What to charge a friend

[paulwade1]

I have a friend that wants me to mow 5 acres. This land is like pasture. I will see if there are any obsticles or bad terrain tomorrow. Please help price this. No edging or trimming.

Thanks

[NYRookie]

It all depends. What kind of equipment do you use? What does pasture mean? Up where I live, pasture is land that can't be farmed- bumpy, wet and rocky. I have an Exmark lazer Z 23 hp w/60" cut. I would guess if you have equivelant equipment, and it is dry & level, you should be able to mow that in app. 1.5 hours. I would do it once and see how long it takes, then charge him your hourly rate.

Hopes this helps.

[paulwade1]

I think that he has 5 acres of ......grass, I wouldn't expect rock. I have a 48" Great Dane Z.

[bastalker]

All depends on how good a friend he is...:D

[Bluesteel]

FULL PRICE. Business is business. If he's a real friend, he'll pay your going rate. Unless you're hard-up and he's being charitable. But its best never to hire someone you can't fire. So you may be straining your friendship.

[Shuter]

I would charge like it was any other customer. Friend or not you still have a business to run.

[fblandscape]

I will do business with good friends, however money does not become an issue. I don't charge them any money, however I get a good meal after I am done or they help me out in other ways. If I do ever ask for money it is to cover some form of expense such as labor or if I have to buy some form of product. Just my take on things. That is of course if he wants it done once.

[leadarrows]

A good friend once told me (as he was charging me for towing my car) help your friends in any way you choose but never I repeat never give away what you do for a living. It made sense to me and I always payed him for the many times he had to rescue me:o LOL
Any real friend will understand.

[KirbysLawn]

Nothing.

























Don't work for friends.

I have had most of my bad business experiences working for friends. A few years ago I spent 6 hours working on a friends lawn, used $300.00 in supplies, seed, & fertilizer. I drove 55 miles eash way pulling a trailer with tractor. His wife cooked a decent hamburger meal and they asked me how much they owed me, I said "my expenses were $300.00, just add to that what you would like to give me...the check was for $350.00, after paying for my gas I had about $20.

After that I said I would not do work for friends again....well I did. This past fall a friend asked me if I could do his lawn, I said yes and told him it would be $175.00. After several phone calls and emails I just got the check last week - 6 months later.

[o-so-n-so]

I have a friend that owns a service station. I buy my gas there because he is a good friend. I don't get my gas any cheaper than anyone else.
My friend needs lawn care at the station. Me, being a good friend mows the lawn for the same rate that everyone else pays. Being a friend got me the job. Not the price.

[baddboygeorge]

dont ever do business with friends or family . it just doesnt mix well!!

[scott's turf]

When doing business for friends or family my motto is "charge them full price or nothing at all." In my experience they are always expecting a discount and if you don't give them a big enough one they are not happy and neither are you cause you are not making jack on the job.

[MOW ED]

Ask them if they checked with any other LCO's before they ask you. That will give them an idea of the price when they get your bill should you choose to work for them.

I found what Ray said to be true especially so when the job begins to cost lots of money. An occasional 30 dollar mow isn't a big deal but when it comes to major work, most people that ask friends aren't looking to pay "retail" prices.

Tough call.

[Gravely_Man]

Friends are friends and business is business. I do not mix the two. You are in business to make money and giving big discounts especially on an area that size (read this will take some time) you will be losing out big time. You could be somewhere else during this time making full price.


Gravely_Man

[paulwade1]

Here's the pickle.....I know that he'll pay on time and probably cash. I want to give him a good deal as he will be my first customer. I just bought my ZTR on Friday. I cut two acres yesterday and this thing is awesome. Land is flat, not many obsticles and he wants mowing only, NO TRIMMING or EDGING. Thanks for all the input.

[turfcare]

This is an issue I have been struggling with lately. I just started in this business this year but for the past three years I have been mowing a yard for a friend of mine for no charge. He sold me a great vehicle three years ago for a seriously reduced price. I told him I would keep up his yard at his lake home in return but he insisted that it wasn't necessary. I mowed and trimmed his yard for the past three years for no charge and he always thanked me. I am a big deer hunter and my friend and I often hunt together. In the fall of last year during bow season, one of the limbs on my bow broke. I checked and it would take several weeks for the limb to be replaced. I told my friend that my bow had broken and did not think much about it. A few days later he and his wife invited me over for dinner. Well I cut his yard and then we had dinner. After dinner he put ten one hundred dollars in my pocket and told me to buy a new bow. I was floored. I tried to give it back but he insisted and they thanked me again for taking care of their yard.

Another story, a neighbor of mine whom I go to church with recently had surgery on his back. He asked me to take care of the yard care on his two homes while he healed from the surgery. He told me to send him a bill. I told him I would not accept any money from him that he was my neighbor and friend and that I was happy to help out. I know he would do the same for me.

I know it is different for some of you because this is your full time job and that time and effort is your income. I have a regular full time job and I am doing Lawncare and Landscaping on the side but it looks like that may change. I am beginning to get covered up.

I guess what I am trying to say is that every situation is different. With my experience doing a job at a reduced rate or free for a true friend will eventually pay off in one form or another though I would expect nothing in return. I am more than happy to help out anyone. It is my belief that if you do good, the good lord will take care of you.

[Esby]

Once there was a doctor and lawyer who were good friends. One day the doctor approached his friend the lawyer at lunch. In search for some advice he asked the lawyer what he should do about the fact that he is getting overwhelmed by people constantly asking him medical questions outside of his office. The lawyer understood his problem and suggested that he send these free loaders a bill. Satisfied with this answer he finished up his lunch with his friend and headed back to work. Four days later he received an envelope with a return address from his friend the lawyer. Inside was a bill for the advice he was given. At first he was shocked, but then he realized that it was fair and took nothing to heart. He paid the bill and to this day they are still the best of friends.

[KerryB]

Don't work for friends or family.

[brucec32]

I used to aerate some friends' lawns and do a little work as needed, sometimes trading out services with them, but usually just for free or cheap. Eventually the only times I heard from them were when it was aerating time in the Fall. They were always this type of people, it just took this kind of thing to illuminate it.