# How to Charge for Odd Jobs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400 "2024-09-17T19:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/1 "2024-09-17T19:02:39Z")
I have some dead lilac branches from bushes that need cutting to the ground (as they all shoot out of one root). They are probably 3-4’ thick, 10-12’ tall, and I do not have the tools to cut these without making the job harder than necessary. Someone with a chain saw can knock this out in 20-30 minutes. What should I offer via a free board for the community? I don’t want to offer too little nor do I want to get taken. (Bonus to consider: It’d be great if one could haul away.) Your thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/2 "2024-09-17T19:06:56Z")
Including prep and travel, it is likely to end up being 1.5-2 hours total. I don’t know your age–if elderly you can play that card and offer a case of beer. Money-wise, I’d say $100. Like I say to my friends about carpentry for them–it’s either free or full price. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/3 "2024-09-17T19:40:55Z")
I just tell my friends its $20 per hour for any type of yardwork. Triming trees, fence repair, ditch digging, painting and even reskinning a deck. They are happy to do it and I pay them at the end of the day in cash. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/4 "2024-09-17T23:16:50Z")
We just had the exact same job done for us by young man with a pickup, trailer, and chainsaw. He had mailed refrigerator magnets saying “I’ll do anything”, listing a number of similar projects. We paid $100, including haul-away; we offered more, but he declined. A good way to get repeat customers! If you can find that kind of help, keep ir. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/5 "2024-09-18T02:05:10Z")
When I did electronics repair, and when Wife 1.0 did legal work, we charged the hourly rate the client made. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/6 "2024-09-18T11:59:51Z")
Pretty much $100 is the starting point. For any kind of tree work if the person has insurance then $300 is the starting point. Keep in mind that when you look at a job and think it can be knocked out in 30 minutes, you still need to consider travel to the job site, clean up, etc. I’ve figured 30 minutes for a yard work job and it took me three hours once I really started. Thirty minutes to put a new chain on the saw, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/7 "2024-09-18T16:45:56Z")
Look on [TaskRabbit](https://www.taskrabbit.com/) for someone to do the work. You should be able to find several “taskers” with quoted rates to come and do it. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/8 "2024-09-18T17:41:01Z")
I had to search hard to find a regular guy who charges an hourly rate. All former guys would hem and haw and quote a job rate, then ask for more money at the end. This is a big drag. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/9 "2024-09-18T17:55:46Z")
$20/hour. You may need to research where branches can be hauled to and how much that costs and add on that cost. Where I live the trash company will pick up branches that are bundled up under 3’ long. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/10 "2024-09-18T19:08:31Z")
$20/hr seems unlikely to attract someone who both owns a decent chain saw and who also knows how to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/11 "2024-09-18T21:34:47Z")
I haven’t had a problem getting people to do manual labor for $20/hr when they know it is not taxed and that I am not hovering over them constantly. I try to be a bit lenient towards people who are helping me out, sweating in my place and have chainsaws. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2024, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-odd-jobs/1007400/12 "2024-09-19T11:26:33Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > $20/hr seems unlikely to attract someone who both owns a decent chain saw and who also knows how to use it. I agree, considering a new chain costs around $20.