How much to charge?

[Raw Dodge]

I give you credit for coming on here and posting what your prices are... so I'm not going to tear into you, however at 15,if you want a decent car next year and a drivers license and to be able to affordable insurance coverage so you can drive... your probably going to have to review you're pricing policy.. I do not necessarily worry about an hourly wage because I feel I can be more profitable using by the job pricing on everything. This way I'm not punishing myself for using efficient equipment. where you say you charge 20 a lawn that may be about right if you done in 15-20 minutes...try to find out what going rates are for your area and make sure you're not giving away you're services... it's important to enjoy what you do... but thats not a reason to work for free.

 

[Hustling]

I could make more money like you said but I don't feel the need I charge 25 a yard I average between 50-60 dollars an hr I'm good if I am driving the price down for the greedy bigger companys oh well that's their problem not mine

There's nothing wrong with bringing value to a customer. The problem is if you have ever added up the cost of ALL your equipment, expenses etc. and then did some basic math to figure out how much useful life you are taking out of that equipment (i.e. A mower doesn't last forever so what did you spend the 3,000 hours that you got out of it on) Someone elses yard. Did you just destroy a $5,000 ztr over 5 years mowing other peoples yard for practically nothing. Your time is one thing but your not making 50-60 an hour when you figure in your costs. Think about it - add it all up and then figure out what you really are making per hour.

If your using your dad's equipment and he is ok with replacing it in 3 years and absorbing those costs - I guess good for you.

 

[exotion]

There's nothing wrong with bringing value to a customer. The problem is if you have ever added up the cost of ALL your equipment, expenses etc. and then did some basic math to figure out how much useful life you are taking out of that equipment (i.e. A mower doesn't last forever so what did you spend the 3,000 hours that you got out of it on) Someone elses yard. Did you just destroy a $5,000 ztr over 5 years mowing other peoples yard for practically nothing. Your time is one thing but your not making 50-60 an hour when you figure in your costs. Think about it - add it all up and then figure out what you really are making per hour.

If your using your dad's equipment and he is ok with replacing it in 3 years and absorbing those costs - I guess good for you.

It's my equipment I'm proud of it even if I could replace all my equipment for 1500 dollars low overhead means I make more profit my overhead is apx 5 or 10 dollars a day just saying

 

[dude]

It's my equipment I'm proud of it even if I could replace all my equipment for 1500 dollars low overhead means I make more profit my overhead is apx 5 or 10 dollars a day just saying

I don't own my own mower but I do own my own blower

 

[Lawnboy18]

After reading many posts, I have not scene an important factor in pricing.

Now, we have assessed that it costs money to maintain our equipment, buy it and pay all the surrounding bills (insurance, employees, new equipment, etc.), but we haven't talked about the areas in where we live! Prices can highly depend on that! In example, I have heard that in the State of Washington, they charge big bucks to mow lawns. Where I live, to be honest, a typical lawn contractor will charge 400-450$ for a lawn mowing contract. It is how it is. We don't mow lawns during winter time, so too catch up we do snow removal wich can be very sucky (getting up very early in the cold).

Really, what is the point of arguing about this? Some one just asked about how much he should charge! He is just a kid! Give him a breack. A kid can't charge big bucks to mow a lawn, because he is in another social context. If you are a father and have a wife and all, well you will definetly raise your prices and have a few teams to mow lawns and have more profits.

I could easily triple my amount of contracts with having three other employees, offer more services and all of that, but I can't and the reason why is that I am a student and it gets very tricky in September and October to have that kind of responsibility. For now, I am very happy with what I have made. My company is growing and that is a good sign. People are always satisfied meaning that I can raise my prices gradually. You can never start at the top. When you start a business, you start at the bottom and years later you find yourself being a big boss and ordering all your employees on what to do. I see my company as an easy way out should I ever have problems in my life.

 

[LoCo86]

After reading many posts, I have not scene an important factor in pricing. Now, we have assessed that it costs money to maintain our equipment, buy it and pay all the surrounding bills (insurance, employees, new equipment, etc.), but we haven't talked about the areas in where we live! Prices can highly depend on that! In example, I have heard that in the State of Washington, they charge big bucks to mow lawns. Where I live, to be honest, a typical lawn contractor will charge 400-450$ for a lawn mowing contract. It is how it is. We don't mow lawns during winter time, so too catch up we do snow removal wich can be very sucky (getting up very early in the cold). Really, what is the point of arguing about this? Some one just asked about how much he should charge! He is just a kid! Give him a breack. A kid can't charge big bucks to mow a lawn, because he is in another social context. If you are a father and have a wife and all, well you will definetly raise your prices and have a few teams to mow lawns and have more profits. I could easily triple my amount of contracts with having three other employees, offer more services and all of that, but I can't and the reason why is that I am a student and it gets very tricky in September and October to have that kind of responsibility. For now, I am very happy with what I have made. My company is growing and that is a good sign. People are always satisfied meaning that I can raise my prices gradually. You can never start at the top. When you start a business, you start at the bottom and years later you find yourself being a big boss and ordering all your employees on what to do. I see my company as an easy way out should I ever have problems in my life.

In my region you normally get $1 per minute and have a minimum price for any job. We understand that he is a student who is just starting out. We have all been there. All we are trying to do is guide him from our experiences so that he doesn't get out there and lose money. I know money isn't everything, but why even start a business if you're looking to do nothing more than what it takes to get by. If that's the case just get a 9-5 job somewhere. And for you I recommend that you don't give up on your lawn business. Because even with a college degree you probably won't find a job that will pay anywhere close to what you can make doing lawn care. Also like I said to Exotion, your attitude towards this profession is a bit negative. Some people see this line of work as an easy way out but when you get into it as a business I believe you will find that's not the case.

 

[Lawnboy18]

In my region you normally get $1 per minute and have a minimum price for any job. We understand that he is a student who is just starting out. We have all been there. All we are trying to do is guide him from our experiences so that he doesn't get out there and lose money. I know money isn't everything, but why even start a business if you're looking to do nothing more than what it takes to get by. If that's the case just get a 9-5 job somewhere. And for you I recommend that you don't give up on your lawn business. Because even with a college degree you probably won't find a job that will pay anywhere close to what you can make doing lawn care. Also like I said to Exotion, your attitude towards this profession is a bit negative. Some people see this line of work as an easy way out but when you get into it as a business I believe you will find that's not the case.

I try to stick with that 1$/minute rule. Usually, I am close to that. The yards around here are small. In certain areas, I can do 5 in one hour. With a Redbull, probably 6 in an hour.

Trust me, with 8 years of University I can be a Psychologist and earn lots of money.

I am not negative with my business. I love what I do and I want to keep my business for as long as I can. The easy way out that I mentionned earlier was that if something went wrong with University or anything else in my life, I know that I have a pretty good company that I can make very big and popular and have a good life style. I have no clue of what I will do with it in a few years when I am done with University. Maybe sell it, but that would make me sad. Maybe keep it and just boss around two or three teams that run around town for me doing landscape work. As of now, I am concentrating on keeping my clients satisfied and making my prices higher and higher gradually.

 

[exotion]

Not negative I am happy I'm not out to get rich or huge I am out to be happy I will work by my self not hire employees and work when I want I enjoy my work I use it to support my family and we live happy that's all I price my work what I think the job is worth for me and guess what its working lol

 

[LoCo86]

Not negative I am happy I'm not out to get rich or huge I am out to be happy I will work by my self not hire employees and work when I want I enjoy my work I use it to support my family and we live happy that's all I price my work what I think the job is worth for me and guess what its working lol

I'm glad it working out for you, also that you're happy. However, there will come a time when you're not 24 anymore and all this work you're doing by yourself will not be feasible. When that time comes and you're kids are heading to college and the mortgage is still coming I hope your business is still "working" for you.

I'm not trying to get on your case, so don't take what I say as an insult or with malus. I am just trying to give you some foresight of what is to come.

 

[exotion]

I'm glad it working out for you, also that you're happy. However, there will come a time when you're not 24 anymore and all this work you're doing by yourself will not be feasible. When that time comes and you're kids are heading to college and the mortgage is still coming I hope your business is still "working" for you.

I'm not trying to get on your case, so don't take what I say as an insult or with malus. I am just trying to give you some foresight of what is to come.

The thing is and is completely realistic is I have the potential of making 100k a year including all seasons I've gone over the calculations and estimations I could make more buy by the time the kids are off to colledge I will be making close to that number. Plus I'm going to invest in rental property I actually just put an offer on a duplex for sale (fingers crossed) so ya actually it will work