Calculate Your Rate When You Have Employees
Employees can speed up your operation tenfold. But, theres an art to pricing out their labor.
Jason explains that when including labor in your price, you should consider how much effort is required per person.
When I say $60 per hour, Im talking about the rate per person. So if you have a two-man crew, youre looking at $120 per hour. If you have a three-man crew, $180 per hour. If Ive got a two-man crew and were cutting grass and it took us 30 minutes to cut, thats a $60 lawn. Although it took half the time to mow this lawn, it required two times the effort for labor for Jasons team.
Or, you can take Edwards approach:
We bid per hour. I like to walk the site, get the job requirements, and decide how long and how much labor it will take. For example, a job might take an hour and a half with three people. So Ill bill three people on the site at $45 an hour, $45 per employee, so that $135 for labor alone.
Notice that this price doesnt include overhead, equipment, and materials costs yet.
Specific Characteristics Of Lawns That Affect Lawn Mowing Quotes
Let’s list out several things that could potentially increase the cost of a lawn mowing service over and beyond its acreage.
- Fences – increases the amount of trimming
- Small gates – requires a smaller mower
- Slopes – adds time and difficulty
- Obstacles – excessive amounts of obstacles slows down the mowing time and increase trimming time
- Corner lots – doubles the amount of edging
- Rural – increases drive time which the lawn mowing company has to account for
- Bi-weekly service – the grass gets longer between mowing services and takes longer to cut each service
If you are looking to hire a lawn mowing service, check we see if there is a lawn service you can trust in your area.
Contributing Factors To Lawn Care Prices
While a lot of people expect lawn care to cost the same from lawn care company to company, there are actually quite a few different factors that impact lawn care cost.
Since these factors can differ dramatically among lawn care services in Memphis, TN and Olive Branch, MS, so can the prices. In order to help you understand what youre paying for, lets walk through some of the key factors.
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How To Save Money On Lawn Care Services
If you love the idea of professional lawn care but not the added household expense, think strategically about signing on for the long term with a lawn company. “Lawn mowing is a competitive business,” says one lawn care pro. As a result, many companies will negotiate discounts and deals based on frequency of visits.
If you are planning to become a regular customer, ask about package rates and bundling lawn mowing and trimming with other lawn care services such as landscaping and fertilization. Lawn care pros benefit by providing you with multiple services, your pocketbook benefits from the discounts, and your lawn benefits from the holistic care.
How Often Should I Treat My Lawn
Whilst it may be tempting to frequently treat your lawn in the hopes of helping it progress, too much interference, or too many of the same treatments, can also cause lawn issues its important to find the right balance of treatments that works for your lawn and its needs.
Most lawn care specialists will recommend a yearly maintenance schedule for your lawn based on soil and dominant grass type, which will cover your lawn needs, tailored to the seasonal weather expectations.
Below is a table outlining the preferred time of year for treatments to take place:
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Average Costs To Level A Yard
Most homeowners pay roughly $1,982 to level their yards. This price increases and decreases based on the severity of existing slopes. Several factors affect this amount. One is the amount of fill dirt required. Most locations sell it per cubic yard with an average of $15. Landscapers also charge different hourly rates, starting at $50 per hour.
Areas subject to erosion require more service and might need repeated grading to keep the soil in place. Each regrade can add an extra $400 to the original price.
What Is A Fair Hourly Rate Or Lawn Care Are You Getting Ripped Off
So youre about to hire a lawn care service and youre wondering.
What is a fair price to pay for landscaping?
Or what is a fair hourly rate to pay for lawn care services?
The good news is that you’re not alone,
Look, the fact is, this is a question we often get running the GreenPal platform. And, helping homeowners all over America find, schedule, and pay local lawn care services.
It gets better. We decided to research to get to the bottom of what is a fair hourly rate to pay for lawn mowing services.
Here is what we learned!
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How Much Does Sod Installation Cost
The cost to install natural grass sod is quite a bit less than artificial grass. It costs between to $1 to $2 a square foot, or $2,000 to $4,000 for 2,000 square feet, If you decide to go with a pro for installation. If you are interested in learning more, click Turf Installations costs and read our blog post.
Are The Lawn Care Products The Gardener Uses Organic And Safe For The Environment
One of the main concerns for lawn treatment is that it is safe for pets and children to go on afterwards. There are organic treatments and you should check with your contractor about the safety of the products they use and if there is any recommended period that children and pets need to be kept off the grass after it has been treated.
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Lawn Care Products Utilized
Like any other product you might purchase, there are varying levels of quality. The types of lawn care products a company utilizes are directly reflected in the price you pay for lawn care services. That means when a company uses a higher quality product, youll likely pay a little more for their services.
Like technician experience, products can have a big impact on results. Simply put, higher quality products are going to work better. A lawn care company that costs less might be making up for charging less by using lower quality products.
What Should I Beware Of
One thing to be mindful of when comparing lawn-mowing prices is whether the quote youre getting seems reasonable.
Also, keep in mind that a lawn-mowing professional or company might try to bump up the price simply because you live in a fancy neighborhood. Why? Because they think you can afford it, Farley says.
Regardless of what sort of neighborhood you live in, there are some things you can do to avoid lawn care rip-offs. The Better Business Bureau, Better Homes & Gardens, HomeAdvisor and the National Association of Lawn Care Professionals offer these tips:
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Rates Vary A Little By Location
Much of this depends on what part of the country you live in.
For example, pricing for lawn maintenance services in warmer climates such as Florida or California are more competitive than they are as compares to cooler climates.
You might be wondering why this is?
Well, think about it. The lawn care business is more stable in climates where the grass needs cutting year-round. Naturally, in an area where grass grows for shorter seasons, lawn care services have to figure out how to make ends meet, during the wintertime.
Put another way, lawn mowing services are treated more as a commodity in warmer climates.
And more as a luxury service in Northern climates.
Pricing Guide: How Much Does A Lawn Mower Cost
You dont have to spend a lot of green to keep your lawn green and trim. The cheapest lawn mower, a manual push reel mower, could cost as little as $57. The average cost of a gas-powered lawn mower is $1,068. On the high end of the spectrum, an intelligent robot mower with special features can cost up to $17,063.
Most homeowners with a typical-sized yard will be better off with a walk-behind mower, which costs $363 on average. The average cost of a riding lawn mower suited for large properties is $2,450. While some robot mowers can reach astronomical prices like the one mentioned above, the average price for a standard model is $1,470.
How much you spend on a lawn mower will depend on your yards size, the type of grass you have, the power source you want to use, and the brand you choose. Weve broken down typical costs of different kinds of lawn mowers so you can figure out which one is best for both your needs and your budget.
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Lay New Turf Or Lawn Seeds
You can now begin to lay your new tuft, or alternatively, sow lawn seeds. Most lawn experts will recommend re-turfing the law, particularly if you are keen to see results quickly. Grass seeds are cheaper, but the results are much slower.
For further information about laying turf, we have a dedicated turf laying guide. Alternatively, you may want to consider installing artificial grass on your lawn to minimise maintenance, in which case, you can find information here.
Most lawn companies will dispose of the old lawn as part of the service they provide, though if you decide to complete the work yourself, its advisable that you take the waste products to your local garden waste recycling centre, which are usually free to use or consider hiring a skip for larger lawn replacements.
How Much Does Lawn Treatment Cost
There are a number of treatments available for lawns that can help improve their appearance, health and durability depending on your needs Some of which are suitable for home DIY application, and others that will require a qualified professional to complete.
On average, basic lawn treatments costs start at around £15 for basic work on a small lawn, up to around £180 for more labour-intensive and time-consuming services in larger lawn areas, but keep in mind that the cost of lawn treatments are affected by a few factors, such as the severity of the issue being addressed, your location within the UK, the size of the lawn being treated and who will be providing the treatment service.
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What Are The Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Lawn Mowing Service
Almost nothing is as gratifying as a well-maintained lawn. Fortunately, a lush and beautiful yard no longer requires endless hours of mowing and trimming by the entire family. The best lawn care professionals can help take care of your home, office, rental or commercial properties and they’re beneficial in many ways.
For one, lawn care professionals have their own lawn mowers and trimming equipment, so you don’t need to spend money on a mower of your own. Hiring a professional gives you back the space you would have used to store bulky lawn equipment in the garage or shed. You also won’t have to worry about keeping gas in the tank or a charge in the battery, or finding an extension cord long enough to let you weed-whack your entire yard.
They can also take care of your lawn beyond just a simple mow and trim with add-on services like laying down fertilizer or coming up with a mowing plan to keep your yard growing healthily year-round. Or, if your lawn has been neglected for awhile, they can revive it. No matter how poorly maintained your lawn has been in the past, the pros can bring a dried-up lawn back to life or tame an overgrown mess.
Why Does A Lawn Grow Faster In The Summer
Your lawn grows faster in the summer due to better temperatures and increased sun exposure. As part of photosynthesis, your grass depends on plenty of sunlight. Although too much will kill it off, too little prevents it from flourishing. Grass growth begins to peak when temperatures rise above 10 degrees Celsius. If they dip between 5 degrees Celsius, it wont grow at all. Its worth noting that poor moisture during hot mid-summer months reduces growth. Like sun and heat, your grass depends on a ready supply of water to thrive. If you live in an area where rainfall is poor, you may want to consider watering your lawn during hot months. This is a great article that discusses summer gardening tips Finally, some lawns will benefit from a nitrogen-based fertiliser. When nitrogen reacts with other factors, it accelerates your lawns growth, resulting in greener and lusher grass.
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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:
Number Of Lawn Care Visits
The number of service visits performed within the lawn care program also directly impacts lawn care prices. Each visit could be made up of a varying number of applications.
Before agreeing to any services, make sure you know how many visits and specific applications the each visit on the program will include. You want to be able to feel confident that your lawn care company is including just the right number of actual treatments .
Knowing whats included is important. Otherwise, you may fall victim to a common marketing scheme in the lawn care industry which is to underprice services just to hook you. This occurs when lawn care companies give you their rock bottom price knowing that it doesnt actually include everything you really need. In the end, you may wind up paying just as much with all of the add-on services and upcharges you have to tack on than you would have with another company that offered everything you needed from the start.
At Master Lawn, we have found that the sweet spot is 7 to 10 visits, which allows us to get all important services completed. This also helps people to choose the program that is best for them both based on their own needs as well as what Master Lawn feels will help their lawn the most. When applicable, we are able to combine certain applications in order to pass savings along to the customer. It is never our goal to upcharge for services that we can offer at a more affordable price when possible.
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How To Choose The Right Lawn Mowing Service
In order to choose the right lawn mowing service for you, you will first need to establish your specific needs. If you are after a quick and easy one-off lawn mowing, then you can risk taking the lowest quote. Whereas, if you are looking for an ongoing lawn mowing service you should lift the bar. You will want to entrust someone who will always arrive on time, work fast yet efficiently and ultimately improves your lawns health and look.
At Service.com.au we suggest choosing a lawn mowing service who also provides general garden maintenance. Such as fertilising, weed control, aerating and so on. So if you do require additional services they are readily available, rather than having to hire another company.
You can browse through a number of professional lawn mowing companies or individuals on Service.com.au. You will find easy access to a variety of professionals within your proximity.
You should consider whether you want to enter a contractual agreement or work on a more casual basis. Some people just want a few months of help restoring their lawn back to good condition and others may require an ongoing service all year round.
Here Are Some Of The Variables That Will Affect The Lawn Mowing Cost
Shape: A perfect rectangular lawn will take a considerably lesser amount of time to mow in comparison to an odd-shaped lawn with flowerbed and obstacles scattered throughout.
Access: Small gates into backyards keep us from using larger mowing equipment, and thus increases the time it takes to mow the backyard if it is fenced in. Longer driveways or addresses with limited parking for our truck and trailer setup, also increase the time it takes to perform the mowing service. A yard where the truck and trailer can park next to is going to cost less than if the truck has to park farther away for our mowing services.
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Pitfalls Of Diy Landscaping
- Being unable to find the right equipment like a mini bulldozer, an excavator, and a Bobcat.
- Lacking the training to identify problem areas.
- Damaging underground pipes and wires.
- Using the wrong soil.
Even if someone plans to level the yard by themselves, many professionals are still willing to give tips, help people learn, and even rent the proper equipment.
Hire a Grading or Leveling Professional
Find The Best Grass Cutting Service Near You
It aint always easy finding that perfect gardener. The one that is chatty enough but not annoying, who gets the job done in time and doesnt leave any mess behind. Sounds fantastic, right? Now its simple to compare local lawn experts in your area when you request quotes here. Read their profile and reviews, and choose the best gardener for your needs.
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