are my prices too low?

[qualitylandscaping]

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Fear,
I forgot.. Who bought all your equipment?? You or parents or somebody else.,??

[FeartheDeere]

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hey guys, there's no hard feelings here, don't like being called a scrub though, because I believe I'm better than that.

Kevro's Mean Green Cut

[qualitylandscaping]

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Fear,

my bad!

[GrassMaster]

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Hello FeartheDeere:

Don't Worry about what others say!

You & qualitylandscaping both are in High School & Own Your Own Business. How Many Others have Accomplished this (Not Many)? I'm Jealous! []

No Matter What all of Us Started out Somewhere. Scrubs Maybe Maybe Not? It's all in the Eyes of the Beholder!

When I started all I had Was Snapper Rider, Beat up Truck, 2-2x8', Crapsman Trimmer, Push Broom & a Few Hand Tools, No Blower or Push Mower. I had Never Trimmed a Bush or Edged a Lawn in my Life.

I drove 22 miles 1 way to Cut 1/4 acre of Knee High Bahai Grass (My First Job), I told Them $20, The Wife said Ok, When I finished a Hour & a Half Later, The Husband Said I wasn't Worth $20 an Hour, that Nobody was... (I was there 1 1/2 hours, not 1 Hour)

He Gave Me $15, Then Told Me He will Call me Next Time, I said OK. About 3 to 4 weeks Later he called Me, I put Him off to the Following Week. He Then Called again I put him off again. Then He Called Up Saying that his Grass Would Have to be cut With Bush Hog.

I told Him That I Didn't have Bush Hog, His Yard was a $35 Lawn if it was Half the Height it was the Last Time I cut it. I Told Him he Should have Payed me the $20 that His Wife Agreed to pay me & that I was Cutting next to Home & I didn't do lawns like his anymore. That My Minimum was $25.

LOL, He Was Screaming at me over the Phone, I Thanked Him for the Valuable Business Lesson & That it was a Great Learning Experience. That He was Also Right, That I wasn't Worth $20 an Hour that I was Worth about $30 an Hour!

I Also Told Him that I didn't Think People in his Area Could Afford my Type of Services & it wasn't really the Type Work I was Looking for!

BTW: I was Rich Kid, My Parents Purchased me 4 Cars for My 15th Birthday ($40 Total for all 4), It Took me almost a Year to build one out of the 4 Cars. LOL, I had Been Saving My Money for Years, I worked in Nearby Green House Since Age 13, I started out at .50 an Hour. I worked on Farm, Went to School, Cut Grass, Worked at Green House & Whatever to Make Money! []

At Almost Age 17 My 4 in 1 $40 Car Finally Had to be Sold & I purchased a 2 year old 4 Door Cadillac, It Was Very Nice. The Only Cadillac at School, Not Many Students Had cars back then & most were Useless Rich Kids that Didn't Work or Know How T00?

Any Day of the Week I could Pack 5 or more Girls in the Car, Skip School or Whatever! LOL, all I had to do was Open the Door!

My 17th Year & Summer was the Greatest Time of My Life! Then My Next best Year was age 25.

Hang in there, You Guys are Way ahead of the Ballgame, Please Keep it that way!

[kutnkru]

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Sounds to me like you've encountered some less than desireable accounts as for the ease of mowing is concerned. I wouldnt think that $40/acre to stay competetive would be unreasonable sight unseen. I would also add on $30 each visit as needed to those who wont allow you to trim regularly.

Your accounts might be better priced something like this:
#1: $120/cut + $30/trim.blow
#2: $ 80/cut + $30/trim.blow
#3: $120/cut + $45/trim.blow
#4: $ 40/cut + $15/trim.blow
#5: $ 60/cut + $30/trim.blow
#6: $ 80/cut
#7: $140/cut + $15/trim.blow

[Bobby D]

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I think I could offer both Quality and the Deer some advice. I started when I was 15 guys, I am now 24 and have grown tremendously and learned a lot over the years. When I started, I always charged less to get the job. I also didnt know what things were worth, pricing was tough to do. I am much better at pricing now and have learned to talk to customers when giving bids. I can tell you that the presentation to customers is extremely important. For some reason, all clients know when you will do it for less. I used to always come down in price to satisfy them and get the job, but this year I have walked away from several jobs. I have clients now who want me to do yard cleanups for them but don't want to pay me what I'm asking. I will continue to mow the lawn, but will not budge, even though they are customers. Of course, our discrepancies are huge, so I can't budge. My advice is to gain experience now and that may involve doing the job for much less than I would. I have more invested and more experience, so they will pay more for me. I have also lost jobs to the neighborhood kid bc he will do it for half what I will. I move on, bc I used to be that kid. Be patient and you will know when it is time to jack up the prices. I did this to all my clients two years ago, went from $20 to $25 for 5000-7000sq. ft. lawns. Not one of them called to question it, they are loyal to me and KNOW I would never rip them off.

There are several markets you can compete in guys, you can be the cheapest, you can have the best quality, you can be the most reliable, or all of the above. You decide what you want to be and strive hard to make sure your customers know this. I do have people wanting to pay less for a scrub job, I tell them I won't do it. I only do lawns to a high quality standard. Than they decide if they want to pay me or not. Just know what you want to do and over time, the prices will work themselves out.
Right now you are willing to cut 3.5 acres lawns for $45. When you discover that that price is not enough, you will raise the price. If you decide to raise the price next year, I would tell them that you have upgraded equipment and will be performing a higher quality job than the year before to justify the raise in price. Justify it and they might not care. Sometimes customers will surprise you with what they are willing to pay.