Help Please

[The Lawn Connection]

Hi everyone, I have been reading this forum for about about a month and a half on computer and cell phone. ADDICTED! I started a lawn care business in May, yes to licensed and insured!

I have a project of laying pea gravel in a few areas but not sure to what to charge being my first project like this.

Example one area is 8'8"x 23'4" x 2" deep

Need approx 1.8 tons of pea gravel for this area.

How much markup on the gravel?

How much labor do you think, doing this by hand and shovel.

I am laying down weed control paper as well. But I have that part figured out I think, lol!

Thanks everyone in advance for your input on this!

Glad today I finally joined!

[dobberjeff]

When I do a job like that (where I am unsure what to charge), I estimate how much time I will be there and figure out how much money I like to make in a day and divide it. Example If you want $500 profit per day and the job takes 4 hours then charge $250 abouve the cost of the materials. Sometimes it works out good and other times I learn a lesson for the next time.
Figure out your hourly rate that is competetive for your area and go from there.

[MileHigh]

When it's less than 5 tons I would go somewhere around 3 times of cost...so if the pea gravel cost 25.00 a ton I would charge 75.00 for material per ton.

In your case @ 25/ton for cost @ 1.8 tons would be 45.00.
I would charge client 135.00 for materials...labor price is your own thing.

You and one other guy can move 1.8 tons of gravel in less than 2 hours...depending on conditions.

If you have a lot of tonnage I would go a bit down in material markup.

[Whitey4]

I usually charge 2.5X's cost for the stones and get it delivered, so I add delivery cost straight to the customer invoice without a markup.

How far does the pea gravel have to be moved from the delivery drop off area? Pea gravel is easier to work with than larger stone materials. The larger the stone, the harder to shovel.

Why are you guys talking in tons? This is about square yards, not weight. Say 2"s thick, or 3? Barriers to retain the stone and landscape fabric have to be figured in too. How deep, how many square feet, and then you know how many yards of stone you need.... the weight is irrelevant.

[MileHigh]

I usually charge 2.5X's cost for the stones and get it delivered, so I add delivery cost straight to the customer invoice without a markup.

How far does the pea gravel have to be moved from the delivery drop off area? Pea gravel is easier to work with than larger stone materials. The larger the stone, the harder to shovel.

Why are you guys talking in tons? This is about square yards, not weight. Say 2"s thick, or 3? Barriers to retain the stone and landscape fabric have to be figured in too. How deep, how many square feet, and then you know how many yards of stone you need.... the weight is irrelevant.

Well out here, you can't buy rock by the cubic yard, It's sold by the tonnage.

Mulch is sold by the yard outthere.

[The Lawn Connection]

Forgot to say thanks to everyone on this thread!

Oh by the way came up with a price and the guy said yes!