pricing lawn cuts

[bobbygedd]

im new to this site, and want to thank all of u , you have been very helpfull. ive been in business now about 4 years, and just starting to turn a good profit. i usually estimate a lawn cut by eye. ive read here that alot of guys charge based on a stop fee, and calculate an hourly rate. i like the idea, but how much is a stop fee, and how much per hr is reasonable for a solo operator?my lawns are in groups of 2 or 3 , and the groups are about 10 min apart. i just dont want to be "lowballing " the work. any help is, as always, greatly appreciated. BOBBY

[Davis TLC]

Bobby, it would be very helpful if you would fill in your profile. It helps to know where you are located, you don't have to give the town/city, just general geographical location. This way members in your area can answer your questions.

[bobbygedd]

oh, sorry guys, im located in northern new jersey. BOBBY

[LJ lawn]

yeah, no lowballing. we already have enough of those around central N.J.#%***+%!! SCABS!!!!i'd still like to know who this guy is- since he apparently knows me.BOB?(anyone from N.J. thread)-LJ

[bubenberg]

unless you are doing city of phila rowhouses you should charge a minimum of 20- 25.00 per trailer gate drop

[Spence]

bubenberg,

What do you mean by $20- $25 per trailer gate drop? Do you mean that you should not charge no less than about $20 to do a job, no matter how small it is? Or did you mean something else?

[kutnkru]

They are talking about a bare bones minimum for sevices rendered when they refer to "the gates dropping"

[LJ lawn]

$25 dollars absolute minimum (still to cheap i think)to come out =( fuel+time) and take my machines off my trailer= (fuel+time),mow lawn= (fuel+time). no matter if it's a grave marker size lawn. $20 dollars if there are 2 next to each other (small lawns).only scabs work for free.plumbers and electricians charge minimums, why can't we?

[bobbygedd]

well, i meant if u calculate yur estimates based on a stop fee, and hourly rate, what do u charge for a stop fee, and what is a fair hourly rate? hey LJ, u seem a little stressed out, this is a very competative business, dont u think lowballers, and scabs will inevitably put them selves out of business? if u email me, ill tell u who i am. bobbygedd@aol

[Paradise Yard Service]

The extent of my drop gate is my tailgate on my 86 Mazda. No way would I drop gate for under $45.00. I've lost some jobs due to such a policy, but what I turn down the bottom feeders can scrap over and suck mud when its pay time!

[LoneStarLawn]

$45 must be a great area. The thing to watch for is the company that has become larger with success. They have many yards in the area and in fact can cut 3 to 4 yards without loading up again and driving to another location. With this efficiency they can have a lower price in that area and out bid you without lowballing since they are still making a big profit.

[jay]

Name: -spaces- Time per week in min. - Date: service:
edge - Spaces- drive
weed/rake -spaces- Weedeat
prune -spaces- spry
mow -spaces-
blow -spaces- Dumping fees
I use sheet that looks like this then add all the numbers up and multiply by hourly rate and times by 4.25 to get weekly price for month. I make a sheet of this as many as I can fit on one piece of paper. To get minutes multiply hourly rate by 60.
Sorry it didn't come out right needs spacing in between each word like edging spaces drive etc.



[Edited by jay on 01-07-2001 at 01:23 AM]

[kutnkru]

just a thought ...

jay try bidding at 4.3 its what some of my buddies are using here in NY cause 4.25 averages out to 51 weeks.

Kris

[Mark]

Boy that 45 dollar drop sounds nice, Im in southern In and i have a fixed price on my big money makers, but i usually charge 25 to drop and 1.75 per acer. That works out just fine in my area. Its normally around 50 dollars per cut. Always remember do the best job that you can, and charge a fair price, don't low-ball the market, Then maybe we all can get that 45 per drop.
Marks Mowing Service

[lawnwizards]

im new to this site, and want to thank all of u , you have been very helpfull. ive been in business now about 4 years, and just starting to turn a good profit. i usually estimate a lawn cut by eye. ive read here that alot of guys charge based on a stop fee, and calculate an hourly rate. i like the idea, but how much is a stop fee, and how much per hr is reasonable for a solo operator?my lawns are in groups of 2 or 3 , and the groups are about 10 min apart. i just dont want to be "lowballing " the work. any help is, as always, greatly appreciated. BOBBY



BobbyGedd, before the shovel.... :p

[tiedeman]

LMAO :) That is great! Will have to remember this one

[lawnman_scott]

It is a humorous find, but I prefer the shovel weilding older wiser Bobby.

[lawnmasters2004]

i try to run my crew at 100 an hour gross profit and it seems to work well and is profitable

[HOOLIE]

Bobby, r u drunk as the proverbial skunk?

[lawnwizards]

Bobby, r u drunk as the proverbial skunk?

guys, its an old a$$ thread i dug up.... just wanted everyone to know how bobby was before the shovel... :)

[HOOLIE]

I gotcha...but he still might be drunk

[bobbygedd]

oh you guys suck! i have this reoccuring dream where i am walking naked down a busy street, and i'm very embarresed, everyone looking at me. i have to put my beer can over my private part to cover up. this is similar. see what has happened to me, i used to be almost normal, this business has turned me to stone

[all degree]

LJ I am in Monmouth County NJ and no one account takes me longer than 25 minutes and my minimum is $30. I you are charging anyone twenty, and I dont care if there are 100 in a row, you are a scrub. That is why you are failing.

For those of you that dont know this area of NJ (Bobby does) its prob one of the more expensive areas of NJ. A 3 bedroom cape style house on a 25x75 lot will run you an average of 450,000 and that is in bad shape. I have houses on 1/4 acre that are a million plus.

LJ raise your prices. Your customers are all making 150K or more a year and they are laughing at the "lawn boy" who cuts their lawn for $20.

[bobbygedd]

lj is long gone, this thread is 5 yrs old. he lived a few blocks from me, he worked his ass off, saved every nickle, moved to florida last year and bought a house on some huge acerage, paid all cash!!! at 38 yrs old, the man is almost 100% retired.

[lawnwizards]

oh you guys suck! i have this reoccuring dream where i am walking naked down a busy street, and i'm very embarresed, everyone looking at me. i have to put my beer can over my private part to cover up. this is similar. see what has happened to me, i used to be almost normal, this business has turned me to stone

sorry bobby, i was just digging up some old threads and i found this one... thought it would give everyone a good laugh.... just wanted to see if you were always a hard a$$... :)

[Runner]

Hey Bobby, let us know when you want to learn how to "stripe"! :p

[westernmdlawn]

Did someone hijack bobbygedd? If it's really you bobby... apologies. Didn't think you were new on here. I have enjoyed reading your posts on here for some time now. You are usually quite opinionated and well informed. You seem to always be polling the community (here, that is) on their views of matters that interest you.

[jajwrigh]

Bobby-

I see you are new to the site by your low number of posts....welcome to lawnsite! Try the search function to help answer your basic questions about the green industry!!

[bobbygedd]

kiss my hairy italian buttocks!