TIME LIMIT

[HOMER]

I was wondering the other day if I should limit myself to jobs that were one hour or under. Does anybody set a time limit on their jobs like this, if it's going to take 1.5,1.7,2.0 hours do you stay away from it. I think in my neck of the woods the profit margin tends to drop the longer your on the site. If I can keep the time to an hour or less I see the margins rise.<p>Just wondering,<p>Homer

[jrblawncare]

Homer are you talking just mowing..If so you may be right.As for other work like tree and shurb trimming or a renovation goes as long as I'am getting at least my hourly rate or better I'am happy..sort of like one stop shopping..more work at one site and less travel time.<p>----------<br>John <br>

[MOW ED]

Homer I've been thinking about this myself and its a bit of a problem. I have a group of 4 adjoining properties on a cul de sac (trish thats french). I am there for a total of 3 to 3 1/2 hours per week. This averages out to about 50/hr for me but when I compare it to other properties I mow it doesn't keep up. I.E. commercial office @70/hr. I don't charge a per hour rate but I use this as an internal comparison of properties.<br>I make up for this &quot;low&quot; hourly rate with add-ons like spring cleaning - dethatching - fall leaf clean - fertilizing. All of these add ons take time but when I look at it the hourly rate is much higher. <p>So I guess what I'm rambling about is you have to look at what the property generates for you over the whole season and then see if it is worth your time. I hope that wasn't clear as mud. Good Luck.

[TGCummings]

I don't think it's necessary to put on a time limit, but you might adjust your rate on a lawn that's taking longer to meet your market price. It would seem to me that the more time at one place, if the price is in the right range, would make you *more* money because there's less curb and travel time. <p>10 lawns a day at $50 a pop would seem to make more money in less time than 20 lawns/day at $25, correct?<p>Of course, that could get tricky, too...<p>-TGC

[Guido]

TGC, you're righter than William Schaksphere! (at least I think so!) Homer, say your getting $10 for a hour lawn (I know its more, but I'm using easy numbers so even the scrubs can learn!) if you get $20 for a 2 hour lawn your making more than doing 2 1 hour lawns @10.00 becuase no travel time. I think if your prices are adjusted it should be no problem! I know what your saying though, I had some 10 minute - 30 minute commercial jobs that would pay way to good (more than I really wanted for them!) and would make my 1 and 2 hour jobs look like I wasn't getting enough. Use your judgement, you the man!! Whatever works and brings home the bacon!<p><p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[geogunn]

homer--guido and tc are right. in my opinion, the fewer times you load and unload, needless to mention the drive time, the more profitable you are. I don't give &quot;next door neighbor&quot; discounts. but I have several dual and triple accounts.<p>I don't care how much time I spend at each cut because I get good money at each, regardles whether I mow the lawn next door.<p>good luck homer, whistle DIXIE while the dixie choppers do you a fine job!<p>GEO

[Bobby]

Howdy Homer. I looked at a yard last month. It was an acre and a half. I figured I could do maby seven 25.00 yards in the time it would take me to do this one big yard. When I told her it would be 175.00 a cut, she looked at me like I was crazy. She said she was paying 125.00. When she pulled back the hege material from the wall and showed me the clippings the (other guy) didn't remove, I knew I didn't want the account anyway. I do see a decline in money on the larger lawns.<p>----------<br>Yesteryear L/S<br>Hollywood Fla

[jeffyr]

Jsut my opinion, but if you do 2 smaller places ( I know the travel time !!!) you also stand a chance on selling additional services to twice as many people. I think this wil largely depend on the customer and what they will be expecting of you and what additional services they will want. I dropped an account this year that was taking me a little over an hour per week. No extras all season long. I picked up 2-25 minute jobs that have each wanted planting, mulch, and one a small retaining wall. Since then I got one of the neighbors! But I still you have to weigh you options carefully.<br>Good luck !

[HOMER]

My thing is I don't care to sell any more services. I am a mow only kinda guy. I have enough mowing accounts that I don't want to spend the time doing any other type work. I feel the need to hit it running in the morning and not stay in one place very long, it's the old production supervisor coming out in me, I want to see numbers at the end of the day. We finally managed to get 13 yards yesterday, which would probably be 26 somewhere else! We're about to make some drastic changes and hurt the ol' wallet for a while but I have faith that we'll be taken care of and the money will return in easier, more manageable properties.<p>Bobby, I got your e-mail but my Outlook Express won't let me &quot;send&quot;, only receive! I'm gonna work on it tomorrow.<p>Homer

[thelawnguy]

Here's my take: In an ideal situation, Id make one stop a day and mow all the lawns in a neighborhood. I would not want any one property that would take, say, two hours, since if I lost that account it would mean a larger chunk of cash to go and replace. I do quite well at present concentrating on 60x125 city lots with my 52 inch hydro mower. And yes, it seems the smaller lots equate more gross profit per hour than the larger (acre+) lots.<p>Bill

[Guido]

Bill, I never thought of it that way, thats some pretty wise thinking! I guess you right. I'd rather lose one $25 a week customer than lose one $300 a week customer. Bigger shoes to fill!! I Got it!<p>----------<br>&lt;a href=&quot;http://communities.msn.com/guidosequipmentpics/&quot;&gt;&quot;Guido&quot;&lt;/a&gt;<br>David M. Famiglietti

[lawrence stone]

homer wrote:<p>&gt;I got your e-mail but my Outlook Express won't let me &quot;send&quot;, only receive! I'm gonna work on it tomorrow.<p>Homer Outhouse express is the worst mail client known to the free world. It is a bloated pig of a app that can be easily hacked via a VB script.<p>Pegasus Mail a freeware app is the best mail client for windows.<p>Download for FREE at:<br>http://www.pegasus.usa.com/

[lawrence stone]

Bobby wrote:<p>&gt;I looked at a yard last month. It was an acre and a half. I figured I could do maby seven 25.00 yards in the time it would take me to do this one big yard. When I told her it would be 175.00 a cut, she looked at me like I was crazy. She said she was paying 125.00. <p>Hey Bobby where do you find a sucker that will put out a buck twenty five to mow a <br>SMALL 65K homesite.<p>In the real world (my world)a job like this will sell for between $45 (.70/1k sq ft) to a high of $65 (1.00/1k sq ft).<p>BTW what size mowers do you have?<p>If you want to run with the big dogs you need<br>a 62&quot; mower or you better stay on the porch.<br>$65

[AGG Lawn Maintenance]

Homer,<br>You can look at from two different sides.<br>1. The bigger jobs that are priced right = less accounts less head aches and less travel time. Although it is very very compettive and the lower man wins in some cases if you stick to your prices and put out great work you can make a killing.<br>2. With the smaller jobs they can be good also if you route all the jobs in the same area. We hit jobs in two's and three's. I try to keep my travel time to a min. You should run a time test to see where your least and most time and money are. I ran a time test today with two really good workers and one new guy the did 13 lawns from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. Thats pretty good counting they took 1/2 an hour lunch and where stuck in traffic for about 45 minutes due to beach traffic. I sat by and watched them.<br>Travis AG&G Lawn Maintenance :o)

[Lanelle]

Sorry L. Stone, but your price is too low for residential work in my area. Unlike a huge sports field, that property probably has power edging and lots of weed-eating to be done before the lady will pay a dime. And if the back yard is fenced, a 48&quot; is probably the largest mower possible. <p>----------<br>Lanelle<br>