Do some nuisance beaver work . Been charging $75.00 per beaver . Lately I just don't feel that's enough when factor in driving/setup/checking/time . My question is what would be a good way of pricing job's . Thanks

It depends whether you charge mileage & a setup fee

Just been a straight 75 per . But looking for ideas on set-up , milage , etc. Those trips to check empty trap's when waiting to get the last one is what got me thinking that should maybe be charging differently

DHH-

Check out the ADC ARCHIVES- https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/17/1/Animal_Damage_Control_Archive.html. While most of the information is dated, most of it is still valid.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthr...away-from-per-animal-charges#Post2010856

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthr...cing-nuissance-trapping-fees#Post2129685

Right now we charge $85 per beaver,.50c per km,maximum 5 trips, and $50 to breach each dam to natural flow.

I work it like this, 85.00 set up fee per two traps, 25.00 a trap extra. Then its 100.00.per tail.

What is your cost per hour to operate? Without knowing your expenses, how do you know what you have to charge?

On avg jobs . 50-80 miles round trip , either side of $15 gas + 1.5 - 2 hours of time . It's the dry days in between catches that don't work . Appreciate the responses on billing . Gives me ideas on how to approach future jobs

$500 - 600: Damage area can be reached by using a truck. That’s up to 5 trips @$100 - $120 each.

$800-1500: Usually a beaver colony. Damage area access requires use of an ATV or Kayak, price depends on complexity (Access, Time of Year, Urgency, etc)


The easiest of beaver jobs can be completed for a couple hundred dollars. However, if you’re being hired to handle it, there’s a good chance that isn’t one of those times.



These are prices I’ve charged for beaver work not too too far from the house. If you’re going to do it as a business, you have to err on the side of caution, because it costs a lot to operate. My insurance premiums and mileage alone are pretty stiff. These are examples, prices can be less, prices can be more. It depends on your situation. When asked how far I’ll go for beaver work, I always tell them the same thing: I’ll drive to the moon for beaver work under favorable terms.


My experience has been that some customers are fine with mileage, some aren’t. Just talk to them about it you need to for locations that are longer distances.

The most important part about beaver work is being THOROUGH. The beaver that matters is the last one. Every job has similarities, but every job is different in its own way. A truth that was told to me is that ADC trapping is about customer management.


It’s ok at times to give discounts or some free time at your discretion. You’ll know when that’s what’s called for. Any special circumstances or expenses that come with a job will more than likely need to be tacked onto the prices.

Of course, if your customer has a lot of work, other pricing arrangements can be made. By the hour, by the day, by the week, by the tail.... it’s up to you. My previous post was just pricing in general, when someone isn’t saying “I have 100 locations, let’s talk.”

I give the customer a flat fee, based upon $60.00 per hour. Will go as high as $80.00 for a difficult job where the truck isn't close.

This is for everything, Time starts when I leave the house and return.

Local folks(within 25 miles or so), $50.00 per hour. Sarge

beaverings hard work in this heat.

It is, and there are other challenges this time of year as well, starting with an abundance of food sources and active alligators

It sounds like you need to charge a daily fee as you've noticed there are costs whether you pick up an animal or not.

Don't work for free.

If I see an alligator I'm going home for the day.

If I seen a gator I would make a suitcase out of his hide,pack it up and move further North.

Just finished up one for a farmer FRIEND ...price per beaver...no set up fee. I will not do that again...wasted gas and time. IF IT IS TO BE A BUSINESS VENTURE then charge like a business would.

Most jobs with an established beaver colony are bid $1200 and up within a 50 mile radius. That is for trapping only. No dam work, that is extra.

We would charge $900cdn maximum for that job here-not counting dam/return to natural flow,assuming that a full colony is 6 beaver.

Per hour /per mile/per bvr works for me. Time starts when I leave home.

Made the mistake of trading out some beaver trapping for a friend in trade for some other work I needed done (estimated value $450). I thought going in I was going to tag 2-3 beavers and be done, so it was a good deal. 9 beavers later, I was ready to eat my hat...

Some jobs whether beaver or coyote work can end up being more time and expense then you first anticipated. Since I have done this longer then most and when you are doing this for a part of your annual income you learn to bid for the unforeseen as more times then not it ends up that way. Interference from do gooders, stolen equipment, traps set off, time spent watching the job site to prevent more lost equipment etc. It all adds up fast on some jobs.

I have had some beaver and coyote jobs that took way more time and effort then initially expected. Some go like clock work others not at all.

Oh heck, a simple grey squirrel job with an entrance a 10 feet off the ground can cost a lot more than you anticipate when you catch a squirrel, then a grackel, a couple sparrows, then the baby greys finally decide its time to make it out of the hole. By this time the customer is so paranoid that every sound they hear is a squirrel. Then the carrion flies show up...

Point is, even the simple jobs can become stupidly complicated when you least expect it. In my experience, this only happens when you think the job is simple and quote a price that reflects how hard you think the job will be.

Had a big job this spring and charged per beaver. 4 weeks and 84 beaver later and still made out very good.

Emphasis on BIG! Nice job. A job like that could’ve missed out if it was quoted on a per trip basis.



This is spot on. Especially the last sentence lol. Recently caught 12 moles in less than a .25 acre. Every time I showed up there was more activity.

Some jobs I price per animal and others I give a flat rate and maybe a per trip cost added on. I’m moving more and more towards flat rates. Many times customers freak out thinking you’re going to catch 40 squirrels despite what you tell them. I know this is a beaver topic but could go either way.

Maybe a setup fee, per trip fee, and then a per animal fee is best. Drop the $40 trip if you get a $100 animal that day. Just thinking out loud here.

I have always found over time a set up fee and a per trip fee will cover time vested and mileage all the time. Profits are based on your experience on how well you bid your per trip basis in most cases. If multiple catches are expected and extra time/work is anticipated a per animal fee is added at times. Some jobs are fluid others are simple and basic.

Per animal fees only work don't allow much profit most of the time I have found. In fact you will loose money in many cases on those types of jobs due to the go back for nothing trips. Set off traps, interference type scenarios etc. Just not enough profit or margin for error in that method of pricing for a full business operation.

A one man show you may get by but not much to show for it unless you don't value your services to a higher standard and profit margin. When you are paying considerable monthly overhead you begin to re think your business model.

If you cant handle some jobs efficiently you shouldnt pass on the cost of that ineptitude to customers.
Every job must be charged on the same basis to every customer to be ethical.if you dont have the depth of experience to catch educated beaver and have to make a bunch of extra trips the customer should not eat that cost-you should.

I charge based upon distance and yes, difficulty. if I'm ineptitude about it,.then so be it. As long i get paid, i'm good with whatever someone wants to call me. I stay busy, so, must be doing something right. It's also the customers right to refuse my proposal. Free market here in the U.S..............Sarge

Sometimes there are limiting conditions...like permission limits...beaver on other side of creek/ pond where no permission is granted. Or a lone single beaver that has a mind of its own....no pattern...long time between visiting where your traps are positioned. Careful scouting and then questioning can help when pricing jobs like this but still there are those unusual situations that can’t be helped.

Beaver jobs you have to charge per beaver. Depending on the time of season things can change ver fast.

Now that sounds like a fun job. Most beaver jobs are fun, but that one sounds great

A big consideration is who's paying and how fast you will get paid, if it is a landowner on the spot that is one thing if you are doing it for a large company/ industry you need to charge more because most take a couple of months to pay. Plus you may have safety requirements that add extra time into the job. Charging by the animal can be a tough go depending on the situation. Do you require insurance, not all jobs are the same.
One place I do beaver work requires me to wear category three high visibility clothing, which is extra and above just trapping the beaver.

I say, do what works for you. If you are satisfied with per animal and set up fees vs hourly. Then who cares, as long as it works for you. I've tried it that way, didn't work for me. so, i went to hourly and that works. Might have to go up on my prices since everything is costing more.

I don't worry about who's doing what and isn't. The beavers will force people into doing some type of removal sooner or later. The problem will not fix itself. Sarge