Hey all, I have done a search here and see that people charge about 75$ for an Irish or trace clip when using their own clippers and blades and charge anywhere from 100-150$ for a body clip with and without legs and face when using their own clippers and blades.
But what would you charge for the same clips if using the owner’s clippers? What about using the owner’s clippers and blades/she supplies blades?
About $10 less.
Seriously, it’s the PITA that clipping is that garners the cost.
10 maybe 20 depending on the person. I also will say I had someone clip my horse who would only use their clippers because they didn’t know how realible or not mine were. And I also know someone who’s horse had such a thick under coat that two sets of blades were used and they got charged $20 extra. In general I agree with above most of the cost is the time and effort it takes. I can take $40 clippers with $10 blades and clip my small pony in three hours. It’s a pain and I end up super sore but for a professional group it would be $110, I checked last year when she first needed doing. Majority of the cost is the time and energy not the clippers and blades.
Pretty much. Maybe a slightly increased discount for multiple horses, but you’re still paying for time and skill.
Just for comparison, I spend $ 115 for a full body clip, (no face) using clipper’s equipment, and (thankfully) horse was clean enough to do w/out bath. He’s a saint but I pretty much suck at clipping anything beyone ear edges and bridle path.
Blade sharpening costs $7-10, so factoring in blade sharpening, new blades periodically, wear on other clipper parts I’d think $10-15 less for using owner’s clippers is reasonable.
Great, thank you all very much for your replies. Based on what you all are saying, I was going to charge way less then I should. I tend to be too nice when it comes to these things and I just wanted to be fair to myself.
My boarder has two plastic bins full of clippers and blades, everything from those giant Osters to the tiny Whals but she does not have time to clip right now so she asked me to do it. I was considering quoting her for using my equipment and then quote her for using hers to try and cut her a break but it does not seem it would be much of a break. I have always done a modified Irish clip on my horses and my boarder likes what my mare is sporting so she asked for the same.
I do not hate clipping as much as most people. It is a lot like mowing to me. It can be relaxing and peaceful (**if the horse stands well or is drugged) - just one of those repetitive chores to be done which requires minimal brain power. I am a perfectionist to a fault though so I do take a long time to do even an Irish clip. I hate less than crisp lines and unevenness. I do not care if other people will not notice…I will know if the belly lines do not meet up at the same point on each side! xD
I have not had blades sharpened before but for 7-10$ I really need to find out where to get this done because if you can get another 3 clips out of a sharpened blade then holy money saver!!
So I think I will charge 75$ for using my stuff and 65$ if she wants to use her stuff.
Thanks again people of COTH!
Definitely do this! Just look up knife sharpeners in your area (or ask around). Tack stores usually know who to send to. You can find them at farmer’s markets usually, too. We used to have one at a farmer’s market where we could drop off knives and blades, go have breakfast, then pick them up in the same trip. Otherwise you can usually do mail-ins. I haven’t bought new blades in years!
I think that’s reasonable – for most people it’s the time, the hair everywhere, the dealing with a potentially antsy horse that really makes it worth hiring out, not the wear on equipment.
FWIW if you’re looking for blade sharpening I’d start by asking your local tack shop or feed store if they send blades out to someone. If not, my second stop would be dog groomers – many have someone who stops by regularly for clipper blades. Clipper blade sharpening requires disassembly, different technique, and sometimes different tools than knife sharpening, so at least in the places I’ve lived recently nobody who does knives does clipper blades.
Luckily there are a number of mail-in places with good websites now that it’s becoming harder to find local clipper blade service (and good local blade service is even harder to find – the last dog groomer-recommended person I took my barely-dull, once-used blades to ground the crap out of them and I only got half of one side of a horse done before declaring them totally dead).
I will do a $10 discount myself, if I deem their clipper suitable. I won’t battle with old, out of tune clippers or dull blades to save a client a few dollars, it will take longer and look worse. If they are giant old school body clippers - you’re going to have to pay me double my standard rate to use them, as my arm will be crippled for several days afterwards. I have my stuff that I’ve picked out to work with for a reason!
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