First Mulching Job

[bwood99x]

I started my lawn care business a few months ago, and I am submitting my first Mulching bid. The area to be mulched is about 2850 square feet, with some bushes spread out within the area. I am trying to figure out how long this will take to complete. There is also alittle bit of clean up required. Im guessing 3 hours for that, and I will have to dig a little trench (4 inches or so deep trench around some of the perimiter (120 feet) which I am just estimating an hour for. At 3" thick, The mulch required would be about 30 yards correct? If you need any other information please let me know! -Brent

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

What will you be using to dig that perimeter?

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[bwood99x]

Im figuring on using a narrow shovel, maybe 6 inches wide. There isnt too much to dig through...just sand. I'm putting in the bid tomorrow.

[JP Landscaping]

I would charge 1100-1200 for labor using wheelbarrows to spread the mulch. If you are using a front end loader then you would probably be able to charge less.

then add the delivery fee, the price of the mulch, and the disposal of the debri. You are set.

I had a similar job last year. 30 yards of mulch around a line of trees. I charged $2200 (mine was the lower bid) including digging that edge, cleaning some debri, delivering the mulch and spreading it.

good luck

[bwood99x]

My Bid Went in like this:

380 2 cu. ft. bags of red mulch - $2.50 per bag = $950
Delivery Charge =$75
Labor = $600
Total= $1625


The Home Depot right across the street is selling red mulch for $2.09 plus tax. However, I am getting the 28 yards of mulch delivered to the site by another company for a total of $650. I charge $1025 for mulch and delivery, so I make $375 on the mulch, and then I figured 20 hrs of labor @ $30/hr. I will pay two people $8 an hour, along with myself. Plus I have to buy a narrow shovel.

Total cost should be...$650 (mulch) + $104 (13 hours paid labor) + $30 shovel
= $784

$1625 - $784 = $841 profit. Not bad for a day's work if it all goes like that.

[Steve]

I figured 20 hrs of labor

Is that 20 hours of labor total divided by 3 people? So around 6.5 hours each person?

Keep us posted on how this goes. Take pictures too.

[bwood99x]

Yes, 20 total hours of Labor. So about 6.5 hours per person with 3 people. I'll work on getting some before pics...then hopefully I can get some after pics when I win the bid

[robgee05]

Originally Posted by bwood99x

Yes, 20 total hours of Labor. So about 6.5 hours per person with 3 people. I'll work on getting some before pics...then hopefully I can get some after pics when I win the bid

That bid sounds reasonable, if you and the workers knock that out in 6.5 hours. Sounds a bit low on the estimate if your using wheel barrows. Depending on distance your mulch pile is from the beds. Sounds like close to 30 MH, but you built in a nice profit on the mulch. Even if it takes a day and a half, $700 profit aint bad.

[bwood99x]

Here is a Picture representing about 1/2 of the job. The other half will be alittle easier to do, as there is old mulch there, and not much to do besides lay some more down on top.

[watkins]

Hey bro, we ran this.
it took us almost 2 days.

Prices and quantity is listed here as well.
We did not use a loader, it took us 2 hours of prep, by that time the 1st load of material was delivered we were ready for coverage.



Chipped mulch @ 22 per yd = 704 + labor 1306
1.5 inch stone 22 yards @ 26 per yd = 572 + labor = 2444
Delivery xxxx
Insurance xxxx
Fuel xxxx

Labor and material total was about 3750.

That is still doing it cheap for a legitimate registered business paying taxes / comp and insurance.

Edit: Bags of mulch are insane priced I think, around here at least.