1. How do I make money using a tractor?
Because tractors can be expensive, many people do not have the resources to buy their own tractor.
Instead, they are willing to hire someone else to perform work with a tractor on their lawn, garden
or farm. The size of your tractor and the attachments available for it will determine what kind of
work you can do. To save money, rent the attachments you need for each job. Or, purchase quality
implements for your own use that also earn their keep by working for you.Tractor ServicesYou can
make money using a tractor to perform a variety of services. Tractors are suited to grooming large
areas in a short period of time. Use a finish mower attachment to provide a smooth look to a large
lawn, or a brush hog attachment to mow a rough or weedy pasture. A sprayer attachment makes it
easy to spray pesticides, herbicides or liquid fertilizer to help your customers improve their growing
areas.
Use your tractor to bale hay for people who have the land to grow hay but do not have the
equipment to harvest it. The AgrAbility Project notes that hay baling attachments include a specialty
mower that cuts the stem and then crushes it, helping the cut material dry quickly. Hay baling also
requires the use of windrows or inverters that turn the hay to aid in drying. Balers package the hay
for transport, and different models produce small square, large square or large round bales.
Pull a plow behind your tractor to create garden beds. Or use an auger attachment to drill holes for
fence posts or for planting trees. Use a front-end loader to move heavy earth, rocks or unwieldy
objects such as fuel tanks. A backhoe is useful for digging trenches for electrical or water lines, or
for digging ponds.
Hourly or By the JobPut a pencil to paper and determine how much it costs to run your tractor, along
with its attachments, for an hour. Consider the cost of fuel, oil, grease and hydraulic fluid, as
redirected here well as the cost to transport and store your tractor while on the job site. Factor in
the value of your time per hour. You might not arrive at an exact figure, but you will have a good
idea of the costs incurred to serve a customer.
Once you know the average cost to run your tractor for an hour, decide whether to price your
services by the hour or by the job. If you price by the job, you will need to estimate how long each
job takes and price it accordingly. Regardless of which method you choose, be sure to add in a
reasonable profit margin to ensure you make money.
AdvertiseAdvertise your tractor-for-hire services in feed stores, local cafés, gas stations and in free
newspapers. Ask each of your clients to refer you to others and print inexpensive business cards to
hand out. As your reputation grows, contact businesses and ask if they need the tractor services you
provide.
Source:AgrAbility Project: Hay Making and Handling Made Easier
2. More Information:TractorHouse: New and Used Farm Equipment for Sale
AgroMachine: The Marketplace for Used Equipment
Equipment Trader: New and Used Attachments for Sale
