What's your biggest account?

[HOMER]

I got a call the other day to bid on a hospital and nursing home combo. The site is 20 acres total with several sidewalks and curbs, some planting beds and trees. The biggest thing I have done to date is probably half this size and I have no idea what the bids have been in the past so I'm flying blind. I was wondering what large complexes others have and how big are they. I'm estimating this one to take 5 to 7 hours to complete and my bid has been sent. The guy called and wanted to verify my mowing price per cut, he was unsure if it meant per cut or per month :D! He asked for a price per occurence, that's what he got. I guess I shocked him and so far haven't heard back. I ain't doin' this for nothing, I already broke my own policy by bidding on it so I'll either make money or let it slide right on to the lowballers.

Any thoughts?

[Currier]

Isn't it something how they do that baloney! Unsure if its price per cut or per month..."Oh I'm sorry you're right that price is wrong. That was for the little place down the road..yours is twice that...my mistake."
We bid on a subdivision and an airport last year. Took tons of time preparing and setting a fair win/win agreement for all involved. We weren't even close. Then as the summer went on every time we went by we thought...where would we ever find the time to get that job done!

My partner said it best "Would you want to cut it for any less?"

[HOMER]

I might give a little on the mowing price, but just a little. It is a 2 year contract so the job would get easier over time. What these people don't seem to understand is there is 20 acres of trash that has to be picked up, limbs, sticks etc.........they think you just hop on and ride.......

[lawrence stone]

Homer I just can't understand why you don't get a outdoor and indoor pesticide license. Don't your existing customers need this service? Is there not a need for fire ant control and indoor bug control almost year round "down south"?

I would guess your min. investment would be $500 in equipment. You are already at these job sites so any billing is almost pure profit less materials.

Having a pesticide license is a license to steal. You are now are not condidered a $20/hr lawnboy (thus increasing your economic and social status). Homer when I apply pesticies I always gross over a $100 per hour. That's close to what a small town lawyer can bill per hour.

[HOMER]

Lawrence, I'm slowly cracking the books! I will get it as this is the next phase of my operation. If I can't get folks to spend money on mowing I'm sure gonna have trouble convincing them to spray a bug they can't see.........nonetheless I'm gonna do it and I will let you know when the big day arrives.

[Fantasy Lawns]

20+ Acre (2 Joint Gate Town Home Community)for a builder of this community & the over taking Home Owners Assocation

When we first bid on this ... of the 3 bids we were 2nd (the highest bidder is HUGE does almost every Comm Gated Area in the Vero Golf coarse homes area)

anyways the lowest bid got it (and they got what they payed fore) and 6 months later the phone rang .....the first cut had an extra "clean-up" charge ....they called 3 working days before the president of the builder comp was doing an inspection ......3.5 years later and we still get work from this builder ....service, service, service !! (just like location, location, location)

2 year contract with a 5% price increase at renewal.....we sub out the pest control with a 5% over-head charge ......other-wise full blown service contract ...kinda lucky down here ALL Contract are Yearly based on a monthly fee ...No Real Per cuts on Large Jobs

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by lawrence stone
Having a pesticide license is a license to steal. You are now are not condidered a $20/hr lawnboy (thus increasing your economic and social status). Homer when I apply pesticies I always gross over a $100 per hour. That's close to what a small town lawyer can bill per hour.

AMEN.

[Barkleymut]

Homer, if it truly took about 7 hours to complete this job, I would charge $500. This is according to my overhead and profit expectations. I am a one man operation. 20 acres by yourself would be very difficult to complete by yourself so I assume you may mean 14 hours labor. In which case I would add 7 hours for a lawnboy apprentice's wages + additional overhead + additional profit + pain in rear for having another employee= about $700. I say go for it (especially since it is a 2 yr. contract) and Good Luck.

[awm]

Im bettin you end up with the contract.
Just one like that would subsidise everything
else i do.

[awm]

When I took the the test it was so I could
get a license that everyone in the company
could work off of.I got two books to study.
When I went for thetest everyone else had
been studying a third book also ,that Id
never seen.I started to not take the test
but the boss said take it since youre
already there.I passed it as so much was
process of elimination an some common
sense questions.Im telling this so if
any one is avoiding it will know its not that
tough.

[HOMER]

Barkley,

I quoted it at $420.00 per mowing, $75.00 per edging so we're on the same page. Averaged out I think I figured it around $885.00 a month, that's for a 2 year deal. There are a couple of times a year the beds need working and once a year the shrubs are to be trimmed. To tell you the truth this is the wierdest schedule I've ever seen. No cuts are required in March??????? Go figure.

I don't fear the test AWM, I just seem to lack interest in that aspect of this business and I'm not sure why. I know it's needed and I still intend to get it but I just have to force myself to study the material. I can't figure out why it doesn't interest me because it's what I know I need.

[awm]

To be honest Homer im same way.Except for
a little weed and feed and roundup,Id just
as soon not fool with it.Mines due in 02
so I guess Ill do it again.
Of course here in NC you dont need it
for fertiliser or a license would be a have to have thing.Around here the secret is lime,lime,lime.
With that and doubles I cant see how I wont
be able to put out the best work around.
Im, not bragging LORD,just trying my best.:)
The truth is my work is already at least
equeal to these guys with ztr etc.Again not
bragging. Now tht I have one that part is
kinda hard for me to understand,unless they
just doing get buy work or something.

[jeffyr]

Quote by Stone in thread "How do you price jobs?" where Lawrence advised adolecents on lifelong goals :"I feel we are doing these children and ourselves great disservice by offering encouragement to work in the green industry.

The encouragement we should offer is for these children to go on to college instead of becoming a "lawnboy" which do to their lack of education they will be on the lowest rung of the economic and social ladder their entire lifetime. "

Quote from Stone in this thread: "Having a pesticide license is a license to steal. You are now are not condidered a $20/hr lawnboy (thus increasing your economic and social status). Homer when I apply pesticies I always gross over a $100 per hour. That's close to what a small town lawyer can bill per hour."

Lowest Rung ? $100 per hour aint close to a low rung Lawrence.

[Hunter Landscape]

OH YEAH, I WENT AND GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, AND AFTER DIFFERENT SALES JOBS I DECIDED I DID WANNA BE A "LAWNBOY" IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY. OH YEAH, AND I HAVEN'T REGRETTED IT ONCE. :)

[curlawngreen]

Homer, are you stupid? $20.00 per acre for finish mowing? Thats bush hog price. What are you not telling us?

[HOMER]

I thought I was telling "us" that the entire facility encompasses 20 acres. There is far less than that due to the parking area, nursing home building, hospital building and other areas. There may be more like 5 at the most that has to be maintained by me. I didn't think I was stupid but I'll double check now and let ya'll know. $900.00 a month around here is good, maybe I'm stupid for staying here huh. Funny thing is even at that price someone else will do it cheaper and I won't have to worry myself with it.

[gusbuster]

Homer,
If you're comfortable with the bid you're going to present, go for it. If you're wrong, chalk it up to a learning experience. You get the job, you get the job.

So many times over the years, my Dad, Uncle(they're in the business) and myself had bid on commercial contracts. Every blue moon, a contract that we were not awarded, we get after a small time passed.

Give it your best! It's all you can do.:D
John