Remember seeing someones pricing table.

[adaptivehomeservices]

I remember seeing a pricing table from one of the members that showed their mowing prices per lawn size in a nice table format. I have searched to no end and cannot locate it. I just wanted to use it as a pricing/timing reference.

Anyone have anything that breaks down their pricing per acre? 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc.? I am developing a pricing table to keep as a reference for me while bidding and to give substance for my clients when presenting my bid.

[Runner]

I could have swore I replied to this thread earlier. Anyway, their table would very highly unlikely pertain to you. As a matter of fact, their table would not even pertain to them! lol There are no magic numbers, and there are no magic formulas...regardless of what many will try to tell you, and many will try to sell you (there are actually "books" and such that say they have the "secrets to success", but there is no such thing.First of all, how can you put a price on a half acre yard that has 3 trees? 12 trees? 21 trees? What about a 1/2 acre lot that has has 400 linear ft. of fencing around the back yard?

[fiveoboy01]

Exactly. Square footage is only a small part of the formula.

Not to mention that every LCO is going to have different costs, which affect what you will charge for each job.

Trial and error(and trust me, I've made plenty of errors) will enable you to estimate fairly accurately how long it will take you to do a given job. Then you go from there with your hourly rate.

[BBN]

I would also think prices would be differnt based on region.

[huh]

http://www.stonypointlawncare.com/services.html

http://www.stonypointlawncare.com/specials.html

[adaptivehomeservices]

Why ask questions on here when everyone can always come up with variables and tell you how it does not pertain to what you are asking. I am new to this and am looking for references, not definite pricing for my area. The more I research, the better understanding I can develop and then obviously try my best to apply it to my area.

Thank you stony point for actually helping answer my question.

[huh]

Why ask questions on here when everyone can always come up with variables and tell you how it does not pertain to what you are asking. I am new to this and am looking for references, not definite pricing for my area. The more I research, the better understanding I can develop and then obviously try my best to apply it to my area.

Thank you stony point for actually helping answer my question.

I am not stonypoint

topsites is stonypoint....I had seen it looking at his site :)

[Runner]

See, in our case, as I say, these would not have much use. I can see having the "minimums" on there as a selling tactic....For instance, like saying "as low as" or "starting at". this is an old marketing tactic that is used in many different type of sales.
However, I'm going to look at the property. Along with the above cost factors that are considered, I will also factor things like hiils, smooth/rough terrain, driving time, what kind of car they drive, etc..

[adaptivehomeservices]

Agreed. I want something to keep with me as a guide to help me be consistent. I am hoping this will also help me when I estimate a job in front of a client. I will "pad" my pricing some on my price sheet giving me a little wiggle room with a client. I think this method may justify my estimate more than looking up in the air and saying....well, I'll do it for 50 bucks. When I step off the property somewhat with the client and then reference that with my price sheet, I am hoping to stump their need to ask for a discount. Afterall, I didn't just pull my price out of the air. Will not work all of the time but am hoping it will ad legitimacy to my pricing.

It should also help me stay consistent. I don't have years of experience knowing how long different sized properties will take me...heck, I don't even know for sure what mower I am buying! That might make a difference! LOL

[BQLC]

. what kind of car they drive, etc..
this always helps to determine how long it will take to mow a lawn:laugh: :laugh:

[ECS]

I remember seeing a pricing table from one of the members that showed their mowing prices per lawn size in a nice table format. I have searched to no end and cannot locate it. I just wanted to use it as a pricing/timing reference.

Anyone have anything that breaks down their pricing per acre? 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc.? I am developing a pricing table to keep as a reference for me while bidding and to give substance for my clients when presenting my bid.Don't know if this will help you or not, but I did the sq ft breakdown and you will see below that there is no way I can charge by the sq ft. It does show the sq ft of the lawn and the time it takes to do each of them.

http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=54055&stc=1&d=1143689404

[adaptivehomeservices]

Thanks ECS-

For the time aspect, what equipment are you using and how many workers does it take to accomplish those times?

[Runner]

this always helps to determine how long it will take to mow a lawn:laugh: :laugh:

It's funny...after talking with the people for a bit, I can sort of "get on their level" and use humor...they all seem to enjoy that. By this time, it is worth seeing the looks on their face when it comes down to the bottom line. When they ask what kind of price they are looking at, I occasionally will ask this. They know better, but I always make the sale when I make it to this level with a potential customer.:)

[martinfan06]

Thanks ECS-

For the time aspect, what equipment are you using and how many workers does it take to accomplish those times?

Not to be smart, but this is what runner is talking about thrers 2 many variables in this industry to say this is what it should cost or even this is the area you should be in. Each company is diffrent what you can do in an hour for x amount of money someone eles can do in1/2 the time for maybe less or more money. Basiclly if you have no clue as to what to charge for YOUR work and TIME its going to be trial an erorr sometimes hopfully youll make money and most of the time youll lose money but eventually you find out what works for your company.

[adaptivehomeservices]

OK...so you are going into something new. You don't know all the answers. Do you just decide that all you do is trial and error or do you prepare to the best of your ability and try learn as much as possible, therefore, increasing your chances for success.

I am gathering info, ideas, opinions in an effort to help answer some of the questions I have.

This would be a very small forum if everytime someone asked a question, people just responded by...there are too many variables to answer that question.

[martinfan06]

Okay I see your point,but there really is no right answer for how much you should charge.Yes use this forum to get a very ballpark figure for your area, then the best thing you can do is figure how much you need to live then divied that by how many hours your willing to put in in a week. Now you know for a fact no matter what you cant make less than x amount an hour. Now the hard part this is the trial and eror I was refering to, when you go to bid an account you need to know how long its going to take to service this property. Thats were the variables come in no 2 properties take the same time (75% of the time). So if your running 36" w/b and you bid it at 1hr then you start and you cant get done with in an 1 1/2 hours then youve learnd what to look for next time but right now you lost money. but you will learn to look at a property and say I can do this in 1hr and youll get done in 50 min. Thats what I meant by trail an error everyone thats ever bid a job had to go through this it just takes experiance and time.

[adaptivehomeservices]

I agree. All I have to compare to is what it takes me to cut my own yard. I haven't asked anyone what to charge, just asked for the pricing table that I saw weeks ago. I liked the format and wanted to make one of my own. Not to copy someone elses pricing in a different region.

Trial and error is inevitable but if I hadn't atleast found this forum then I would by 1000% worse off. No experience beats real world experience and I will be getting mine this spring. In the meantime I am just trying to get my best attack plan all sorted out. Thanks for writing.

[martinfan06]

I agree. All I have to compare to is what it takes me to cut my own yard. I haven't asked anyone what to charge, just asked for the pricing table that I saw weeks ago. I liked the format and wanted to make one of my own. Not to copy someone elses pricing in a different region.

Trial and error is inevitable but if I hadn't atleast found this forum then I would by 1000% worse off. No experience beats real world experience and I will be getting mine this spring. In the meantime I am just trying to get my best attack plan all sorted out. Thanks for writing.

Honestly thats not bad just time yourself then when you get to a property just rerffence back how long it takes you to do yours. Lawnsite is a great place for info just have to take it in and process it. Best of luck to ya!

[MattsMowing3535]

The chart was slightly differnet then this these are my price's after I adapted everything for my region/prefrence I beliove I took off 5 dollers on each. That should then give you a preety good idea of price.


- 1/4 acre lot: Avg. $ 30.00
- 1/3 acre lot: Avg. $ 35.00
- 1/2 acre lot: Avg. $ 40.00
- 2/3 acre lot: Avg. $ 45.00
- 3/4 acre lot: Avg. $ 50.00
One acre lot: Avg. $ 55.00

There not mine, Infact I do not know whose there are. . Im just a beginer and wasnt sure on priceing but this did help. I would just ask around and talk to some people on here from your area. You will soon find how different price's are!

Matt-

[fiveoboy01]

OK...so you are going into something new. You don't know all the answers. Do you just decide that all you do is trial and error or do you prepare to the best of your ability and try learn as much as possible, therefore, increasing your chances for success.



In my experience, with having my first year under my belt, I think it's a little bit of both.

I've done the trial and error(plenty of error lol) and tried to gain the knowledge here. Between the two, I have a decent handle on pricing now for the services I provide at this point.

[ECS]

Thanks ECS-

For the time aspect, what equipment are you using and how many workers does it take to accomplish those times?
I am solo and have no one helping me. I am using a 52" eXmark HP. I have a 21" that gets only about an hour of use per week. All those times and properties listed are for mow, trim, blow.

[adaptivehomeservices]

Thanks! I really like the sound of your operations. I spent most of my life in the mountains in Colorado and 7 years in central oregon. I sure miss the mountains!