What to charge for broadcasting fertilizer?

[SuperShovel]

Hi Everyone

I do mostly landscape installs.

I just started a fertilizer program for my customers. I need to come up with my rates and have no clue what the going rate is, can you guys help me?

I'll be broadcasting with my new lesco spreader. Also, do you charge up front for a whole year? How do you bill your customers?

Also next season I'll be wanting to hire someone with a MI herbicide/pesticide liscense if anyone is interested let me know.

Thanks, Tom

[grassrootsinab]

I charge for the fertilizer, for my gas to go pick it up and for my time. An example, I have a small yard that takes about 1 large bag. If it costs me $15 for the bag, I charge about 30 bucks...5 extra for the fertilizer and 10 dollars for the application. It only takes about 10 min. to apply (if that). I'm like you though...I really don't know how other guys charge and would be interested in hearing new methods or calc'ns.

[T.E.]

$3.50 to $5.00 per thousand, and $20.00 stop fee.

[bobbygedd]

$12, per k, per app

[Doster's L & L]

I am still pretty new to the business, and am curious to see what other guys charge myself. I generally charge to fertilize what i charge to mow the lawn plus the cost of the fertilizer plus $5 or so for each 50lb bag. If i split the fertilize rate and do a criss cross pattern, i double what i charge to cut the grass plus fertilizer costs and my mark up for the fertilize.

[turf hokie]

.05-.08 / year for 5 apps. Depending on what applications are included. If merit is applied add another round. ie a 10k lawn would be $500 for the year add merit for another $100. Some guys like the idea of .05 plus a $35 drop fee. Just don't give the stuff away. Keep in mind your are not just throwing fert down. Any homeowner can do that. You are supplying a service for when a problem arises, like pythium or summer patch etc. The knowledge to identify, assess,and correct is really what they are paying for. Never under sell your knowledge and capability.

[turf hokie]

PS don't drop the bottom out of this side of the business like everyone has with grass cutting.

[bobbygedd]

amen turf hokie! this is a good racket, lets keep it that way. u r right, you are not only selling the service, you are selling your experience, ability to identify, and capability to treat any pest , weed or fungus.

[summergrove]

It cost me from 16 to 20 per k a year with a 6 app program. When customers agree to get on the program I charge 7 to 10$ per k per app. I agree with turf hokie dont cut prices this is were we make up for every joe that wants to start a LCO. Good luck.

[JTHutch]

I charge $4/1000 pluse $10 or $20 stop fee depending on the size of the lawn. $30 minimum. Small yards are the best money maker!!!!

[Runner]

Those prices will never fly around here. That is WAY to high!
Tom, Your website doesn't work? I tried to click on it, but all I get is a "Cannot Find Server" error. I can discuss price range with you for our area.
Perhaps you can Email me at Groundcontrol101@hotmail.com .

[Doster's L & L]

So when everyone says that they charge say $ 4/k, or $12/k, does this include doing a criss cross application or a single pass? does this also include the fert cost or is that added on to the bill too? This question is directed to turf hokie. Are you saying that we should charge enough to control pythium or other diseases should that problem ever arise? I figured that would be one of those extra costs for the customer. I do agree that someone with experience and knowledge in this field shouldn't sell themselves short. I am trying to find out how i measure up on pricing. Thanks for your help.

[SuperShovel]

Thanks for letting me know about my website Runner. I had no idea.

Turns out my provider accidentally cancelled it when I called them to cancel another site I had called langesconstruction.com which was for my dad's company.

I would like to hear your advice about pricing. I'll email you soon.

[GreenWorks, Inc.]

Here in Central Arkansas they get anywhere from $5. to $7. per K square feet. I use a $35. minimum and go from there. If you are applying any pesticides make sure you have the proper licensure. This also includes herbicides. John

[McCarty"s]

I use Lesco fertilization products which run about $15 - $20 per bag. I charge $65 for the first bag and $25 for every additional bag applied. I try and sell a minimum of 5 applications per year.

[turf hokie]

We sell various levels of service. Basic is to compete with the TG/CL and Lawn Dr. guys , 2nd level would include spot seeding. Gold would be aerating, seeding, etc. basically they are paying you to keep their lawn free of problems, the first two levels would be extra for fungus, usually only needs a spot treat anyway, as you are on their lawns 5 x and usually checking now and again in between as you see problems arising on other lawns. You will also learn which lawns are problematic and then can approach those customers for preventative measures for the future this way you are not consistently lowering your margins for something you know is going to occur. It comes down to what the customer wants and is willing to commit to and, to some extent, how good a salesman you are. Pricing will vary greatly from area to area. Heck, it varies from county to county here. To keep things simple, I can get .07 / sq ft in one county with everything except fungicide. Next county is .07 / sq ft but extras for seeding and aerating at .1 / sq ft and .04/ sq ft each service respectively. That makes for a heck of a lot more money. Just feel out the customers. I refer to a message I have heard in here many times KISS --keep it simple stupid. Most customers want a weed free and green lawn. Make their lawn green in the spring before the Joneses and green during the summer without clover, dandelions and ground ivy and usually they are happy.

McCarty"s
You must be a small user (in LESCO pricing terms) I don't pay much more than $12 for any fert unless it has an insecticide in it. And why would you sell the 2nd etc bag for almost your cost? Think about this -- if you, as a wholesale customer, are buying for 15-20 per bag don't you think the H/O would pay much more just to purchase the product? You are applying the additional bags for what they could probably only buy it for.

Guys I think if you look at the prices being charged by people in here, they are all fairly close. We just have different methods of getting there. I base my price on sq ft other k sq ft. Some of us charge lower per sq ft but tack on a drop fee. It's what works for each of us. I just stress that this end of the green industry has more licensing, more paperwork, more regulation, more opposition, more knowledge needed. Therefore, I think it is only right that we get to charge more. Does the local grass cutter have to pay to sit in courses over the winter to maintain a certain amount of credits to keep up a license? Does he have to pay the state $500 for a business license on top of all the other fees? Does he have added insurance b/c of potential environmental concerns?

Before I rant further I don't think it is a racket. I think we are charging, and need to charge a fair and high margined dollar amount for all the factors that are involved in spraying and applying fertilizers and chemicals. I gave up trying to figure out why someone would charge $25 to cut a lawn when costs $24.50 to just stop and pull the equipment off the trailer. I am very vocal about this end of the industry b/c, and I repeat, it is very involved.

If you have a pickup, a shovel, and 21" mower you can be a lawn and landscaper, not so with chemcicals.