[xxArbUtusxx]

I was just reading through the " When to buy" thread and had a question about charging for equipment. Thought I should start a new thread for it.

My question is: How do you guys charge for rental equipment compared to owning your own? Skid steers, mini excavators, mini skids, etc. When you use the machine for only a couple of hrs or minutes, how do you charge for it? Do you include a delivery charge or gas or have a minimum? Can you charge enough for hauling it to a job and only using it for a short amount of time?

I have only rented equipment so far (except for a chipper). I agree that you should only rent if you have enough work to keep it moving. The way I charge now is for the rental price, gas, and the delivery charge if I have them deliver and a similar fee if I am to haul it. Then I charge an hourly rate when the machine is in use. Do you guys think it is reasonable to mark up the rental fee?

I see it that the home owner would have to pay for the rental fee, delivery, gas, and have a truck to haul it if they did it themselves. So when you have your own equipment do you charge a "rental" fee and the others, or, is that calculated in the hourly rate?

Thank you for your help.

John