How to charge for pulling and planting shrubs

[jayycrew]

I normally charge around $45.00 an hr to do shrub trimming or bed prepping. When a customer needs for ex: 8 5 gal boxwood and 8 7 gal Indiana Houthorns what should I charge?

[LandscapePro]

jayycrew,

Your first step would be to contact these people:

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/

Mike
La. Landscape Contractor #2576

[jayycrew]

Why would I need to contact TDA?

[mrbray101]

probably refering to you needing a landscape contractor license...im not sure just a guess. As far as price, I would just estimate how long each task will take and use your hourly rate you normally charge.

[Bigtreeman]

Easy man just mark up the plant (3.5) maybe...

here is an example

3 gallon Hosta $19.99 charge $60 planted

All depends on the job, client and so on and your experiance. Dont charge alot unless you can do a proffesional job.

[Frontier-Lawn]

the nurshery i go to gives me 10% off the retail. i would find a place like that. then charge retail to the customer

[sheshovel]

I dont know cuz I dont know the planting situation.
But just for the planting in easy soil with no amending needed I would probably charge $200.00
thats without the plants or your markup on the plants

[sheshovel]

the nurshery i go to gives me 10% off the retail. i would find a place like that. then charge retail to the customer

You don't want to do it that way..you will never make any money that way..you need to mark up your plants at the very least 25% and keep your money from your discount at the nursery as well

[Frontier-Lawn]

You don't want to do it that way..you will never make any money that way..you need to mark up your plants at the very least 25% and keep your money from your discount at the nursery as well

right now i do fine on pocket cash. its just me and if i need help i call my brother.

[04silverado]

I asked a local guy in the business the other day, for my own info, and he told me one and a half times the retail price of the plant. Example 75.00 total to plant one 50 dollar shrub or tree, your cost may be lower but you nursery should give you a retail and wholesale price list.

[Guthrie&Co]

right now i do fine on pocket cash. its just me and if i need help i call my brother.
do you even know the cost of operating your business?

[firefightergw]

I would mark up your plants 50% on anything over $50 and around 80% on anything less. Additionally, I generally charge $10 a piece for bush removal plus $75 for taking off. If I were planting a 5 gallon plant, I would probably charge $20 a piece. So you would be looking at 16 X $20 = $320 plus your profit on the bushes.

[DFW Area Landscaper]

1.) If you need to make a special trip out to figure out how many plants will be required, a measurement fee of at least $35 (or more) should be charged. However, if you or your worker are on sight regularly and the person doing the regular maintenance has the capability of making the measurements while on sight, this fee can be waived. Under no circumstances should you be making a special trip out for a free estimate or measurement on an opportunity this small.

2.) A minimum delivery fee of $50 should apply.

3.) The price you charge your client for the plants or any other materials that you supply should be the going retail rate that consumers would pay. You should be getting some kind of contractor discount from your supplier, which can be anywhere from 3 to 55% off the retail price. Under no circumstances should you pass your savings on to the customer.

4.) You should charge a minimum hourly rate while you are on sight for your labor of at least $33 per man-hour (or more).

5.) If you aren't able to chip or shred the old plants, a minimum disposal fee of $125 (or more) should be charged to remove them. That fee should cover your time to load the plants, drive to the dump, pay the dump's admission fee, unload and then return to your work area. Even if you have a free place (dumpster or field) where you can dispose of the waste, you should still charge this fee. Most of your competitors won't have anything like that and they will have to charge this fee...you shouldn't be passing your savings on to your customers. When the customer hears the fee, he will probably volunteer to let you leave the old plants on sight and he will figure out a way to dispose of them. If you don't own a chipper, I recommend you buy one. That way you can get all those dead shrubs into 30 gallon trash bags and leave them by his curb for trash pick-up...you'll never even have to mention a disposal fee.

Later,
DFW Area Landscaper

[LB1234]

Dont charge alot unless you can do a proffesional job.


What the heck is this profession coming too, please tell me you are joking???:rolleyes:

[Green-Pro]

I get a 10% discount on plants at al the nurseries I deal with. I then charge full retail price to the customer x 3. This covers any amendments I may incorporate to the soil, planting and delivery. I make out a seperate line item for materials such as mulch and border.
When charging by the hour you will need to have a solid estimate of the time it will take you to complete the job, I would estimate the time on the high side (C.Y.A.). Charge accordingly based upon your estimate of time to completion.

[PMLAWN]

You asked about pulling out. That could be the biggest labor issue so be careful. How big and what kind. Pulling can be a lot of work. Watch for irrigation or landscape lighting.

[PMLAWN]

What the heck is this profession coming too, please tell me you are joking???:rolleyes:
This whole thread has me thinking.:dizzy: