clippings

t-10yrs2retire · #1 07-26-2012, 04:54 AM

Just starting out here and a question i have is do you guys charge extra when the grass is too long because the customer wants to stretch out to every other week mow?. What i thought i would do from here on out is #1offer them a weekly mow and biweekly mow price adding in say a 1/2 hr for raking. I would get a mulching kit or bagger but hear if the grass is wet at all they plug up. Any help????

xandrew245x · #2 07-26-2012, 06:46 AM

Lawn care business tips

Bi weekly mowing I charge weekly X 1.5.

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Carlisle Lawn Care

jasonw · #3 07-26-2012, 07:14 AM

I don't charge any extra. No matter if its 3 feet tall or 3" tall my mower picks it up and I take it with me, it's no extra work to cut so I don't see a reason to charge more.

There is a large property that I do every month or so and sometimes its 5-6 feet tall, I can even see over the hood of my tractor when cutting it, it can be annoying but I tough it out and get it done as it's only every now and then it gets that bad. With that property however I don't take anything with me, they are all weeds and they just want it cut down. I may change my stance if I had to take the clippings with me. For the average lawn though I don't see a reason to do it, its not like its that much harder to cut it biweekly or weekly.

wat5150 · #4 07-26-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonw

I don't charge any extra. No matter if its 3 feet tall or 3" tall my mower picks it up and I take it with me, it's no extra work to cut so I don't see a reason to charge more.

There is a large property that I do every month or so and sometimes its 5-6 feet tall, I can even see over the hood of my tractor when cutting it, it can be annoying but I tough it out and get it done as it's only every now and then it gets that bad. With that property however I don't take anything with me, they are all weeds and they just want it cut down. I may change my stance if I had to take the clippings with me. For the average lawn though I don't see a reason to do it, its not like its that much harder to cut it biweekly or weekly.

I have some bi weekly accounts that are a real pain. The grass is extra thick and tall. If it were done every week it would probably shave at least 15 mins off one of my bi weeklys. I think you should always charge more for bi weekly. If you dont bag a bi weekly is always going to be more of a pain and harder to make it look good. I just dont understand how you think a bi weekly with grass twice as tall as a weekly is the same as weekly. Even if you do bag its twice the amount of clippings.

willshome · #5 07-26-2012, 07:52 AM

bagging takes time so it costs more. bi-weekly takes longer, more wear &tear on your mower.... you have to mow slower
time is money
the thing about weekly mows is they look good so you look good

Hedgemaster · #6 07-26-2012, 08:14 AM

There's also the added work of filling that slot on your schedule with ANOTHER lawn that's going to be more work on the other week.

Even if the lawn is some slow-growing, easy to cut job, you will likely have scheduling conflicts when you need to reschedule due to rain, or if they want to "skip a week" - NOW you have TWO (or more) cuts on the SAME DAY the following week when you shouldn't.

Thinking that biweekly accounts are "no different" is false. Charge more.

B-2 Lawncare · #7 07-26-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonw

I don't charge any extra. No matter if its 3 feet tall or 3" tall my mower picks it up and I take it with me, it's no extra work to cut so I don't see a reason to charge more.

There is a large property that I do every month or so and sometimes its 5-6 feet tall, I can even see over the hood of my tractor when cutting it, it can be annoying but I tough it out and get it done as it's only every now and then it gets that bad. With that property however I don't take anything with me, they are all weeds and they just want it cut down. I may change my stance if I had to take the clippings with me. For the average lawn though I don't see a reason to do it, its not like its that much harder to cut it biweekly or weekly.

We don't bag and biweekly mows require us to double mow, which means more time mowing and more maintenance. So yes they are going to pay more.

xandrew245x · #8 07-26-2012, 09:22 AM

I cut someone's lawn once for him, it had gone about a week and a half without being cut and it took me almost 20 mins longer than it should have.

t-10yrs2retire · #9 07-26-2012, 11:36 AM

Thanks guys I think I will go with the 1.5X and see what happens. Also I will stickwith the 7 OR 14 days. Im doing one now every 10 days. Not a big deal just a scheduling PIA. with my regular job.

wat5150 · #10 07-26-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wat5150

I have some bi weekly accounts that are a real pain. The grass is extra thick and tall. If it were done every week it would probably shave at least 15 mins off one of my bi weeklys. I think you should always charge more for bi weekly. If you dont bag a bi weekly is always going to be more of a pain and harder to make it look good. I just dont understand how you think a bi weekly with grass twice as tall as a weekly is the same as weekly. Even if you do bag its twice the amount of clippings.

Wow, the first part of my post got edited. All I wrote was I couldnt disagree more with the comment about bi weeklys being the same as weekly. It wasnt offensive. Whats up with that. Kind of lame.

clippings

Starting a lawn care business.