The Problem With Traditional Land Clearing Pricing
If you've ever gotten quotes for land clearing, you've probably experienced the frustration of trying to compare apples to oranges. One contractor charges $800 per day. Another quotes $150 per hour. A third gives you a vague "ballpark" estimate that somehow triples when the job is done. This pricing chaos isn't just confusing—it's expensive and unfair to customers.
The Daily-Rate Trap
When contractors charge by the day, they have zero incentive to finish quickly. Why clear your quarter-acre lot in one day when they can drag it out to three days and triple the bill? This model rewards inefficiency and penalizes the customer. You have no way to verify if the contractor is working efficiently or padding hours.
Hourly Models That Leave You In the Dark
Hourly pricing is equally problematic. How do you know if 12 hours is reasonable? What if equipment breaks down—do you still pay? The customer carries all the risk, and the contractor has no accountability for delivering results on time. You're essentially writing a blank check and hoping for the best.
Hidden Costs You Didn't See Coming
Daily and hourly contractors often bury extra fees in the final invoice:
- • Equipment transport fees (each trip)
- • Fuel surcharges that weren't mentioned upfront
- • "Disposal fees" for organic material (even though it stays on your property)
- • "Difficult terrain" upcharges discovered mid-project
These surprise costs can add 20-40% to your final bill—money you never budgeted for.
The Brushworks Project-Based Pricing Model
At Brushworks, we flipped the pricing model to protect the customer—not the contractor. We price every project based on results, not time spent. You get a fixed, final price before work begins. No daily rates. No hourly surprises. No mid-project upcharges.
How We Price Your Project
Pricing Model Based on Brush Density & Terrain
Every property is different, so we've developed a standardized multiplier system based on two key factors: brush density and terrain difficulty. Here's how it works:
Base Rate Structure
Base Rate: $575 per ¼ acre ($2,300 per acre)
Minimum Charge: $1,600 flat (covers up to 0.5 acres)
Note: Acreage is rounded up to nearest 0.25 acre. Mobilization charged separately.
Multiplier Factors
| Brush Density | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 - Light | 1.0× |
| Tier 2 - Medium | 1.15× |
| Tier 3 - Dense | 1.3× |
| Terrain Difficulty | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 - Mild | 1.0× |
| Tier 2 - Moderate | 1.1× |
| Tier 3 - Steep | 1.25× |
Pricing Formula
Final Price = Base Rate × Brush Multiplier × Terrain Multiplier
This transparent formula means you can see exactly how we arrive at your quote—no mysterious calculations or hidden markups.
Why Project Pricing Protects the Customer
Project-based pricing fundamentally changes the incentive structure—and it's designed to work in your favor, not ours. Here's why:
You Know the Final Cost Upfront
No guessing. No "we'll see how long it takes" uncertainty. You approve a number, and that's what you pay. This allows you to budget accurately and compare quotes fairly.
Contractors Are Incentivized to Be Efficient
When we quote a fixed price, we have every reason to finish on time and on budget. Dragging out the job doesn't earn us more—it costs us time and equipment hours. Efficiency benefits both parties.
No Mid-Project Extortion
We've heard horror stories: contractors who stop work halfway through and demand more money "to finish the job." With project pricing, the contract is binding. We can't demand more—and you're protected from price manipulation.
You Only Pay for Results
Daily-rate contractors get paid whether they finish or not. With project pricing, you're paying for a completed job—not time on the clock. Your money goes toward cleared land, not padded hours.
Real Customer Protection
Other companies ask for "more money to finish" when they underestimate a job or hit unexpected terrain. At Brushworks, if we quote $3,800, that's what you pay—even if the job takes longer than we expected. We absorb the risk, not you.
That's the difference between a contractor who's in it for quick cash and a company that's building long-term trust in the community.
What Affects Pricing (Breakdown Section)
While our pricing model is standardized, several factors influence where your project falls within the pricing tiers. Here's exactly what we evaluate during an on-site assessment:
🌿 Brush Density
The single biggest factor. Light undergrowth (Tier 1-2) costs significantly less than mature invasive honeysuckle thickets or multi-flora rose (Tier 4-5).
We walk the property and assess vegetation type, height, and root systems to determine the accurate tier.
⛰️ Terrain Steepness
Steep hillsides require specialized equipment like our remote-controlled (RC) forestry mulchers. These machines are slower but safer for extreme slopes.
Hillside work typically adds 15-25% to baseline pricing, but this is disclosed upfront in your quote.
🚜 Access and Equipment Type
Can we access your property with standard skid steers, or do we need compact equipment for tight spaces? Is your lot gated or require special permissions?
Difficult access may require smaller, less efficient machines—which affects time and cost. We evaluate this during the site visit.
📏 Size of Project
Multi-acre projects often benefit from volume pricing. A 5-acre commercial clearing will have a lower per-acre cost than a single quarter-acre residential lot due to economies of scale.
We can discuss bulk discounts for larger properties or HOA-wide projects.
🚫 Regrowth or Invasive Species Treatment
Some invasive species (like bush honeysuckle) require follow-up treatment to prevent regrowth. If you want long-term invasive control, we can include targeted re-mulching in the quote.
This is optional but recommended for properties with aggressive invasive infestations.
Example Pricing Scenarios
To give you a better sense of real-world costs, here are typical project examples based on our standardized pricing model:
🏡 1-Acre Residential Reclaim
Property Type: Residential backyard, overgrown with honeysuckle and brush
Brush Density: Tier 2 (Medium) - 1.15× multiplier
Terrain: Tier 1 (Mild) - 1.0× multiplier
Calculation: $2,300 (base per acre) × 1.15 × 1.0 = $2,645
Estimated Cost: ~$2,645
What's Included: Complete brush clearing, invasive removal, natural mulch layer, cleanup to park-like finish. Fixed price, no daily rate surprises.
🏘️ HOA Perimeter Clearing
Property Type: Homeowners association common area, fence line and trail perimeter
Total Area: 3 acres
Brush Density: Tier 2 (Medium) - 1.15× multiplier
Terrain: Tier 1 (Mild) - 1.0× multiplier
Calculation: ($2,300 × 1.15 × 1.0) × 3 acres = $7,935
Estimated Cost: ~$7,935
What's Included: Perimeter fence line clearing, trail access restoration, invasive control, professional finish for community appearance standards.
⛰️ Hillside Remote-Control Mulching
Property Type: Steep hillside residential lot, unsafe for standard equipment
Total Area: 0.5 acres (meets minimum charge)
Brush Density: Tier 3 (Dense) - 1.3× multiplier
Terrain: Tier 3 (Steep) - 1.25× multiplier
Calculation: $1,600 (minimum) × 1.3 × 1.25 = $2,600
Estimated Cost: ~$2,600
What's Included: Specialized RC equipment, erosion-preventing mulch layer, safety-first approach to extreme terrain, complete invasive removal.
🏗️ Commercial Site Pre-Development
Property Type: Commercial land prep for construction, light clearing
Total Area: 5 acres
Brush Density: Tier 1 (Light) - 1.0× multiplier
Terrain: Tier 1 (Mild) - 1.0× multiplier
Calculation: ($2,300 × 1.0 × 1.0) × 5 acres = $11,500
Estimated Cost: ~$11,500
What's Included: Site clearing to construction-ready condition, selective tree preservation if desired, environmentally compliant clearing, grading-ready surface.
🌲 Dense Overgrowth Restoration
Property Type: Heavily overgrown wooded lot with mature invasives
Total Area: 1 acre
Brush Density: Tier 3 (Dense) - 1.3× multiplier
Terrain: Tier 2 (Moderate) - 1.1× multiplier
Calculation: $2,300 × 1.3 × 1.1 = $3,289
Estimated Cost: ~$3,289
What's Included: Complete invasive species removal, dense brush clearing, natural mulch layer for regrowth prevention, park-like finished appearance.
Important: These are approximate price examples based on our standard formula. Your final price will be determined during a free on-site evaluation, where we assess exact brush density and terrain conditions to provide a precise quote. Mobilization fees are charged separately and not included in these estimates.
Why Brushworks Pricing Is Trusted
Transparent pricing isn't just a marketing claim—it's a business model built on trust, accountability, and long-term customer relationships. Here's why property owners across Ohio choose Brushworks:
Standardized, Repeatable Process
We've cleared thousands of properties using the same density tier system. This consistency ensures fair pricing for everyone—no favoritism, no guesswork.
No Upcharges Mid-Project
Once we agree on a price, it's locked in. You'll never get a call asking for more money because the job "turned out to be harder than expected."
You Only Pay for Results
Not time. Not effort. Not how many days we showed up. You pay for cleared, usable land—delivered to the standard we agreed on.
The Brushworks Guarantee
We're Ohio's largest residential forestry mulching company because we built our reputation on honest pricing and exceptional results. We've cleared more residential land in Greater Cincinnati than any other contractor—and we did it by treating customers fairly from day one.
When you work with Brushworks, you're working with a company that has every incentive to get the job done right, on budget, and on time. That's project-based pricing done right.
What Customers Say About Our Pricing
"We got three quotes for our overgrown backyard. Two contractors wanted $2000/day with no timeline. Brushworks gave us a fixed price of $3,600 for the entire job—and finished in two days. Best decision we made. No surprises, no hidden fees."
— Cincinnati Homeowner
"As an HOA board member, I've dealt with plenty of contractors. Brushworks was the only company that gave us a detailed, locked-in quote with no wiggle room for upcharges. They delivered exactly what they promised."
— HOA Property Manager, Northern Kentucky