How much to charge?

[Ric]

OK thanks. :thumbsup: I don't mind charging $25; I think it's good.....but I was just wondering. The pro that does the yard next to mine charges probably $40-$45 and is gone in 15-20 minutes, but I understand he has lots more expenses.

Were back on track with the OP now. The Pro down the road that's getting $40-$45 a cut how many guys does he have working with him?

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Were back on track with the OP now. The Pro down the road that's getting $40-$45 a cut how many guys does he have working with him?

Usually alone, sometimes a helper (rare), only when they do landscaping jobs (hedge trimming, mulching) does he usually have a helper.

 

[Lawnboy18]

I'm goona pitch in here!

I'm a student and I have a good business. This summer I had about 40 clients for a while and I was working 7 days a week to keep up with the extra work like weeding and other odd stuff. All in all, I made a pretty good profit I must say. Enough to pay bills, tuition, LOTS of commercial equipment, truck repairs, summer tires, going out with the GF and the list goes on... What I learned is that I had good prices, but I can go a little hire. I would charge about 20-25$ per lawn cut and sometimes 45 for the big ones that took me about 1.5 hours. I got lucky on one street where people kept coming and talking to me. Why? Because I look like a Pro with all my equipment, great service and respect. Turns out in that area, alone, I can do 5 lawns (trim, mow and blow). To me, that is real good. When I am with someone, I can do this in about 50 minutes wich is even better. I had good prices and got rid of the competition, because the profit goes up when I stay in one section I do a big load.

All I can say is adjust your prices to what you need to pay. Most big shot guys that look at me on the roads charge something like 35$ a shot or more, but that is because they have three monkeys jumping on ZTR's hacking with trimmers and blowing there heads off. Not very awsome. I'm in the middle of all of this. Better than some kid that just mows and a little lower than the big shots.

I must state that I started with my dad's mower and no blower :O. I would only do 5 yards a year and be excited with that. Now, I am here with a bunch of commercial equipment taking over the garage here and there and a part of the back yard (vintage lawn boys). Over the years I have learned a lot. What clients really like is that you come EVERY week or two regularly. If you come when you want they hate that! Come like if you had to go to Church each Sunday. Also, start with what you have. Once you get money, get better stuff. Not necessarily the big ZTR. Just maybe a wider mower, better string trimmer or whatever. Also keep a book of all your client's name, phone number, e-mail and write down EACH time you mow the lawn to keep control.

 

[Ric]

I'm goona pitch in here!

I'm a student and I have a good business. This summer I had about 40 clients for a while and I was working 7 days a week to keep up with the extra work like weeding and other odd stuff. All in all, I made a pretty good profit I must say. Enough to pay bills, tuition, LOTS of commercial equipment, truck repairs, summer tires, going out with the GF and the list goes on... What I learned is that I had good prices, but I can go a little hire. I would charge about 20-25$ per lawn cut and sometimes 45 for the big ones that took me about 1.5 hours. I got lucky on one street where people kept coming and talking to me. Why? Because I look like a Pro with all my equipment, great service and respect. Turns out in that area, alone, I can do 5 lawns (trim, mow and blow). To me, that is real good. When I am with someone, I can do this in about 50 minutes wich is even better. I had good prices and got rid of the competition, because the profit goes up when I stay in one section I do a big load.

All I can say is adjust your prices to what you need to pay. Most big shot guys that look at me on the roads charge something like 35$ a shot or more, but that is because they have three monkeys jumping on ZTR's hacking with trimmers and blowing there heads off. Not very awsome. I'm in the middle of all of this. Better than some kid that just mows and a little lower than the big shots.

I must state that I started with my dad's mower and no blower :O. I would only do 5 yards a year and be excited with that. Now, I am here with a bunch of commercial equipment taking over the garage here and there and a part of the back yard (vintage lawn boys). Over the years I have learned a lot. What clients really like is that you come EVERY week or two regularly. If you come when you want they hate that! Come like if you had to go to Church each Sunday. Also, start with what you have. Once you get money, get better stuff. Not necessarily the big ZTR. Just maybe a wider mower, better string trimmer or whatever. Also keep a book of all your client's name, phone number, e-mail and write down EACH time you mow the lawn to keep control.

What your doing is the same as I do, I have as many as 17 clients in a row. I have 24 client in the same loop I live in all with in four tenths of a mile. I have 75 clients and I never leave the sub-division I live in. You talk about the big shots that charge $35 a shot an more, just let it be known that those big shots by the time they get done are probably at there prices make LESS money than you. Why.... because everyone of those monkeys as you put it draws a paycheck, he also has to provide insurance as well as workman's compensation insurance in case one of those monkeys gets hurt plus his license fees, pay taxes, pays into there SS and so on. So ask yourself after he takes care of all his expenses and the monkeys expenses just how much money does he actually make.:confused3:

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I'm goona pitch in here!

I'm a student and I have a good business. This summer I had about 40 clients for a while and I was working 7 days a week to keep up with the extra work like weeding and other odd stuff. All in all, I made a pretty good profit I must say. Enough to pay bills, tuition, LOTS of commercial equipment, truck repairs, summer tires, going out with the GF and the list goes on... What I learned is that I had good prices, but I can go a little hire. I would charge about 20-25$ per lawn cut and sometimes 45 for the big ones that took me about 1.5 hours. I got lucky on one street where people kept coming and talking to me. Why? Because I look like a Pro with all my equipment, great service and respect. Turns out in that area, alone, I can do 5 lawns (trim, mow and blow). To me, that is real good. When I am with someone, I can do this in about 50 minutes wich is even better. I had good prices and got rid of the competition, because the profit goes up when I stay in one section I do a big load.

All I can say is adjust your prices to what you need to pay. Most big shot guys that look at me on the roads charge something like 35$ a shot or more, but that is because they have three monkeys jumping on ZTR's hacking with trimmers and blowing there heads off. Not very awsome. I'm in the middle of all of this. Better than some kid that just mows and a little lower than the big shots.

I must state that I started with my dad's mower and no blower :O. I would only do 5 yards a year and be excited with that. Now, I am here with a bunch of commercial equipment taking over the garage here and there and a part of the back yard (vintage lawn boys). Over the years I have learned a lot. What clients really like is that you come EVERY week or two regularly. If you come when you want they hate that! Come like if you had to go to Church each Sunday. Also, start with what you have. Once you get money, get better stuff. Not necessarily the big ZTR. Just maybe a wider mower, better string trimmer or whatever. Also keep a book of all your client's name, phone number, e-mail and write down EACH time you mow the lawn to keep control.

I agree with everything you said. And I keep detailed records (like you said) of when I do a lawn, who owes me what, and who paid ahead.

 

[Lawnboy18]

What your doing is the same as I do, I have as many as 17 clients in a row. I have 24 client in the same loop I live in all with in four tenths of a mile. I have 75 clients and I never leave the sub-division I live in. You talk about the big shots that charge $35 a shot an more, just let it be known that those big shots by the time they get done are probably at there prices make LESS money than you. Why.... because everyone of those monkeys as you put it draws a paycheck, he also has to provide insurance as well as workman's compensation insurance in case one of those monkeys gets hurt plus his license fees, pay taxes, pays into there SS and so on. So ask yourself after he takes care of all his expenses and the monkeys expenses just how much money does he actually make.:confused3:

Excaly! Also, let's not forget the expensive payments on those nice new pick up trucks, ZTR's and more...
It is good to know that I am not the only one here that is in between both. It is a lot of work, but I love it. I sure wish I had 17 in a row. That's a lot!

I agree with everything you said. And I keep detailed records (like you said) of when I do a lawn, who owes me what, and who paid ahead.

That is the right thing to do! Since I hav mowed lawns, I have always done that. I write the date down and beside the amount due and add a check mark once they paid.

 

[chobbs1957]

How expensive is the insurance coverage for a typical operation?

I shudder to think about an employee slicing a gash in his leg with a hedge trimmer while I have my mower deck sling a rock into somebody's $70K Mercedes....

In my ag consulting business working with farmer crops some of the best advice I ever got was "buy E&O insurance, and don't let anybody know you have it!" That and some workman's comp sure gives some piece of mind....

 

[Carscw]

Hire your workers as sub contractors and 10-99 them at the end of the year.
Saves you money for no workers comp and less you pay on taxes.

 

[exotion]

Hire your workers as sub contractors and 10-99 them at the end of the year.
Saves you money for no workers comp and less you pay on taxes.

Just make sure they stay current on their taxes if they don't its your ***

 

[Carscw]

As long as you do your part it does not matter if they pay or not. I know guys that have not filed taxes in years and has never came back on me.
I pay mine that's all I care about.