I've been thinking a lot about quoting, and it feels like one of the riskiest parts of running my business. Not only do I put in time without guaranteed pay, but I also risk disclosing my pricing strategies, potentially underquoting, and losing money if I misjudge costs. Plus, if I take too long to respond, I might come off as unprofessional. Meanwhile, clients can just click 'Next' if they don't like my quote. Is there a better way to protect myself when quoting? Are there any tools or software available that help manage this? Or are we just expected to shoulder the risk?
2 Answers
Honestly, you might be overthinking this! It's about selling yourself more than just quoting prices. I’ve been at this for over 5 years and I land about 90% of my jobs. Clients want trustworthy folks, so show up on time, know your costs well, and maintain a professional appearance. Think about how your own parents choose someone for their jobs—they look beyond just price. Know your worth and remember to value your time!
If pricing is your main selling point, you might be setting yourself up against the wall. In landscaping, your price has to be reasonable, but so does your work quality. A higher quote can be intimidating, but as long as it’s justified and you deliver good results, you’ll be fine. The horror stories of going cheap are everywhere—quality often trumps cost!
Exactly! I rarely go with the cheapest option. Most projects I work on prioritize quality over price.