Nuisance.... Pricing

[TheNoob]

Would like to know what people are charging to trap. I have been told set up fees and per animal fees. I dont want to over charge or under charge people. Thanks

[Humptulips]

A lot of guys are somewhat secretive about this. I wouldn't expect a lot of information to be forthcoming.

Here's what I will tell you. Figure out your costs. If you are doing much work there's insurance, business licenses and a big one, transportation.
I am not a real pro at it like some but I do a very few jobs. When I talk to someone over the phone initially I have a per animal fee that I charge and I quote that but stress that is just a guide. I will look at the property and the situation before I will be held to a price. It will be a guess based on your trapping experience how long the job will take. Figure out the mileage and come up with a realistic mileage rate and figure that into the cost.
If you get every job you are too cheap so don't worry about a few refusals. Probably won't get half the jobs people call about.

I recently took a coyote job. I charged $100 for inspection. I gave them two options. $500/coyote or $150/ visit. They agree to check the traps and I service the traps one day a week or when I make a catch they inform me and I remove the animal.

I do cut deals with people if it is a place I would like to trap every winter and they will agree to winter trapping access.

[TheNoob]

thanks for the help Bruce

[Machias]

Great advice.  I just do local area, no more than 15 miles away and I only do skunks, coons and beaver.  There are a few guys trying to make a living at it and I don't want to cut in on them so I don't do alot of jobs since I'm doing it as a hobby more than anything.  I charge $50 inspection and set up fee and $50 per skunk and coon.  Most of the beaver jobs I do for free, but I always ask them to wait for winter prime pelts.  If they don't want to wait I charge them $100 inspection set up fee and $100 per beaver.  Most wait for winter.

[TheNoob]

How much Nuisance work can you do before you have to hve a buisness licence?

[Machias]

Not sure, probably before you ever set the first trap.  One thing to seriously consider before you ever do a single job is getting covered by insurance.  You can make mistakes without blinking an eye.  Set a trap too close to a roof and catch a coon.  Come back and all the shingles around the trap are torn off, oops, now instead of making a bit of money your being sued for a new roof and they'll win.  Catch a coon or a skunk and have some kid walk up and stick his fingers in the trap and you'll loose your house.  Things happen, don't put your future at risk.  Some locations are just too dangerous, I have turned a few jobs down due to the location and no fencing to keep other people's kids out.

[carpsniperg2]

  Amen to that! You will want a business license for anything when it comes to making money and doing it for work. You just can't run a business these days without good insurance. To do so is a major gamble!

[Hannibal]

How much Nuisance work can you do before you have to hve a buisness licence?

$9,999.00 If you do not use a business name,,,,,,,,,,,,  $0. if you do...............

Insurance is about $1,000.00 per year

[Cylvertip]

I'm right about there with Machias.  I only trap for beaver and charge $100 to $150 per animal - the lower rate is for areas that are going to have a continual problem where I am more likely to have repeat business, the higher rate for ones that are less likely to have a problem in the future.  I don't do it full time, it's a hobby that I get a little money from.  No set up fee, No "water lowering" fee, no milage.  Most of my clients are word of mouth  - mostly farms - get in good with one or two, and they get the word out.  Had one farm that gave me fishing and hunting access so I only charged $50 per critter - good for them cause I caught 27 in a month.

 I have also done some over the phone consulting on other animals for free, and recommend contact with the local regional WDFW office for list of trappers that can help if some common sense pointers did not take care of the issue.

I have heard of guys charging $600 per animal. $300 per week, and $50 per animal, so the numbers are all over the board.

[Machias]

- good for them cause I caught 27 in a month.

NICE!!!

[TheNoob]

Thanks all for the info, it helps out alot..