Mulch installation pricing/profit

[greatlawns]

Hey, just wondering how much everyone thinks is fair to clear as a profit from a mulch install job. I'm wondering on jobs ranging from 5 yards to 100 yards, what you all think is a fair profit to make. Does your percentage change based on how large the job is, or do you try to keep the profit margin the same?

How do you charge for mulch? One installed price per yard, or price the job as a whole including labor?

[Travel'n Trees]

We do $67 and on berms $46 by the semi load.

[CT18fireman]

We get 70-80 per yard installed depending on the mulch. This includes cleaning the bed and edging. Pretty standard around here.

Some discounts for large quantities, no edging etc.

[Triple L]

$80.00 a yard delivered. $105 installed, plus $1.00 per foot cutting the beds open. Must have put down about 90 yards this summer. I'm lovin it.:laughing: :canadaflag: :canadaflag:

[yamadooski]

WOW you guys have nice prices. But what is your cost on mulch though?
My cost for bags is 22..00 per yard and the average price here is 60.00 per yard.

[grandview (2006)]

Buy in bulk for your bigger jobs more profit.:clapping:

[richallseasons]

I buy in bulk at $19.00 per yard and install for $75.00 per yard on most jobs

[CT18fireman]

We are buying at 18-22 for most per yard. Large bulk orders drop down to 15 per yard. I buy from a manufacturer in town.

[YardPro]

we keep our margin the same...
this keeps up competetive and makes sure we keep an eye on the bottom line.

[lawnMaster5000]

With the prices listed on here I don't really even want to say my price. I know i am not underbidding myself and I am way below those prices.

You guys are making a killing on mulch, I wish i could do that here in st. Louis.

I will however say, some companies are installing for under $35/yd.

[CT18fireman]

I will say that the market for mulch in the Northeast seems high. My inlaws in a suburb of Chicago pay significantly less then what I charge and the quality is the same.

[greatlawns]

We get 70-80 per yard installed depending on the mulch. This includes cleaning the bed and edging. Pretty standard around here.

Some discounts for large quantities, no edging etc.

So, it seems that everyone charges per yard installed, not per yard cost and then add on for installation.

If you do it that way, what do you do about needing more mulch? If you underestimate how much you will need, do you go to the customer and tell them "I need 5 more yards at $80 per yard"...? How about the customers that know how much mulch costs per yard? I have customers that freak when you tell them it's $60 per yard installed, but they know they can buy it for $20 per yard. They all think $40 per yard to install is too much of course, and they get sticker shock right off the bat. That doesn't help when you are trying to sell a job to a new customer...

[LONEMAN]

I have a landscaping/mulch job right now and I'm charging $30/yard for labor. Mulch here is $25/yard. I think your price for mulch installation is competive, but some people want jobs done for as cheaply as possible with no regards of what it's gonna cost the person to do the job. If your price is $60/yard for installation, stick with it- tell the customer they are paying for quality work for a very competive price if they give you a hard time. Even use examples of other companies' pricing if you have to.

[Triple L]

Ya we got real mulch down here :canadaflag: Not just shreaded tree's! It costs me $45 a yard for the premium Pine Plus mulch which just has hint of red in it. Almost like Hemlock but cheaper. Other mulches like Black can pick up for $40 a yard. Installed price still stays the same

[TJLANDS]

I buy it by the tractor trailer load-75 yards.
$12 a yard delivered.
I charge $65 a yard to install

[clydesdale]

I pay 40 yd for the mulch. Most get red or black. I then charge about 60/hr to do the install. I start the clock as I pull into the mulch yard. I am not great yet at giving flat rates. So I give my custormers a range of what it will cost.

[greatlawns]

I pay 40 yd for the mulch. Most get red or black. I then charge about 60/hr to do the install. I start the clock as I pull into the mulch yard. I am not great yet at giving flat rates. So I give my custormers a range of what it will cost.

So that means you charge them $100 per yard installed? Or you charge them $60 per yard including the install. Do you include edging and cleaning out beds?

[clydesdale]

It totally depends if I am working with a bed that has never been edged or if I am re-edging. So i figure my time at 60/hr plus the cost of the mulch. When it comes to just spreading the mulch it is probably about 25-30yd.

[ProMo]

A lot of my customers decided they wanted mulch in the middle of summer so I started charging by the temperature if it was 95 degrees out I charged 95 dollars per yard.

[Matts lawn care]

great idea but more like 95 an hour :clapping:

[Triple L]

A lot of my customers decided they wanted mulch in the middle of summer so I started charging by the temperature if it was 95 degrees out I charged 95 dollars per yard.
That's the most rediculas thing I've ever heard. How do you quote you jobs. On friday the forcast says it's gonna be 75 degree so you can have it for 75 a yard but on monday its gonna be 95 a yard. :hammerhead: :hammerhead:

[ProMo]

That's the most rediculas thing I've ever heard. How do you quote you jobs. On friday the forcast says it's gonna be 75 degree so you can have it for 75 a yard but on monday its gonna be 95 a yard. :hammerhead: :hammerhead:
Ill take the average. my min is 70 but 95 was my summer install price

[YardPro]

So, it seems that everyone charges per yard installed, not per yard cost and then add on for installation.

If you do it that way, what do you do about needing more mulch? If you underestimate how much you will need, do you go to the customer and tell them "I need 5 more yards at $80 per yard"...? How about the customers that know how much mulch costs per yard? I have customers that freak when you tell them it's $60 per yard installed, but they know they can buy it for $20 per yard. They all think $40 per yard to install is too much of course, and they get sticker shock right off the bat. That doesn't help when you are trying to sell a job to a new customer...


you should always overestimate a little on your mulch. Once you get mote experience you can always come out on top of the estimate.

you have to know how long the job will take as well as the volume of mulch you will need. so when guys quote a per yard price that includes thier labor. They know how long a yard taked to buy, deliver, and install.

[MarkintheGarden]

With the prices listed on here I don't really even want to say my price. I know i am not underbidding myself and I am way below those prices.

You guys are making a killing on mulch, I wish i could do that here in st. Louis.

I will however say, some companies are installing for under $35/yd.

Do not give away the mulch! It might sound like a killing, and if it is a lot of people myself included are making a killing. I do not think that $80. or even $100. a yard is a killing. Mulch is hard work, a lot of bending over, and dirty work at that. You have to pick it up drive it to the job, I use a wheel barrow, makes a mess of the truck, and at the end of the day you have those notorious buggers.

Let your customers go to home depot, buy 15 bags of mulch put it in their camry, take it home and apply it. They will be glad to pay 80. a yard in St. Louis.

The thing about mulch in st. louis is every where I go to buy a yard, the yard is drasticaly variable in size.