Prices

[crzymoe]

I was wondering do everyone charge the same per hr fee for mowing with different mowers. I mean if you figure in your bid for a 36 in mower you try to get say $30/hr would you charge the same price for a 60ZTR on a larger lawn? or because the cost of the 60" ztr is higher you would charge more per hour?

[jmcclurelandscape]

Charge the same, if you charge $40 an hr with a 36" It takes you an hour to do 1 acre.
It takes 1/2hr to do it with a 60". With the 60" you were more productive and thus made the same money in half the time. The Z's productivity will pay for its self

[work it]

Yes, as jmcclure explained.

I know....well, I hope....the $30/hr was a hypathetical price since you'll go under in no time bidding jobs at that rate. Most guys shoot for $60/hr but end up making around the $40/hr rate. The key to bidding is knowing your own operating costs, and how efficient you/your employees are.

[GrassMaster]

I don't know if I can this right or not

When you have smaller equipment you have to be more competitively priced because you are in competition with so many others. This is when you need to find a Niche in the Market.

As your production rate goes up due to newer faster bigger equipment your profit should go up due to less contractors competing against you & less time to do the job.

Lets say you do an acre lot with a 36" in an hour, then you get a 60" ZTR & you can do 4 acre lot in an hour...

No you do not charge that 4 acre lot the same as the 1 acre lot because of 1 hour labor & in most cases you not going to get that lawn for $160 which equals 4 times the 1 acre lot, but you should get $75 to a $100 for that 4 acre lot easy maybe a little more. You are more productive running faster & larger equipment.

You've got to know what it cost you to do business per hour & then the numbers will fall in place.

Remember there's people out there with big equipment & plenty of manpower that are barely making a profit & there's others making a Killing.

Know what you need to make to pay the Bills & make a decent profit per man hour, if you can't bid & make the money you need... Learn to walk away from the bid, because sometimes it just flat out ain't worth it!

There's places I wanted real bad but the money wasn't there which meant it wasn't worth my time.

Back in the day, I probably bidded every bank in my town at least 2 or 3 times. They finally showed me what they were supposedly paying to have it done...

That's the same day I decided I would never bid a Bank again & I told them that for a few years... Why? I couldn't make the money I needed to be happy with when I pulled off from the finished job.

Let the other guys lose their butts, I was only in it for the Money, not the Glory or the Handouts. I walked off from a lot of jobs, at least 10 times more than the amount of jobs I had. I bid jobs, I didn't bargain with them & come down to their price. Money Equals Work Divided by Time! I knew what I needed.

Every time you walk off from a bid, it gets easier & easier to walk away (Trust Me), if the money isn't there, you can't afford to do it! Quite a few people laughed at my prices & several called me back later to do the job for more than what I quoted them the first time! It's all about making money!

[work it]

Grassmaster-"No you do not charge that 4 acre lot the same as the 1 acre lot because of 1 hour labor & in most cases you not going to get that lawn for $160 which equals 4 times the 1 acre lot, but you should get $75 to a $100 for that 4 acre lot easy maybe a little more. You are more productive running faster & larger equipment."

I have more than my share of large properties and I wouldn't consider doing 4 acres for $75 to $100. I take into consideration the area the property is located. In Louisville an acre ranges from $50 to $65 depending. So for the same 4 acres I would make a minimum of $200. I realize this isn't true for every part of the US, but that's where knowing your own market is so important.

Also take into consideration the larger your equipment is the more it costs to run and maintain. That's the reason I don't give much of a price break (if any) for larger lawns. The people who hire me usually know my work and are willing to pay my prices. If they don't want to pay it I'm sure they can find somebody who will be willing to work for free.

[GrassMaster]

You might want to keep that a secret...

Some folks might take some 60" ZTR's & move in on that $200 minimum on 4 acres! That's mighty close to $200 an hour! Are they having it done every 7 or 10 Days?

[work it]

I use a 61" Scag TT, and all of my accounts are every 7 days with the exception of drought season when they're mowed every 10 days. Most of my customers have already delt with the low ballers, sub-standard service, and the broken promises before they hired me. I charge a very fair price for the level of service they receive. They also find out that if they drop me for a low-baller and then try to come back their rates are even higher than before....to which some have agreed to pay. I don't have time to worry about the price shoppers and low-ballers....time is too valuable.

[blade2blade]

...so how do you figure your opporating costs per hr? i only have numbers on my monthly expenses. i'll be solo this year, so i'm starting from scratch & dont really have an idea for hourly rate since i only have a few accounts so far. will i have to wait to figure it out?

[ACutAbove 217]

First figure out how many hours per month you will be working. Include drive time and shop maint. Then take your monthly expenses and divide by the number of hours. Be sure to include things like insurance, accounting fees, any overhead. Then figure out how much it costs to operate your equipment. Include gas, oil, and maint. Don't forget to depreciate your equipment based on its expected life.You can figure this by looking through your maint manuals and if it requires a 100 hour service then divide the cost of that service by 100 and it will give you a figure. Also depreciate your equipment based on its life expectancy. If you expect your blower will last 3 seasons, then multiply your monthly hours by the number of months you will work in 3 seasons. Take that figure and divide the cost of replacing that equipment by the number of hours in the life expectancy. That will tell you how much per hour it costs to own that equipment. Then... don't forget to pay yourself. Set an hourly figure for your pay. Add all this up... and thats the cost of doing business.

[blade2blade]

word. thanks.

[A+ Lawncare]

for 4acres i would charge $130...is this is in the rite ballpark?

[lclandscapes]

for 4acres i would charge $130...is this is in the rite ballpark?

Come to South Carolina, and I will sub all my work to you for those prices.

[A+ Lawncare]

Iclandscapes, i figure i could cut 4 acres in 1hr w/my piece of equipment, 60'' ztr.... that is if that tract of land is flat w/few obstacles

now for me to come down to south carolina, you put me up for the summer, and i'll come down for the summer.... i'm 17, so partyin every nite would be a must....also is beer included.?

[lclandscapes]

Iclandscapes, i figure i could cut 4 acres in 1hr w/my piece of equipment, 60'' ztr.... that is if that tract of land is flat w/few obstacles

now for me to come down to south carolina, you put me up for the summer, and i'll come down for the summer.... i'm 17, so partyin every nite would be a must....also is beer included.?

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice try!!!

[A+ Lawncare]

Iclandscapes..... seriously if i was to work for you, what would you pay me (too far, even though i'de really would like a new party place to start another fratertinity, sure it would go well with ya, haha ....
I've talked to a few ppl and they say since i'm new to LCO and still a little young i'de be better off working for someone else at first.... i've got alot of lawncare experience, ect. what am i worth an hr. and wht should i expect to get paid an hr. if i went down this route.....

I already got the equipment so going this route, sure would be a shame.... i'm looking forward to being my own boss and taking a few risks as an entreupener