How To Pay Lawn Care Employees

Yard Cleanup In Spring And Fall

Ever spring youll have downed branches and debris in your lawn and garden beds to pick up and remove.

In the fall youll want to prune back perennials and rake out garden beds to make them neat and tidy.

Homeowners generally pay between $100 and $250 for yard cleanup in the spring and fall, and its a great investment in making your home neat and tidy so you can focus on enjoying your lawn all year.

Getting Tactical Actually Doing It

A Proven System For You To Implement

Adwords, Craigslist > Website Landing Page > Dedicated Voicemail

It consists of two parts getting attention using Pay Per Click , local classifieds, and using a special voicemail to collect your new employee leads.

Getting Attention

Adwords & Facebook Ads vs Craigslist

Both are good here, but Ive found that the competition is quite low for these keywords for PPC and can attract sometimes better leads. I think this is because its a different person who will Google for a job than a person who looks for one on Craigslist. This is an entirely different person who will come across your ad on Facebook. There you can get attention from people who arent even be looking for a job. You could use this as a way to get the attention of your competitors best guys.

How To Write An Ad For Finding Lawn Care Employees

Just like writing ads for lawn care you need to try and get inside of the head of the person you want to hire. Why is it better to work for you than other places? Think far beyond $/h. Things like weekends off, or well-maintained gear go a long way in getting attention from top workers.

Website Landing Page

The Application Process

Is a resume really the best way to apply for a landscaping job? Id say for the most part no.

Resumes and long job application forms are steps that hinder your worker lead generation systems.

So what is the best way to accept applications?

The phone!

But it sucks to answer!

Diy Lawn Dethatching Vs Hiring A Lawn Company

While you can rent a lawn dethatcher, youll also need a truck and other materials to get rid of this dead debris.

You might pay more money to hire a company, but its almost certainly worth it. Professional lawn companies typically send 3-person teams out to dethatch. Doing this project by yourself will almost certainly take hours longer .

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Salary Information For Grounds Maintenance Workers

Grounds maintenance workers earned a median annual salary of $26,920 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, grounds maintenance workers earned a 25th percentile salary of $22,230, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $33,640, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 1,309,300 people were employed in the U.S. as grounds maintenance workers.

References

Cost Of Weeding Your Lawn

Wedding your lawn is also very important maintenance. Removing unwanted and unsightly weeds is a sure way to improve the appearance of your lawn. If you have a regular lawn care professional who does your weekly mowing and trimming, you can ask them to get rid of the weeds on their next visit. There are a couple ways to go about weeding your lawn. You can pull them regularly or you can kill them with chemicals designed for the job for a more permanent solution.

The average cost of weeding is about $12 and $40 per hour, depending on which method you choose and how many weeds you have. Using weed killer is usually the more expensive route and cost closer to the $25 â $40 per hour mark since you are paying for labor and the chemicals.

Many weed killers are environmentally safe and pet friendly, but some are not. Be sure to consult a lawn care professional before making decisions on which path to take.

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Open A Business Bank Account And Credit Card

Setting up a business bank account is another important step. Even if youre operating as a sole proprietor, a business bank account is a good idea. It keeps your personal and business expenses separate and makes bookkeeping and tax filing easier.

Starting an account at a brick-and-mortar bank is a good idea if you accept cash for your services. Large banks offer the convenience of many branch locations, while a local bank keeps your money in the local economy.

There are also a number of benefits if you choose online banking. Online banks typically have lower fees and less paperwork.

A business credit card can also help separate personal and business expenses. These cards typically offer better terms and higher limits than personal cards. And they have the added benefit of perks like rewards points and cash-back offers.

Consider your current needs as well as what you might need in the future. With a little research, you can find the best checking account and credit card options for your business.

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Cost For Landscapers

The amount you pay for workers compensation is a specific rate based on every $100 of your businesss payroll. Your premium is determined by the type of work done by your employees , your experience modification rate , and your payroll .

The formula is:Classification rate x Experience modification rate x = Premium

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Get An Employer Identification Number

If your business is of the sole proprietorship variety, you wont need an employer identification number.

However, if youre planning on having employees work in your lawn business, youll need to get one to open a business account, apply for a business license, or to get a loan.

You can see what an application looks like here.

To get yours, apply at the IRS website.

Its totally free.

Do Landscapers Make A Lot Of Money

There are roughly 912,480 people employed in the landscaping industry. The average wage for all occupations is $18.15 per hour, or $37,750 per year. Top executives earned an average wage of $46.66 per hour, or $ $97,050 per year. Landscape architects earned an average wage of $29.16 per hour, or $60,650 per year.

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There Are Legitimate Personal Expenses That Your Business Can Cover

This list is just a general idea as different locations have different rules. You will need to see an accountant for professional advice for your business.

Health insurance We have some of our policies covered by our business. Others dont qualify, and we have to pay these ourselves personally. You can find out more here.

Home office If you have an area set out in your home solely for business use you will be able to claim for it. This claim will not cover the kitchen table, but it will include a desk in the corner of a room. You can get the most up to date information about this at the IRS site here.

The use of your personal car for quoting If you find yourself doing a lot of quoting or visiting customers in your family vehicle you can claim for this. You will need to keep a logbook. You can find out about that here.

There is a multitude of other expenses that can be covered therefore reducing your taxable income such as entertainment and travel but I wont go into them here. I suggest you see your account for a full list of what you can claim in your location.

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First Set A Price For Lawn Mowing Services

Wondering how much lawn care costs, including mowing? Short answer, it depends. Here are a few factors that can influence what you charge:

Your experience: Seasoned lawn care professionals can charge more for their services. But when youre building your customer base, you may need to start with a lower price point. Then, once you get a few customers under your belt, you can raise them incrementally.

The location of your business: Theres an amount that people in your area are willing to pay for lawn care services. Do some research to find out that amount. Higher-end neighborhoods and businesses will often pay more. Meanwhile, lower-income neighborhoods usually want lower pricesor they might not need your services at all. Call a few lawn care companies in your area. Ask their prices. Then use those numbers as a starting point on how to price your lawn care services.

If you work with businesses or residents: Most commercial businesses who value quality are willing to pay top dollar. Homeowners, on the other hand, may be more budget conscious. Caveatall of this depends on your area, of course. Poke around. Do some research. Find out which clients are willing to pay more in your area.

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Workers Comp Protects Your Landscaping Workers

Landscaping involves physical work that could cause injury. If a lawn care company’s employee is overexposed to pesticides, or a tree trimmer is hit by a falling branch, it could lead to costly medical bills. Workers compensation covers medical expenses from work-related injuries and illnesses. It also helps pay for wages while the employee is recovering.

Calculate Your Hourly Labor Rate

How much are you going to charge per person, per hour for the average job? This number should be based on things like the going rate in your area, how much money you want to earn per hour, and how much youre paying your employees.

If youre just starting off, look at the work and estimate the time it will take you to complete the job. Then consider how much you want to make per hour.

Pricing by the hour makes sense because lot size isnt always an accurate pricing metric. For example, garden homes might take you half an hour to complete, even if they are the same size as a quarter-acre lot, which could take you 45 minutes to complete.

Jason Creel explains that your hourly rate is important, but you shouldnt communicate it to your clients.

He explains:

Lets just say that your hourly rate is $60 per hour. Now, youre not going to speak to the customer and say, hey, I charge $60 an hour, so Im going to time myself when I cut your grass, and then multiply that by 60. Youll quickly learn how to estimate and then multiply that in your mind.

Pro tip: if youre just starting out and not sure about how long a lawn will take, keep track of the time it takes you to complete the job using time tracking software or a stopwatch. From there, find the average of your labor hours over time before figuring out exactly what speed you work at.

Prefer watching a video? Jason Creel talks about pricing out lawn care services below:

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Does The Size Of The Grass Affect The Price

So far, all the prices weve presented represent normal sized grass. If youve let yours grow wild, for whatever reason, expect the costs to rise. As a rough estimate, heres our lawn care costs table for people who love to let their gardens grow:

Although the prices rise in line with your gardens size, you could see financial benefits in certain circumstances. For example, if youre trying to sell your house, having a pristine lawn gives it greater kerb appeal.

Additionally, if youre self-employed or you work from home, the hours you save when hiring someone to cut your grass go back into your business. Essentially, the cost of lawn care pays for itself in these circumstances.

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Lower Workers Comp Costs With Risk Management

Landscaping is filled with risks involving hazardous equipment, tools, and chemicals. You can create a safer work environment with:

• Employee safety training
• Proper equipment, such as gloves and goggles
• Equipment maintenance

Through risk management and a safe work environment, you can decrease workplace accidents. That means fewer claims and potentially a lower insurance premium.

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Lawn Care Service Price Factors

What youll pay for lawn care services depends on several factors. Take these into consideration as youre planning and budgeting for the type of work youd like to get done:

• The size of your yard.
• Residential vs. commercial lawn care costs.
• Regional living expenses.
• The different types of work you need done.
• Whether you hire a large company vs. a smaller independent operation.

If you live in an expensive part of the country and have a large commercial area that needs significant lawn care, you will pay much more than if you hire a small independent company to help with assorted yardwork on a small residential property.

A Word On Irrigation Technicians

Its also worth mentioning that we do also hire irrigation technicians, which is even more of a specialty trade than our other roles. These pros must have horticultural knowledge and a good understanding of landscape water requirements. There is also a strong need for mechanical aptitude since irrigation techs are diagnosing and fixing problems.

Irrigation technicians make between $18 and $25 an hour.

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What Do American Lawn Care Workers Get Paid

Believe it or not, there are people out there paying close attention to what American lawn and garden employees are getting paid. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics does its homework on US lawn maintenance employees, and finds that, as of 2011, the average lawn care worker made about $25,650 per year, or $12.33 an hour. The Bureau projects that a quarter of a million jobs will be added to this industry by 2020. They also note that there is a lot of variation in worker pay, depending on job and location.

Here are some of the details about who’s making the most, and why. Check out where your company fits into the national picture:

People who work on government- and school-owned lawns were the highest paid. These employees saw higher pay than those who worked for private contractors.The Northeast and Pacific coast had the highest paid lawn care workers while workers in the South were some of the lowest paid.Employees who specialized in skills like pesticide application were better paid than those with more general skills like lawn mowing. The average pesticide specialist was paid $31,690 per year, or $15.85 per hour. Some reported rates as high as $17.83 per hour.Trimmers and pruners were the highest paid of all, earning $32,970 per year or $15.85 per hour. A high portion of those polled received $18.74 an hour, or more.

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.

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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.

Structural And Legal Expenses

Business License You dont need any type of permit specifically for a lawn care business, but you do need to get a business license for your company and a name. An LLC typically costs around $100. In some states, you can file a fictitious name fee, also known as a DBA, which costs around $50. Other expenses might include legal fees for setting up a corporation.

Taxes You also have to register with the federal government and IRS to get a number for withholding taxes.

In addition, most states require you to collect and pay sales tax on services completed. Check with your states department of taxation for the requirements of your state.

Insurance You also have to get insurance if you plan to hire staff. Workers compensation insurance is mandatory. Workersâ compensation rates range from $0.50 â $2.00 per $100 of covered payroll.

You also have to pay any company or employee insurance premiums, which are usually based on estimated income. Youll also have to open a business bank account for your company to process checks and make cash deposits so that you can pay your bills with business checks. The alternative is accepting cash only, which will severely limit your customers and make it impossible to offer expensive services.

It may sound complex, but it is possible to complete these procedures in as little as one day. With all of the resources available online, its easier than ever to get started.

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