Hello all,
I just started this year collecting bees from swarms, cutouts, and trapouts. So far I've only had 3 tree calls so that's all I've figured out thus far. I have decided that $50/hr is good for me and more than I have ever earned per hour in my life, and I came from the IT industry. It only takes me about an hour to setup a trap-out (so far) and I also charge for gas and other 'incidental charges' like lumber, hardware cloth, screws etc. And I do visit a couple of times to check up on it and charge the gas for those visits.
I live in a rural area and so far all of my customers are retired and I took that into consideration while trying to demystify pricing for myself. So far I haven't gotten onto any of the big big ranches out here that are owned by millionaires so I can't tell if their attitude would increase my price or not although I would be open to doing so if they get pricky.
I have not gotten the "but you are getting free bees" rhetoric yet, but I think JP said in another post something about #1 I am removing a 'pest' to you and some other good points about how this is a service, not a favor. So far all my calls are from people who have been stung and I play on that as them being a pest that I will remove for them, and again so far haven't had anyone balk at my price which could be low but seems to fit for here, and of course I get the free bees. :-P
See ya!
Superhoney!