Clearview,
There are 3 basic ways to price building a pond:
Hourly
Cost per cubic yard
Lump sum bid
You will probably want to figure how much dirt needs moved, either embankment or excavated area. Depends on if your just digging out an area (excavated yardage) or damming up an area (embankment yardage).
There are computer programs available, I do it with pen and paper.
Most of the time my price per yard includes saving topsoil and the topsoiling of the dam or spoil area.
Embankment dams that need a core trench should also have a yardage estimate and price per yard for that.
After you have figured the cubic yards you insert your price per yard and get a total price. Translate to an hourly rate if you want.
A couple of thoughts.
You are here on Pond Boss. This can give you an edge if you study some and use this info to help the person building the pond get what they want. Customers tend to have an idea what they want, being able to suggest proven ideas helps. Also some of these things can be done while moving dirt with no trouble, such as a vertical drop after you get down the slope some, or maybe leaving certain trees or shrubs in the right spots for great fish habitat when the pond fills.
If you bid a pond and get it, finish it NICE.
If you bid it to cheap, grin and bear it and do a nice job (and don't beat yourself or the dozer up getting it done, it happens).
That will be the best advertising money you can spend.
Your competitors may share a few things with you, even if it may not be their pond prices. So you may want to check out the Kentucky chapter of the Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA)
LICA KENTUCKY
Executive Director: Paul Sandefur
P.O.Box 425
Beaver Dam, KY 42320
Phone: 270-274-3403
Fax: 270-274-4044
Email: ptds1@apex.net