[LawnGuy35]

I'm in the Omaha, Nebraska area and recently bid on a 16,000 square feet commercial job. The 16,000 square feet is total lawn area, which is broken up in small and large chunks and includes an average number of trees, bushes, etc around the property. The owner wanted just weekly mowing, edging, trimming, blowing.

My bid came in around $140 per week, which he thought was a little on the high side. Most of my work is residential, so bidding on commercial work is a bit tricky for me.

What are your thoughts? Was this bid unreasonable? Thanks.

 

[lawnlandscape]

It would help to see an aerial shot of the place.

 

[unkownfl]

How long do you think it would take with your equipment you plan on using?

 

[LawnGuy35]

How long do you think it would take with your equipment you plan on using?

The way the property is laid out, I would need to use a 36" or 48" walk-behind, and I'm guessing it'd take 2-3 hours.

 

[unkownfl]

hour mowing and an hour for everything else? I think your a little high for current times. I'd do it for about 80-100 here but competition is fierce. You have to remember with a area that large and it being commercial you could probably sell other services.

 

[lawnlandscape]

if you say 2-3 hours, I would make sure you finish in 2, and give a bid of $99.99 per visit. I love using that number

 

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

16k sq ft with average trimming and clean-up?
Around here, cheapskates would run that at $50-$60. As other guys have stated, if you could get $100 that would be a great bid IMO.

 

[lawnlandscape]

I didnt say $100

 

[unkownfl]

16k sq ft with average trimming and clean-up?
Around here, cheapskates would run that at $50-$60. As other guys have stated, if you could get $100 that would be a great bid IMO.

50-60 using a 36 or 48 w/b ouch that doesn't make me feel bad living here then.

 

[unkownfl]

I would definitely call that guy back to revise the bid if you want the job. Don't be afraid to ask him what hes looking at getting it done for and say well let me see if its possible for me to do. Then counter offer him or meet him.

 

[Richard Martin]

I must be missing something here. 16,000 sq ft is about 1/3 of an acre. Did you mean 160,000 sq ft which is about 3.67 acres. I bid on a job about a month ago at $140 for 2.5 acres. I didn't get the job and I probably wouldn't get the one you're bidding on either.

 

[unkownfl]

Yea even what I said about 80-100 thats high for just normal mowing but I added a little bit for parking lots and minor trash clean up and other things that are normally required for commercial bids.

 

[topsites]

You answered your own question.

 

[topsites]

I think the customer answered the question when he said he thought it was a little on the high side...

That having been said, whether you could have made ends meet by bidding lower that I could not tell you, but that's
where we stand... It makes little sense for any of us to try and bid this job without even setting foot on the property,
you were there, you saw what was involved, we can possibly run up some educated guesses but that's as likely to
be a ways off as it would have been if you had quoted the guy a price over the phone...

So, anyway...

I would definitely call that guy back to revise the bid if you want the job. Don't be afraid to ask him what hes looking at getting it done for and say well let me see if its possible for me to do. Then counter offer him or meet him.

Yeah, I'd have to agree with this statement, if you want the work you might try that.

 

[lawnworker]

16000 square. you should be out of there in an hour. I think your price is high, and I am all for charging as much as possible

 

[lawnkale]

I didnt say $100

this is exactly what is wrong with peoples thoughts.. you would be better off at you old job making 12 an hour. now your making 20.00 an hour minus cost of mower, trimmer, blower, trailer, truck. minus insurance, minus fuel, minus unexpected repairs, minus 20% to replace your garabage equipment after 3-4 year, what is left NOTHING ur broke!!!!!

 

[Runner]

If you look, this is not what he was saying...That is a quote from someone else, that he put in his signature.
But anyway,...this whole thread is sort of a waste, because this question simply can not be answered. We don't know what this guy's costs are. we have NO idea what his logistical costs are, or anything ELSE. So,...was it "over bid"? Perhaps not. It could have been a guy that lives two doors down from the place that GOT the contract. Like I say...just wayyyyyy too many variables.

 

[unkownfl]

It doesn't matter what his cost are those can change and need to change if he can't mow that size area for less than 140. I could push mow the area in less than an hour or hell I could use a string trimmer in about 2 hours. This is exactly why people don't land accounts and complain why they can't pick up customers. If your cost are always higher than the competitors out there you won't land anything. Only thing you can do is cut cost. Haven't you heard the term "cost cutting" lately?

 

[Florida Gardener]

In my recent and little experience in this industry, commercial work is tough. I bid on a job recently for an HOA that was for common areas in the 26 home development. I estimated 14 hours of work/week in the summertime. My bid was just under $2,300/month year round. I was told my bid was 50% than all other bids. The winning bid was around $1500/month. I don't know how the winning bidder is doing this for that price. It is a lot of intensive trimming that needs to be done 2x/month for about 7 months out of the year, a lot of herbicide spraying, a lot of edging etc.

I was talking to this guy in my networking group and in his HOA community, the current LCO is getting $55/house per month and there are around 60-70 1/8 acre homes with a lot of detail work. This company is getting $55/house each month and has to service each one 4 times/month in the summer. Do the math, that sucks. I don't care how little your costs are, that sucks.

The first story I told you about had a LCO for 3 years that caused them to have to replace a lot of sod b/c they maintained it incorrectly. IMO, that $1500/month bid is low. You get what you pay for. That is why I like sticking with resi's, they are more loyal and aren't as price sensitive(depending on area and if your a mow blow guy vs. an actual gardener/landscaper)

 

[unkownfl]

300 a day is damn good in FL right now diamond for just mow blow and go. Hell 70 lawns in one area could be done in two days with two guys and 1 day with 4. It's actually way higher considering you only mow about 40 times per year. It's about 1150 per mowing for the community. 4 guys @ 10 per hour your only at 500 in labor with taxes. Leaves 600 and change for expenses and profit.