01/13/2022
Some think I’m too expensive when it comes to beaver trapping. Well, read further.
On one of our Wildlife Control sites that I visit from time to time, a new guy asked about pricing. Here is his question, “Hello all, like every other business startup I have pricing questions. I will be doing beaver removal, only beaver removal. No dam removal, just beaver trapping….”
Let’s pause right here. I also tear out dams. This is one indication that I use to help me determine if I have solved the problem.
Here are just a few of the responses that he got from other trappers in the business.
1) My bottom dollar is $500 for an easy job on up. The size and difficulty of the job can put me up into the thousands it's all situational.
2) There's no straightforward formula here since it's all farm ground. Prices range from $750-$4k and up from there. Every one is different.
3) What I can tell you is that if you are under $1k for even a simple beaver job you are probably losing money.
4) Would recommend a flat rate. Most of my jobs only avg 2 beavers. I can sell a $900 job easier than I can sell a job charging $450/beaver.
Okay, we got the first guy saying that he’ll not price under 500 bucks and it could easily be in the thousands! That’s “thousands”, plural! Meaning more than one!
Guy number two is STARTING at $750 and may go as much as $4000? I’ve never had a job to start as high as 750!
Number three dude says I’m loosing money on anything less than a thousand dollars!
Guys number two and four leaves me with more questions. How long is guy two gonna be in there for that $750? Is this a weekly price? Or is he charging that much per beaver?? Guy number four. When he sells a $900 job, does that mean that he’s gonna pull out after catching two beaver? And who in their right mind would pay $450 dollars just for one beaver?
Now, with all this in mind, compare my pricing. I charge by the week. That is whether I catch 1 beaver or 30. I have trapped beaver for as little as $250 a week. I have charged as much as $650, but in that case, I traveled two counties away to do it. But, yet, some say that I am too expensive.
Okay then. With the price of gasoline going up, the cost of everything else rising and supply shortages the way they are right now, I regret to announce that I will be increasing my rates this year. Beaver jobs will now start at $350 a week for local. Add to that $1.00 a mile for travel out of the county for both ways per day.
According to these other guys, that is more than fair. In fact, it sounds a lot like I’m the cheapest in the business! And if you have any doubts about my ability to catch them, then watch this short video. Count them. 30 beaver in 30 seconds!
