Hey everyone! I run a small lawn care business by myself in the Sierra Mountains near Sacramento, CA. A couple of weeks ago, I helped an older retiree with a big cleanup job, removing piles of leaves and branches from his yard. Now he's upset with me, saying I overcharged him. I charged a total of $200 for 3.5 hours of work, which included raking, blowing, and loading debris onto my trailer. I also charged him an extra $90 for dumping costs (with $30 for the trip, $30 for fuel, and $30 for green waste fees). He claims that his previous landscaper only charged him $100 for everything and didn't have dumping fees. So, did I really overcharge him, or is he just exaggerating?
3 Answers
For real, he's living in the past if he thinks those prices are reasonable. Where I live, we charge at least $75 an hour plus extra for dumping. Your total sounds fair considering the time and costs involved. Maybe you just need to clearly outline your rates next time.
Honestly, I think you're okay with your pricing. Five and a half hours of work and he's only wanting to pay $100? That's less than $20 an hour if you factor in your expenses! It’s good practice to give a written quote for jobs, though, to avoid confusion next time.
It sounds like you're selling yourself short on your hourly rate! You might be undercharging overall. For a one-man operation, you should highlight your costs upfront to avoid these kinds of complaints.