White Rabbit Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hi All, Its looking like my current job may be coming to an end and i am keen to persue a career catching moles. I prefer to be self employed and have allways worked in the countryside. I've been catching moles for twenty years+ and i'm sure i could make a good go of it professionally. Up until now i've allways done it as a side line for farmers but that is only for pocket money and i assume garden mole control is the way to go to produce enough money to make a living? I was just wondering what you professionals out there are charging and how you work it? per mole or visit and how much? Is agricultural control worth doing? As i said before i'm an experienced mole catcher. Its just the business side of things i'm struggling with. I appreciate this topic has been covered before but up to date advice and prices would be a big help. Can you make a living off moles on it's own or do you have to have a second income or side line? Any advice greatly received. Thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonevo Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 If I were you mate,just like any new business staring off, ask for a few quotes from mole catchers in your area,that is the best way of getting an idea how much you may charge. From what I understand many molecatchers on here and other sites will not divulge their charges to any potential THREAT and they seem to keep that figure under their hats its seems that is the general rule amongst them. Anyway mate good luck in your new venture,by the way how much do you charge now to your domestic customers and how much for farmers,if you dont want to let me know on an open forum pm me cheers Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 If I were you mate,just like any new business staring off, ask for a few quotes from mole catchers in your area,that is the best way of getting an idea how much you may charge.From what I understand many molecatchers on here and other sites will not divulge their charges to any potential THREAT and they seem to keep that figure under their hats its seems that is the general rule amongst them. Anyway mate good luck in your new venture,by the way how much do you charge now to your domestic customers and how much for farmers,if you dont want to let me know on an open forum pm me cheers Jon Hi jon, I only do farms around me at the mo for pocket money so only charge £4 a mole so it would be hard to make a living at that!! I'd ring other contractors but they'd want my details and a site visit and i can't tell lies! I've heard £30 - 60 a mole being charged for garden work but find it hard to believe people would pay that much!! I don't want to over charge and look an idiot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badshot Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 It is a good idea to head down the domestic route. I don't know of any farmers in this area that would pay for mole catching. They are a pain but in arable it really has to be horrendously bad to have an impact. Have you thought about doing a course on rodent control to open more doors. There is a guy in this area who seems to make a good living from that. He prefers factories etc to farms though as there are generally less about so his costs are much lower and they will pay more than us farmers with short arms and very deep pockets. I am too tight and do it all myself still. I have been told by one of my landlords that they got charged £130 to trap a squirrel in the roof and get rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pest control Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) I have been told by one of my landlords that they got charged £130 to trap a squirrel in the roof and get rid of it. I think someone got ripped off, squirrels are a favourite of mine they jump straight onto the traps I have trapped them withing 30 mins of setting the trap. I wish I could get £130 per squirrel. Edited November 3, 2009 by Pest control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 I think someone got ripped off, squirrels are a favourite of mine they jump straight onto the traps I have trapped them withing 30 mins of setting the trap. I wish I could get £130 per squirrel. Love to know what you get for a mole mate?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskdale hawks Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hi All, Its looking like my current job may be coming to an end and i am keen to persue a career catching moles. I prefer to be self employed and have allways worked in the countryside. I've been catching moles for twenty years+ and i'm sure i could make a good go of it professionally. Up until now i've allways done it as a side line for farmers but that is only for pocket money and i assume garden mole control is the way to go to produce enough money to make a living? I was just wondering what you professionals out there are charging and how you work it? per mole or visit and how much? Is agricultural control worth doing? As i said before i'm an experienced mole catcher. Its just the business side of things i'm struggling with. I appreciate this topic has been covered before but up to date advice and prices would be a big help. Can you make a living off moles on it's own or do you have to have a second income or side line? Any advice greatly received. Thankyou. Hi jon, I only do farms around me at the mo for pocket money so only charge £4 a mole so it would be hard to make a living at that!! I'd ring other contractors but they'd want my details and a site visit and i can't tell lies! I've heard £30 - 60 a mole being charged for garden work but find it hard to believe people would pay that much!! I don't want to over charge and look an idiot! Hi! WR, I to am just starting out. I charge £5 per mole, NO MOLE - NO FEE. I've been told to charge £35 set fee plus £5 per mole for one weeks trapping with free return @ £5 per mole if activity restarts within 48hrs after which £35 setfee applies again. £5 farm work is negotiable if numbers start to get to high. Just done 4acres, 13 moles, 15 traps, 1wks work. No questions. I know it's not alot but it's a start. hope this helps? Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benellimelody Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 I charge between 3 - 5 but as said above if in alottments/ farmland and no.'s are high fees may need to be negotiable. Reputation, attitude, manners and field manners are often just as important as the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I've been helping out the Peltman with his pest control business & his standard charge per mole in a domestic situation ie: someones lawn is £40 per mole. He has got a yearly contract with a local golf course where we can take anything up to 100 moles off there a year, maybe PM him and have a chat, I know he was in the same boat as yourself. As others have said, to be able to really make a living I think your gonna have to expand your pest species, rats, squirrels ect..... SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 Thanks for your replies lads. I'd prefer just to concentrate on moles and hopefully load, beat or pick up as much as i can through the winter when i imagine domestic mole trapping dies down? To get by i really need to be making £100 a day to cover costs and keep a roof over my head. Thats either 3/4 moles a day getting paid top whack or 15/20 a day out in the fields and to get that i'm going to be running alot of traps! I'm just finding it hard to believe that people are prepared to pay so much to have a mole caught! I wouldn't dream of paying that much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
243win Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I have a friend in the business, he charges £50 for the first mole and £20 for every other one there after. All charges are plus vat. He runs a very successful pest control company on the east coast of Yorkshire. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 I have a friend in the business, he charges £50 for the first mole and £20 for every other one there after. All charges are plus vat. He runs a very successful pest control company on the east coast of Yorkshire. Hope this helps. Thanks for that, I think i'm going to ask for a flat rate of £30 a mole for gardens (and try and keep a straight face!) and a reduced rate for paddocks and fields if there isn't enough garden work. I imagine the horsey set would be a good source of work with their paddocks. Hopefully my current job will last to the spring then it's in at the deep end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Thanks for your replies lads. I'd prefer just to concentrate on moles and hopefully load, beat or pick up as much as i can through the winter when i imagine domestic mole trapping dies down? To get by i really need to be making £100 a day to cover costs and keep a roof over my head. Thats either 3/4 moles a day getting paid top whack or 15/20 a day out in the fields and to get that i'm going to be running alot of traps! I'm just finding it hard to believe that people are prepared to pay so much to have a mole caught! I wouldn't dream of paying that much!! As far as I am told and from what I see,they are just getting busy and active for breeding time which is February or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 (edited) down this neck of the woods they are chargeing £80 a mole and getting it i personaly charge £55. for a small garden .squirriels the ABLE group are chargeing £155. + vat x 2 visits then another £80 + vat per visit people are paying it ? they were chargeing £325 to set a fox trap and one visit then £80 + vat per visit wasps £92 + VAT FLEAS £155 + VAT THEN £80 + VAT per visit people pay i did some work for THE ABLE GROUP and got knockt for 3k i was so embarressed giveing over a bill i hated it so i left and they refused to pay what they owed me i got a cheque for £234 off of them in the end . and they still ring me to see if i will do fox jobs for them ?? forgot to mention try joining the molecatchers association they seem to pass mole work around you can google them a serious group of mole catchers if you cant pm me i,ll pass you there details . here you go i went and got it www.guildofbritishmolecatchers.co.uk Edited December 3, 2009 by bignoel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka tom Posted February 4, 2010 Report Share Posted February 4, 2010 i charge £5 a mole i use barle traps they seem 2 do the job but wat are other traps like i might try some outher out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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