Extraction Fee?

[Thom]

Hey all. I got this question on Ask The Beekeeper today. I figured it would be a good topic for discussion here. Comments?


I just want to know what the going rate for extracting others honey is by the
pound?


ANSWER: Some people do it for half of the honey, some do it just for the wax (not a good deal for the extractor).
My call would be time is honey. Hand cranking should cost more than a motorized radial extracting.
As a extracting contractor you should think of your self as a specialized service provider, so if you take money
or honey make sure you get what your time is worth. A plumber gets $25+ per hour, but you may have a hard time
hand cranking $25 worth of honey in a two frame crank extractor in an hour. Also consider what other professional
services are you providing. Do you have a honey house with an extracting room that is certified by your local
health department? Are you going to use a refractometer to grade the honey to assure the honey moisture content
is OK? Are you going to bottle the honey? Do more-get more.
I am going to pose your question on the OSBA Message Board to see what the other beekeepers are doing.

[HarryVanderpool]

I was told today by another beekeeper that the rate is $.12 to $.15 per pound and the processor keeps the cappings.
I'm sure that this is all up for negotiation, also quantity should play a role in pricing.
I have two friends that do custom extracting and I will talk with them and report back.
Many honeyhouses do not extract for others.

[rbees]

An outfit up here charges .75 to $1.00 a frame depending on size. Thats fairly reasonable to a hobbiest without an extractor

[NormCounterman]

$1.00 per frame?
Thats not honey extraction, thats MONEY extraction.
Anyone that goudges a hobbiest to that tune should be put behind bars.
I let some of the fellas around here bring theirs in on the graveyard and they help clean up later, no money involved.

[Thom]

Norm,
Maybe you should charge a little bit. That way you could buy better beer when Harry and I come to visit.

[Guest]

Thom, Where can one get a plumber for ONLY 25 per hour?

[rbees]

NormCounterman said:

$1.00 per frame?
Thats not honey extraction, thats MONEY extraction.
Anyone that goudges a hobbiest to that tune should be put behind bars.

I agree, but he always seems to have people willing to pay him to extract so...?


I let some of the fellas around here bring theirs in on the graveyard and they help clean up later, no money involved.
[/quote]

[Thom]

Guest-Guest said:

Thom, Where can one get a plumber for ONLY 25 per hour?

Guess I'm out of touch, but then I do all my own plumbing, badly too I might add, but you get what you pay for.