Just dose not feel right?

[CHEESE2009]

For me, money isn't the issue either. There are just some people I don't feel like doing business with. Even if a lawn would be considered favorable, it wont even matter if the client becomes a punk. This captain wants smooth sailing and nothing less! - In other news, this is the last time I eat chips in bed. For the love of God, there's crumbs everywhere. Last time I tell you... Last time.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by jasonw Steve, it was not really the job that got my worrying but more the person, just did not feel good about them. REALLY!!??!! $400 for something like this? I have only been charging upwards of $200 for a job like this and always felt it was fairly high. Someone ells locally only charges like $130 but he uses a big CAT and just rough cuts the entire thing, I make it look like a golf course. I own 2 field and brush mowers so I never have to rent any. After reading some of this I am really going to have to re evaluate the work I am doing and what I am charging for it. Maybe you can also comment on another job I recently took over. I got a call from someone about a block away from me, she explained that the people she was having do her lawn just stopped showing up one day "Why do I hear that a lot?" I went out and looked at her yard, I normally would charge $40 to mow edge and blow the property "small city lot" I was already going to give her a deal because she only lives down the road and its really not out of my way to give it a quick 30 minute cut once per week. Now that being said I don't ever try to low ball anyone but I do meet or beat other reasonable prices, I have turned down many jobs because I could not meet a price but with this one I asked how much she was paying the people who stopped showing up, She said it was $100 per month. By the time I had left I quoted her 80 per month to cut it 1 time per week and $20 per hour for additional work such as bush trimming exc exc. When someone stops showing up its because 1. there not making money or 2. there not being paid. When she said they stopped showing up at $100 a month I wouldve said that its because they werent making money and it wasnt worth it to them. Then you would charge upwards from that rate, not below it. These guys blew the job for that price your not competing with them. Thats the chance to sell your rate and quality. If you thought the job was worth $160 a month why charge half that? To beat the competition that lost the job and wasnt making money doing it? Thats just setting yourself up for failure. Now for just plain old regular work I charge $40-$60 a hour. For overgrown brush work it close to $100 a hour. I get 1 or 2 of these jobs a week. You have to figure how long it would take the homeowner and what it would cost to get the proper equipment. Before I bought a kubota loader I would have to rent it for $450-$500 a day with attachments. So when I started working with I base my price off that rental fee. I cant think hey I paid for it I can do it cheaper.

__________________
South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
52" Brutus/52" Super Surfer/44" Pro Line/60" ZMaster
EB630/EB802/EBZ7150/EBZ8000/BR400/Billy Goat 8Hp
FS55&90/FC95/km110/L322&326/TR2350S
HC150/HC155/CHTZ2460
CS440/MS290
Case 1816 Skid

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by jasonw

Hedgemaster I assume you are good and trimming hedges?

Meh. I dunno. Needed a screen name and since I've always gotten compliments on the hedges at my home that's what I went with.

http://www.gopherforum.com/showthrea...edge-mastering

Which reminds me - I just shaped my shrubs yesterday and need to post pics...

[Von Bobbeh]

My approach to prospective clients who balk at my prices are very straight forward: "I Think I work hard and pursue quality above all else, and that my work is worth what I charge" and If the client seems trustworthy and I KNOW I can still make a good profit for it I will lower it by 10 or 20 percent.

If they won't take a deal maker, I'll soon be leaving.

[jasonw]

I have done a lot of back and forth on prices, unfortunately up here if you charge $40-$60 per hour you will be sitting at home not working, I would love to get that much but to many a-holes up here will cut weeds for $10 per hours so it kills the market.

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

When someone stops showing up its because 1. there not making money or 2. there not being paid.

When she said they stopped showing up at $100 a month I wouldve said that its because they werent making money and it wasnt worth it to them. Then you would charge upwards from that rate, not below it. These guys blew the job for that price your not competing with them. Thats the chance to sell your rate and quality.

If you thought the job was worth $160 a month why charge half that? To beat the competition that lost the job and wasnt making money doing it? Thats just setting yourself up for failure.

Now for just plain old regular work I charge $40-$60 a hour. For overgrown brush work it close to $100 a hour. I get 1 or 2 of these jobs a week. You have to figure how long it would take the homeowner and what it would cost to get the proper equipment.

Before I bought a kubota loader I would have to rent it for $450-$500 a day with attachments. So when I started working with I base my price off that rental fee. I cant think hey I paid for it I can do it cheaper.

[jasonw]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Meh. I dunno. Needed a screen name and since I've always gotten compliments on the hedges at my home that's what I went with.

http://www.gopherforum.com/showthrea...edge-mastering

Which reminds me - I just shaped my shrubs yesterday and need to post pics...

So asking for some tips would be pointless? lol

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by jasonw

So asking for some tips would be pointless? lol

I've never been one to think I'm "great" at anything even when people tell me I am.

Look at the pics. You can decide if I'm any good at it or not.

If you have questions, I'm happy to answer - provided I have the answer.

[CHEESE2009]

Besides the fact that he murders innocent people for fun, he is amazing at what he does, and the name he chose "Hedgemaster" fits very well.




OH IM SUCH A FLIRTTTT j/k

[Lopes Lawn Care]

Pricings are a tough thing to learn. You gotta think about everything your spending money on not just today but down the road. $10 an hour isn't gonna cover your azz when those brush mowers sh** the bed and you gotta get a new one.

I've been trying to go by the $1 a min method, this year. Exisiting customers are just something i have to deal with but all new work will be priced this way. This way you can always cover your expenses, put some money into your business and make a profit for yourself. I sometimes (although i know i shouldn't) vear from this path. Usually i do this when a customer has a ton of work to be done and i know i'm gonna do o.k. I'll cut them a break for giving me all the work.

I agree if this person thinks this is a high price you should stay clear cause he might be a pain to deal with and you'll always get paid nothing. That being said i also understand what it means to have to take on every job just to stay afloat. Good luck man

[jasonw]

So my quote was between $150 and $200 for the job and according to your equation it should be closer to $480 putting me at less than half of where I should be. The problem is not long ago I had to drop my prices because I was sitting at home doing nothing. I would give a lot of quotes but people would not pay it, now people are starting to pay but I am sitting at $15 per hour less than before when they would not pay.

I know for different areas people will be different as far as what they will and won't pay, I always figured it would be better to make something than nothing but in my area that is primarily retired people on fixed incomes I have to charge so little it really messes with my margins, In most cases a flat tire on my tractor can be the difference on making or losing money every time I go out.

Originally Posted by Lopes Lawn Care

Pricings are a tough thing to learn. You gotta think about everything your spending money on not just today but down the road. $10 an hour isn't gonna cover your azz when those brush mowers sh** the bed and you gotta get a new one.

I've been trying to go by the $1 a min method, this year. Exisiting customers are just something i have to deal with but all new work will be priced this way. This way you can always cover your expenses, put some money into your business and make a profit for yourself. I sometimes (although i know i shouldn't) vear from this path. Usually i do this when a customer has a ton of work to be done and i know i'm gonna do o.k. I'll cut them a break for giving me all the work.

I agree if this person thinks this is a high price you should stay clear cause he might be a pain to deal with and you'll always get paid nothing. That being said i also understand what it means to have to take on every job just to stay afloat. Good luck man