Costing Of Lawn Maintenance
On a general note the cost of lawn maintenance costs within a range of $100 to $500 entirely based on the kind and amount of services, also the maintenance company hired and the landscaper you happen to work with. There are innumerable packages that you can choose from which covers a particular section of services. They are clubbed together to make it convenient for the property owner to opt. Take a look at such kinda service package below:
Estimating landscaping jobs correctly is key to running a profitable business. Statistics show that most contractors only make a profit on three out of every five jobs. They lose money on one and break even on the other, according to Total Landscape Care.
Learning to accurately bid on landscaping work will ensure youre making a profit on every job you do.
Need a landscaping estimating template? Estimate smarter and faster with FreshBooks professional estimating software. Send estimates online in a flash and easily convert them to invoices when the jobs done.
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In this article, well cover:
Does Higher Pay Equal Less Turnover
In a nutshell, higher pay can help equal less turnover, but its not guaranteed.
Here’s the thing, you dont want to be the low payer among competitors.
If you become known as the low paying employer , youll likely get poor employee candidates, decreased employee retention, less work completed, and lower quality work.
However, remember that paying employees is so much more than their take-home pay. While money in their pockets is important, it’s not the end-all be-all.
It’s important to pay what’s within the budget while still maintaining profit goals.
Also, incentives go a long way. For example, bonuses, benefits, and lunches all factor in when trying to attract the best employees.
Always remember, people want to feel appreciated. If you treat your employees like family, then chances are they’ll work hard for you and put their best foot forward.
If they get nickel-and-dimed and micromanaged, then they’ll likely look elsewhere .
Now, thats not to say employees dont have to be held accountable. Weve all seen people that take advantage.
For example, a half hour lunch turns into 45 minutes, or a job is finished and the crew drags their feet starting the next job. It happens. As the lawn care business owner, you just want to minimize it.
Yard Machines 140cc 21
With side discharge and mulching capabilities, this powerful and versatile mower can tackle your landscaping needs in a snap.
Although its a higher price point than some of the other mowers on this list, that price reflects the quality. The 140 cc engine is equipped with recoil start and primer, so you can get started on the job quickly and easily.
Great for small to medium-sized properties, this mowers durable 11-inch rear tires with bar treading can handle a wide variety of terrains.
You can adjust this tool to six different heights, and with a 21-inch cutting width, you can cut through all types of grasses in one pass.
This Yard Machines maintenance is hassle-free since it doesnt require oil changes like other gas mowers. All you have to do is keep an eye on the oil level and add more when needed.
Specifications:
Side discharge and mulching capabilities
Cons:
May struggle on wet ground Some reviewers had issues with missing pieces
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What Are The Coverage And Pricing Options For Lawn Care Insurance
We offer customized packages to each customer so you can find the coverage that you want. You pay only for what you need.
Lawn care business owners like you typically purchase a combination of coverage in their insurance package, including:
- General liability can help protect you if bodily injury or damage to someone else or their property occurs
- Workers compensation can help protect you if your employee has a workplace injury or work-related illness
- Tools & equipment can help protect you if your tools are lost, damaged or stolen
- Commercial property can help protect you if you own your own building, lease property or work from home
After you answer a few basic questions with our online instant quote, you can review your options and choose the amount of coverage you want from our Basic, Pro and Pro+ packages.
Continue reading to learn more about how much different types of insurance costs and their coverage limits.
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About Remodeling Expense
Remodeling Expenses provides homeowners with accurate cost information on home services and level the playing field for consumers and service professionals. We aim to have data on all US zip codes, so homeowners from all over the country can lookup accurate and up to date pricing information.
Select Your Project & Zipcode
What Others Are Saying
We were in the planning stages of our exterior remodeling project that included: New siding, windows, fencing, and a deck refacing.
RemodelingExpense had pretty darn accurate cost calculators that helped us budget our projects, all relevant to our zipcode and contractors near me. I felt good Knowing exactly how much I should pay without getting ripped off. Francesca, Charlotte, NC
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How Much Does A Lawn Mower Charge Per Hour
The prices for lawn mowing depend on the size of your lawn and the degree of work involved. A one-time appointment may cost around $60 per hour while a regular service deal will charge $50 to $40 per hour. $40 per hour is the usual median rate but the per hour cost of riding lawn mower services is usually around $120.
Why Is Lawn Care Important
As most of us know, appropriate and consistent lawn care is essential if you want a beautiful lawn.
If your lawn doesnt get the care and maintenance it needs, you will end up with a variety of problems, such as pests, browning, ugly thin patches, and even lawn diseases.
Your grass can eventually die, as well. You dont want to end up in this situation, so make sure you learn about all the care your lawn needs and the steps you can take to make sure it gets it.
I have a lot of great resources for homeowners looking to make their grass green and healthy on this site, so I hope youll look around.
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Types Of Push Lawn Mowers
You probably noticed that our list includes three different types of push lawn mowers: gas, electric, and reel. Heres the difference between the three:
Gas push mowers
As you can guess, gas lawn mowers run on well, gas. That means youll have to store fuel for a gas mower and refill the tank when it gets low.
Gas engines also require more maintenance than other types of mowers, since most of them need regular oil changes. Gas mowers are loud, and their emissions arent great for the environment.
On the flip side, gas engines pack the most power, and they arent limited by a batterys run time or an extension cord.
If you have a large yard with a lot of difficult terrain that needs high torque, a gas mower is your best bet.
Electric push mowers
The category of electric lawn mowers includes both battery-powered and corded models. Each type has drawbacks since batteries create time limits and cords deter movement, but each type has benefits, too.
Electric mowers are eco-friendly, quiet, and low-maintenance. For a small- to mid-sized yard , electric mowers are an excellent choice.
Reel push mowers
Reel mowers are old-school. They dont have a motor: You manually make the mower blades spin as you push it.
Reel lawn mowers are typically cheaper than other types , and theyre the most eco-friendly option since they dont use gas or electricity.
Lawn Care Service Prices
Lawn care professionals provide many different service outside of just mowing. Depending on where you live, and how long its been since your yard has been maintained, some additional services may be needed. Let’s take a look at some common lawn services and their prices:
- Lawn Mowing: Average cost $25 – $50
- Tree Trimming: Average cost $250 – $500
- Lawn Aeration: Average cost $80 – $175
- Lawn Weeding: Average cost $20 – $40 /hour
- Lawn Winterization: Average cost $350
- Lawn Fertilizing: Average cost $40 – $60 /application
- Lawn Seeding: Average cost for professional $700
- Leaf Removal: Average cost $50 – $80
- Landscaping: Average cost between $3,000 and $15,950
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Lawn Mowing Cost Per Week
Regular lawn mowing once a week will run you an average of $30 to $80 per visit. Weekly costs are generally calculated based on the property size and type of work being done. Weekly mowing service is the most common contract option, especially during peak growing season, normally the spring and summer. This is because your lawn will grow faster, and the watering, sunshine, and fertilizer continue to nourish it.
Benchmarking Your Business Report
Pricing is a perennial issue for the landscape industry. Here are the benchmarks to be sure youre covering your expenses and making a profit.
Pricing is a constant pressure for landscape businesses, whether youre operating a lawn care company, design/build firm or commercial maintenance business.
Pricing is the one common frustration because no matter the market or economic landscape, youll always face low-ballers and feel cornered by clients who try to squeeze the profit out of a contract.
Its important to know your numbers, know where you need to be and know when to say when on lowering a price, says Jim Huston, president of J.R. Huston Consulting.
Huston describes a contractor who wanted to lower his hourly labor pay rate by $2 an hour because it would decrease the cost of services by 10 percent and allow him to pick up more work. We really dug into the numbers and discovered that he could lower the hourly rate, Huston says. Well, that contractor did, in fact, end up adding many more clients because his market was particularly competitive. If you know your costs, then you can make those decisions, Houston says.
A bottom-up pricing strategy tells you:
- How low you can go with pricing
- How much room you have to value-engineer a contract to retain a client or compete against another bidder
- The bottom-line price you can build up from, and perhaps generously, depending on the market and economy
Get your break-even.
How low are your numbers?
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Does Your Company Use A Gas Mower
Fluctuating gas prices will have an affect on the cost of your lawn mowing and trimming services if your service provider uses a gas mower. Some companies will reflect those prices in their cost per service each time, while other companies may update their pricing yearly. For example, a company may increase prices by $5-$10 after a year if gas prices have continued to climb, but they won’t change their prices on a week-by-week basis.
Some companies use only electrical mowers and trimmers, so fluctuations in gas prices don’t affect them. Their equipment runs from pre-charged batteries or through extension cords plugged into your electrical outlets.
Find The Average Lawn Care Wages
In order to find the average lawn care wages in your area, a great place to start is by checking a job listing website to see what other local lawn care businesses are offering in their job listings.
For example, a quick search on Indeed for lawn care specialist in Richardson, Texas pays anywhere from $12 to $25 an hour.
Heres how the US Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks it down:
Keep in mind, these are merely the average wages for each position.
Though, how much you pay depends on the benefits you’re offering as the total compensation package.
For example, are you offering PTO time off? Is there health insurance? Are there benefits or bonuses? Please note, compensations are likely just as important to employees as the hourly rate.
In a moment, well cover how to pay lawn care employees while also guaranteeing the business stays profitable. Though, first lets take a look at lawn care wages by region.
It’s important to remember that payment varies by geographic area.
Here are the landscaper wages from a few major regions across the US:
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How To Charge For Lawn Care Services In 2022
Charging for your lawn care services can be a daunting task. It seems like many lawn care professionals are undercharging or overcharging for their services, and its hard to find the right balance. This article will discuss how to charge for your lawn care services in 2022. We will cover everything from pricing strategies to tips on how to increase your profits. So, whether you are just starting in the industry or looking to make some changes to your current pricing strategy, this article is for you!
How Much Does Lawn Care Cost Per Hour
A lawn care pro can typically charge between $33 and $70 for their time mowing the grass. Hiring a professional to do yard work will be more expensive if you have a lot of space. Hiring a professional mower is frequently convenient and saves time, despite the fact that most homeowners can maintain their own lawns.
What is the hourly rate to pay for lawn mowers? The vast majority of lawn care professionals polled said they charged between $60 and $80 per man per hour. Rates will vary depending on the location. Grass cutting in the summer is more profitable, whereas it is less profitable in the winter. Professional lawn mowers usually charge a flat rate of $1 per minute for cutting grass. In some cases, lawn care rates will rise dramatically if the service is provided bi-weekly rather than on a weekly basis. As a result, the grass is cut twice as frequently because it takes much longer.
Some lawn care professionals charge over $85, while others charge around $60 an hour. Todays labor costs are prohibitively expensive for lawn mowers, making doing business in this industry difficult. GreenPal can always be used to check pricing in your area for free simply sign up for it.
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Find Out The Track Record
Ask how long a lawn care provider has been in business. What level of experience and education does the person or a providers staff have? Also, is the provider properly licensed and insured?
Unfortunately, some providers are fly-by-night operators that havent been in business very long and are interested only in taking your money, not in providing top-notch service. As noted by MarketWatch, providing lawn care requires little more than some equipment and a business license. Almost no training is required.
How Is My Invoice Calculated
We calculate the time on site by multiplying the number of staff who service your property by our hourly rate, from the time they arrive on site until the time they depart.
We then add a standard fifteen minutes travel time for each of two staff. The travel time is the same whether you have one, two or three staff working on your property.
Finally, we add any additional charges for supplies or non-standard equipment.
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Average Cost Of Lawn Care Per Month
The average lawn care cost per month is $100, but it can range from $65 to $150 each month. Some lawn care costs are as low as $40 monthly. However, it can go as high as $900 a month. These costs depend on several variables which youll learn more about below.
Before you balk at any of the service costs, you should understand the importance of lawn care. The appearance of the landscape can greatly impact your business. If the grass looks overgrown, potential customers will feel turned off by their perceived lack of care. They might think someone who cant maintain the lawn cant handle their business needs, either.
Overgrown grass is also a safety hazard. If it grows too far over a sidewalk, it can be unsteady to walk on. Some grasses and weeds knot together and can trip pedestrians. Pests can live in overgrown grass and harm people walking by. These creatures can also get into your building to cause damage and make people sick.
Estimating The Time To Complete A Yard
No two lots are the same, even if they have the same square footage. You have to take into account a number of factors that can make a significant difference in the time it takes you to complete .
Use a âBenchmark Yardâ
A benchmark is simply something that you use as a point of reference for other items of a similar nature. I like to apply that strategy to bidding by visualizing one of my clientâs yards thatâs fairly average difficulty, meaning there arenât many obstacles and itâs pretty easy to complete. This is my benchmark yard.
The key to having an accurate benchmark is that you have to track your time for that yard. You can literally start a stopwatch on your phone or in the Check app to do this.
As Iâm walking around other properties and estimating how long it will take me to complete, I can envision how aspects of that yard are either easier or harder than my benchmark yard. Is it bigger or smaller than my benchmark? Does it have more or less obstacles? You get the picture.
As you get to know your clientâs yards better, you can use all of them as benchmarks for new properties youâre bidding. You can have a feel for which one of your clientsâ yards is most similar to the one you are bidding and tweak the price accordingly. I guess thatâs just a fancy way of saying that the more experience you have, the easier it is to price yards in the future.
Obstacles
Size of the Property
Gate Width
Go With Your Gut
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