neighbors

[grassyfras]

I currently mow 13 of my neighbors lawn and im only 14. This past year i swithched to all comercial equipent Exmark metro mower, echoo2100, and stil handheld blower. Right now i am charging an average of $20 per yard. These yards are about a 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre and people tell me there yards never loked better. It takes me about 45 minutes to do an average yard. I cut the yards about everyweek the cheaper ones wait two to 4 weeks. I was wandering if I should raise the prices to $25. What is the best way to do this and the best time? What can I do that will convince people to get there grass cut every week?

[John DiMartino]

45 minutes for a 1/4 to 1/3 acre lot?IS your metro a 21"?I think you should go up to at least $25,if that is the going rate in the area,its probably more,and i bet you arent insured or anything,so you have to be a little cheaper since your neighbors have to write off any damage you do by accident.Sounds like you've got a good start for 14 yrs old,at your age its not bad to net 250+ a week for 16 hrs work.

[John DiMartino]

45 minutes for a 1/4 to 1/3 acre lot?IS your metro a 21"?I think you should go up to at least $25,if that is the going rate in the area,its probably more,and i bet you arent insured or anything,so you have to be a little cheaper since your neighbors have to write off any damage you do by accident.Sounds like you've got a good start for 14 yrs old,at your age its not bad to net 250+ a week for 16 hrs work.

[grassyfras]

no its a 36 with out a velke and im new at operating it so I will probably pick up the pace next season.

[cos]

You must be the richest entrepaneur in your high school. Hope everything works out for you.

Good Luck.

[HOMER]

You go boy! I hope my son has an interest in working when he gets that age! I would tell your customers that you have upgraded your equipment so you can do the best possible work. Explain to them the benefits of mulching and let them read a pamphlet that Exmark puts out. They may see the added benefit and ask you to mow it weekly for a while. If not weekly, put them on a 10 day schedule. Ask for the $5.00 increase based on the fact that you have made a substantial investment in your future. Keep up the good work, and study accounting!

Homer

[Strawbridge Lawn]

Grassy: Your customer lot sizes sound similar to mine, but I think once you master the machine you should be able to knock off at least 5-10 minutes on each yard. I figure 35 minutes start to finish with a TT 36" hydro. I guess the big question is what is the going rate in your area? In my area it is 30-35 for 1/3 acre. Since I am building a customer base, I am charging between 20-30 with most in the 24-28 range. Once I have a well established customer base I intend to bring prices up just a bit with the newer customers. Good luck to you. It is nice to hear a young adult with drive and motivation. You will do well.

[cclllc]

Hey grassy
Congrads on choosing this line of work.Keep up the good work and be honest with your customers and you will go far.I suggest adjusting your prices next year.Use an average of 25.00 to 30.00 for less than an acre.More for bigger lawns.I personally have a 30.00 minimum.Get all of those free publications to read up on.They really have helped me.I have a list on my site.keep your expenses low until you get astablished good.Good luck.john :)

[toroboy]

Hey grassyfras. I think you should charge at least $25.00,if your customer thinks you really do a good job.If you have a customer that is picky ,because he wants his yard to be perfect and you take extra time doing it. I think
you should at least $25 and I think doing it for $30 is not a high price depending on the size of the lawn.




KEEP THE LAWN CLEAN

toroboy

[kutnkru]

Out here in these forums we all see alot of dollars being thrown around for pricing. As business men and women we can evaluate these figures as to whether or not we are charging to little or if we are within OUR fair market value. We also have the opportunity to decide if we may be charging too much as well.

My father taught me an important lesson about business. No matter what business you are in you are ALWAYS selling yourself. I think it is important for you to keep in mind that you are not selling Lawn Care but grassyfras. And by selling grassyfras you are selling VALUE. You have compassion for your lawns as most of us here do. So its thru the quality of your work and with this next season you will begin to master your new equipment. Once you have accomplished this you can then turn to your customer's and sell yourself, which is when I would adjust the price. And as your quality of work grows so will your wallet.

Just remeber VOLUME in my opion does not equal PROFIT. Remember as well that most of OUR clientel associate our prices as having overhead attached. Unfortunately some of yours may not, whether you desrve it or not. And I'm glad to see a young face amongst us.

Best wishes in your venture.
Kris

[Paradise Yard Service]

Keep up the good work Grasyfras! Lots of youths today would do well to burn up all that pent-up energy by doing what your doing instead of holding up the wall at the mall or playing video games. Tip from an old hand. Keep reading lawnsite and you will make far fewer mistakes than I. Remember, its not always how much you make thats important, ITS HOW MUCH YOU KEEP!
Aloha,
P.Y.S.

[Mark]

Nice to see someone your age with a great work ethic. Hard to find many these days. Plus your making money, and ill bet alot of your yds are elederly folks. Write down on paper the time you start and the time you get done. Then just subtract all of your daily expences, and see how much you profited that day. Keep your chin up and glad to know your apart of this business. Marks Mowing Service

[plow kid]

but 14 and you own a 36" metro wb?:eek:, out of curiosity, did your parents help you pay for your equipment? I wish mine would have when i was younger, but keep up the good work!:cool:

Nate

[Acute Cut]

not to put down grassyfras in any way, but remember all, he is 14 year old kid mowing his neighbors lawns. Some may have him mostly because he is a friend or a friend of the neighborhood. If he goes for full market value he may lose customers.

I pay a quarter for a lemonade from the kids down the street at thier table. I pay 1.25 at a gas station or store. Age unfortunately has some limitations i believe.

By no means sell yourself short, but i wouldnt try and afford a lazer from the lady down the street who buys calanders from you during school drives.

this is not meant as a downer. Just reality. I am impressed that you should be working this hard and encourage you whole heartedly. Scag58 (or something like that) is also young and has high expectaitons. Keep it real and keep it going.

Best of luck to you
Acute Cut

[MOW ED]

I would increase the weekly bill to 25.00 for cost of living alone. Of course Mrs Jones might ask why but then you have to be able to justify the increase. Has gas gone up, has your insurance gone up, maintenance, equipment replacement costs, bookkeeping, taxes, the list goes on.

Just remember that little Johnny is around the corner with his 4.5hp Murray and he and Billy will do the same lawn for 5 bucks and a snowcone but then he doesn't have expenses like you do.

I am not making fun of you it is a reality of the business. Keep doing professional work and charge accordingly but be able to justify your increase. Good Luck.

[Runner]

Exactly what Mow Ed says, and PUT EMPHASIS on your equipment. Let your customers know that "Timmy" and "Ritchie" around the corner MAY do it for cheaper. But they (the customers) will not be getting the workmanship and results of what you're able to deliver. Also let them know that you are using professional commercial equipment with razor sharp (keep them sharp) blades which is much better for their lawn. Most important of all, let them know that you have resource to find out and cure about any problem that may arise - this is all because you have probably the greatest advantage of all - you have Lawnsite. Always remember; Here, the only bad question is the one not asked. Good luck!

[1MajorTom]

Grassyfras,

Sounds like you are doing pretty good for yourself.

IMO, I think it would be a little risky to try and raise
your prices at this time. Remember, if you lose some of those customers it might be harder to pick up more in your
current situation since it's probably harder for you to
get to your accounts since you don't drive yet.


But what I would do is this.... You mentioned that some of
your customers wait 2 to 4 weeks before getting their
grass cut. THAT is where I would try and capitalize
and increase profits. Let your customers know that going
that long inbetween cuttings is not only bad for their grass, but also extra hard on your equipment.
Turn those bi-weekly accounts into weekly ones, and you've
just increased your profits.

Good luck,

Jodi

[David Hickerson]

You asked how to get those customers to go weekly?

About a month before the grass starts to get to thick, just tell them that it would be more beneficial to the yard to have it cut more often. (Now you sell the benefit) By having it cut more often I will be able to give you a healthier manicured looking yard. Plus you will be able to enjoy your yard more often with out all the growth.

Houston

[Groundcover Solutions]

I am 16 and me and my friend have a small lawn & landscape company. we started out doing the same thing in our Neighborhoods we had two 21” mowers and some other small equipment. We now have a truck and trailer with two 52” exmarks and a few red max back pack blowers and some weed whackers. Plan on buying another truck and trailer this season with some more equipment plan on adding about 100 more customers. This business is one of the best types of business so I think LOL. Well any-way. The point of this is that you probably should raise your prices and make some flyers and pass them out to other close residential and commercial places. Word of mouth is good too if you are doing a good job which it sounds like you are then your customers will recommend you to new customers. That is just some advice that other lawn companies gave me when I was starting out so thought I would pass it own to you. oh and to get them to go weekly just tell them that it will make there lawn look much better and show them some of the other lawns that you do weekly. They should go to weekly after that. We have a contract for all of our new costomers and they have to go weekly it is just more wothwile I think.

[Edited by Hometown Landscaping on 02-01-2001 at 03:14 PM]