Am I Charging Enough???? Aeration & Seeding

[GREENITUP]

Now that Aeration & seeding season is over here, I look back and realize that every customer I have (both current lawn program ones as well as new/one times) either tells me that "you beat the other quote I got" or wants me to do the job as soon as I give a price. I am not a "scrub" - aeration and seeding is, however, a big money maker for me besides my regular lawn program income. Anyway - I use a Plugr 800 and Lesco transition Fescue that costs me $1.18/lb. I know most people here don't give direct answers when asked "what should I charge?" - but I will risk it and throw out a few of mine... (and yes - i do a good job)
A&S @ 4lbs/seed per 1000 = $112.00 for 3k sf(my minimum), $153 for 5k,$255 for 10k, $460 for 20k....and various prices for between size yards.
How do I compare to your pricing? Anybody know what True-Brown is charging? Thanks for any input.....:confused:

[rcreech]

Now that Aeration & seeding season is over here, I look back and realize that every customer I have (both current lawn program ones as well as new/one times) either tells me that "you beat the other quote I got" or wants me to do the job as soon as I give a price. I am not a "scrub" - aeration and seeding is, however, a big money maker for me besides my regular lawn program income. Anyway - I use a Plugr 800 and Lesco transition Fescue that costs me $1.18/lb. I know most people here don't give direct answers when asked "what should I charge?" - but I will risk it and throw out a few of mine... (and yes - i do a good job)
A&S @ 4lbs/seed per 1000 = $112.00 for 3k sf(my minimum), $153 for 5k,$255 for 10k, $460 for 20k....and various prices for between size yards.
How do I compare to your pricing? Anybody know what True-Brown is charging? Thanks for any input.....:confused:


They look very good to me! I am in a "lower income" area so I can't charge like most on here.

I will tell you that your prices on the smaller lawns are higher then mine...but your prices on the larger lawns are lower then mine. Anything under 10K I am probably too chep...but I don't deal with many lawns under 10K so I have not looked into it too much!

Overall I don't think you are too cheap!

[indyturf]

Your prices sound about right to me! the 3k may be a bit low, but the others look ok. I have a min of $160 for 5k so were in the same neighborhood price wise. check your competitors prices, get as much as you can! aeration is one job that I would rather charge more and do fewer jobs.

[Shades of Green LService]

Now that Aeration & seeding season is over here, I look back and realize that every customer I have (both current lawn program ones as well as new/one times) either tells me that "you beat the other quote I got" or wants me to do the job as soon as I give a price. I am not a "scrub" - aeration and seeding is, however, a big money maker for me besides my regular lawn program income. Anyway - I use a Plugr 800 and Lesco transition Fescue that costs me $1.18/lb. I know most people here don't give direct answers when asked "what should I charge?" - but I will risk it and throw out a few of mine... (and yes - i do a good job)
A&S @ 4lbs/seed per 1000 = $112.00 for 3k sf(my minimum), $153 for 5k,$255 for 10k, $460 for 20k....and various prices for between size yards.
How do I compare to your pricing? Anybody know what True-Brown is charging? Thanks for any input.....:confused:

I think your prices are reasonable, not to low or to high. Your right around what i charge for that, give or take $$. Are you Fertilizing at the same time?

[GREENITUP]

Thanks for the input..... I too would rather charge a little more and do a few less lawns. I do put down starter fert on almost every A&S job....it's my regular round 4 app for current customers (less the weed control)...so it saves a seperate trip..... and that is a seperate charge as well....$46 for 5k sf. ($66 for 10k) How would that rate vs your regular app charge for a 5k &10k lawn????

[indyturf]

My aeration price is double the application price and the seeding price is the same. simple easy way to figure the price and its on the high side, just where I want it!

[br549oicu8]

We have used 3 1/2 times the mowing rate for several years with success for aeration. We only quote seed per pound and add that to the above pricing depending on how much we actually use.

[MStine315]

My aeration price is double the application price and the seeding price is the same. simple easy way to figure the price and its on the high side, just where I want it!

Same here, 2x application rate for aeration. Easy to figure that way, too. As far as seeding, I don't know, are you broadcasting after aeration, or slit seeding? I don't do a lot of broadcast seeding. I try to stick with slit seeding. I used to be in the $30/1,000 range, but am trying to get closer to $40/1,000 now.

[philk17088]

Aeration prices look good .I charge relatively close to that. I hate doing them so I really jack up lawns with a lot of beds and obstacles.
Slit seeding I charge $70 per thousand with no guarantees.
I have not sold one in 4 years! YAY!

[GrazerZ]

I would agree with most. Sounds like you have a good price point to build your buisness on. I also hate slice seeding. I use a ryan mataway, enough said?

[humble1]

75 per 1000 sliice seed 2 dirrection, so if its 4lb per 1000 i slice 2lb one way, 2 lb another, although i always have better results aerating and broadcasting. Aeration $99 for ist 5000 sq ft then $25 per thousand. I use a JRCO on the front of a ZTR and walkbehind bluebird on the small ones. I can blast out some acres. If after aeration the customer wants me to broadcast it I double the seed price. I can put down a 50 pound bag pretty fast

[GREENITUP]

Thanks for all of the input.... I believe some of the other operators in my area really break it off in the customers for aerations. I don't/won't do slice seeding because I don't have the time or energy to (although it yields very good results).

[Marcos]

Thanks for all of the input.... I believe some of the other operators in my area really break it off in the customers for aerations. I don't/won't do slice seeding because I don't have the time or energy to (although it yields very good results).

....I've been following this thread all along, and have been waiting until this point was brought up.
I'm glad it was brought up by the person that began the thread...

The notion of 'aeration and seeding' being a consistently successful means to renovate turf has permeated this industry within the last few decades, unfortunately becoming mainstream thought in the newest generation of lawn professionals as well as their customers.

Aerators were not designed to be a tool to create a base for seed.
Aerators became fashionable in turf grass only not until the early 1980's, coming originally from the golf course industry.

(But the expectation 'bar' was raised little by little at that time, right along with the growth of the idea of having 'lawn care companies' like Chemlawn spray the lawn regularly)

Up until then, dethatching (rhizomous grass) / and or scarifying the ground with discs were the most common modes for introducing seed.

Aeration consistently has proven to be ineffective in efficient seed development because of the general depth of the core being too deep, and too far apart to make a difference. Unless, of course, the turf is aerated numerous times, in several different directions. But by the time that amount of labor is performed, it would have made more sense to have done it with a slice seeder.

I believe aerators should still only be looked upon where the golf industry still holds them: as a means to strengthen the existing turf by encouraging the deepening of the root system, improving air circulation to help decompose thatch, etc, and to help incorporate water stabilization agents into the soil, to reduce soil compaction, and to help prevent 'sheet wash' in general.

I tell my customers that aeration is exactly like " re potting a plant a million times all over your lawn".
In my opinion, that's the best way to market it, and use it.