why we only charge by the hour for portable sawmilling

[@treetopflyersofva2]

I have been dabbling at the portable sawmill business myself and I have found like you the exact same things you encounter. I find charging by the hour is much easier also. I see on this job you are using your tractor. I run into that all the time that the customer has no way to move the logs to get them to the mill area. You have to charge extra for that. I have lost jobs because the customer didn't take this added expense into account. I also try to get them to have several people to pull the wood off the mill. it's funny how at the end of the day when you have been cutting 12 and 10 foot oak boards, their tongues are hanging out from all that off bearing. Thank you for being honest with your business letting us know how you do things. I am learning a lot and also finding out that we all run into the same problems. Thanks for sharing.

[@courtneyroy782]

Well...look what i found! L Very nice! Awesome business and company!

[@omma-llama7860]

That time-lapse at the end is pretty damn cool. nothing wrong with that video at all, and its a very informative topic! very true about customers being less talkative when paying hourly! happens in other industries as well.

[@ReapWhatYouSeauxLeJeune]

New to your channel thanks for the information I’m not a newbie at Million just new to a LT 15 worked portable mills for over 20 years. Just working for my self now . Knowing what to sell lumber for is difficulty to price. I’m a KZbin Channel also mixed content Homestead life style. Great Channel keep up the good work.

[@courtneyroy782]

Nice editing! LOL Thanks for the video. We are considering starting a business with an existing LT-40 Hydraulic...I'm facing the same pricing chart problem.

[@ronwood7040]

I can not get past customer asking what I charge. I charge $70. an hour. They say the Amish guy down the road is 25 cents a bd ft. I say yeah but you have to haul logs to them and pick up etc...I explain all about the different cuts and species. Then I find self trying to defend my price. I really don't like doing that. I guess I should go out and price the job on site.Ron

[@charleyandsarah]

I have found (with both sawmilling and contracting) that if you attempt to make any justification for your pricing, the client kinda takes that as you don't have a good grasp of your pricing, and hence are likely trying to overcharge them or lack experience. Confidence is key; it costs what it costs.

[@mc1817]

Hello, I just wanted to ask a question. . When you saw by the hour, what happens if your mill breaks down or if you have to replace a minor Part? Thanks

[@charleyandsarah]

Don’t charge for that time, same with small rain delays or lunch. If it’s the customer’s call/fault, I will charge, like if I have to deal with firewood, blade changes, etc….but if my mill breaks that is on me. On one occasion we had a 1.5 hour rain delay which I was going to call it for the day and go home but customer wanted me to stay, so we split the diff and he paid me for half the time

[@mc1817]

@@charleyandsarah Ok, sounds fair to me. Thanks.

[@tfknauss]

Good informative video guys. Well done!

[@KB-ks8jv]

Great idea I will start that too!!!!

[@farmerbob139]

mill financing is a cost. most people I know include the requirement to make a profit on all costs in order to have a profitable business. therefore, a mill owner would have to make a profit on the hourly cost of financing the mill to stay in line with the concept of profiting on all costs. does that hourly cost stay the same when the mill sits idle for 2 weeks? of course not, so the reality that the hourly cost of financing the mill make fluctuate by huge multiples comes into play... can you fluctuate your hourly rates to reflect this? obviously not. I would imagine a google search would yield some information on profit margins when hourly rate, cost of equipment, operator costs, and seasonal downtime are taken into consideration.

[@jesusisthelord2008]

Funny thumbnail lol 😁

[@omma-llama7860]

The editing fairy is hot!

[@davidunderwood4341]

That's his wife, way to keep it classy.

[@nrth-ng9sm]

12 an hour it doesn't seem like it's worth it.

[@AndyBolton310]

If I understand correctly the mill payment can be made with $12 per hour 20 hours per week. His time total is about $70 per hour. $1400 in 20 hours isn’t too shabby.