Starting out

[Yard Guy]

I'm getting all things together this winter to start my lawncare business next spring. Looking for help on pricing. By the hour or square ft. yrd. or what?

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Dude or dudet, I'm not trying to sound ignorent here, but you have a lot of reading to do. Use the search function. There are many threads on this topic.

SEARCH (http://www.lawnsite.com/search.php)

It is located at the top right hand corner of every page.

BTW WELCOME to Lawn Site.


http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21975

I found a similer thing you are asking on the same first page.

[MATTHEW]

There are thousands of answers to that question found in the archives (do a search) All markets differ. See if you can get some answers from a few local guys. Some will help, others will tell you to take a hike. You need to get this thing right from the start. Too many guys start out lowballing to get clients then get stuck with customers unwilling to accept sharp price increases. Work hard and focus on quality. And don't forget to look into licence fees, tax laws and insurance matters. (especially health-it can get ugly)
GOOD LUCK!

[Yard Guy]

Ignorant....that I may be. But I know that the only ignorant question is the one not asked. Following advice given, I did go to the search area and found helpfull info there. I guess either way to price a job would be good for me. Hourly or by the suare ft.. I'm just starting out and was looking for opinions or preference. I have done research in my area. The hourly rate has a $20 to $25 difference from high to low. Some of the company's work by the hour and others by looking the job over and just throwing out a bid.
The growth here is booming and opportunity is excellent.
Thank you Matthew. I have no intentions of lowballing anybody. I have the opportunity to get an HOA for 2002. The HOA is not happy with the service they were getting in 2001, so I'm up to bat. Thus my question I asked.
As I am just starting out, I am hoping this website will help me and my ambition to become a valued and respected lawncare provider. I know I will, cause I like and always have liked working in the yard.
Any and all comments and advise is welcome.
Thanks again.

[deason]

WeChump wrote -
Ignorant....that I may be. But I know that the only ignorant question is the one not asked.

LawnGodfather
I'm not trying to sound ignorent here, but you have a lot of reading to do.

Wechump

b/4 you sart going off on some one you need to actually READ what they replied instad of just scanning through it. You will find that if you are kind and professional to others on this site, they will release more valuabe info to you. Otherwise reap what you sow
:rolleyes:

[Lawn-Scapes]

Seeing that you are just starting out.. I recommend you price by the square foot. Do you know what kind of production per hour you can put out? If not.. until you learn the biz and know how long it'll take you to do this and that... use a measuring wheel and figure a price based on 1000 square feet. I've seen prices range from $1.00 - $2.00/sq.ft. You'll need to come up with a minimum for the smaller... You won't want to cut a 6000sf property for $6-12, if you know what I mean. Hope this helps.

Good luck..

[Randy Scott]

I would suggest figuring out what your cost of operation is per hour to the best of your ability. Also, what you would like to make above and beyond that. Then you will have to look at the properties you are bidding and try to figure out how long it will take to service them, and then hope you can get in the ballpark without having any real experience in this field yet. It will be your first season and nothing but trial and error will give you the knowledge you need to start estimating correctly. Some you will be close and most likely some will fall short. Looking at two seperate properties with exactly the same square footage will most likely have different time frames based on obstacles of all varieties. I found in my first season that it actually didn't take as much time at properties as I thought when looking at them for pricing. Maybe a good reason for not getting some jobs. Obviously I was too high. You are really just going to have to take your "lumps" the first season until you get your feet wet. There are so many variables in pricing, it's probably the hardest to get a handle on. Good luck!

[Yard Guy]

Randy Scott...
Thanks for your response. You are sooo right, gotta get my feet wet. I do know that I'll get beat up on a few jobs at least until I get a little more experience under my belt. I aint skeered tho!! LOL!!
Thanks again.

[crazygator]

One thing to remember is that if you price by the square foot, then you will already know how to figure overseeding/fertlizer rates. It will help as mentioned with the larger properties. So go buy a measuring wheel and start working. Also maybe call some of the LCO's to price your yard, then measure it and see what the pricing average is for your square footage. Good luck!

[Lawn-Scapes]

I said:

I've seen prices range from $1.00 - $2.00/sq.ft. supposed to be $1.00 - $2.00/1000sf

[TGCummings]

Welcome aboard, WeC!

As you have probably guessed by now, pricing is a very subjective thing that depends highly on the area in which you live. I recommend you go by square footage but know your market!

Charging $1-$2 per 1000 square feet is great if you're walking off 10-40,000 square foot areas, but in my area you're hard-pressed to find anything over 4000! I can't make it on $4 a lawn!!! :D

In my area I have to charge more in the range of $8-10 per 1000 square feet to fit my market correctly. I actually have a little bit more complicated formula for setting my rate (based on square feet!) but I'm still constantly 'tweeking' it for maximum result. I think you get the gist!

Another important consideration is to know how much money you need to make it through the year! Where you are, I'm betting you won't work much in the winter, whereas I work year-around! You'll have to be sure you make enough in 8-9 months or plan to plow snow (or other such considerations!) in the winter months.

One final thought on pricing is always err on the side of 'too much'. As it says in my Professional Landscaper course book, you can charge too little and work all the time and never make it; you can charge just enough get a lot of work and just make it; or you can charge a lot and if you get the work (and provide quality!)you'll make a bundle. ;)

Good luck in the biz, my friend!

[Yard Guy]

Mr.Cummings.....Thanks alot!!!

[Yard Guy]

Hey Gator....advice well taken my friend. Got to make a couple of bids in the next 2 weeks, Hoa's.
Thanks!!!

[brucec32]

I've found that on small-medium residential lawns, you can throw out all the square footage rules of thumb. Bigger properties will require more precision to avoid getting burned. But I just eyeball it and based on my experience know how long it'll take to mow. I then price it according to what I think I can get per hour and stay competitive. Common sense helps too. If you have a customer who drives an economy car, the house needs painting, and they just want it mowed...you're not going to get the same price as a more upscale client who wants it 'perfect". Also, try to give them a little "extra" value in your pricing. It keeps them happy and I found that doing a good job for slightly less means very little turnover. You may make 10% more on a job for a season, but if you're high they may realize that and find someone cheaper. But I must add that I give the lower price only on lawns that are the type I enjoy doing (flat, square mow n' blow ones with little trimming, I ride for 20 minutes, trim and blow for 10, and I'm gone) . I make more in the long run because I'm not as tired as when I do tedious, lots-of-walking, hilly lawns, and I can do more of them in a day.

This is one important reason why you need to work for someone else first before going into business. You will kill your good name in the biz if you make too many mistakes early on. Once you can size up a lawn, you've really gained some valuable experience.

[Ramsey's Lawn Care]

If you haven't started yet, let me help you out. I try to charge a $1.00 a min. and that includes weedeating and blowing grass from the time I get on the mower until it is back on the trailor. I don't get my mower off the trailor for less than $25.00. If a yard takes you 15min mow it for $25. I also suggest get a good hydro walk behind to start out. No smaller than 48 inch cut. I recommend a Snapper I like them and had good luck with Snapper.