how to charge for lawns

[nick13]

hi i am not new to landscapeing but starting to get bigger i was wondering if anyone could help me on how to charge for lawns mostly because i did lawns mostly the same size or close to the same size so i charged about the same.

thank you i would like to know if you charge buy square feet or how long you think it will take to cut it.

thanks nick

[MCV]

You will want to generalize by the square foot, but certainly the difficulty of the terrain or layout can drastically affect things. -- lots of trimming; can you get your largest, most efficient machines on the whole property, etc.?

[BSDeality]

its definitely by the time not by the footage. There are some 1 acre properties I can cut and trim in 25 minutes flat, others that take me 45 minutes because of intricate gardens, pools, tight areas, etc.

That being said, always have a minimum charge and never go below it, just like plowing.

[John DiMartino]

I do it by time,and ease of access for truck trailer,and risk,much like snow.One of my smaller lawns is the hardest between tight parking,and tons of trees,and a ditch that forces you onto the road on a blind turn....

[Landgreen]

Don't forget the dog crap and poison ivy surcharges.:popcorn2

[MCV]

Don't forget the dog crap and poison ivy surcharges.
I got so pissed off at running over dog poo at one account I started mowing circles around the piles. Looked like sh1t after. :D

[Landgreen]

I got so pissed off at running over dog poo at one account I started mowing circles around the piles. Looked like sh1t after. :D
:rolling

Nick- Keep in mind the distance you will be driving. Lawns next door to current customers can be bid a little cheaper in most cases. Frequency of cutting affects price as well. A lawn with no watering during the summer will not be nearly as profitable as one with an irrigation system. Customer's attitude affects price as well. If you suspect the person is gonna be a problem charge accordingly to make it worth your while. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are bidding a lawn in a desirable subdivision you might want to bid it a little cheaper just to get your foot in the door so to speak. When all the neighbors see your work and your truck, business can really take off. These tips don't necessarily apply to commercial properties.

[pcarlson]

of all the things that have been mentioned. I begin with square footage and then multiply by my price per square foot. Then I adjust for difficulty, customer PITA factor, drive distance, etc. I also take into account whether they are a year round customer. Snow and landscaping together = a bit of a discount.
pc