Help Pricing A Job

[JustCallMeJImmy]

Hello all, I could use some professional help! Over the past year, I have been seriously considering starting a lawn care business. I have been taking on jobs for neighbors and friends to get a good feel for the job and a good client referral list. This new job has me second guessing my pricing though and I could use your help. Here is the Job Removal of 4foot high Shrub close to a gas main (already done, hand dug and used a hacksaw on roots) 6foot High Bush approx 4 feet wide. installation of 1yard of Mulch and 1 yard of soil weeding and pruning of 5 fair size flowerbeds mowing,trimming, edging of lawn yard cleanup So far i am on my 4th day (please keep in mind I do not have professional tools or help) Would $400 be to much to charge? Any help would be much appreciated!!!

[krzys666]

Lawn care business tips

where are you located? no it is not to much around here. for westchester and fairfeild counties 30 miles north of NYC 400 is low what i would charge we charge $ 85 per yard of mulch/ topsoil if under 5 yards. if over 5 it drops to $75 a yard cutting the shrubs/bushes would be at least $100 for both. i would charge a disposal fee if i needed to take them off property. dispose of mowing at 60 an hour. edging at 50 cents per linear ft. weeding at 25 an hour pruning at 45 an hour this is what i would charge. this job would take 1 guy 2 days max unless the flowerbeds were bad. you can spread a yard an hour. the bushes would take about 1-2 hours.

[Steve]

Removal of 4foot high Shrub close to a gas main (already done, hand dug and used a hacksaw on roots)

How long did that take you? How long did you initially think it will?

6foot High Bush approx 4 feet wide.

What are you doing with this? Removing it? Trimming it?

installation of 1yard of Mulch and 1 yard of soil

How long are you expecting this to take? What will be the cost of materials?

weeding and pruning of 5 fair size flowerbeds

What size (sq ft) would this area be and how long are you thinking this will take?

mowing,trimming, edging of lawn

What size?

yard cleanup

What size and what condition is it in?

These are all the things to think about when you are putting your bid together. I look forwards to your responses.

[JustCallMeJImmy]

Thank you for the responses. The area is Mississauga,Ontario,Canada.

The 4foot shrub took about 2.5 hours the 7 foot bush took 3 hours to remove. Then 2 hours to cut it all up to be taken away by our brown bag pickup. Total 7.5hours for both including 30min cleanup.

For the mulch the Yard was delivered. I was t just instal it after instaling the Yard of dirt. Now I busted my *** with a wheelbarrow and the both took about 2.5hours to get it all to the beds, then an hour to even out 40min cleanup. Total 8hours for both. You guys can really do an hour a yard? I see no way i could have done it that fast. So many flowers,shrubs and trees to get under.

Not sure on the square feet. But thank you for pressing me on that, I can now see how that will help me with quotes. Total pruning time was about 1 hour, weeding was about 2hours

Mow,trim,edge was about 1.5hours. rest was yard cleanup

Being very new to pricing and the business my hourly rate has usually been $20hour so as to give a good price, also because I have very little to no extra costs such as gas etc..

The Pricing I am now looking at looking at is $125 each for the Mulch and Soil.
Weed and Prune included
4 foot shrub $75
7 Foot $125
Mow,edge,trim $35
Yard Cleanup $75
Total Hours worked 34

$560

What do you all think?

[JustCallMeJImmy]

Forgot to mention. Here in Toronto, we pay $139.00 to have 1 Cubic Yard or dirt or mulch delivered .

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Mulch prices seem high. Here, its $30-$44 a yard. Delivery is $20-$60 depending on distance. Most places will give you 10% off for being a contractor. You can also get in good with a yard and get more discounts. I bought a 100 yards so far this year from the same people. They love me!

Now as far as your prices your way off. You should be able to afford to pay someone to do all the work and still make 3 times more then what you paid him. For 34 hours, you shouldve came in somewhere between $1200-$1700.

[krzys666]

what took so long to remove the 2 bushes.
i figured about 1 hour to take them down. we go down about 3 inches under the soil. we are using chainsaws to cut the roots.
i would not have baged the bushes in brown bags. it takes to long.
you would have been better off making bundles and tying the bundles up.

[JustCallMeJImmy]

All I had to use was a Shovel, axe ,hand saw, and hack saw for the one near the gas main. Also i had to hand dig that one.

[Apex Lawn & Landscape]

First off I'm confused at why you have started the work before coming up with a price that you & the homeowner have agreed upon. That's asking for trouble and issue. All other information above is accurate. Ontario's delivery rate is obsurred ! Best of luck

[Steve]

why you have started the work before coming up with a price

How did that come about and what is your view on handling it like that?