First Commercial Job! (Small!) NEED HELP!

[KurtisCummings]

I NEED HELP!!! This is my first commercial bid View Larger Map or http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8...A&iwd=1&dtab=0 Not that much to mow, but a lot to trim. They would like trimming, mowing, blowing, as needed broadleaf weed control, fertalization 3x per year, policing for small debris, leaf removal in the fall, trimming/pruning of bushes. How would you charge for a whole season (28 sessions) for each of the following? Mowing Trimming Edging Area Police Weed Control Fertilization Leaf Removal Shrub Care THANKS!

[KurtisCummings]

Lawn care business tips

P.S. It is the white building to the left of the icon, just north of W Profile Parkway the west border is the train tracks the east border is N Curry Pike the north border is the gravel parking lot, just past the buidling

[Steve]

How would you charge for a whole season (28 sessions) for each of the following?

Mowing
Trimming
Edging
Area Police
Weed Control
Fertilization
Leaf Removal
Shrub Care

How long would each of these services take? You can figure this out by knowing the length of trimming you need to do and the area you need to mow.

Then you can experiment with the online calculators to figure out some pricing.

Give us some idea how long each service you think would take you then figure out how you would price each service. It will give others, a better way to compare their prices with yours and give you some ideas.

[KurtisCummings]

I have no idea on the time aspect... but here is my best shot


Mowing 30-40 min
Trimming 20 min
Edging 10 - 20 min
Area Police 10 min
Weed Control 30 min
Fertilization 30 min
Leaf Removal 45 - 60 min
Shrub Care 20-30 min

[KurtisCummings]

Does this look off the normal path? Total property size is 6.6 acres

Mowing $1,600
Trimming/Edging $840.00
Area Police for Trash $280.00
Weed Control $1,500
Fertilization $2,000
Leaf Removal $1,400
Tree and Shrub Care $1,000

Total Contract Price $8620.00
12 Monthly Payments - $718.00

[Steve]

Ultimately as you grow, you will get a feel for how long say 100ft of trimming will take you. How long it takes to mow a certain sized area and then all of these calculations can be scaled up or down depending on your need.

It's good to see you breaking down all the specific jobs because it gets you thinking about what will be needed and how long it will take.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to how they would price this job based on these specifics?

[KurtisCummings]

No thoughts?

[Little's]

Originally Posted by KurtisCummings

No thoughts?

It's very had to estimate a job from an aerial picture. Do your best at figuring your time needed, and multiply that by how much per hour you would like to get paid. Using Steve's calculator really helps.

[turfmaster]

I would estimate that job the same way you did by breaking each service down.
Add up the time and multiply by your hourly rate.
I can't comment on the prices of your bid because I cant see the property and I don't know your hourly rate.

My advice would be to bid this job the same way you would bid a residential.
A lot of guys new to commercial lawn care think that they should charge more
for a commercial than a residential. You won't get or keep to many commercials with that philosphy. Know your costs, don't low ball your services and you'll be fine. As time goes on you will get a better feel for the time it takes .