What's your target rate per hour?

[justmjc]

I'm in a location where I can nail 3 homes in an hour which averages me $65/hr pretty consistantly. I would say that my target is $50+/hr and I would be continuously happy. Where would you say you would be happy at? Or are currently at?

Anything more than my time and a half at my (JOB) is profitable enough to put a smile on my face.

PS. I just went from a 48" 12 hp walk B/H to a 52" 20hp rider.
Times on ALL accounts decreased to roughtly 60%-66% of
what they were, thus sky-rocketing my hourly rate. Time is
money, must work faster, and I recommend the upgrade.
The next toy making me drool is the 72" 31hp rider....yummm!
Literally cuts 1.5+ times as much grass as I do now with my
rider. 11 mph at 8 acres/hr at 100%. Give/Take.

[Fido]

My target rate depends on the account. Crappy, dusty, weedy lawns are more. For nice lawns in nice neighborhoods where I want to be seen, I charge less.

$35/hour is my absolute minimum and I'm happy with $45/hr. This time of year, with the slower growth, less trimming, and cooler weather (equals faster pace) I'm actually up to $65 or $70/hr on some accounts, excluding travel time.

Personally, I wouldn't mow at all if it weren't such a good foot-in-the-door for getting other work.

[dare630]

Anything above my hourly rate at my job is fine. If I had to guess, I'm averaging around $20.00 per hour. Thats $3.75 above my hourly rate at work. I work solo so other than basically equipment and fuel, and my wife milking the company now and then, I haven't any other expenses.

[Fido]

dare630 - I guess I must be doing something wrong because I have way more expenses than fuel and equipment.

There's the annual $300 "business entity" tax, the $160 annual fee for my contractors license, over $3,000 for vehicle and liability insurance, accountant fees, office supplies, advertising, cell phone, State and Federal income tax etc.

I'm solo too, so I don't see how that exempts you from these expenses.

Please enlighten us.

[DMK395]

If I were working solo I would want 50+ per hour. However having 2 employees I shoot for 40 per hour per guy. Projects that take more than a day I will go to 35....but thats rare.....40plus is what I am looking for

[Maddog]

I shoot for $35-45 per person per hour including travel time.

[Elwood]

You MUST charge for travel time!!

[CCLS]

I shoot for $35-$45 per man hour including travel time. In the summer my average hourly rate is roughly $75-$100 per man hour.

[Stephan Schwebke]

CCLS,

I shoot for $35-$45 per man hour including travel time. In the summer my average hourly rate is roughly $75-$100 per man hour.

I don't understand why your hourly rate would elevate during the summertime. Am I overlooking something. What is your reason for doing this?

Steve, Smart Lawn Care

[CCLS]

Originally posted by Stephan Schwebke
CCLS,

I shoot for $35-$45 per man hour including travel time. In the summer my average hourly rate is roughly $75-$100 per man hour.

I don't understand why your hourly rate would elevate during the summertime. Am I overlooking something. What is your reason for doing this?

Steve, Smart Lawn Care

Simple, no added bagging or double cut time. Trimming is needed every other week or every three weeks. Grass does not clump, which icreases productiveness by not having to blow clumps in lawn. Overall, production time is doubled in the summer because of the lack of grass growth.

[Woody04765]

I shoot for $50/hour, am satisfied with $45/hour and will pass if it dips below $30/hour.