Up-charge for bagging?

[TinkerLawn]

I was just wondering how many people out there charge extra for bagging?

In the spring when the grass either needs to be cut twice a week, or bagged, do you charge extra for bagging then, even though for the rest of the months you will be mulching.

If you have a set bagging fee, what do you do in the fall when your customers ask you to bag their lawn and their are leaves on it? Do you eat it and bag all the leaves or do you tell them that although you do have a bagging fee it does not cover leaf pick up.

For everyone that bags on a regular basis do you haul away all of the grass or do you leave it for the customer to dispose of?

[MASTERMOWER]

Your question was one I stumbled on for several years starting out.....starting out I bagged lawns for no additional charge....big mistake!

90% of my lawns are mulched, only a handful are bagged.

Charge extra for bagging --- as it requires more time --- you're selling time afterall.

I haul off clippings, but I can dump them for free.

For fall, it is understood they will be charged an additional 'leaf charge' atop their normal mowing rates. Noone argues....they are just happy to see the leaves gone! Most of the mulched lawns (well the ones with $hi+ loads of leaves) are also bagged in the fall as well. The extra ca$h is nice.

[rocksrscott]

I'm new in the business this year. All Legit Insurance, Equipment, Vendors License, Registered Business Name ect... One of our first customers we quoted wanted their half acre lot bagged so he would not get grass in his pool. Not knowing how much extra work this would be we added ten dollars as a bagging fee . It will cost us six dollars per ton to dispose of them. Next time I have one of these it will be at least twenty for this size yard. If and it is a "BIG IF" I take another one on . Don't get me wrong it is not all bad just more than we expected . We had hoped to wait till later to have to buy a bag kit $189.00 and not be able to use that mower for mulching . (had to take off the baffels for the mulch kit.)

But remember We are new at this this year.

Enjoy Life Scott.

[Dreamaloud1]

All my yards are really small but I charge at least $5 for bagging. That covers 2-3 bag dumps using my 22" toro. Luckily the trash people here pick up clippings in clear bags so I can simply leave them at the curb.

[kiddinla]

i just got disgusted with it all, and if they want it bagged, i turn the job down. I don't have a bagging mower, and don't want one. The most i'll do for a regular customer is bag the bulk of the leaves in a tarp so i won't have a hard time mulching. In my case, i could never satisfy these people who didn't like mulching. These are some of the same people who wanted me to buy an edger and not use a weedeater on their edges. Bye Bye

[highlander316]

i used to say no-no to bagging. But in my area, its tough to tell people no. As a matter of fact, I can get some lawns done faster bagging then I would if I double-cut discharge it. However, this is only if I can't use my 52" Turf Tiger. I don't have a bagger for that anyway. So if I can't use that machine (gates or whatever) then I use my 36" w/b. On some lawns it is faster for me to bag and I use an Accelerator bagger. I don't haul the grass off, I just leave it at the curb. Plus I also charge more ($5-10 for the lawns I bag), usually only have one bag, and I end up making more. Bigger lawns (1/4 acre and up) I won't bag, not worth it, but the small ones, I can make more money on. The small ones are also the ones with lots of landscaping, so it is imperative to keep the grass out. And when I get new lawns because the old LCO did a ****ty job, it's even easier to upsell the price.

[boazcat]

I've changed my philosophy a little on bagging. I used to turn down lawns that required bagging, but now I go ahead and take them if I can use my
21". If you stay on schedule, it rarely seems to be more than one bag. I charge anywhere from $5-10 more for bagging, so I actually make more for that lawn. My trash service picks up clippings, so it really isn't a big deal. I just throw the bag in the truck and dump it at home.

I am choosy about which lawns though. Multiple baggings are not in my plans. Also, if you are not able to stay on schedule, you can really get into some messy, time-consuming junk.

Good luck,

Michael

[njnewbie]

Absolutely charge extra for bagging. Not only is it more work to dispose of the clippings, but having the bagger on the mower (especially walk-behinds w/grass cage) drastically reduces maneuverability. Not only is the mower much wider, but you have to constantly plan your mowing route to keep the non-bag side on all the edges of the lawn.

[Edlawncare]

For everyone that bags on a regular basis do you haul away all of the grass or do you leave it for the customer to dispose of?I know this is a old post but I never Quote a job without bagging unless the cust begs for 2 reasons

# 1 More $ for me
# 2 Looks Better

[steve-o]

Your question was one I stumbled on for several years starting out.....starting out I bagged lawns for no additional charge....big mistake!

90% of my lawns are mulched, only a handful are bagged.

Charge extra for bagging --- as it requires more time --- you're selling time afterall.

I haul off clippings, but I can dump them for free.

For fall, it is understood they will be charged an additional 'leaf charge' atop their normal mowing rates. Noone argues....they are just happy to see the leaves gone! Most of the mulched lawns (well the ones with $hi+ loads of leaves) are also bagged in the fall as well. The extra ca$h is nice.

even if you haul away clippings for free you have to charge the same as a dump fee or at least alittle less. time is $$$ unloading.

steve

[Shoal]

I don't necessarily charge more for bagging but it does cost more to bag because the machine I use is a 48" cut my other machines are faster and wider so the price is higher. I never steer the customer which is which I get the same per hr. on either machine. so if the customer wants it bagged I bag and I figure the cost for that. It is all customer driven.

here I never haul away the clippings I always leave them in manageble bags for the garbage men. this is agreed upon at the start of negotiations. I don't haul. I didnt haul in calif either I just used the green cart that waste management supplies. so if you have to bag the are ways to not haul it away. I cant ever remember anyone saying no..... shoal