The Green Industry's Resource Center

JContracting · #41 12-29-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy-phil

So do my numbers with the exception of customers plants (she supplies) so no need to mark anything up. I guess i could charge $45-$50/hr 5 hours i am thinking, so it will actually take 8 hours lol. I will buy round-up and the weed blocker. She supplies everything else.
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You don't sound like the expert that you should be as the contractor.

Who uses round up? A glysophate from JDL or something of the like, is what you should be buying. Why is she buying plants? If a client says they want to buy materials or w/e, they're gone. That p!sses me off when they want to buy materials for a job YOU are doing. If they want to be the DIY homeowner, direct them to Home Depot and DIY Network.
Also, if you use fabric (it is useless for mulch, any weed seed that sprouts, lands in the mulch and then grows, making that $50 worth of fabric pretty much a waste).
This person sounds like a complete cheap a$$ and is not worth any contractor's time.

Charging (not hourly but figuring) only $45 an hour (gross, but even netting that isn't very much), regardless of your situation within life, will not be enough.

As for the guy that thinks you don't have to figure $100+ for fuel. I did an rock removal/install & several plantings installed & some sod, 6 houses away from me, I burned about $75 in fuel between getting material and dumping the removed stuff.
Depending on the task at hand for a job, I figure a minimum of $100 in fuel for my truck. Usually one tank, fuel prices are a bit lower than they were last summer so a full tank is only about $75-$80 so it makes things easier and profits are higher.

*Just because you already have said material that is going to be used does not mean you charge less!!!*
Having material (pavers, retaining wall block, etc.) leftover and keeping it at your shop is a great advantage as you don't have to purchase as much, meaning more profit.

ELS Landscape · #42 12-29-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JContracting

As for the guy that thinks you don't have to figure $100+ for fuel. I did an rock removal/install & several plantings installed & some sod, 6 houses away from me, I burned about $75 in fuel between getting material and dumping the removed stuff.
Depending on the task at hand for a job, I figure a minimum of $100 in fuel for my truck. Usually one tank, fuel prices are a bit lower than they were last summer so a full tank is only about $75-$80 so it makes things easier and profits are higher.

*Just because you already have said material that is going to be used does not mean you charge less!!!*
Having material (pavers, retaining wall block, etc.) leftover and keeping it at your shop is a great advantage as you don't have to purchase as much, meaning more profit.

My fuel bill is not that high, I would have to try very hard to burn a full tank of fuel in a day. Then again, it would depend on the truck. If there are pick up and delivery of materials then I do include a cost for that and it would likely be 65 to 250 depending on the load and distance.

I just have a different way of cost alocation than you do.

I run the number pretty hard and look at them perhaps more than I should.

I do not make huge margins but again, I am not considered to be cheap either. People ask me if the E stands for expensive.

I far from a low baller to based on many of the public bids I have participated in and looking at the score cards.

My most recent bid was more than twice the existing budget and I was 30% higher than the low bid. Lucky for me, I still got the job based on reputation.

The bottom line is you have to make enough money on any given job to do it correctly.

I agree, material from inventory needs to be priced into the job because you will need to buy more.

srlawn · #43 12-29-2012, 04:28 PM

Too many people want to buy the materials themselves. Then when you plant what they bought and it doesn't make it they come crying to you for a refund cause they didn't survive. Not out fault. I walk away from the job unless it is replanting something from one area of the property to another. But Even at that I write in the bill not responsible for the hardiness of the moved "x" financially. 100 for gas should be the minimum charged as you can easily superxede that amount with unforseen circumstances. Roundup is OK when used for certain things but expect to be back later on re-treatinf the area. The main reason for not allowing custoemers to supply material is you cannot guarantee it and you cannot mark up on it.
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ELS Landscape · #44 12-29-2012, 04:31 PM

If you have done your home work. You should be able to sell them stuff at a fair enough price they do not need to go buy the materials. If they insist just raise your prices

to compensate.

I honestly do not have this problem. They buy it they plant it and own it.

srlawn · #45 12-29-2012, 04:34 PM

Exactly. A slight markup per item x's x amount adds up. I wouldn't go adding 11 bucks to everything however.
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ELS Landscape · #46 12-29-2012, 04:41 PM

I had some fool wanted me to pick up some bagged mulch that they would buy. I just looked at them and said Really?

larryinalabama · #47 12-29-2012, 05:53 PM

I would think 400$ to 500$ after expenses for a days work and being your first job would be GREAT.

srlawn · #48 12-29-2012, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryinalabama

I would think 400$ to 500$ after expenses for a days work and being your first job would be GREAT.

It's a good amount but the guy is selling himself short regardless. That's a pretty big overhaul he had going on there. Worth much more than his bid
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