Small-job excavation with rented machines

Homeowners, landscapers, deck and fence builders, and small general contractors who need a reliable person for earthwork.

Fixed quote per job or a day rate, with machine rental, fuel, hauling and disposal of soil added on top of your labour.

• Safe operation of small excavators
• Reading site plans and levels
• Accurate quoting and scheduling
• Physical stamina for outdoor work

• Commercial general liability insurance, and check that it covers rented equipment and underground damage
• Always get utility locates before digging (check your provincial one-call service, such as Ontario One Call or BC One Call)
• Check whether your municipality requires permits for grading, drainage or soil removal
• Check where soil can be legally dumped, since some soil needs testing or special disposal
• Frozen ground and wet spring conditions can stop work, so plan for seasonal gaps
• Check WCB/WSIB rules in your province before you hire anyone

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your insurance, tools and setup. Because you rent the mini excavator by the day, you build the rental cost into each quote instead of buying heavy equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many jobs you win, what you charge and how often weather stops work. Frozen ground and wet spring conditions can create seasonal gaps, so plan for them.

Check that your commercial general liability insurance covers rented equipment and underground damage. Get utility locates through your provincial one-call service before digging. Also check municipal permits for grading, drainage or soil removal, soil disposal rules, and WCB/WSIB requirements before hiring.