Rates in Indianapolis, IN

[green-pa]

Hi, ya'll! I'm starting a lawncare business and was wondering what the avg rates are here in Naptown Indiana for lawn mowing? Can anyone give me some estimates on the size areas? I'm going to put my guess and let me know how close I come or if I'm too low or high per cut:

Acres

.10 $20
.12 $23
.14 $25
.16 $30
.18 $33
.20 $35
.22 $38
.24 $40

again, if I'm off then please let me know. I think I may be pricing kinda low so let me know if I need to increase these rates 20% up or whatever. I don't want to low-ball, but I want to have competitive prices as well.

Another thing; is it completely necessary to do trim-work or are many customers satisfied with the close cut of a push mover?

[green-pa]

Isn't anyone from Indy? Well, how about these size lots in your area, where ever it may be; Chicago, St.Loius, Cleveland, whatever!!!??? Can anyone give me some kinda idea for pricing to cut these size yards:;)

Acres

.10
.12
.14
.16
.18
.20
.22
.24

Thanks in advance

[daveintoledo]

you have to figure out your cost of doing business, and what you need to make a profit.... what one person charges may not be right for you, with experience level, equipment, and overhead

there is no way to learn this except trial and error, if your just starting out, what ever you think something is worth.....double it....because everyone new is usually too cheap...:)

[green-pa]

you have to figure out your cost of doing business, and what you need to make a profit.... what one person charges may not be right for you, with experience level, equipment, and overhead

there is no way to learn this except trial and error, if your just starting out, what ever you think something is worth.....double it....because everyone new is usually too cheap...:)

Well, thanks for responding. I understand that we all have our own amount we'd like to make. I'm just wondering what others are charging so I can get some kind of idea, rather than calling up some companies and wasting their time. If no-one wants to help me then I understand, but I thought that is what this site is for. I'd like to at least clear $30/hour after expenses. And u say to DOUBLE my prices?!
What if I've got a standard price medium for my area and then I double it? Won't get much biz like that will I? I know approx what my expenses are.
So if anyone would like to give me an idea of what they charge for these size yards, then please respond. If u have jokes, sarcastice replies, or want to play around, then please do so on another persons thread! I've searched through hundreds of threads to find a pricing scheme and have found no straight forward ideas. Most guys on here just criticize the new person and seem to try and disuad him b4 he even gets started! Most new guys will charge low because they don't know what all is involved and what is the going rates. U can either help them/us out or make a joke out of it. But when u joke around, u are just making it more confusing for the new guy as well as wasting your own time. Had to speak my piece.

[daveintoledo]

how do you think people learn to bid a job, by asking people on lawnsite,...... NO, they go out, make some bids, loose there butt, and learn from there mistakes.......

if you want 30per hour after expenses then that is what you charge... your expenses per hour, plus 30...

im sure someone from the area will pop in and give you an idea or two.... but remember, many people dont charge what they say they do here.....especailly if they are in you neighborhood, and you are there competition..but most will give you a base price......just wait a bit...

Good Luck...

[green-pa]

how do you think people learn to bid a job, by asking people on lawnsite,...... NO, they go out, make some bids, loose there butt, and learn from there mistakes.......

if you want 30per hour after expenses then that is what you charge... your expenses per hour, plus 30...

im sure someone from the area will pop in and give you an idea or two.... but remember, many people dont charge what they say they do here.....especailly if they are in you neighborhood, and you are there competition..but most will give you a base price......just wait a bit...

Good Luck...

Heh, thanks man. I appreciate the honesty!

[bntt68]

Hi , We have a 30.00 min. We are in central IL. I tried going off square footage when started out But if you have alot of landscaping and trees theres alot more trimming, we vertical edge all concrete areas also , that ups the price also. I have one property that is 4000sq ft. that we charge 48.00 per visit. We also have a property down the stree that is 4000 also and we charge 30.00 and has twice as much area to mow. We only use our push mower for steep ditches and hillsides. We trim every property we service.

[green-pa]

Thanks man, but does anyone else have ideas?

[ATVracer]

Most people in my neck of the woods charge 40-50 per man hour. Around Indy it could be higher. Your breaking down you lot sizes to small/close together. Are you really going to measure to that fine of an area? I eyeball my properties, taking careful consideration of the "weedeating" since that takes considerable time and is harder on your body. Based on the time it will take me then I figure the cost.

[green-pa]

Most people in my neck of the woods charge 40-50 per man hour. Around Indy it could be higher. Your breaking down you lot sizes to small/close together. Are you really going to measure to that fine of an area? I eyeball my properties, taking careful consideration of the "weedeating" since that takes considerable time and is harder on your body. Based on the time it will take me then I figure the cost.


That makes good sense. I guess I was being a bit too precise. However this is the area I'm going to be doing. I figure somewhere between $25-40 for those areas.

[TXNSLighting]

my minimum is 35.00. i realize im not in your area but, thats the average for this business. but youve got some 1/4 acre lots that are 35, but lets say they have a crap load of trees! so thats more trimming. then thats more than 35. you will get the hang of it, just get out there and do it. trust me you will make mistakes. but we all have! and i charge $55 per man hour

[green-pa]

Around where I live it's mainly 1/16th to 1/8th acre lots. How long would it take a person using only a 21 in going solo on the whole thing? Is it reasonable to ask $35 even for a something as small as those? I'll just have to get out there and try. I just don't want to quote people that call me the wrong price and then either get declined cause I'm too high or taken advantage of cause I'm too low. $35 I think is too low just to mow in those 1/8 to 1/16th acre places, but if that includes trimming and blowing, then I probably would want at least $30 or $35. Cause I'm sure it would take me at least 30-45 minutes ( again, going solo).

[mc24034]

If your using a 21in mower weedeater and blower... besides gas and wear and tear on your vehicle what other expense are you incurring? As for prices on those lawns in Indy, I dont know your exact location but if you are looking at properties inside 465 or just outside youll be lucky to get anything higher than 25$ a cut. 1/2 of my business is inside 465 but with one helper and the Quick 36 i can mow 4 and possibly 5 an hour. The typical yards inside 465 are probably $20. Let me know your exact location you are looking at and I can possibly give you some ideas on typical yd size.

[green-pa]

Irvington, somewhere around the area of US40-10th st and Arlington to Emerson. And maybe some other areas

[mc24034]

of all the yds ive ever mowed inside your perimeter I be surprised if any were .10 acres. They are Tiny. By yourself with a 21in pushmower and trim and blow it should take roughly 30 mins.

[Prestige-Lawncare]

That makes good sense. I guess I was being a bit too precise. However this is the area I'm going to be doing. I figure somewhere between $25-40 for those areas.

According to your scale listed in your first post ... (and correct me if I am wrong) ... the $40.00 property is right around 1/4 acre. If you can get that for the "average" 1/4 lot, all and good. I think for the most part though, that may in fact be a little high.

A very widespread rule of thumb used by many on here is to try and charge around $60. an hour. It works for some, but then again, it doesn't work for everyone in all markets. Around me (where I live), the lots in here are on average around 120 x 200, and can be mowed and finished in 40 minutes or so, for an average charge of $45.00. String trim and blow every week, for the most part edge every other other week. On these lots most guys are using a 61" Z, though many customers out here really prefer a WB. The equipment you use is going to in part reflect your productivity, so if you are using a smaller push mower, or even a 36" WB, obviously the above lot is going to take a little longer then the 40 minutes to finish.

Whatever you do ... do not undercharge. I won't unload a mower for under $30.00 .... it's just not that profitable, for me anyway. When I can get more money down the street for the same amount of my transportation expense (driving to the job site) ... I go with the customers who pay me better for my services.

This may not be of great help ... but it may help getting you started in the right direction.

Good Luck
.

[green-pa]

of all the yds ive ever mowed inside your perimeter I be surprised if any were .10 acres. They are Tiny. By yourself with a 21in pushmower and trim and blow it should take roughly 30 mins.

Ok, this is what I was hoping for; about 30 min! Thank u MC for the advice!
It will help me to gauge me prices accordingly.

[AllProLC]

I agree w/ Prestige, won't unload the mower for less than $30 per yard. I mow mainly Northside of Indy...Geist, Fishers, Carmel,Zionsville. Although the lots are smaller in Irvington, make sure you get paid for your time spent.

[fearthedeere]

Haha, yeah, I think you should take what guys on lawnsite say they charge with a grain of salt...in fact it's a good idea to take everything with a grain of salt :laugh: But anyway, yes, things are not just as cut and dried as you would like it to be as newb. I remember trying to figure out what I should charge when I started out. Basically there's 3 things you need to remember:

1: What works for one guys biz, does not particularly work for yours.
That's because different businesses are going after different target markets...like for instance there's a big difference between what I would charge for a million dollar high-end residential property than what I'd charge the gas station on the corner down the road. Hopefully you've got a business plan, though, because it makes you think about these things like what kind of clients you want to be working for. i.e. residential, commercial, both, high-end, middle of the road suburbia homes, etc. All of these things affect what your overhead might be and so on which affects your rates to the clients.

2: Test your price cieling and decide on a good minimum price

In your first year: bid! bid! bid! give as many estimates as you can. I figure you'll be getting a good idea where and with what type of people you can get better rates with after a few months of this. Also, you're going to almost kind of arbitrarily set a minimum price that you'll drop the trailer gate for at any given property. After a month with keeping good track of your expenses, though, you should be able to come up with some good preliminary figures for your expenses, overhead, etc. so that you know what your pricing schedule should look more like for your business. And keep in mind that will DEFINATELY change as your business grows and matures into a more refined machine. For me, in Madison, IN, however, I hardly ever go below $30 for any lawn no matter how small it is unless I jus have multiple lawns in the neighborhood or down the street.

3: Build a reputation of utmost quality and customer satisfaction so that you can eventually say %*&# your price cieling!

After a few years, if you've strived and achieved perfection on every site and client you work with, you'll begin to get a good reputation in the area. And if you've marketed yourself as a high-end biz in the first place, you wont have to abide by your price cieling so much anymore...you can be a little...even a lot higher than your competitors with that credo. Of course it's not as simple as that, but you can learn a lot of the ins and outs here on lawnsite...and heaven forbid: from experience. Remember that earning your client's TRUST is of utmost importance. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE CHEAPEST GUY AROUND TO GET WORK. In fact: DON'T BE...you'll be out of business in a few years, and I would know because I tried that path once.

Hope this helps bud, LOVE THE COLTS! I think they want another one don't you?? Screw Tom Brady! That's what I say!

[green-pa]

[QUOTE=YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE CHEAPEST GUY AROUND TO GET WORK. In fact: DON'T BE...you'll be out of business in a few years, and I would know because I tried that path once.

Hope this helps bud, LOVE THE COLTS! I think they want another one don't you?? Screw Tom Brady! That's what I say![/QUOTE]

I certainly am not shooting for the lowest prices in town bit. Cause I've definetly got expenses, more than most even maybe cause I'm just starting and will have all the equip. to pay for!

And I'm sure the Colts want another one! I've had my eye on em since they built the ( used to be) hoosier dome and now they are working on something a lot bigger and better. It's really lookin' bright for those guys!

[green-pa]

Oh, and thanks fearthedeere for the helpful startup list!

[hess]

The big boy's in my area put a bad name out where i live. Not bashing any body but telling what customers tell me ( where i live) everybody has there own way to do the job. i'm a small potato here. $25.00 small to $45.00 large and up.just depends on the amount you want to clear - your expense.everybody is different.