Pricing!!!!

I need help pricing tree and shrub installation and sod installation. I don't want to charge by the hour so I figure for the sod I would charge by the sq.ft, and charge a rate for each shrub and one tree. What should I charge?

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by rom818 I need help pricing tree and shrub installation and sod installation. I don't want to charge by the hour so I figure for the sod I would charge by the sq.ft, and charge a rate for each shrub and one tree. What should I charge? I normally charge double for install if I have to pay $20 for a shrub then I charge the cust. $40 total and guarantee this plant for one year! some things you will make more on and others not as much but you won't get burned this way and the cust. has a warranty.You can do the sod this way as well just be sure that you add a pick-up charge for some things to cover gas etc. such as sod that is so heavy! Also let your cust. know how much they can save this way because you can buy plants for less and or how your plants that you purchase are of better quality

[Steve]

I normally charge double for install if I have to pay $20 for a shrub then I charge the cust. $40 total and guarantee this plant for one year!

Would there be any other fees associated with this or is that it?

Also what % off retail should a lawn care business owner be looking to pay for plants?

You can always add cost to your bid by charging extra for edging beds. Upcharge for price paid for mulch(if I feel the cust. can pay the price I'll charge the cust. bag price for mulch but buy bulk this way you can install for no extra install charge over the plant charge. Depends on how many plants are put in.) also you need to amend the soil around each planting to insure that these plants last and won't need to be replaced. charge your cost for soil additives.
as far as buying your plants I always deal with 2 0r 3 nurseries in my area get a price sheet at the beginning of the season from each and find out which plants that they are going to be pushing through the season due to any overabundance and try to work these plants into your jobs.I never pay more than 75% of retail if they ask for more tell them what you'll pay and let them say yes or know

[Steve]

and find out which plants that they are going to be pushing through the season due to any overabundance and try to work these plants into your jobs.

That is fascinating! Do the nurseries know this at the beginning of the season? Will they tell you of the different plants that might be on sale at different times during the season?

What % off retail do you look for when they offer specials?

Yes they do know if they have been in business for awhile. They should know in advance what the local growers are going to have available and which plants may be more scarce. The nurseries that I deal with normally will let me know if they have an over-stock on a particular item and if they have something that can be substituted for an unavailable plant on my list.
All of this helps the seller also he just wants to move stock preferably what he has on hand.
also while I'm there picking out stock I always ask if they have any damaged or sub par plants that they may want to get rid of If I feel that I can save the plant and sell it later I'll give as little as 10% of there original price and include these plants in my bids next year

[cklandscapingorlando]

Most of my plants run $2 for 1 gal and $5 for 3 gal and $15 for 7 gal. I at least double that. On 1 gal I charge 5 each min with 1 year warnty. I chrge .75 sqft on sod plus amend or dump fees. If I know a client is tight then I will give them the option of buying small trees from a box store. Then I charge for just digging the hole and let them deal with their own waranty. I also include a few more of every plant in my bids just in case as well. I hate to be 3 shrubs short then have to give a bill higher than the quote. I at least double my mulch and soil cost. If just one yard of it I charge probly 75%.

On many jobs I will look at my profit, if I feel I've made a killing, then I can offer a better deal on extra work.

[Steve]

On many jobs I will look at my profit, if I feel I've made a killing, then I can offer a better deal on extra work.

Do you have a % that you shoot for to try and get upsells and extra work?

Like for instance 50% of the jobs you like to have extra work on? Or more or less?

Do you find there are a bunch of specific types of jobs that often can be sold as extra work?

[cklandscapingorlando]

What I'm talking about is like this job I did a while back. The total job was bid at 3000 for the plants and mulch. Out of that 3000 I made 2000 on a 2 day job. Being that I made some killer money, I moved a few sago palms and used his bucket to smooth 3 yds of soil, I did'nt charg him extra for those. Even though they were not in the bid, I was happy with what I made.

How did I make so much??? Well I keep price list from at least 15 nurseries. I also go to the box stores alot. I know bougainvilla goes for 25 each at the box store. I can find them for 6 bucks each. So I bid the job at 30 each because I'm using my highiest price. Same with other plants as well.

Now on a smaller job or one with plants that cant be marked up so much like hawthorn, you have to charge for more to make the same money. So on this type of jobI may have charged another 100 for the 3yd to be spread, 100 each to move the sago's, then a delivery charge, sod removal charge, dump charge, and maybe just gen labor charge.

[Steve]

What I'm talking about is like this job I did a while back. The total job was bid at 3000 for the plants and mulch. Out of that 3000 I made 2000 on a 2 day job.

Do you find this is something that a newer lawn care business owner or landscaper probably couldn't do because they would be more desperate for work? And possibly because of that, they would bid the job a lot lower?

Well I keep price list from at least 15 nurseries. I also go to the box stores alot. I know bougainvilla goes for 25 each at the box store. I can find them for 6 bucks each. So I bid the job at 30 each because I'm using my highiest price.

How often do the customers want to see how much they are being charged per plant versus a bid total ?