Competition pricing

[Athletic field]

Competion has a 16,500k yard with four apps for $260.00 in the western pa market. They gave him a discount if he signed early $245.00.

Spring - pre- I assume with fert
early summer - surface insects not sure with fert or not, spot weeds
Fall - spot weeds and fert
late fall - fert

they also told him that his yard was 8,000k

I would Appreciate any comments on this, still trying to hone in on my own pricing for my area. Thank you

[Ric]

AF

IMHO While it is important to know and stay competitive with area services, Cost plus estimating is your best way to price. In many cases you must decide if you want to give the customer what they need or what they will pay for competitively. Therefore you must design a program to fill which ever need you decide to fill.

In my case I take both the high road and low road offering one or the other, but nothing in between. If I fertilize then I offer only the high road of what you need. If I don't do the whole 9 yards with fert, then I only offer straight insect control with no marginal fert or weed control etc. I am always sure to stay just about my competitors prices on the fert yards and sell myself as being the best. I stay lower than my competitors on straight insect control because there is a high margin on insect control. But every market is different and you must follow your gut instinct and your local knowledge and ability to perform

[RigglePLC]

Spot weeds? Very inadequate in our area. All the weeds the guy spots or feels like spraying on that hot day? What about the small weeds he doesn't see? (Essentially this means he will use a cheap hand-can or back pack, and that he has no sprayer). What about grub control? Routine application of "surface insects" control is probably not needed--EPA takes a dim view, legally speaking, of applying a pesticide when no pest is present. It might cause the arrival of insecticide-resistant insects. Sell on the basis of his program is inadequate. That your program is a lot better and well worth a little extra cost to hire a real professional. If fert is not listed--it may be missing--may be a cheap fert--wrong ratio--or may be half or a third of what is needed for thick grass.

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

16,500 sq ft of turf for that price seems way low.
Though I can understand if the herbicide apps are all 'spot'.
In other words, little to no 3-way used:)

[lalorslawncare]

I just worked out my material cost per 1k this year
materials alone are for a 4 app program with spray 6.55 per thou
this works out to 108/per app leaving 152 to cover all other expenses and profit also
In my oppinion he is a little low but not extremely all depends how competitive your market is

[Athletic field]

lalorslawncare

This company is at $61.25/app. $245 for the entire year. Did you mean your expenses come to 108/year and not 108/app?

[KES]

Competion has a 16,500k yard with four apps for $260.00 in the western pa market. They gave him a discount if he signed early $245.00.

Spring - pre- I assume with fert
early summer - surface insects not sure with fert or not, spot weeds
Fall - spot weeds and fert
late fall - fert

they also told him that his yard was 8,000k

I would Appreciate any comments on this, still trying to hone in on my own pricing for my area. Thank you

First I would say the price is low, but they did not measure the yard. I can probally quess who it is. You need to point out that the competition has under measured the yard and the customer will get what he pays for. I would not cut my price let the competition bust their tales and make no money. I can make no money at home! I go up against two companies in my area that "salesman measure" the yard from the phone conversation.

Derek