What’s in an Hour? Understanding the Breakdown of Water Feature Pricing

I got a text from a pond owner.

“I have to ask… what makes you more expensive than the other bid I got? I mean, it’s just pond cleaning, right? What’s your hourly rate?”

It’s a fair question, and at Superior Ponds, we believe in transparency. We don’t just throw out a price for no reason—we have all of our costs and expenses broken down into calculators so that we can price new projects based off our data from past projects.

What I wanted to say was: “You’re not just paying for time. You’re paying for trained experts, high-quality equipment, safe practices, and a professional company that will be here next year if something goes wrong.” From technician training to equipment costs to the office staff that keeps everything moving, there’s a lot. Because it’s not just a job—it’s a system built from experience to protect your pond and your peace of mind.

It’s often hard to understand the costs a professional company has, which is why we thought a full breakdown was needed. Here’s exactly what goes into our pricing—and how it ensures you receive top-tier service, long-term reliability, and a pond that remains stress-free and beautiful.

Prefer to listen instead? Tune in below as Andrew and Emma discuss this article on the Ponderings Podcast!

What Makes Up the Cost of an Hour?

1. Skilled, Professional Technicians

We don’t just hire anyone—we train experts with background checks who understand water feature systems inside and out.

Our pond technicians earn a living wage that starts at $18 per hour plus benefits for apprentice techs and increases to $35–$45 per hour for team leads.

This includes:

Hands-on pond and water feature training
Industry-leading certifications and continuing education
Year-round employment opportunities (not just seasonal work)

On top of wages, we also cover:

35% for liability insurance, workers’ comp, unemployment tax, and payroll fees
Paid time during training, driving, and shop work—not just on-site jobs
An average $1,400 per month per person in continuing education, ensuring our staff stays up-to-date with best practices in the pond and landscaping industry

Why This Matters: According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), investing in trained professionals leads to higher service quality, reduced customer complaints, and longer-lasting landscape features [NALP]. Our goal is to provide you with a worry-free pond AND pond service. This investment ensures you don’t pay twice for rushed or low-quality work.

2. Built-In State & Federal Taxes — So You Don’t Get Surprised Later

When customers see an hourly or service rate, it’s easy to assume that every dollar goes straight into labor—but a significant portion of that rate is immediately spoken for by state and federal taxes. At Superior Ponds, we don’t hide those numbers or tack on mysterious fees later after the service is completed. We set them into our pricing so everything is clear, honest, and compliant from the beginning.

Here’s what that includes:

Federal & State Unemployment Taxes (FUTA & SUTA)
Social Security and Medicare contributions (FICA)
Minnesota state income tax withholdings
Sales tax on applicable services, when required

In total, we allocate over 15% of every paid labor hour just to payroll taxes and legal compliance—on top of the 35% we cover in workers’ comp, liability insurance, and payroll processing.

Why This Matters: According to the IRS Small Business Tax Guide, the majority of small service businesses under-report these obligations or pass them on as surprise fees (IRS). That’s not how we operate. We build them into our rates so you never get a “gotcha” bill after the fact. You won’t get blindsided by hidden costs at the end of your job. Our pricing is structured so you know exactly what you’re paying for—and that it’s supporting a licensed, ethical, tax-compliant company that puts its employees and customers first.

3. Reliable Vehicles & Equipment Maintenance

Every day, our teams are on the road, traveling between customer sites with fully stocked commercial vans. Keeping those vehicles running safely and efficiently costs:

$600 per month per vehicle for upkeep, fuel, and safety checks
Routine oil changes, brake replacements, and commercial insurance

And that’s just the transportation. The specialized pond-specific equipment we use is just as important. For example, during a pond cleaning that is thought to be labor only:

$2,000+ per rig for commercial pressure washers, hoses, and connections
$1,400 per tank for fish-safe water holding tanks (we often have multiple on a pond cleaning to ensure a better clean and safer transition for your fish)
$250 aerators in each tank to ensure fish remain healthy during cleanouts
$800 pond vacuum to get muck out of all the hard to reach areas
The most common replacement pumps, liner repair materials, water and fish treatments, and more on hand in our vans so that your pond is kept up and running with as little downtime as possible so you can keep enjoying the water feature lifestyle!

Why This Matters: A University of Minnesota Extension study found that regular vehicle maintenance and equipment investment reduces service delays for service businesses and ensure higher customer satisfaction [UMN Extension]. Having equipment in good working order means that you remain the priority, not endless equipment breakdowns. Without reliable cleaning equipment, your pond cleaning gets delayed or downgraded—something we won’t allow.

4. Safe Work Environments

Pond work isn’t just about labor—it’s about ensuring safe working conditions for our technicians. That’s why we invest in:

Moisture-wicking, heat-resistant uniforms ($600 per full setup per tech, including high-quality short sleeve landscaping shirts, long sleeve shirts, jackets, hoodies, hats, rain suits, safety footgear, and more)
Designed to keep our team safe and comfortable while working in wet, hot, and cold environments

Why This Matters: The Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) stresses that cutting corners on materials and training leads to higher long-term costs, shorter equipment lifespan, and reduced project quality [APLD]. We’d rather do it right the first time with a team wearing safe and comfortable gear.

5. A Professional Office Team to Keep Everything Running Smoothly

Our Office Manager is responsible for:

Scheduling, ensuring we optimize routes and service times for efficiency
Customer support, answering questions, providing service updates, servicing our website chatbox
Billing and invoicing, so everything runs smoothly behind the scenes

Cost: $40,000+ per year plus benefits

Why This Matters: According to Harvard Business Review, companies that invest in dedicated administrative support improve response times, service efficiency, and customer retention rates by over 30% [HBR]. Contractors have a bad enough reputation for communication as it is, we try to reduce the friction as much as possible with dedicated office help. Great service isn’t just what happens at your pond—it’s how we show up and communicate.

6. Seasonal Limits, Year-Round Commitment

In Minnesota, our outdoor pond service season typically runs from April through October—a narrow window to complete the majority of our maintenance, repairs, cleanouts, and installs. Unlike other trade industries that operate year-round, we only get about seven months to do the heavy lifting.

But what about the other five months? That’s when many contractors hit pause.

Not us.

At Superior Ponds, we use our off-season to double down on training, certifications, systems building, and process improvement. While our fieldwork slows, our investment in becoming better experts never stops.
We spend an average of $16,000 per year, per member on continuing education, advanced pond certifications, and manufacturer-led equipment training. This ensures our crew is prepared with the latest tools, techniques, and ecosystem best practices the moment spring hits.

Why This Matters: According to Irrigation & Green Industry Magazine, companies that train consistently in the off-season see 40% fewer callbacks and 35% faster job completion times when the season resumes (IGIM). That’s value that shows up directly in your pond. So while others wait for the thaw, we’re leveling up our skills—so your pond gets the benefit of professionals who are ready to go on day one, not relearning what they forgot over winter, so your pond is ready when Spring is.

7. The Cost of Running a Reputable, Long-Term Business

Beyond labor and materials, running a legitimate, professional company comes with its own costs—ensuring we can serve our customers today, tomorrow, and years from now.

Business liability insurance (protecting both clients & employees; if anything goes wrong, it’ll be covered): $12,000+ per year
State and federal business licensing fees (not just a chuck-in-a-truck, we take legal matters seriously): $2,000+ per year
Bookkeeping & Accounting Services (to keep our employees paid, pay taxes, and stay in legal standing): $3,600+ per year
Warranty & Service Reserves to stand behind our Clear Water Guarantee and installation warranty (guarantees and warranties don’t stand for much if there isn’t money standing behind to back those claims up)

Many low-cost contractors skip these expenses—but that comes at the risk of unlicensed work, no warranties, and disappearing when issues arise. We refuse to operate that way.

Why This Matters: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that properly licensed, insured businesses are 50% more likely to have long-term customer satisfaction and repeat business [BBB]. If problems happen, we’re not running away. That’s how we’ve built lasting relationships across Minnesota—and why we’re here for the long haul. See our Google reviews to see what we mean.

Why Transparency Matters

We’re here to educate, serve, and deliver value—not just sell services (that’s why we write our pond blog articles and record our “pondcast” episodes).

When you hire us, you get:

A well-trained, professional team
The best materials and equipment for your pond
Reliable service from a legitimate company that will still be around in 10 years

The truth is, you can always find a cheaper option. But you can’t always find a company that will:

Answer your calls when something goes wrong
Stand behind their work with real guarantees
Be around next season to keep your pond running beautifully

We price our services to reflect the expertise, materials, and long-term support that Minnesota pond owners deserve.

Want to See the Difference? Let’s Talk!

If you’ve ever wondered where your money goes when hiring a pond professional, now you know—it goes into expertise, reliability, and long-term customer care. With our expertise, we avoid the 4 Most Common Pond Pitfalls so you have a better pond experience.

Have other questions about our pricing? Want to book a spring startup or maintenance service?