Was my bid to high or was I LOWBALLED!!!!

[lxarth]

I'm not really sure how long you think you will spend on each item, and I have often just flat rated trimming some bushes, while at other times just doing a lot of work and billing the customer. That really only works for existing customers though. As for the mulch cost, you could have tried to sell her on a different mulch, and explain that it would be a lot less expensive because you can get that in bulk. I'm a little confused about how you price it out too. You raise the cost per bag, and then also double it to cover your labor? Why not just have a set delivery fee. Charge her per bag, as normal, tack on some extra because you have to pick it up, and then add on your labor cost. You did say 1.5-2 hours...so I'm assuming 3-4 man hours. Which is just over $50 per man hour? I recently had a customer go with someone else for lawn service because they were cheaper. She called me a month later and said that the other guy didn't work out, and wanted to hire me. Moving too much on your price isn't always a good idea. If you do quality work, are fair and honest, then people have to expect to pay for that. I talk to so many people who think that I should be working for $10 an hour...Sorry people, just because I'm the owner doesn't mean I get to pocket all that money.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

I recently had a customer go with someone else for lawn service because they were cheaper. She called me a month later and said that the other guy didn't work out, and wanted to hire me. Moving too much on your price isn't always a good idea. When you say moving too much on your price, can you tell us more of what you mean? Are you saying you should stick with your price? Or something else?

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[winkie61]

Steve, sorry for just now getting back to you, but I've been very busy with some other landscaping jobs for some real estate investors who are flipping houses. I charge them using the same methods and they have no problem with my prices as they have stated they are very pleased with the jobs that I have done for them. I've done about six lawn and landscaping jobs for them averaging between 600.00 - 900.00 The answer to your question is that I do lawn service for no less than 50.00 an hour and I pay my worker 10.00 per yard. On the average I can be in and out of a yard between 20 - 45 mins. I think that if I'm doing a lanscaping job that I should try to make 50.00 per man hour. I have read this in other forums and on this one also from other LCO'S

[lxarth]

When you say moving too much on your price, can you tell us more of what you mean? Are you saying you should stick with your price? Or something else?

What I mean, is that sometimes people ask for a lower price just to see if they can get it, not because they actually feel you are over-priced.

I had someone say that they can get the job done for cheaper, and so I tell them to give me a call if it doesn't work out.

I've also way over-bid jobs before, but it's no biggie, I'm still learning stuff too.

But I think that if you, the business, feel that the price is right and fair, you should stick too it. Customer all too often want high quality work for a low rate.

I have allowed for some negotiating with my customers, but not much. Like I had one customer ask that if they sign up for full-service, if I will just make sure to patch-up the mole hills that come around. That's didn't seem to big of a requests, so I agreed. I have a check in the mail from this customer on the 1st of every month.

@winkie61: That's awesome! Seems like you prices are good then, and obviously your work ethic and quality is great! Good job on getting that account.

[Steve]

I had someone say that they can get the job done for cheaper, and so I tell them to give me a call if it doesn't work out.

It seems like a friendly way to leave the door open. Do you ever have any of them call back? Or maybe change their mind on the spot and decide to go with you?