Not sure about my offer to a customer

[mikosiko]

I have only a 2012 Honda 217, trimmer edger, backpack blower and I was sending an offer to my first customer. His last season guy never showed back up. This customer has multiple properties... His house was measured at 12358 sqft with over 779' worth of trimming to do, 2- rental properties and a side area of grass at 16719sqft with 300' of trimming, 2- business properties at 12970sqft with 400' of trimming...
He wanted the house done every week and the rest every two weeks.... So I quoted 1250.00 per month... He seemed stumped and stated that he would have to see what he was getting it done for and get back to me on Monday...Keep in mind this is a connect from a mutual friend and this guy acted as if he would do it right away if the deal was right. My question is does all this seem too high to charge. I am basically asking for 50 dollars an hour. I have a small mower so it would take me longer than those with the bigger ones. That being said with this account it wont be long and my first purchases would be a trailer and ztr of some type. Any advice...Please

 

[Carscw]

Is this a year round gig?

Or is it just for the months you cut the grass?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

 

[mikosiko]

Is this a year round gig?

Or is it just for the months you cut the grass?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

It's just months I cut grass at this point.. We haven't discussed anything else..

 

[jekjr]

I have only a 2012 Honda 217, trimmer edger, backpack blower and I was sending an offer to my first customer. His last season guy never showed back up. This customer has multiple properties... His house was measured at 12358 sqft with over 779' worth of trimming to do, 2- rental properties and a side area of grass at 16719sqft with 300' of trimming, 2- business properties at 12970sqft with 400' of trimming...
He wanted the house done every week and the rest every two weeks.... So I quoted 1250.00 per month... He seemed stumped and stated that he would have to see what he was getting it done for and get back to me on Monday...Keep in mind this is a connect from a mutual friend and this guy acted as if he would do it right away if the deal was right. My question is does all this seem too high to charge. I am basically asking for 50 dollars an hour. I have a small mower so it would take me longer than those with the bigger ones. That being said with this account it wont be long and my first purchases would be a trailer and ztr of some type. Any advice...Please

If he seemed stumped I would ask him what he normally paid or what would I have to meet price wise to get this job. If you have a small mower and you bid a job using $50 per hour as a measuring stick, are you going to lower your price when you can cut three times as much grass in that same amount of time when you get a zero turn?

For instance if you are using 21" push mower and you bid a job that took you 2 hours, using $50 per hour as a measuring stick would be a $100 bid. However when you get a zero turn you could probably cut that same yard in 30 minutes. Basing your time on $50 per hour the price of that yard would vary from $100 to less than $50.

I would suggest you look at that as well when you bid a job. Remember the guy bidding against you might already have a zero turn and be bidding on $50 per as his scale and he can cut that yard in minutes where it might take you hours.....

 

[jekjr]

I have only a 2012 Honda 217, trimmer edger, backpack blower and I was sending an offer to my first customer. His last season guy never showed back up. This customer has multiple properties... His house was measured at 12358 sqft with over 779' worth of trimming to do, 2- rental properties and a side area of grass at 16719sqft with 300' of trimming, 2- business properties at 12970sqft with 400' of trimming...
He wanted the house done every week and the rest every two weeks.... So I quoted 1250.00 per month... He seemed stumped and stated that he would have to see what he was getting it done for and get back to me on Monday...Keep in mind this is a connect from a mutual friend and this guy acted as if he would do it right away if the deal was right. My question is does all this seem too high to charge. I am basically asking for 50 dollars an hour. I have a small mower so it would take me longer than those with the bigger ones. That being said with this account it wont be long and my first purchases would be a trailer and ztr of some type. Any advice...Please

If you were in our part of the world each service would be about $45. So $45 four times for the house is $180 and $45 each for the other two twice a month is $180. That is $360.

I am not sure how bad the trimming is of course without looking at it but a hundred feet of trimming is not going to take you but a few minutes if you have a commercial grade trimmer.

Unless I miss read something all told there is less than an acre of grass to cut.

 

[mikosiko]

If he seemed stumped I would ask him what he normally paid or what would I have to meet price wise to get this job. If you have a small mower and you bid a job using $50 per hour as a measuring stick, are you going to lower your price when you can cut three times as much grass in that same amount of time when you get a zero turn?

For instance if you are using 21" push mower and you bid a job that took you 2 hours, using $50 per hour as a measuring stick would be a $100 bid. However when you get a zero turn you could probably cut that same yard in 30 minutes. Basing your time on $50 per hour the price of that yard would vary from $100 to less than $50.

I would suggest you look at that as well when you bid a job. Remember the guy bidding against you might already have a zero turn and be bidding on $50 per as his scale and he can cut that yard in minutes where it might take you hours.....

If you were in our part of the world each service would be about $45. So $45 four times for the house is $180 and $45 each for the other two twice a month is $180. That is $360.

I am not sure how bad the trimming is of course without looking at it but a hundred feet of trimming is not going to take you but a few minutes if you have a commercial grade trimmer.

Unless I miss read something all told there is less than an acre of grass to cut.

Both very excellent points and I have thought about those things.. I let the job go...I didnt want to because I really could use the neighborhood, very new and upscale.. Do a good job and the requests I expect would have been rolling in. Here are the reasons I let it go. 1) This is out of my league right now and I know it, worry not my time will come and soon. 2) I absolutely will not go into debt and I will mow 1000 small lawns to eventually pay for every piece of equipment I own, no exceptions. 3) I developed a great business relationship through the experience and that very thing may bring a future job much more valuable. 4) I learned something and that has already paid for itself in not taking the job.... I learned that I can get into bidding and research to bring real competition to the industry here. I walked away from this very confident for sure. I enjoy this and if I make it too much work by tking a job way outsized for me, (easy there folks, working really hard is fun for me, @44 most cant keep up with me), then it stops being fun and I dont want that to happen.... All that being said I went out and scored my first 4 lawns the next day and so "Seikel Lawns LLC" is officially in business. All is well as it ends well. Keep in mind I am confident but I DO NOT know it all and I wont portend that. This forum and all of you in it are very important with all your knowledge and experience and I certainly appreciate it. Even if there is critical review I will accept it and learn from it Im not a wuss. I Fully intend to give back in return when I actually have knowledge to give, that is how I feel it should be. Thanks guys

 

[RatRacer]

Good for you Miko, and congrats on your first customers.:thumbsup:
A hard, but wise choice for a start up business. Good luck!