New Business

[fado71]

Good Day everyone

I will be jumping into the buisness spring of 2003 and I have a few concerns.
My main worry is putting the money out for equipment and not knowing if I will get the right number of accounts to support the payments. I dont plan to purchase an entire fleet of new equipment but what I do buy I want be able to keep my head above water. I was reading other post regarding advertising and see that saturating the area with flyers and running adds during the winter is a way to start. Does this really work ? Are people really looking for this in the winter ?

My other concern is this , I have seen many discussions about rates and estimating but have not seen an answer to really help me out. Is there a common price per sq. ft.? How do you bid a job and be competitve with others. I see alot of answers saying $35-$45 is an average but every lawn is different. It would seem to me there has to be a simple way of determining the price to charge perhaps by sq. ft. of yard. If that is not the way than does an hourly rate work ? and if so how do you determine the amount of time it will take you to service each lawn.

I would assume the prices vary from region to region so I guess you should know I am in the eastern mid-atlantic area.

I thank everyone for your reply , What i have seen on this site so far has been very helpful, Excellent site

[GrassMaster]

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<b>Welcome to the Lawnservicing Forum Community, fado71!</b> []

Do some searches using the Blue underlined Link at the upper right of any page on this forum by clicking on the word "Search".

Then place words like Advertising, Advertise, Flier & Fliers you should find a few good discussions on it. If you don't find what you are looking for Please Start a New Topic about it. Just Be Descriptive in what goes in the Subject line of your New Topic.

Ok, Pricing Your Services. That's going to be hard to do, until you get a rough idea of how long it's going to take you to service a Clients Property!

Remember If you charged to cut grass in the Washington D.C. area what they get in Columbus Georgia, you would get more work than you can handle until you go bankrupt!

In another Words the Prices Vary so much. Look at your Properties & try to figure out how long it's going to take you & in time you can come close. You Must Use Pricing Structures used in your area?

Please go here & read this Post:
http://www.lawnservicing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=724

You can find some Helpful Information over here:
http://www.lawnservicing.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=10

I forgot to mention, but advertising for leaf clean up, general clean ups, bush trimming, could probably get you some work now, just be careful how you advertise & watch those advertising dollars!

Also again if you can't find what you are looking for, just ask & we will do our best!

[qualitylandscaping]

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Lawn Pricing:


<b>Residential</b>
$20 minimun for mowing

$20-25 for 1/4 to 1/3 acre
$26-33 for 1/2 acre
$34-39 for 3/4 acre
$40-50 for 1 acre

$25-$40 per hour landscaping, hedge trimming, cleanups, etc.

Commercial
$60 minimum for mowing

$60-65 for 1/4 to 1/3 acre
$66-73 for 1/2 acre
$74-79 for 3/4 acre
$80-90 for 1 acre

$60-$80 per hour landscaping, hedge trimming, cleanups, etc.


Those are my rates and I'm in Western NY. They may be similar in your area but I cant tell you for sure.

Yes.. Advertising before you buy is a good idea...

Good luck with business!