Beginner Questions

[SNethercutt]

Bi-weekly yards aren't that bad, provide them with a free fertilize, $15 out of your pocket later they wonder why there grass is blue and 2 ft tall between mowing haha.... Just kidding but I do advertise my fertilization super hard to EOW (every other week) customers). It helps them migrate to weekly!

[GreenBlue]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by MBLC Dear lord if they are biweekly jack the heck outta that price! I have bi-weekly as a service I will be offering, but on a $40 lawn that's weekly, I plan on charging $50-$60 on a bi-weekly...not sure if that's a good idea or if I should just forget it on bi-weekly's.

[jymie]

My biweekly charge is always 1.5 times the weekly rate. When I tell them that on an estimate most times they will go with the weekly service.

[MBLC]

Originally Posted by jymie

My biweekly charge is always 1.5 times the weekly rate. When I tell them that on an estimate most times they will go with the weekly service.

You and me both, I have bagging as optional for additional fee. Normally I charge a quarter the price of the whole of the property. If it's a biweekly with bagging I double the bagging price. that's mean wear on my blades and belts plus time.

[CDLAWNCARE]

A couple years back I started contracts with my customers so they know it will be cut every week regaurdless rain or shine we are always there. If your only cutting weeds every couple weeks in the summer it isn't so bad but if you get a little rain in that time those weeds harden off sooner and your moving slow again. I use the summer time cuttings to help make up for any short comings with the faster growing grass in the spring. Its a big drawback for some people but there lawn looks good all the time and we actually make some money. Try to encourage your customers to water and fertilize, even fertilizing in the spring will keep the grass green and growing longer into the season.

[GreenBlue]

Originally Posted by CDLAWNCARE

A couple years back I started contracts with my customers so they know it will be cut every week regaurdless rain or shine we are always there. If your only cutting weeds every couple weeks in the summer it isn't so bad but if you get a little rain in that time those weeds harden off sooner and your moving slow again. I use the summer time cuttings to help make up for any short comings with the faster growing grass in the spring. Its a big drawback for some people but there lawn looks good all the time and we actually make some money. Try to encourage your customers to water and fertilize, even fertilizing in the spring will keep the grass green and growing longer into the season.

I won't be able to offer fertilizing until down the road, because its not an easy process to get certified in Kansas and Missouri. Going to do other services until I can take on fertilizing, but that doesn't mean I can't tell them to do it themselves, but not sure how that would go in terms of their opinion of me not offering that.

[SNethercutt]

Option, look in to buying the fert at wholesale and delivering it to them and selling it to them cheaper than Walmart or whatever?

[LawnBoy0311]

Jacking up prices for biweekly service only gives you a bad name. Charge accordingly. If the grass grows slow and isnt bad every 2 weeks, then charge a little higher if you want. Over pricing jobs makes customers not hire you. Those customers will most likely talk to friends who in turn won't call you because the heard from their friend your rates were high.

[GreenBlue]

Originally Posted by LawnBoy0311

Jacking up prices for biweekly service only gives you a bad name. Charge accordingly. If the grass grows slow and isnt bad every 2 weeks, then charge a little higher if you want. Over pricing jobs makes customers not hire you. Those customers will most likely talk to friends who in turn won't call you because the heard from their friend your rates were high.

Where I live though everyone charges extra for bi-weekly service, so its well known you'll be paying extra if that's what you want.

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by GreenBlue

Where I live though everyone charges extra for bi-weekly service, so its well known you'll be paying extra if that's what you want.

Exactly- paying a little extra for biweekly is fine. But giving a quote of $75 when you know damn well it should be $45 isn't good business. People will talk....

Customer: I called XYZ Landscaping and would you believe he quoted me $75 to cut my grass?!
Friend: Thats crazy, what the name of the company? I was looking for someone but I won't be calling them!!