I'm trying to figure out the best way to price my lawn care services. For example, I had one client who wanted to increase the frequency of service from weekly to biweekly, but the mower had trouble with that, so I raised his price from $40 to $45, and he ended up dropping me. On the flip side, I quoted another guy $45 for his lawn, and he thought that was low, so he bumped it up to $55, and I happily agreed. Right now, I'm push mowing, but if I get enough clients, I plan on getting a storage unit, a stand-on mower, and a trailer. I've got years of experience from working in commercial lawn care, but I'm finding it tough to set the right prices for residential work. Additionally, I'm curious about how much others charge for specific services like trimming bushes, mulch jobs, tree trimming, and leaf removal. Any tips or advice would be really appreciated, thanks!
4 Answers
I use a system that factors in property size and work intensity. If I charged by the hour, I'd be worn out and broke! I'm super efficient, which means what I can accomplish in an hour might take someone else a whole week. Because I’ve built up my knowledge and efficiency, I set a rate minimum of $140 per hour, which reflects my expertise and speed.
Don't undersell yourself! The first client who dropped you wasn't worth it. Focus on getting clients like the second one who appreciates your work. Instead of charging by the hour, think about pricing by the job. It might mean losing a few jobs at first, but as you build a good reputation, you'll find more customers. Also, knowing your plants inside out will allow you to charge more. Lots of landscapers don't have that knowledge, so be the one who does!
I've always gone with pricing by the hour, but factor in extra costs for hauling away debris. What's your go-to price for different jobs doing residential work? A mentor once told me he wouldn't cut a yard for less than $30 and that for sod, he'd charge double the pallet price as a minimum. What's your pricing strategy?
I'm curious too! Do you have set minimums established for your services?
I started out with simple installations, but I really love the maintenance side too. It seems easier to get started with maintenance work while having some commercial contracts, but I've found myself doing the same work over and over. Do you also handle hardscaping?