How to Start a Hay Cutting Business
Cutting and bailing hay for people who do not have their own equipment, or time, to do it themselves is an excellent way to help expensive equipment pay for itself. If you have experience in cutting and bailing hay, consider using your equipment as a way to bring in additional revenue by starting your own business.
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Instructions
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Know what to charge
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Before seeking customers, contact people who are currently cutting and bailing hay in your area. Find out the price they charge. Many custom cutters charge half of what they bail. Others will charge a fixed rate depending on the quality and size of the bales.
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Calculate how much it will cost to custom cut and bail with your equipment. How much will the wrap or string cost? The diesel? How long, on average, does it take to cut and bale an acre? By using these figures and what the going rate from others in your area charge, you should be able to accurately assess how much you can charge. Keep in mind, if you are going to charge half of what you bale, do you have a use for the hay? What are the current market conditions if you plan to sell it?
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Locate potential customers. Place an advertisement in the newspaper classifieds section and use the local grapevine to spread the news of your new business. Be sure to have a good contact number where people can call you to request your services.
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Check the field of your new potential customer. Is the field going to produce something you want half of? If not, have a set price in mind for cutting and baling their hay. Agree on a price before you take your equipment to the field.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep weather in mind when setting dates to cut and bale. Be sure you have flexibility to handle bad weather.
Schedule your time wisely. If too many fields are prime for cutting at the same time, your reputation will suffer if you cannot do all the fields when you say you can.
