SQ footage

[BGJohn]

Can anyone help me with figuring out a good price range for different sq. footage for lawns. Currently I just estimate by the eyeball but I need something better. The prices would be for mowing, blowing and string trimming. Thanks again.

[Schield]

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Example: $20. to start + $2 every 1000sqft.
Works out for me about $33. an hour residential.
Or you could go $18, $16, or $14, + $2. every 1000sqft dipending on what you want an hour.Just one-way.

[65hoss]

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Asking for others pricing info is just like shooting in the dark with eyeballing it. Without knowing what you need, you accomplished nothing. If you take the $14 number and your costs are $15 your in trouble.

[Schield]

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I also use a measuring wheel.[]
Example: A lawn measuring 3000sqft. $20. to start + $2. every 1000sqft = $2 x 3.000sqft = $6 + $20 = $26.
4000sqft = $2 x 4.000sqft = $8 + $20 = $28.

[LANDSCAPINGPOOLGUY]

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Pricing has a couple of factors to it time, labor, machinery, gas, travel ect ect, once yur aware of what yur expenses are and what ya wanna make by the hour you can kinda figure it out...basically u want to find yur sq ft per dollar rate, make sure this rate eqauls or is greater then, what u want to make in an hour, you also have to be fair....so what i do is measure the property off....try to get measurements on everything from the lawn to the beds to the drive way, gate sizes if there are fences(gotta make sure that ztr will fit through the gate) ect ect.....so by eyeballing yur lawn you know its about 30 dollars for example. Now lets say you took all the cut area measurements including the driveway and sidewalks because u blow those off and trim along the edges, possibly plow them in the winter too, and they come out too aroun 10,000 sq ft, and u have been bidding a job this size at about 30$.....10,000sq ft/30$=334sq ft/$ is yur new rate.......so the next customer u have has a yard that is 12,000sq ft.... so 12,000sq ft/334sq ft/$=$35.93per cut + tax. One thing to remember is time...if you know that 10,000 sq ft takes you one hour from when you leave to go to the job till u return, then the most you'll make for that hour is 30$ and that has to cover all yur expenses for the trip plus make u a profit.....if you can do it in a half an hour then yur makeing 70 $ dollars per hour as long as the next job isnt too far away. Best thing you can do is set yuor rates by sq ft and hourly(for planting and other stuff), and stick to yur rates(add alittle more if you need to break out the walk behind or for hills or anything extra that makes it difficult)and explain all the extras too. Dont give breaks to people unless you KNOW that yur gonna get a few more accounts outta them in return. I hope this was helpful

Chuck Randina
Perfect Property Services Inc.

[golftmann]

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One of the posters on this site put together a rate guide. You can find it at www.geocities.com/qualitylandscaping2001/guide.html
golftmann

[qualitylandscaping]

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golftmann posted my site! My guide should give you a better standing on what to charge.

Good Luck!

[kutnkru]

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Go thru your ylw pgs and find say 5 of the bigger named contractors (the ones who are seen the most) and ask people you know tyo call them for quotes.

You could have say a 4m/sf, 8m/sf, and a 12m/sf property getting estimates for you. This way you can sort of gage what the sm med lg properties are going for.

Like Hoss said its more important to find out what YOU need to make a profit than what Johnny LawnBoy is charging. I did just as I suggested years back to try to find the minimum so that I KNEW okay I shouldnt be charging any less than $25 for a 7m/sf property etc.

Then once you have your minimums its simply a matter of factoring your difficulties (extra time spent trimming, specific areas that need bagging, smaller machines to access ceratin areas, etc.)

[qualitylandscaping]

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Well said Kutnkru!