Bid on mulching job

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

65 Hoss's thread on bidding has inspired me to create this thread. I'm getting ready to submit a mulching bid for a commercial account and was curious to see what kind of bids ya'll would come up with. Here are the specifics:

1. Job will require 75 cubic yards of mulch spread about 2 inches thick. 5 loads of mulch would be drop at strategic places at the site.

2. Mulch will have to be wheelbarrowed to beds. Furthest point away from any given pile would be 125 feet. Average distance would be 50 feet.

3. Most of the beds are flat. About 15 yards of mulching involves a 45 degree slope. Shrubs are spaced out pretty good so there's no Twister Mulching involved.

4. Prep work before mulching is as follows. 4 hours of light pruning of Hollys, 6 hours of edging beds, and 4 hours to clean beds of leaves.

Like 65Hoss said in his thread, please no arguing.

Thanks in advance--- LAWNS AND MOWER

[ohiolawnguy]

1. mulch approximate $3300 give or take
2. pruning 4hr x $25hr=$100
3. bed edging 6hr.x$25hr=$150(more if using bed edging machine.)
4. leaf cleanup etc. 4hr x $25hr=$100

total: $3650.00

we charge $50 a yard for double shredded dark mulch, unless it is more than 25 yards. then we give price break a lttle bit. have charged same price for mulch for 13 years.

[Scraper]

I'd bid an even $5,000.

$60/yard installed which would include the edging. I chose this due to volume as well as to be competitive on a commercial bid. Around here I get close to $100/yard installed at a residential.

$500 for the pruning and cleanup.

I am assuming that these are huge wide open beds where it will be more dump and rake as opposed to hand spreading.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Mulch will be double ground so yes, most of it is dump and smooth with pitchfork or rake. About 20% of the mulching won't require wheelbarrows but instead spread from the piles.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[Turfdude]

I would recommend renting/using a skid steer to load an/or move some of the mulch!

If you're comfortable charging $25.00 per manhour - so be it. Most of us are at $35+/manhour depending on task.
I would also try to get a trailerload rate for the mulch (bypass your normal supplier) as this will save up to $7/yd. in materials.

If the mulching is wide open - you could pr4obably get a very good qualit dsh mulch for $12/yard, and be able to make a nifty profit at as little as $45/yd w/ this quantity. (Again - weigh the cost of a machine doing the loading of barrows - if you have the 10 cuft. barrows, the machine will load 2 of them in under a minute) Even if you only own 2 of them - 75yds*3 barrows/yd = 225 barrows or approx 115 loads/barrow w/ a fudge factor). You can definately get the mulch at least into the beds if not spread and done in a day w/ four guys. Do the math!

For mulching only - you'd had 75 yards plus machine for one day (under $1200.00 including tax) If you even work a 10 hr day w/ 4 guys at your normal rate of $25/mh (40mh*25 =$1000) just think how much more $ you get in pocket at $45/yd ($3375.00 vs $2200) and other than your prep - the job is done in 1 day!

No brainer!!
Bob

[wrtenterprises]

Total bid of $4,980.00. Breakdown as follows;

$60.00 per yard installed.

$180.00 for hand edging.

$300.00 for clean-up and prune.

Mulch is cheap here in Central Pa. about $10.00 per yard for double ground, therfore a better price for installation. This project may need a pad, the 45 degree slope could pose a problem in installation. If slope is bad, add another $150.00 for aggrevation....

[CSRA Landscaping]

$5500

[Randy Scott]

About $5500.00 here also.

[Southern Lawns]

$5190.00

[PAPS]

(1) day job to complete all the work with about (7) guys.


1. (75) yard mulch installation = $4125.00
note: using our skid steer to load all wheel barrows, and spread mulch in areas where skid steer can be used.

2. Misc. work = (14) additional man hours = $490.00


Bid price = $4600.00

[kerr lawn]

i would charge $75 flat no extra for edging, prep, or whatever, but i would do the work so 75 x 75=5,625.
my customers seem to like that, but every once in awhile i get that one that is like how much for the edging, leaves, clean-up, and etc... very annoying but got to make money, to spend it.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Trim/edge/clean-up ~ $625

Mulching ~ $4875

Total..... $5500

[Aaron Klemme]

What Kind of Equiptment do you have to use and how many guys? I would bid that job at around $5300.00. It might take me 1.5 to 2 days to do at the most depending on who I hired to drop the mulch. Now thats with 3 guys on the job, Gas trimmers edgers , 4-wheelers with carts, and a skid steer. So I figure if you bid it at $5300 dollars, you have xyz in materials......not near 5300.00, youll prbly make around $2000 at the least before expences. Figure 500 in expences ie man hours and equip. $1500 ain't to bad for two days work. And that is the least depending on material cost.......good luck to ya.

[landscaper3]

We do mulch with a bark blower so our estimate is different but as follows.

Mulch (our cost) 75 yards at $14.75 per yard $1,106.25
Mulch (resale) 75 yards at $24.75 per yard $1,856.25

Prune $25.00 hr $100 (1 employee)
Bed edging 6hr $25.00 hr $150.00 (1 employee)
Leaf cleanup 4hr $25.00 hr $100 (1 employee)
Leaf disposal fee $65.00
Bark blower if rented $250 day
Labor 2 employees $45hr for 3hrs $270.00 (operate bark blower)
Labor bobcat operator $45hr 3hr $135.00
Mulch hauling fee $200.00

Total $3,126.25 Total.
Total employees payment $250.00 to $300.00 out of pocket.
Total mulch out of pocket $1,106.25
rental if needed (Bobcat $125.00 per day)
rental bark blower if needed $250.00 per day
fuel and ect $40.00
disposal fees $18.00 Total around $1,900.00

Profit appox. $1,000.00 in 4hrs.
This again is with a bark blower and was only giving you another option or opinion!

My addition may be off a little but the idea is clear (I think)

[landman]

$4500.00 total job. Start to finish. We would work the mulch right out of the truck using our 10 cu. ft. wheelbarrels, use the bed shaper to do all the edging. Our trucks hold about 15 to 20 yards of mulch, we buy it bulk (80 yards at a time @ $7.00 per yard). We would do this job with 4 men and it should take about 4 to 5 hours.

[65hoss]

I'm going to attack this a little different.

My numbers if I were to do the job myself:
60 yds x $65 = $3900
15 yds x $75 = $1125 (45 slope)
14 hrs x $40 = $560
Total price = $5585


Now, my real suggestion. Check into one of the companies that has the big mulch trucks. They can spray it in for you. Around here they charge $35 per yrd. This includes the price of mulch. Now you eliminate the labor cost involved in moving all that mulch. Only labor would be the 14 hours to prep beds.
You charge: $5585 total
bed prep: $560
sub mulch: ($2625)
Profit: $2400
And you didn't have to do anything but prep the beds and sub out the work.

[jkelton]

I do not have an estimate for you, but I thought I would mention a company located in NC that might be able to help you out. Go to http://www.carolinamulchplus.com and check out the services they offer. I have the same type of service in Middle Tennessee - this would definitely help you spread the mulch (you don't have to touch it), plus you probably would still be able to make a profit subcontracting this out. Most of my clients (and potential clients) are in the same situation as many of the readers of this forum- most of the work probably involves small residential or commercial, but you would like to take it the next step. When it comes to the heavy labor-intensive work, you do not have extra people around to do the work required (such as mulching). I hear of many situations where a small company (or individual) has the opportunity to bid on large projects, but does not follow through because he/she believes the work involved with mulching the property will be too labor intensive and they will not be able to get it all done in time for mowing season. This may not fit your situation, but I thought I would mention this service in your area. I do not know these guys personally in NC, but I bet they would be more than willing to help you out in this project and future projects. I do know they have been doing this for a couple of years and they seem to be running a professional organization.

Jason
TerraScape

[PAPS]

Originally posted by landman
$4500.00 total job. Start to finish. We would work the mulch right out of the truck using our 10 cu. ft. wheelbarrels, use the bed shaper to do all the edging. Our trucks hold about 15 to 20 yards of mulch, we buy it bulk (80 yards at a time @ $7.00 per yard). We would do this job with 4 men and it should take about 4 to 5 hours.

Please find me a few employees that could spread 80 yards of mulch in 4 -5 hrs... i need a few.:)

[JSMLAWNCARE]

Where do you buy Mulch at Bulk Prices?

Jim M

[Grass Guy]

To be competitive in my market on a commercial bid I would go at about $45/yard.
1. I would sub a mulch blower at $35/yd. with an operator and clean-up included. This would cost $2,625 which would leave me at a $750 profit on the mulch alone. These blowers can put out about 30 yds. per hour. Pretty impressive!

2. Saying the bid is at 1 man per hour. 14 hours of prep @ $35/hr. $490

3. Total profit at $1,240.00 for basically the 14 hour of labor which brings you at $88/per man hour.

[RoewMow]

Total job - $5350.00.

[PAPS]

Originally posted by JSMLAWNCARE
Where do you buy Mulch at Bulk Prices?

Jim M

there are plenty of suppliers around here that offer discounts on bulk mulch... for this job i would pay about $8-9 a yard for hardwood bark mulch...

And I WOULD NEVER sub out this job... I understand about dollar for dollar and profit margin here... BUT I would want the publicity and advertising of my crew working and my trucks at the site etc. in the long run it would pay off more... people passing see my crew handling 75 yards of mulch.. etc. Besides... whats wrong with a little hard work these days anyways..?

[mark2]

Great post!

I've learned alot. It looks like most everyone has a crew to do the work but I'm solo. Maybe I'm not charging enough but I would bid $3,500.

14 hrs @ $25/hr = $350
75 yd mulch @ $18 yd = $1,350 x 2 = $2,700
________________________

= $3,050

Add $450 Just to cover my gass!!

Grand Total $3,500

Oak bark mulch cost me $16 yd. I buy it locally, the same place the client would buy if they were going to but it would cost them $18 yd + tax. What they don't know won't hurt. So I actually make about $2,250 for approx. 40 hours work. That's $56 per hour.
I give my regular customers a detailed invoice so I couldn't add the $450.
I recently did a 50 yd job and priced using this method. The guy said he may not use me to mulch anymore because the last guys were cheaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hookset]

I'm with Mark $3500.00

[Lawn-Scapes]

mark2,

You can do this job in 40 hours.. by yourself? That's amazing!

I usually do 10-12 yards in a 8-10 hour day.. so it would take me about 62 hours to do the mulch..

Even if I killed myself at 15 yards per 10 hour day... that's 50 hours. Plus the 14 hours for other work.. 64 hours.

I'm solo too and am always looking for ways to be more efficient... What's your secret?

[CSRA Landscaping]

I'd love to know where I could get some mulch at that price, too! We're extorted for $35 per yard - wholesale! Anyone got any tips?

[mark2]

TSG,

Hey, I re-figured and came up with 44 hours. I can't do it everyday but when the weather is cool and I feel good I can.

I can haul six yds. on my truck
On the recent 50 yd job I hauled mulch 5 miles to the Job
I averaged 2.5 hrs a load trip time included
If it were a 75 yd job it would take me about 12 loads @ 2.5 hr/load would be 30 hours.

IT WAS A HARD JOB. I WAS SORE FOR A WEEK!

I try to never dump a load of mulch. I feel like I'm picking it up twice.
On the 50 yd job. I threw about 1/3 of the mulch right out of the truck with a "large, long handled" _itch fork into beds along the driveway and a neighbors driveway. The rest was hauled in a large piece-of-crap garden cart as far as 150ft. And then I try to spread as I'm dumping the cart.
I could not keep up this pace everyday. Maybe it was the exitement of a new account!!!!!

[mark2]

CSRA,

If "North Augusta" is the same as Augusta, GA Try looking up Wayne Battle Lumber company. I think they are somewhere in your area. We used to have them deliver tractor trailer loads to the golf course in north GA for about $800 per load.

[CSRA Landscaping]

I'll do that, Mark. I'm right across the river from Augusta and it seems as if I've heard of that company before ... thanks!

[kutnkru]

FWIW -
I agree with Tom that if you estimate more than 10 yds/8hrs per employee your under estimating your job. I have seen a couple guys that could handle the 12/13 range but they were in extreme physical condition -LOL!!!

The only one who IMHO figured this job properly was Hoss because he factored in the added aggrevation of the bank. I realize that my number are high but theyre that way for a reason - THIS AINT MOWING!!! - its damn hard, back breaking, leg pounding work hauling wheelbarrows around this way -LOL!!!

Mulch:
Site unseen I calculated 55yds at the base price, 15 yds at the sloped price, and 5 yds with a lil extra for lugging barrels out there 125' plus:
55 @ 65/yd - 15 @ 78/yd - 5 @ 71.50/yd = $5102.50

Bed Prep:
Sounds like the bed preparation could be billed a flat $125.

Shearing:
Not knowing what shape the specimens to be sheared are in I just figured roughly this one would be low range of the pricing scale($50/hr) = $200.

Bed Definition:
Im only guessing but I figured that his six hrs were for the laborers to use a gas powered wb edger and spades to acheive the edge they desired.

If they were using a dedicated bed edger and had estimated 6 hrs then I would have spec'd $415 for this service. Not having a linear footage mark to go by I priced this figuring 3 hrs for the job = $205.

Hence my price of $5632.50 :eek:

[OBRYANMAINT]

45.00 per yard mulch----includes bed edging

all misc labor--various small powered hand tools - 31.00 per hour

possibly a debris fee depending on how much edging and leaves

3809.00

we edge all beds we mulch thats is why we include it in the price----I use a walker mounted edging machine----SUPER productive

[leeslawncare]

I would sub it out to a co here that blows it from a big truck .they charge me 32 per yrd.I will charge customer 55 per yrd Plus 50 per hr to pre an trim an such.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Thanks for all the posts and ideas. Here's the deal. If this was a normal commercial mulching job I would've priced it as follows:

1. Materials-- 75 yards mulch @$18/yard= $1,350

2. Labor-- $25/yard to spread mulch= $1,875

3. Labor-- Prep beds 14hours x $25/hour= $ 350

4. Fudge factor since I never did this job before $425

Total = $4,000

Here's the wild card-- This potential account is my church. I'm the only one bidding on it. My competition is my congregation. Either the trustees vote on me doing it, or they schedule work days for the congregation to do it. Last two years the congregation did it and both times it turned out horrible. Mulching is a simple task, but they somehow messed it up. Mulch was just thrown into the beds without being spread evenly. Some areas were 10 inches thick in mulch. Mulch was piled up on Junipers. Just a total war zone. I attended one work day for about 2 hours and just couldn't bear it any longer. Had to bite my tongue a few times. They all meant well, but they were doing more harm than good. Eventually these shrubs are going to died due to too much mulch. Since this bid was for my church, I felt obligated to adjust the bid. I took out the Fudge factor, figured the labor to spread the mulch at 60 manhours, and priced the mulch at cost which is $12/yard. So my bid was as follows:

1. Materials-- 75 yards of mulch @ $12/yard = $ 900

2. Labor-- spread mulch, 60hrs x $25/hr = $1,500

3. Labor-- Prep beds 14hrs x $25/hr = $ 350

Total of submitted bid $2,750

I realize this is low, but I would rather have myself do it and have it done right as opposed to the other route.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[kerr lawn]

smart move and then when they see how well it is done at its finish they will be like you got it for next year and then you can adjust your price for more profit. Because they won't want to deal with it anymore.
good luck
bryan

[CSRA Landscaping]

For my church, it would be $2250.

[kutnkru]

For my church it would be $5632.50 :angel:

If I were to apply the product at a discount for the Monsignor, I would submit a flat rate of $50/yd for labor (they buy the product and if I had to deliver it would be an additional $150).

As for the other aspects of the bid I would charge them a flat $25/hr. I know that these prices seem low but for cash money its not sooo bad. :D

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Bidding update--- The trustees met the other night and decided to go the congregation route. It was explain to me that they had some unexpected expenses that weren't figured into the budget. I hope at least I have planted some seeds for next year. And yes, I'll show up for the work days, tongue biting and all. :angel: :angel:

LAWNS AND MOWER

[kerr lawn]

hey
lawns and mower
sorry to hear that you didn't even get your own church's job. Those are the ones that are hardest to take, but s**t happens.
when you show up to work and they see that you really know what you are doing, hopefully they will realize that would just be easier if you did it. good luck!!
peace
bryan

[rodfather]

Total cost is $5785...not a dime less

[bobbygedd]

i would tell the customer to have everything delivered and ill do the work for $10 an hour, cash only! thats like making $14 by check.

[bobbygedd]

only kidding. my bid is $4910

[kerr lawn]

why only 10hour?
i like 40hour