this is how charging hrly can kill you

[bobbygedd]

i timed myself, i trimmed: 2 arbs, 5 gold thread cypres, 4 blue girl holly, pruned and trimmed one snow ftn cherry, trimmed 4 crimson barberry. the total was 22 minutes. add another 10 min for cleanup=about 32 minutes. now, at an hourly rate of even $75 an hr, i'm at about $39 for the job. this is where hourly will kill you. my trimmers cost $675. do i really even want to start them for $39? and the more experienced you are, the less you make?

[QualityLawnCare4u]

Bobby, 39 bucks would be 2 to 2.5 hours worth of shrub trimming in my area. Jersey, here I come!

[crosson lawn]

are u out of your mind 39 bucks for 2hours work. anyway this is why we should bid by the job. and i hear sometimes, "Oh, thats way out of range" and i always out of range of what and they say what the people doing it now get. and i say, and this is what everyone should say, that is not out of my range that is what i am willing to do it for and will be happy to do a good job and not try to do a rush job on your yard. and if thats what the other guy is getting let me have his number so i can hire him to do my work and i will still make money.

So if qualitylawncare4u if u ever want a vacation or relocate to florida look me up i got about 3 days of hedges i will give you 25 bucks an hour to do them for me.

[QualityLawnCare4u]

are u out of your mind 39 bucks for 2hours work. anyway this is why we should bid by the job. and i hear sometimes, "Oh, thats way out of range" and i always out of range of what and they say what the people doing it now get. and i say, and this is what everyone should say, that is not out of my range that is what i am willing to do it for and will be happy to do a good job and not try to do a rush job on your yard. and if thats what the other guy is getting let me have his number so i can hire him to do my work and i will still make money.

So if qualitylawncare4u if u ever want a vacation or relocate to florida look me up i got about 3 days of hedges i will give you 25 bucks an hour to do them for me.

Nope, not out of my mind. Thats why I have just about completely eliminated shrub work for me. The same people who will pay you to do a yard at a decent price expect shrubs to be done for less than minimum wage. The few I have left pay what I demand which is 40 bucks an hour (which is good for my area, not for some of you others though).Beside, I hate shrub work bad enough to dont care whether I get it or not.

[QualityLawnCare4u]

are u out of your mind 39 bucks for 2hours work. anyway this is why we should bid by the job. and i hear sometimes, "Oh, thats way out of range" and i always out of range of what and they say what the people doing it now get. and i say, and this is what everyone should say, that is not out of my range that is what i am willing to do it for and will be happy to do a good job and not try to do a rush job on your yard. and if thats what the other guy is getting let me have his number so i can hire him to do my work and i will still make money.

So if qualitylawncare4u if u ever want a vacation or relocate to florida look me up i got about 3 days of hedges i will give you 25 bucks an hour to do them for me.

BTW, their are/were times I would be extremely happy at 25 per hour!

[Duramax99]

Bobby when you get those kinds of jobs pretend you are working for the man and take your time.

then bill accordingly

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

This is why I have a 1 hr minimum for any job I do.

[Todd's lawncare]

i timed myself, i trimmed: 2 arbs, 5 gold thread cypres, 4 blue girl holly, pruned and trimmed one snow ftn cherry, trimmed 4 crimson barberry. the total was 22 minutes. add another 10 min for cleanup=about 32 minutes. now, at an hourly rate of even $75 an hr, i'm at about $39 for the job. this is where hourly will kill you. my trimmers cost $675. do i really even want to start them for $39? and the more experienced you are, the less you make?
Well what did you make ????????? 200 ????????????????

[Green-Pro]

LAWNS AND MOWER This is why I have a 1 hr minimum for any job I do.

I have charged by the hour and by the job (depends on what the job is) One thing I took it in the shorts on once and only once was not having a minimum. I put that policy into effect right away. Had a bring top soil (about 6 wheelbarrows full) grass seed and starter fert request, it was so small I didn't bother to measure it, charge $250, time to complete 1.5 hour. I've had much larger seeding jobs that when bid came out only about $200 more than this one and were much larger. Thing is I don't mind doing the small jobs if you don't mind paying me, if you do simple get another estimate.

Not trying to be hardcase here but I'm not running a charity and if you want me to mess around with a $40-$50 dollar job when I could be on to something more profitable then you will pay the minimum, period.

-Geoff

[crawdad]

i timed myself, i trimmed: 2 arbs, 5 gold thread cypres, 4 blue girl holly, pruned and trimmed one snow ftn cherry, trimmed 4 crimson barberry. the total was 22 minutes. add another 10 min for cleanup=about 32 minutes. now, at an hourly rate of even $75 an hr, i'm at about $39 for the job. this is where hourly will kill you. my trimmers cost $675. do i really even want to start them for $39? and the more experienced you are, the less you make?

Hourly is for employees. Small job like that would have been quoted at about $100. Take it or leave it. The reason so many people don't like shrub work is because they're scared to charge for it.
I like shrub work. payup

Crawdad

[bobbygedd]

i love shrub work also. it's profitable and i like to look at the nice job afterwards. i charged $90 for the trimming.

[sheshovel]

Bobbyoh bobby,22 min 16 shrubs?Where they bonzi or what?that's less than 30seconds a shrub .I don't beleive a word of it.And sure as hell don't think you got 90.00 for it.You fired up power equiptment for 30 seconds a shrub.You must be very very good a shrub trimming..LOLOLOLO OK mabey less tan 60 sec a shrub whatever the times dont work out.musta been a dream BobbyG

[crawdad]

That's 82.5 seconds per shrub. Sounds about right. Although I generally use my Japanese shears after I use the power tools, touch it up a little. I guess that's why my price would have been 10 bucks higher than his.

[bobbygedd]

Bobbyoh bobby,22 min 16 shrubs?Where they bonzi or what?that's less than 30seconds a shrub .I don't beleive a word of it.And sure as hell don't think you got 90.00 for it.You fired up power equiptment for 30 seconds a shrub.You must be very very good a shrub trimming..LOLOLOLO OK mabey less tan 60 sec a shrub whatever the times dont work out.musta been a dream BobbyG
listen baby, i don't work like a girl. i'll be in LA next winter, if you play your cards right.....i just may trim your bushes for you and show you how it's done :waving:

[sheshovel]

Yeayeayea..you always change the subject when your fibbing...I'm a long long long ways away from L.A. BobbyG.Whatcha comin out for?The National Bulls...t Convention??

[Doc Pete]

i timed myself, i trimmed: 2 arbs, 5 gold thread cypres, 4 blue girl holly, pruned and trimmed one snow ftn cherry, trimmed 4 crimson barberry. the total was 22 minutes. add another 10 min for cleanup=about 32 minutes. now, at an hourly rate of even $75 an hr, i'm at about $39 for the job. this is where hourly will kill you. my trimmers cost $675. do i really even want to start them for $39? and the more experienced you are, the less you make?

Sorry bobby, how stupid is that??? Your mower costs $4,000, and you only make probably $75/hour, at best. Also, newer riders cost $10,000 and many guy's don't even make $100/hour using them. So, what's wrong with $75/hour for a $700 item???? What's your problem today?? Total brain fade???? You really need to get a life.....

[ToroLover]

if you play your cards right.....i just may trim your bushes for you and show you how it's done :waving:
Ya, well if you play your cards really right, you might end up getting yourself dismissed for a week or more.... :waving:

[jim dailey]

Yeayeayea..you always change the subject when your fibbing...I'm a long long long ways away from L.A. BobbyG.Whatcha comin out for?The National Bulls...t Convention??

Go get him, jump on him with BOTH feet.

[jim dailey]

Sorry bobby, how stupid is that??? Your mower costs $4,000, and you only make probably $75/hour, at best. Also, newer riders cost $10,000 and many guy's don't even make $100/hour using them. So, what's wrong with $75/hour for a $700 item???? What's your problem today?? Total brain fade???? You really need to get a life.....

OH, OH...the problems are growing.

[bobbygedd]

Sorry bobby, how stupid is that??? Your mower costs $4,000, and you only make probably $75/hour, at best. Also, newer riders cost $10,000 and many guy's don't even make $100/hour using them. So, what's wrong with $75/hour for a $700 item???? What's your problem today?? Total brain fade???? You really need to get a life.....
listen stupid, $75 an hour is fine IF you are there 3, 4, 5 hrs. anyhow, part timers should remain silent. and you mrs HE shovel, just because u can't make more than 8 bucks an hour in that god forsaken state u live in, don't get mad at me. i been there, the place is a DUMP!

[Doc Pete]

i love shrub work also. it's profitable and i like to look at the nice job afterwards. i charged $90 for the trimming.

How nice. $90 for 1/2 hours work. Okay, so you found a stupid customer. Frankly, I love guy's like you. They last a year or so, until people find out you're just overcharging. Sorry Bobby, talk to me in a few years when your name gets "really known"...........

[Doc Pete]

listen stupid, $75 an hour is fine IF you are there 3, 4, 5 hrs. anyhow, part timers should remain silent. and you mrs HE shovel, just because u can't make more than 8 bucks an hour in that god forsaken state u live in, don't get mad at me. i been there, the place is a DUMP!

Still haven't changed have you Bobby. Ya know, I wouldn't mind if you'd come up above the 14 year old level and have an adult conversation with me.
Any time you want to match trimming skills, I'm here. BTW, did you say you had 2 or 3 different length pole trimmers, or do you still actually use those insane chainsaw style things? OH, and as a full timer do you have 1 or "5" mowers, 1 or "3" blowers, 1 or "5" weed wackers, 1 or "3" hedge trimmers, 1 or "2" snowplows, 1 or "2" snowblowers and an "18 foot enclosed trailer" like the part-timer I am has?????
Thanks,
Pete

[bobbygedd]

like i said, you are part time, and can't possibly understand what it's like to run a real business. so let me guess kitten boy, you would have shown up, trimmed the shrubs, billed for $22 and a cookie, and went on home?

[bobbygedd]

Still haven't changed have you Bobby. Ya know, I wouldn't mind if you'd come up above the 14 year old level and have an adult conversation with me.
Any time you want to match trimming skills, I'm here. BTW, did you say you had 2 or 3 different length pole trimmers, or do you still actually use those insane chainsaw style things? OH, and as a full timer do you have 1 or "5" mowers, 1 or "3" blowers, 1 or "5" weed wackers, 1 or "3" hedge trimmers, 1 or "2" snowplows, 1 or "2" snowblowers and an "18 foot enclosed trailer" like the part-timer I am has?????
Thanks,
Pete
how much kittenboy? tell me, how much u charge 4 30 min of trimming? btw kittens, you couldn't hold a candle to my azz, why? because at the end of the day, you answer to your boss, i, answer to nobody. now quit harrassing me

[Doc Pete]

how much kittenboy? tell me, how much u charge 4 30 min of trimming? btw kittens, you couldn't hold a candle to my azz, why? because at the end of the day, you answer to your boss, i, answer to nobody. now quit harrassing me

Wow, what a great roll model you are for all the newbies. No wonder Kids have such a poor attitude......They actually listen to so called adults as yourself. Maybe you should try to act like human being, instead of a guy with a chip on his shoulder..........
"QUIT HARRASSING ME".........Now's there's a really grownup statement.......
Do you actually believe the BS you feed yourself?
Sorry, trimming shrubs just doesn't warrant $90 for 1/2 hours work. Anyone can learn to prune/trim shrubs. If you want to earn more money, learn a job that takes real skill........ Sorry, mowing/trimming just isn't the high paying job you think you deserve........ It's just work...... Get real..........
Same ole Bobby, same old routine.......Nothing has changed, just more people laughing at you, rather than with you..........
LAST........What equipment did you have again??? I don't remember you telling me..........

[jim dailey]

listen stupid, $75 an hour is fine IF you are there 3, 4, 5 hrs. anyhow, part timers should remain silent. and you mrs HE shovel, just because u can't make more than 8 bucks an hour in that god forsaken state u live in, don't get mad at me. i been there, the place is a DUMP!

And, now we will pause for a few moments during this break, count our blessing, and return in just a momemt for Round # 2 of "How NOT to Charge Hourly."

[Doc Pete]

And, now we will pause for a few moments during this break, count our blessing, and return in just a momemt for Round # 2 of "How NOT to Charge Hourly."

OK.... Hmmmmmmm, let's see Bobby and I both have our full Hospitaliztion paid, get a month's paid vacation, get a month's paid sick leave and another month of half paid sick leave, paid breaks each day, all holidays off and get an additional $3,000 a year for a SEP, just for working.
OOP's, you say you don't, Bobby because you're self-employed?? Damn, it's just one of the curses of being PT, and fully employed. :cool2:
And for that matter, Bobby does have to answer to many people, everyone one of his customers, which are the worst. If he doesn't he's out of work.

And now, back to our Hallmark movie of the week...... :waving: :waving:

[bobbygedd]

OK.... Hmmmmmmm, let's see Bobby and I both have our full Hospitaliztion paid, get a month's paid vacation, get a month's paid sick leave and another month of half paid sick leave, paid breaks each day, all holidays off and get an additional $3,000 a year for a SEP, just for working.
OOP's, you say you don't, Bobby because you're self-employed?? Damn, it's just one of the curses of being PT, and fully employed. :cool2:
And for that matter, Bobby does have to answer to many people, everyone one of his customers, which are the worst. If he doesn't he's out of work.

And now, back to our Hallmark movie of the week...... :waving: :waving:
oh spare me, i had all that, and it took me about 3 days of hard thinking to realize it WASN'T WORTH IT, and i left, after 21 years. hey, if the best you can do, is punch someone elses timeclock, for a meager trade off-bennies+ a paycheck, in exchange... FOR YOUR LIFE...... well then peteyboy that's what you do. it takes no balls whatsoever to work for someone else, it takes 3 testicles however to walk out on your job and raise a family with your own business. back to the trimming. tell now, after i've asked 3 times and recieved no reply, how much does part time nutless pete get for 30 min of trimming? what do you care what type of trimmers i have? i'm an expert trimmer, i bet i can give your fat head a mowhawk in less than 6 seconds, and never even cut one of your ears. NOW, get to work BOY.

[dishboy]

i timed myself, i trimmed: 2 arbs, 5 gold thread cypres, 4 blue girl holly, pruned and trimmed one snow ftn cherry, trimmed 4 crimson barberry. the total was 22 minutes. add another 10 min for cleanup=about 32 minutes. now, at an hourly rate of even $75 an hr, i'm at about $39 for the job. this is where hourly will kill you. my trimmers cost $675. do i really even want to start them for $39? and the more experienced you are, the less you make?


675 dollars so you can make lollypops out of every bush in the landscape and your bragging about this. FYI felco # 2's run about 50 to 60 dollars.

[Doc Pete]

oh spare me, i had all that, and it took me about 3 days of hard thinking to realize it WASN'T WORTH IT, and i left, after 21 years. hey, if the best you can do, is punch someone elses timeclock, for a meager trade off-bennies+ a paycheck, in exchange... FOR YOUR LIFE...... well then peteyboy that's what you do. it takes no balls whatsoever to work for someone else, .

And your point is???? Why bother growing more balls, when you can let someone else get the headaches and aggravation, while you just collect a good wage???

Furthermore, what does part time mean anyway??
All it means is you let someone else pay for your bennies, while you go out build a thriving business, without worrying about “if” you get customers.
Oh, I say again (and again), what equipment do you have?

Also, since you have other employees (as you’ve said), please show me where your Worker’s compensation is listed. I didn’t find on the state site.
You do have Worker’s compensation don’t you???

Please feel free to look up my Worker’s compensation name in the state registry. It’s under Pete O’Connor DBA “For Pete’s Sake Landscaping”.

Also, I assume you have your name on your truck, with commercial plates and commercial insurance, right???? How many snowplows and snow blowers do you own again???

Gees Bobby, I really don’t see anything different about you and I, other than my bennies are paid for, and you have none.

Ya know, just because you didn’t work at a FT job you liked, is no reason to show your anger and jealousy toward me so childishly.

[bobbygedd]

no pete i have no employees. however, i do have a pesticide license, i wasn't able to find yours in the state registry. you DO HAVE AN APLICATORS license, don't you pete? please don't tell me you're applying without one. and don't bull**** me, and tell me you're not applying. again, for the 4th time, how much for 30 min worth of trimming?

language

[Doc Pete]

no pete i have no employees. however, i do have a pesticide license, i wasn't able to find yours in the state registry. you DO HAVE AN APLICATORS license, don't you pete? please don't tell me you're applying without one. and don't bullsh!t me, and tell me you're not applying. again, for the 4th time, how much for 30 min worth of trimming?


Ya know, I don’t apply anything, so I don’t need the license. Is that a problem? And, I don't have to BS you, you aren't that important to me.

As far as the 30 minutes for the trimming, I probably would have charged about $50.

As far as Worker’s compensation, you’ve already mentioned many times having helpers with you.
You must have Worker’s compensation on them, regardless of how little they work for you. If you don’t “someone” will end up reporting you. Also, in time, one of your helpers will get hurt, end up suing you, and you’ll lose your shirt.

Funny…… I wouldn’t have bothered with your lame brain antics, but we all know you used to be a part timer yourself, and not a very good one. Now,all of a sudden part timers are low class. Just because you couldn’t make part time and full time work for you, now all part timers suck. I guess what I find entertaining is, with each post you remind all of us what a “high school big shot show off” used to be........
Thanks,
Pete

[Turfdude]

i love shrub work also. it's profitable and i like to look at the nice job afterwards. i charged $90 for the trimming.
Well Gedd, I think you actually charged a close rate to what I'd have gotten (depending on shrub sizes) Approx $5 each for the smaller container stuff, poss $10 each for the arbs ad throw in $15-20 to trim the cherry to give it that umbrella look. I would probably be a little higher since my disposal fees cost a little more (unless U get caught)

[bobbygedd]

ya, i know what you mean about this nonsense of "getting caught". it's like, if you're not carrying workmans comp, and you get caught. it's like...do you have any brothers or sisters? when "someone" did something wrong, and no one would tell who, then "everyone" got punished. boy, that would suck wouldn't it? anyhow pete, i really don't believe you are not applying, in fact, i'm sure 99% of lawnboys who have been in business for more than a couple years, ARE APPLYING ILLEGALLY. I THINK YOU SHOULD MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS THERE PETEY BOY.

[Doc Pete]

ya, i know what you mean about this nonsense of "getting caught". it's like, if you're not carrying workmans comp, and you get caught. it's like...do you have any brothers or sisters? when "someone" did something wrong, and no one would tell who, then "everyone" got punished. boy, that would suck wouldn't it? anyhow pete, i really don't believe you are not applying, in fact, i'm sure 99% of lawnboys who have been in business for more than a couple years, ARE APPLYING ILLEGALLY. I THINK YOU SHOULD MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS THERE PETEY BOY.

Ah Bobby,
The only person you are BS'ing is yourself. Sadly, you and your kind just don't get it. Whether you are FT or PT, doesn't make you a professional.
Remember...... just let us know how well you are doing in another 5 years.

OH...... did you forget to let me know what equipment you have? After all, I answered your question...........

[JRAZ]

Well, back to the thread. I think it is a great topic and agree w/Bobby. There are some cases where bidding a job and having minimum charges are necessary and times when it is best to bid something by the hour. Last year we trimmed some small barberry bushes and a few other small shrubs, it took me and one other guy 1 hour and I bid it out at 250.00 plus tax. Done deal. Trimming can be very profitable with the right tools and people. Why should we be penalized for our efficiency, know how, proper tools and experience?

~JRAZ

[bicmudpuppy]

I'm really learning to love Bobby's posts and fan club here :)

And I can't believe I'm reading a post that implies that my two fav words in the english language are wrong. Nothing, and I mean not even the wife telling me the kids are at her mom's house sounds better than TIME and MATERIALS. If billing by the hour is wrong, then you don't know how to do it. In some fashion, you have to up charge the initial trip. Be it a trip charge, initial service call, etc. How much you do this depends on how quickly you can finish your average stop. I do a 1/2 hour service call for $40. I do $10 per quarter hour after that. Add in materials for most work, and I average a gross profit of around $100 per hour I'm out in my truck. BUT, just because you had one good stop is no reason to start whining that billing by time is losing money. The next time, for whatever reason, an almost identical job will take you twice as long. JUst remember the gold in the rule..........It's all BILLABLE!

[Doc Pete]

Well, back to the thread. I think it is a great topic and agree w/Bobby. There are some cases where bidding a job and having minimum charges are necessary and times when it is best to bid something by the hour. Last year we trimmed some small barberry bushes and a few other small shrubs, it took me and one other guy 1 hour and I bid it out at 250.00 plus tax. Done deal. Trimming can be very profitable with the right tools and people. Why should we be penalized for our efficiency, know how, proper tools and experience?

~JRAZ

There's an old saying, don't burn your bridges behind you.......
True, the "right people" will get you a fat pay check. However, down the road, I believe it will catch up to you. Efficiency is one thing, charging just because you can, is not how I work.......
As the say, what goes around, comes around.

[Doc Pete]

I do a 1/2 hour service call for $40. I do $10 per quarter hour after that. Add in materials for most work, and I average a gross profit of around $100 per hour I'm out in my truck.

OK, I'll bite. How does $40 for 1/2hour and another $20 for the rest of the hour equal $100??? As for the $40 and such, I'm fine with that........
If you double charge for materials, that's just not right.

[sheshovel]

Doc Pete,you and I see things about the same way when it comes to charging people money.I don't beleive that overcharging or charging xtra because the cust has a nice car,home,and lives in a upscale neighborhood is ethical.I charge my jobs all the same weather your President or the old guy down the alley.I charge by degree of difficulty and aspects of performing the work required.Trimming a few bushes does not rate a high degree of difficulty, But trimming a few bushes that are 18'high,and on a ridge with no place to put a ladder,that's a high degree and I would price accordingly.

[bobbygedd]

Ah Bobby,
The only person you are BS'ing is yourself. Sadly, you and your kind just don't get it. Whether you are FT or PT, doesn't make you a professional.
Remember...... just let us know how well you are doing in another 5 years.

OH...... did you forget to let me know what equipment you have? After all, I answered your question...........
u seem to know everything else about me, YOU TELL ME what equipment i have. in fact you know where i live too, don't you? feel free to stop by anytime.

[bicmudpuppy]

OK, I'll bite. How does $40 for 1/2hour and another $20 for the rest of the hour equal $100??? As for the $40 and such, I'm fine with that........
If you double charge for materials, that's just not right.
With almost no exceptions, everything that comes off my truck and stays at the residence as materials gets marked up 2.5x or better. I inventoried the product, I delivered it to the site, and I have the ability and knowledge to make the right decision to install it. For that the customer pays. Doesn't matter who they are or where they live. I am doing a couple of projects for churches. No price breaks there either.

[JRAZ]

There's an old saying, don't burn your bridges behind you.......
True, the "right people" will get you a fat pay check. However, down the road, I believe it will catch up to you. Efficiency is one thing, charging just because you can, is not how I work.......
As the say, what goes around, comes around.


You seem to be missing the whole point to this thread. If you need to charge hourly you DO NOT know how to maximize your profit. Having said that, there are times, as I previously acknowledged that charging hourly IS necessary. There is nothing wrong with charging what the market will bear, NOTHING. I bid work at a fair price and I am more than a reasonable and ethical man. If it was not a fair price my clients would not agree to the price before hand.

And, as a business owner our primary purpose is to grow ones business. One small piece to that puzzle is building around a core group of individuals (workers). Hire good people and let them do their job. It is very rarely that I even work out in the field anymore.

What's a plumbers minimum charge? Some are outstanding. We are professional landscapers and come with a price tag for our experience and knowledge. BTW, our core business is not maintenance.

Again, why should we be penalized for efficieny, knowledge and proper equipment? Going by the hour as you get better and faster will DECREASE your net profit. Jobs are bid out by the job.[/QUOTE]

When a potential cst calls you for a bid on wahtever it may be, do they ask: "How much will you charge me per hour to trim my hedge?" NO, I have never been asked that and our hourly rate rarely ever even comes up in discussion. Instead most clients will ask: "How much to trim my hedge?" If you answer: Well, our hourly rate is X so whatever X is times the hours is what it will be." Then you are really burning your own bridge to your winter vacation package.

And, as a business owner our primary purpose is to grow ones business. One small piece to that puzzle is building around a core group of individuals (workers). Hire good people and let them do their job. It is very rarely that I even work out in the field anymore.

What's a plumbers minimum charge? Some are outstanding. We are professional landscapers and come with a price tag for our experience and knowledge. BTW, our core business is not maintenance.

Again, why should we be penalized for efficieny, knowledge and proper equipment? Going by the hour as you get better and faster will DECREASE your net profit. Jobs are bid out by the job.

[JRAZ]

N/M

:waving:

[Doc Pete]

YOU TELL ME what equipment i have. in fact you know where i live too, don't you? feel free to stop by anytime.

You just won't tell us. Come on big boy, you're so proud of your stuff, tell us. Gees, Bobby, sounds like you've taken a few lessons from UL, and talk a good game, but that's it.

[Doc Pete]

Again, why should we be penalized for efficieny, knowledge and proper equipment? Going by the hour as you get better and faster will DECREASE your net profit. Jobs are bid out by the job.

Making money is fine. $250 for 1 hour's work with a helper is overkill. Good luck, though. I couldn't sleep charging that much. More power to ya.
Pete

[bobbygedd]

whatever it is, it makes more money than you.

[Doc Pete]

With almost no exceptions, everything that comes off my truck and stays at the residence as materials gets marked up 2.5x or better. .

So, you're trying to tell me 5 yards of mulch at $25/yard gets marked up 2.5 times, plus you're charging labor to install??? Sorry, either you have really stupid customers, or you expect me to believe that BS.

[Doc Pete]

u seem to know everything else about me


Bobby,
It’s a shame when people like myself, in good faith, attempt to share their many successful years of landscaping advice and are met with someone like you.
I’ve made PT and FT landscaping work beautifully in my life. I have 40+ customers with a few commercials accounts, over $80,000 of high-end paid equipment. I am fully insured with Worker’s compensation. I make a damn good wage at the end of each year.

HOWEVER………. All you can do is ***** that PT people should not be allowed to answer, AND that just because I don’t apply chemicals and don’t have a pesticide license, you say I’m a liar, too.

Furthermore, you’ve been FT for only a year or two, and are the last person offer advice to others about FT.

Sorry Bobby, FT or PT, you don’t exude anything to this site, other than a bad attitude.

[bobbygedd]

yes pete, this is what real businesses do, to exsist. my mulch cost roughly $12 a yard, i charge $67 per yd to purchase, pick up, deliver, and install.

[bobbygedd]

pete, stop bullsh!tting. i met your buddy, the one, (in his own words) "helps you out on his days off, cus he needs the extra CASH." which is handed to him in the form of american currency, at days end. so stop the bullcrapping. secondly, i find it very unusual that you do: planting, mulch, topsoil, mowing, trimming, BUT NOT fertilization. odd indeed. u arent bullsh!tting me pete. now knock it off. if you want to charge minimum wage for your work, that's up to you. i have a family to feed, and bills to pay, i need to get paid properly for my work. want to get personal ? u have my adress. feel free to stop by anytime

[Doc Pete]

whatever it is, it makes more money than you.

Ah, the Bobby I've come to know. Bobby, you have no idea how much I make. Furthermore, it's not what you make, it's what you keep. Finally, everything doesn't boil down to money......Although for you, it seems so.

[bobbygedd]

Ah, the Bobby I've come to know. Bobby, you have no idea how much I make. Furthermore, it's not what you make, it's what you keep. Finally, everything doesn't boil down to money......Although for you, it seems so.
scroll up stupid, u just said u make 80k a year. so then tell me, if , when in business, it doesn't boil down to money, what does it boil down to?

[Doc Pete]

pete, stop bullsh!tting. i met your buddy, the one, (in his own words) "helps you out on his days off, cus he needs the extra CASH." which is handed to him in the form of american currency, at days end. so stop the bullcrapping. secondly, i find it very unusual that you do: planting, mulch, topsoil, mowing, trimming, BUT NOT fertilization. odd indeed. u arent bullsh!tting me pete. now knock it off. if you want to charge minimum wage for your work, that's up to you. i have a family to feed, and bills to pay, i need to get paid properly for my work. want to get personal ? u have my adress. feel free to stop by anytime

So what’s the problem Bobby?? I have a helper. So what? I pay his WC, and pay him cash as “casual help”, which I can and show on my taxes. You have a problem with me helping a guy make a few bucks?

You really need get rid of that chip on your shoulder. All you talk about is bills/ family and how you have to make a living. Big deal. Gees, I do that. Everyone does that. Ain’t no biggie.

FYI, my house is paid off, all my vehicles are paid off, my wife doesn’t work, and I’ve got over $300K in retirement funds.

And it’s really too bad, you just can’t accept I just mow and trim. Bobby, I don’t have a problem with you……you’re got enough of your own problems to deal with.

[bobbygedd]

we all know that cash doesn't get fully reported. you been working two jobs, for how long, and only have 300k in retirement? hmmm. must suck to be poor. keep working 2 jobs, you'll never see retirement. arent u the guy who said he needed a gas powered wheelbarrow to move mulch up a hill? anyhow, this thread was not about THAT STUFF, i'm not sure why you made it into that. my point was simple, hourly can kill you when u get better, faster, and have better equipment. another example. i pruned some limbs off a tree for a lady. stopped, took ladder off, started long reach chainsaw, wacked them, threw them in truck (3 of them). total time about 12 minutes. i charged $75. was this out of line? since it only took 12 minutes, should i have charged $12?

[Doc Pete]

scroll up stupid, u just said u make 80k a year. so then tell me, if , when in business, it doesn't boil down to money, what does it boil down to?

Bobby, I really love you, but you don't get it yet. Yes, money is helpful, but, I don't need it to make ends meet. You do..... That's the difference. If I make more money PT, I side my house or put on a new roof. If I don't make more money, I just don't reside my house that year. You on the other hand "need" to make money to survive........
Oh, and if you add in my paid bennies, that figure is more in the $100K range.
Thanks for talking and I hope you really make things work.
Truly, good luck,
Pete

[JRAZ]

Making money is fine. $250 for 1 hour's work with a helper is overkill. Good luck, though. I couldn't sleep charging that much. More power to ya.
Pete

It's all good dude. I don't need your blessing. I sleep fine, quite comfortably actually on my CA King. Things get bid at what they are worth, not how fast I can do it.

Nuff said...

[prizeprop]

If not for jraz, this would have been another useless thread. Small jobs are the most profitable if you charge by the job. Example: Today a rainy sat. and we go to customers house to re- edge front beds,and install 7 yards of mulch. Leave our yard at 8 am job is completed by 1030 am return unload tools and days done due to rain. The price was $675.00. paid 3 workers till 12 noon for getting out of bed.Payroll was $160, mulch was $84.00, Misc expense $50.00.(payroll tax ,ins,gas,etc) Profit $381.00.

If I charged by the hour and material it would have been like this: 9 man hours x $35.00 an hour=$315.00 plus $84.00 for mulch= $399.00 then we would have made $399.00-$84.00 for mulch-$120.00 payroll-$50 misc=$145.00 profit (and i wouldnt have been able to look like a hero to my workers for giving them a free hours pay.)

Charging say $65.00 a yard installed would have increased it a bit but still a crappy profit.

Point being, A rainy sat turns a nice little profit instead of a crappy day by charging by the hour.This is a common occurance and not just once in awhile good job.And I sleep fine also,why shouldnt I live in luxury too.

[Doc Pete]

we all know that cash doesn't get fully reported. you been working two jobs, for how long, and only have 300k in retirement? hmmm. must suck to be poor.

Just so I understand Bobby, after I was kind enough to answer your private message to me, you don't give a damn about responding to it. Yes?
It's only that a want to make sure I understand you're basically saying **
Thanks,
Pete

[1MajorTom]

Enough.
Whatever needs to be said will now be said in pm or emails.