i started ADC and i have 2 groundhog calls already I was wondering if I'm charging good.
I'm charging: 20 bucks per groundhog, 5 bucks for ever day I'm there and 15 bucks for gas. I'm 13 and not trying to make a bunch but I want to make some, is this a good amount?

pricing totally depends on your location and what others are charging, I'd suggest pretending to be a customer and call around to other ADC operators and ask what they would charge to come out, just don't tell them you're in business in their area. I charge a flat setup charge on day one then per animal we catch. makes sense to me and the customer. don't separate every little charge it makes the customer feel like you're nickel and diming them, just tell them what the total will be. also try to find local jobs, more you have to drive more you have to charge. closer ones yield higher profits.

its great you've got a business mindset from your age keep it up it may turn into your career. also if you're able don't forget to offer your customer exclusion barriers around sheds and decks etc of hardware cloth or wood to keep the critters out in the future. big selling point to tell the customer you can install a barrier to prevent the problem from re-occurring in the future.

makes sense to me, so if i did a 15 dollar setup fee then a 15 bucks a ghog fee, would that be good? or should I stick with the fee system that I have?

Good for you. Pricing is what you can get for it. But I would suggest sitting down and crunching numbers. Your time being most important, never sell yourself short. But factor in all your costs time, equipment, fuel, transport, and pad in enough for expansion. Always be looking to expand your knowledge and abilities.

And just a word of caution. Watch your six as all of are always on a camera somewhere. Be the professional at all times.

AND HIDE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, IF YOUY CAN!!!! Don't want some soft hearted and headed neighbor complaining, destroying your set/equipment, or turning them loose.

Maybe I should have "Be very discrete with the sets".

I js went through all this recently... pm me and I can give u what good advice that has worked well for me or send u some info.

Slight disagreement.

While I agree certain things should be done out of sight if possible, hiding is the very last thing I want to be caught doing.

Caught hiding you must be doing something wrong.

Nope, I'm up front with what I'm doing. I'm legal, licensed and professional. My clients get the talk before I ever quote a fee.

As for on site work I carry myself as a professional and do try to take the neighbors into consideration but I'm not afraid to catch a coyote in a front yard if that's what's given to me. But if possible sets get placed with visibility in mind.

I've learned the hard way a half truth is whole lie. And no one likes a liar.

Thanks for the input but I ended up saying 35 bucks and I will trap the ghog it’s not very much but I will make 140 bucks with the jobs I have.

Keeping traps and animals out of sight is a big plus. Since your business is between you and your client, no one else needs to know what you are doing. No sense putting you business out there for the rest of world to see as there is always someone who will be offended by what you are doing, even with live traps. You don't need to make problems for yourself. I had one spot at a college where I actually dug out a slot and dropped the whole cage in with a burlap bag covering it, then covered it with dirt to hide it after someone had released a chuck. I caught more chucks and no one ever knew what I was doing. Another year at the same college I had kids turning my squirrels loose as there was no way to hide the traps. I caught a girl with my trap and squirrel in hand on one check. I wasn't vulgar, but I was plenty loud in informing her that it was not cool to be letting squirrels go.

Alright my client doesn’t want me to use cages so I’m setting some little footholds and I’m going to make sure that passing cars won’t be able to see it

Starting a bad habit there, letting the client dictate the conditions.

We are the professionals we know what is going to be the best tool for the variables given. Client preference is just one of those variables, a low priority variable imo.

You need to set the terms and expectations up front.

Do you want the animal gone?

Yes

Good, now get out of my way so I can make it gone.

I told them footholds and conibears where the most effective

Well if it's a decision you made in consultation then nothing wrong with that.

I've had clients insist upon methods that just don't work, like cages for coyotes. At that point you either take their money or walk. I don't like taking folks money without results and no matter what you told them they seem to know their way should've worked so it must be your fault.

Yeah

You are not overcharging. Keep at it, be professional, and learn the critter habits, breeding season, litter size etc. Also know the state laws. Take the training if its offered. You will need a drivers license eventually. lol. Its a better job than fast food and you will learn some things about business. I should've done it, but the lumberyard wasnt too bad as a first job either. You learn valuable stuff to take with you.

Don’t be afraid to turn down a job that might cause a lot of problems; like this. Trailer park situation. Lady owns trailer and pays rent, has groundhogs pestering garden and holes under shed. After she mentioned stay cats frequently the same areas, I quickly and politely turned the job down. I advised her to tell the trailer park owner to handle the problem.
Sounded like a super nice person, but based years of experience, stray cats ALWAYS end up causing too much stress in trailer parks. Too many people looking 24/7 !

My last job went really bad I caught a cat in a 220 and she didn’t want the cats gone. I didn’t even use bait I just put it where she told me the ghog comes out of.

Ouch, that’s a tough lesson.

The good thing, is you’ve learned this at the beginning. If it was the lady’s prized dog, it would have been much worse. 220s aren’t a good ground trap and have a very limited use in ADC work.

Get some cage traps.

That's why they're not legal in many states for open sets, in buildings or water only.

Who is driving you?? Wish I could do this