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A Formula for Increased Fencing Profit

A Formula for Increased Fencing Profit

May 22, 2025

Mechanical Earth Drill for Fencing

There’s a lot of math involved in running a fencing company. Calculating the time required to complete a job, the number of crew members that will be needed on site, how many jobs the operation can take on and the cost of materials is just the beginning to ensure the business will be profitable. Every opportunity to reduce the time spent on the installation process and maximize resources on the jobsite has a direct impact on the bottom line.

A significant line item in any fencing operation’s calculation is its equipment cost. Most residential fence installers invest in an earth drill to speed up the posthole digging process.

This key piece of equipment has a big impact on a fencing crew’s productivity, and, with the right features, this expense can lead to a big boost in the bottom line.

 

Hydraulic earth drill fencing

One is Less Than Two

There are many portable earth drill options on the market, but most require two-man operation for safety. When an earth drill hits an obstacle underground, it can jerk and jar the operator with enough force to result in injury. Because this is so dangerous, most drills require two operators to hold the drill steady and combat these effects. However, Little Beaver’s torque tube makes one-man drilling possible with both our Mechanical and Hydraulic Earth Drills by redirecting kickback to the engine carriage as opposed to the handles.

When you can subtract one operator from the drilling process, the labor cost for that step is cut in half. Multiply that by dozens of postholes for a single fencing job and the savings add up. The second crew member can be reassigned elsewhere, such as following behind and placing the fence posts, to optimize the workforce on the jobsite.

 

Double Drilling SpeedLittle Beaver fencing- decrease labor. Increase Profits.

Ready for more math? One of the key advantages of our Mechanical Earth Drill is its operational speed — the auger can rotate at up to 360 RPM. Most other drills can’t meet this speed in a one-man drilling package and it’s common to see competitive drills operating at half that pace.

The Mechanical Earth Drill can create a posthole in less than one minute, cutting down on drilling time and speeding up the installation process. The fast rotation speed also creates a smoother, cleaner hole than other posthole digging options, reducing time required to prepare the hole for the fence post. By cutting back on time spent digging, contractors can complete more projects in less time, bringing additional income into the equation.

 

Do The Math

The common denominator leading to one-man drilling and increased drilling speed is Little Beaver’s Mechanical Earth Drill. With reduced labor requirements and improved safety features, our earth drills provide both short- and long-term financial benefits.

Calculate your potential savings! Learn more about how Little Beaver earth drills can increase fencing revenue with faster drilling today.

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

For the Best Curb Appeal Upgrades, Get the Right Tools

Sep 24, 2018

Home with beautiful front yardBy Ryan Tollefsen Realtor,
Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group

When homeowners make a plan for a curb appeal upgrade, there is often a lot of discussion about what is necessary and which ideas are practical. Having the proper tools for any home improvement project is crucial for its success. Since curb appeal is so important for home value, homeowners want to be sure they can do it right the first time. Here are a few tips (and tools) that ensure greater accuracy and make the whole project easier.

Why Every Home Needs Curb Appeal

Although some homeowners do not think about curb appeal until they want to sell a home, many choose to maintain or improve their exterior systematically over time.

The view of the home in relation to other homes in the neighborhood is what makes up what is called, “curb appeal.” Why does one home look better than others on the block? Curb appeal is a vital part of the home’s overall value. Even if homeowners have just moved in and do not plan to sell for many years, preserving home value should always be on their minds. They may need it if they want to refinance their mortgages, get a home equity loan for other improvements, or sell the home unexpectedly.

Here are two high-impact improvements to consider when looking to boost a home’s curb appeal:

Highlighting With Landscape & Outdoor Recreational Lighting

There are many things that homeowners can do for their properties to accentuate the wonderful aspects that are already there. Lighting is a good example. Landscape lighting is an excellent way to make the perfect look for the property at night. Lighting can also be used for outdoor recreational lighting to entertain guests or simply enjoy a change of scenery at night.

Kwik-Trench mini-trencher

Little Beaver’s Kwik-Trench mini-trencher saves homeowners time when it comes to digging electrical lines for installing lighting.

Of course, installing lighting outside often involves digging the electrical lines for the lighting. Doing this by hand, homeowners could spend hours putting strain on their backs digging down 6 to 12 inches so that they can install their sidewalk lighting. Alternatively, they could use a Little Beaver Kwik-Trench mini-trencher to save their backs and a great deal of time. The Kwik-Trench allows homeowners to:

  • set the perfect depth for the trench
  • move at a rapid pace
  • reach spots that a larger trencher cannot access

Installing landscape lighting should not have to be a task that takes days or weeks. With this tool, the job will be done much more quickly.

Building the Ideal Perimeter Fence

Curb appeal concerns more than just the home and garden. That is why homeowners often look for ways to create attractive fencing or barriers surrounding the edges of the property. When homeowners need to install trees, vegetation or fences, they usually need to drill or dig using an auger. The best augers make it simple for people to dig a hole through any type of soil, of any width and a variety of depths. Snap-on augers offer exactly what homeowners need, with a design that is practical for almost anyone to use.

Planning Into the Future

Homeowners may be surprised with just how many projects they can accomplish with the right tools. Homeowners who used a trencher to install lighting might decide to call on it again to build a new garden, or change up their landscaping design. An auger with removable blades is a useful implement to keep on hand for landscape maintenance and other digging projects.

Building curb appeal for a home is less a single task than it is a state of mind. Taking advantage of tools that simplify the work allows people to ensure their homes look great every year without wasting time or effort. When homeowners use the right tools it creates the opportunity to do much more, both inside and outside the home.

Related Articles

One Man Earth Drill Operation

One Man Earth Drill Operation

Sep 10, 2018

Little Beaver Earth Drills are designed to be safely operated by just one person. What does that mean for your business? More efficient labor utilization. Faster job completion. Fewer injuries. More profit on every job.

Check out the infographic below to learn how Little Beaver Earth Drills can double your productivity and maximize jobsite safety.

Little Beaver One Earth Drill Infographic
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Hit a Home Run in Fence Construction

Hit a Home Run in Fence Construction

Jan 31, 2016

4 Tips for Building the Perfect Fence

Mechanical earth auger for fencepost installationYou’ve become an expert in landscaping throughout the region. From planting trees and flowers to installing decks and curb edging, you’ve completed many projects for satisfied customers. Now it’s time to step up your game and add fence installation to your services.

Let these fence-building tips lead you to success.

1. Get Answers.
Start like you would with any project, by working with the homeowner or business owner to establish the size, scope and specifics of the project. To do this, always have a set of questions ready that will get to the heart of the project. What kind of fence does the customer want? What will the layout be? Where do they want gates? How high should you build it?

Check with city building codes and, if applicable, neighborhood association rules, so that the fence specs meet all of the codes. If the city assessor has not surveyed the property recently, you’ll want to coordinate that to ensure the fence is built in the proper location and, depending on the area, you may need a permit. Call 811 a few days prior to digging to have utility companies mark underground utility lines, gas pipes and sprinkler systems.

2. Get Your Tools.
Selecting the right hole digging equipment will help you finish on time and on budget. If it’s a small project, you might use a hand-held posthole digger. If you’re doing more than a dozen holes, though, it will be slow work to muscle each hole clean. To tackle bigger or multiple projects, you’ll want the speed and ease-of-use that comes with an earth drill. A Little Beaver mechanical one-man or hydraulic drill can bore each hole in less than a minute with little effort. It’s equally important is to make sure you select the correct auger, points and blades for the soil type you’re working in. This will help you dig holes faster with less pain.

3. Get it Straight.
You can’t get a straight fence without evenly spaced holes and firmly set posts. Set the spacing by marking and digging all corner and gate post holes first. Run a string from corner to corner and then measure the post spacing along the line.

For chain link fences, space postholes no more than 10 feet apart. For wooden fences, posts usually stand 6 to 8 feet apart. If installing posts in soft soils or windy areas, use a hand posthole digger to flare out the hole, creating a bell shape for more stability. The hole diameter needed is based on the size of the post used. For instance, a 4-by-4 post requires an 8-inch diameter hole. This can be easily achieved with Little Beaver’s snap-on augers that range in diameter from 1.5 to 16 inches. Holes are typically 24 inches deep, but you’ll need to ensure the depth is 3 inches below the frost line to prevent posts from cracking in the frozen ground. In some parts of the northern U.S. and into Canada, that means going as deep as 4 feet. If you’re in windy areas or sandy soil, you may want to dig your posts even deeper.

4. Get the Concrete.
Position the posts so that they are the correct height and plumb; even the slightest lean can create a slanted and potentially unstable fence. Next, shovel concrete into each hole. Avoid touching the post, which could cause it to move. Choosing concrete rather than a dirt and gravel mix will give the fence better stability. Allow 24 hours for the concrete to set, and then attach the chain link fabric or wood framing and face boards. With both types of fences, complete the gates last.

Once you’re done, it’s an ideal time to touch base with your customer on fence maintenance and landscaping recommendations. A job well done here can translate to more work, whether from this customer or referrals, as you continue to expand your landscaping services.

Feel free to contact us for further fence-building tips; or general questions on our full line of augers, one-man earth drills and two-man earth drills. We’re always happy to provide the tools and assistance you need.

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