learn how much work is involved.
It is my understanding he has never done one. If he was a professional would he be asking how much to charge? How much would you pay a person to replace a window in your home if he has never done one?
I charge a 100 a pop. 200 if somebody tried it first and didn't succeed.
Quotelook at a few posts before the one I made
i know. i just don't mention it most of the time anymore because people seem to think doing them free is nuts. :-D i did understand what you were saying and agree.
Quote from: Acebird on February 27, 2011, 10:03:02 PM
QuoteFact is most people who perform free removals wind up charging after a few once they learn how much work is involved.
It is my understanding he has never done one. If he was a professional would he be asking how much to charge? How much would you pay a person to replace a window in your home if he has never done one?
I charge a 100 a pop. 200 if somebody tried it first and didn't succeed.
"Maybe it doesn't pay to be greedy." Kind of a blanket statement that hit a nerve. Perhaps I missed your original intent.
...JP
I did three last year. First one was free, and the hardest(both in stings and work). Second one the homeowner made me a couple of topbar hives and now lets me keep hives on his property! Third one was the easiest and the guy gave me $125 without batting an eye. I personally don't like the term "smash and grab", although it is catchy. It sounds like you just rip everything apart. I plan on causing as little damage as possible and clean up afterwards. Let contractors do the major repairs, but treat the homeowner like you want to be treated. They might call you again or spread your name around, and you want that to be in a good way! Good luck and keep learning all you can.
EVERY REMOVAL IS DIFFERENT........
I have done some for free, some for token payment, some for a fair price, and some at an inflated price. I imagine JP has, also.
A ninety year old widow in a house nearly falling down around her is normally free. The one three years ago, for a doctor who had just imported french tile for his four car garage addition to his 20 plus room home,definitely inflated. That helps make up for the free and discounted ones.
A removal, on average, will take 2 or 3 men 3 to 6 hours, plus a return trip most times. Doing them for free when the client has a Mercedes and a Corvette in the 6 car garage gets old fast.
I have removed them for free and will continue to do so on occasion depending on the situation. Thing is some people can't really afford all that much, some who can, but insist on getting the best "deal" they can find, even if it means lying to your face about competitor's prices and those who will willingly pay for an honest day or two of your labors.
Sometimes its a little overwhelming to say the least. ;)
...JP
I've only done a couple, the second I charged 20 for - just for gas and I wouldn't have charged that if it had been closer. I figured it was a learning experience. The third I charged 40 for, I figured I was still learning. Nicest elderly couple - they insisted on giving me more when they saw how much work it was - it was a huge hive. I would only let them give me 10 extra, I could tell they didn't have a lot of scratch. The first I walked away from - the lady had had them sprayed (which I knew going in, she said there were a lot of bees left and I told her I would come out and take a look, no promises). If she had been on the up and up I would of done it for the experience even though now I know it would have been pointless (I was "ignorant" JP :-D). But it quickly became apparent that she wanted to take me for a ride. The "lots" of bees was, count it, one that I could see, they had obviously been sprayed days earlier, she had told me the bees were only in the building for a short time, and a neighbor said they had been there a couple of years and everyone knew it. On the inside the drywall was stained from where the honey and wax had started to run. She just wanted someone to clean up her mess for free. She followed me to the car, "can't you just...", "I'm sure there's some bees left in there...". Riiight.
I have two fairly close that I quoted 60 last fall that I will do this spring if they made it, after that I will go to 100 plus gas and then see how it goes. Like Iddee, my scale will probably always be a sliding one depending on what (and who :-D) I am dealing with. Keep in mind that I live in Iowa - if I was in California or a posh area of New York I am sure I would charge more.
JC
I have always done mine for free because the people here don't really have the money. Most give my a little something for my time, which is fine. This year, however, I don't really see myself doing many, mainly due to time constraints. I'll lean more to trap-outs. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of gas, I'm afraid I'll have to start charging a minimum fee.
What kills me is the ones that can't pay are are ones that want to give you at least something and the ones that have the money to pay for the service are normally the ones who want you to do it for free. Guess it shows you how most people now adays get rich lie and cheat to get whatever you want. Makes me wonder how many honest folks are still out there. I normally charge 100 per hour myself and my wife can get one done in 2 to 3 hours just depending on circumstances. Of course i do stuff for free if i really do feel they can't afford to pay. What helps the customer pay is getting stung a couple of times and thinking they have killer bees around :-D. Thank goodness for the media sometimes they make getting money from a removel so much easier lol.
Stone,
Don't discount yourself because you haven't done a cut-out before. Like any education, you've got a lot of time invested "learning" how to work with bees. Sure you'll be slower on your first, than your 100th cut-out, but if you provide a good service it's a win-win for you and the home owner. Many members of our club only do an occasional cut-out to "remind themselves it's way too much work." I was falling into that mindset too until I started charging what I thought was a fair fee for my services. I usually work alone, so by the time I pack up my gear, do the work, go back after dark to retrieve the hive, come home, unpack, and clean up my gear in preparation for the next - it's a 12-14 hour day. I arrived at my fees by comparing what exterminators charge, what it costs to have a repairman come to my house, and what I earn at my real job. I also found charging a nominal "inspection" fee (credited to the cut-out if the have me do it) where I can size up the job, educate the home owner on why cutting them out is best and give the folks a better estimate. That fee sure cuts down on the number of wasted trips to folks who think our time should be free. I can also offer folks the option of trapping out the bees as well, now that iddee has taught us all how to effectively accomplish that task, which is often the best option for some structures (but I've found just as time consuming, yet less sweat, considering all the trips you have to make.)
So for where you live, I think it would be fair to charge a $25-$50 inspection fee, the $200+ for easy cut-outs (I don't think there is such a thing) to $500+ if it's difficult (3rd story brick building.) I try to give the owner an estimate on the high side, so I have an "aggravation factor" built in in for complications. Then you can be a hero if you come under that figure. By the same token, there are still a number I do just for gas money because the homeowner needs a break, they are really nice to me, or I'm just in a real good mood.
In the end, it's completely up to you what and if you charge. Hope I've given you some useful guidelines.
Steve
Quoteones that can't pay are are ones that want to give you at least something and the ones that have the money to pay for the service are normally the ones who want you to do it for free. Guess it shows you how most people now adays get rich lie and cheat to get whatever you want.
It is ingrained in the corporate thought process. Take advantage of every situation.
QuoteThird one was the easiest and the guy gave me $125 without batting an eye.
If you were happy with 125 then you should be happy with 150, then 175 and so on. There is a risk in bouncing prices around and raising them substantially. That doesn't mean you can't justify charging more for the guy withs the Mercedes vs. the elderly with a Corolla. First of all if you don't charge enough for the guy with a Mercedes he is going to think you don't know what your doing and go to someone else. Then there is the risk of damaging expensive property. And as much as I hate to say this he is more likely to sue.
Keep in mind that if you are not a legitimate business, do not have insurance or not bonded you are potentially risking every thing you own on every job you do. In this case your prices should not be more than half the going rate IMO. If you are not professional it is best that your client understands that you are not right up front.
Hi Everyone,
My apologies for not having posted sooner. I've been running around a lot and didn't realize the feedback I'd been getting to my question. I really am grateful for your replies and I'm learning a very great deal from them.
Mostly I've learned that there is much to consider for each job. My mistake is that I answered a request for a price range before I took a look and before we were able to meet and speak with each other. All communication had been done via email.
Regarding the "greedy" comment: I think I understand what JP was trying to say (and I certainly don't want to put words into his mouth). "Ignorant" means many things to many people and the meaning of the word has a wide range both culturally and geographically. Some people might take this " "greedy" comment as an insult - but I won't. I just think it was a poor choice of words and I'll leave it at that..
I gave that price after reading many posts on the subject in the archives. Maybe it was a mistake. I agree with many who have here said that they'd rather do it for free than have a person pick up a can of insecticide. In fact, if I don't hear from this person in a week or so, I think I'll tell her just that and that I'd leave the price to her good conscience. I'm not in this for the money. I'm excited by the sheer experience of it and for the opportunity to learn. With that said, I'm also aware of what jobs like this involve and I respect people who have to do things like this for a living. I respect the sweat people put into their labor. Others ought to, as well.
Stone
I did my first this past week (thanks to All right here on BeeMaster) I did it for free
however now I did it HANDS-On and that was very rewarding.
I mean what I'm about to say,I can build a decent stick or metal house with a tape,
square, skill-saw, hammer, nail gun, pencil and pretty quick.
I don't do it for a living but I just enjoy building.
With that said the colony was about 6' to 8 feet by 18 inch
It took me 5 hours maybe a bit more. I did not put the soffit wood back up.If it was just a repair of remove
and replace maybe 1hr. and I had a Helper.
I feel I will free-bee for little old lady's or super Hooter Discount.
I am not into pest control or much bee control so from now on, I will pick and choose and pass the rest
too the folks at my bee club.
It was way more than I thought
Good luck Enjoy the learning curve
Tommyt
You're right, Tommy. Most of those who think it should be done free have never actually done one. Welcome to the real world.