I have 5000' of 36" depth water line trench to dig with my backhoe. How much should I charge per foot in Reno, Nevada?

Consider all costs, time, add profit and that is your charge...

For such a long trench, 3' deep - you will probably be better off to rent a ditch-witch mounted on the back of a tractor or Bobcat. You can do entire job in few days - depending on composition of the soil.

Using backhoe will take forever to excavate. Somebody can easily under bid you with rented Ditch Witch

Backhoe operators work by the hour. Call few companies, pretend you are a customer, and ask them how much they charge for their services for such job. Get couple estimates and that should be a good starting point

Make sure you call Dig Alert service before you dig. If you don't, you will be liable for all damage you cause to potential underground utilities you manage to damage

Hope that helps

Milo

For a 36" line??

36" depth

I took it to mean an ordinary water line 36 inches deep.

Now that I read it again so do I. Guess I just had a stupid moment.

Now that I read it again so do I. Guess I just had a stupid moment.

At least yours are mere moments. Mine tend to run longer.

Maybe we should get together and run for office.

Maybe we should get together and run for office.

Good idea. Our campaign slogan would be, "Vote for us since two heads are better than one."

Good idea. Our campaign slogan would be, "Vote for us since two heads are better than one."
Isn't that An old Navy recruiting ploy for more bathrooms?

Isn't that An old Navy recruiting ploy for more bathrooms?

OK. We're getting off course here. Pun intended.

How about "Vote for us, we are not smart enough to lie to you."

Now that's a winner. We can run as the "Plumbers Helpers".