Pricing!!!!

[cklandscapingorlando]

Well a smaller comp could do it. But they would need to have options for buying and know which plants have more value. I like to watch the box stores for this. Canna lilly's can go for 15 at the box store and I can get them for 5. So instead of just doubling my price I bump it up to match or be a bit higher than they can get it for. When I first talk to the client I tell them that they can buy a 1gal for 5 bucks and plant it or they can pay me the same 5 and I'll pick it up and plant it. They pay 8.99 for 3 gal and I can give them the plant in the ground for 10.00 in most cases. I always ask for a budget before I design a landscape. You need them to understand that budget controls every thing. Not just the size of the bed but plant type and size plant size. It controls the uniqueness as well. I can bring you lantana as a ground cover to be kept under 3 ft. 5 bucks each. Or I can bring you coontie palms at 50 each. I can do an azeala at 5 each. Or knock out rose for 20 each. I can bring you a crepemyrtle for 100 or a little gem magnolia for 200. This is also true with plant size. A plant in 3 gal will be 10 but that same plant in 7 gal will be 30

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

I always ask for a budget before I design a landscape. This sounds like a great starting point. From this do you offer multiple design concepts or do you try and sell just one? Is it a good idea then to show a break down with price for each item used or is it better to submit a bid with just one price?

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[cklandscapingorlando]

It's not the design as much as plant choice. A viburnum, ligustrum, and jap blue berry all serve the same purpose. 2 of thos every one has, one will cost a bit more. So I will design a landscape then sit down and pick the plants. If you know every thing their looking for then one design should be fine. It's just a matter of picking the plants to fill the space. Most folks will let you know where they want shade or a screen or what not. You listen and take noted, then give them what they want. Bring them plant pics and specs and let them choose. Alot of folks will up their budget to get what they want with in reason you just have to show them what they want.

I usually break it down like so

5 3gal azeals @ $10.00 each = $50.00
10 1gal lantana @ $5.00 each + $50.00
1 yd mini pine bark @ $ 65.00 = $65.00
1 30gal Cassea @ $ 200.00 = $200.00
2 Hr Gen labor @ $ 40.00 = $80.00

Total $ 445.00

Of that I would make right at $270.00. Since the job is small I added in the labor and might add another 30 in here or there to make me 300 for the job

[Steve]

I usually break it down like so

5 3gal azeals @ $10.00 each = $50.00
10 1gal lantana @ $5.00 each + $50.00
1 yd mini pine bark @ $ 65.00 = $65.00
1 30gal Cassea @ $ 200.00 = $200.00
2 Hr Gen labor @ $ 40.00 = $80.00

Total $ 445.00

What is the benefit to presenting the bid with each plant price shown vs just showing one price for the entire bid?

Have you ever found that customers may look at the bid and decide to cut certain things out due to the price?

[cklandscapingorlando]

Never had a problem. In fact It seems to be a harder sale to say I'm billing 40hr per guy. You cant just cut things out of a design unless you want holes in the beds. This is why you need every thing layed out in the first conversation. If you have a 3000 budget and I bring you a design for that, you do the job or I take my design and go about my business. This is also why they pick their plants. They pick the budget, they pick the plants, they pick the ground cover.

Theres nothing for them to complain about

Hey Guys,
I'm Trying To Get Into The Commercial Landscape Maintenance Field. Does Any One Know The Basic Pricing When Bidding For Lawn Maintenance.

[cklandscapingorlando]

That really depends on your over head and more so your market. Some guy's get 100 hr while other are getting 25 hr

[Steve]

you do the job or I take my design and go about my business.

Do clients ever ask to hold on to your design to 'think about it.' But what they really want to do is to take the design and shop it around for the best price?

Whats the best way to deal with this?

[cklandscapingorlando]

Not untill this year. I had one client that did me something like that. They did'nt shop around or even use it but they did plant their own plants. Now I charge for the design and then deduct that from the bill at completion. That way I get paid for the design any way it goes

[Steve]

Do customers ever have an issue with this when it is explained to them as part of the process?