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:
Getting Your Lawn Overseeded
Overseeding your lawn via a professional usually cost around $1,200, which you saw in my lawn care pricing chart.
Overseeding can boost the health and appearance of your lawn by encouraging the grass to continue growing even when older and problematic patches die.
When you hire a company to overseed your lawn, you can specify that a disease-resistant or drought-resistant grass seed be used. This will be helpful for you if you live in a harsh climate.
I have an article with detailed recommendations about the best seed to use for overseeding if youd like to learn more.
Whats Included In The Price Of Lawn Mowing Services
Lawn care companies like to provide discounts on one-off services by bundling common lawn care services into a single package. These mowing packages often include mowing, edging, weeding, and leaf removal services.
Depending on what a lawn needs, itâs easy for homeowners to add on other services, such as watering and fertilization.
Remember that itâs common to provide discounts for committing to a long-term lawn care contract. Loyalty rewards are always appreciated in this hotly contested business.
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Do Lawn Mowing Prices Vary Per State
Tasmania has the lowest average lawn mowing rate at $39/hr. Meanwhile, lawn mowing services in Western Australia only have a slightly higher price of around $40/hr. Residents in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia are paying approximately $45/hr for the same service.
In the Australian Capital Territory, lawn mowing businesses typically charge an average rate of $47.50/hr. New South Wales, on the other hand, has an average cost of $50/hr for lawn mowing services.
If you need someone to take care of your lawn, ServiceSeeking.com.au can help you find the most reputable and reliable lawn mowing businesses in your area.
Pricing information correct as at August 2017.
How Much Does It Cost For Lawn Care
So far, weve discussed using a grass cutting service for a small backyard only. As a rough guide, small means two car spaces.
If you own a yard that could fit four cars in it, its time to start looking at large garden prices. For a back yard only, this means youll pay $70 to $90.
If youre lucky enough to own a garden that could fit six or more cars in it, your lawn care costs will range between $100 and $120.
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What About Big Commercial Properties
Properties like schools and industrial lots take a lot more time and effort to mow. I would advise that you keep your price ranges the same and allow the formulas above to help you earn more money from doing more work. Remember, just because a company has more finances than a household doesnt mean that theyre any more willing to spend their money, and they can always take their business elsewhere if they think youre charging too much. I would also advise you to not mow commercial properties if youre just one person unless you have a riding mower, but even then you might want to wait until you have more workers so you can get the job done without spending all your energy.
How Much Do Lawn Care Services Cost In New Zealand
Then, we get to the nuts and bolts. How much do lawn mowing services cost in New Zealand? Thats the million-dollar question.
Every lawn care provider will establish different costs that work for them. Some set their prices based on whether they use a ride-on or push mower if they have to travel out of their way, and the condition of the lawn.
A small lawn can be in the vicinity of $25, $30, $40, or $50. A medium or large yard, on the other hand, can be over $50 including or excluding GST, depending on how the person you hired had structured their invoice or quote.
Pricing can also differ depending on whether its a one-off lawn mowing service or you become a regular customer.
Pricing may also vary and become a set hourly rate if you have a property with steep slopes or you require mowing services on a lifestyle block, farm, field, business, or somewhere other than your residential address. Its worth talking to your local lawn care expert about their rates and conditions for service. As a bare minimum, you can expect a charge of $25 including or excluding GST, and with possible travel costs.
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Best Push Lawn Mowers Of 2022
If you dont mind putting in a little elbow grease, push lawn mowers are some of the best and most affordable options for small- to medium-sized lawns. Were here to help you wade through the hundreds of models on the market with this ranking of the best push lawn mowers money can buy.
Weve collected picks for any preference, whether you want something big and powerful or small and efficient. The gas-powered, electric, and reel mowers on this list represent the best combinations of power, ease of use, and price tag.
Now, lets get into the details so you can figure out which of the 10 best push lawn mowers is best for you.
How Much To Charge For Lawn Mowing Business Tips
If you have a lawn mower that you don’t use for your backyard, you can offer your services to other people through a lawn care business. This is a great way to gain extra income. However, you need to establish a certain price range that is beneficial to you and your customers first. So, how much to charge for lawn mowing? This will be your guide.
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Faqs About Push Lawn Mowers
1. What is the best push lawn mower to buy?
The PowerSmart DB8621CR 21 170cc 2-in-1 gas mower offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to push lawn mowers.
2. How hard is it to push a reel mower?
Not too hard if you mow your lawn every week and dont have a lot of weeds. In fact, reel mowers are lighter than other mowers because they dont carry a power source.
3. What is the easiest lawn mower to push?
Of our top picks, the Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM-CT 17-inch 48V cordless electric mower is the easiest to push because its the lightest one that isnt a reel mower. For a mower that requires even less effort, check out self-propelled lawn mowers.
Sod Or Turf Installation
For obvious reasons, turf installation is an expensive process. Whether you are installing sod, or artifical turf, its a labor-intensive process which requires expensive materials to complete.
You should expect to pay as much as $4,800 for this to be done professionally.
Before the company gives you a quote for a flat rate, it will need to visit your property to determine its size.
Some companies can do the estimate remotely via satellite images.
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Critical: Test Your Lawn Care Pricing
This is the lawn care pricing strategy for many lawn care business owners:
- They count their operational costs
- Then, they add 5% or 10%, depending on how they feel
Thats it.
Many of your competitors never test their prices, which is why it feels like the green industry constantly undercuts itself.
People are afraid to try anything… They’re afraid to talk to their clients, and nobody tracks data to figure out where they can make more money.
However, you can do better.
Make pricing part of your culture!
- Get regular pricing feedback from your clients
- Evaluate your prices on a set basis
- Keep the value you can give to your clients at the forefront of your mind
Do all of these things, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a richer, happier lawn care business owner.
Now, comes the next part… the hard part the part that makes so many lawn care business owners squirm in their seats
Lawn Care Pricing: How Much To Charge For Your Services
Lawn care pricing strategies determine the survival of your business. Coincidentally, lawn care pricing to be the #1 thing many lawn care business owners don’t get right.
When you properly price your services, you can grow your business faster while ensuring the success of your business.
This lawn care pricing guide gives you:
- A FREE pricing calculator to fix your prices in under 10 minutes
- A complete guide to pricing your services to increase sales and improve reputation
- The best pricing strategies to maximize your profits with simple lawn care pricing strategies
After reading this article, youll know exactly how to properly price your lawn care services to kickstart your business profits and growth.
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What Is Involved In The Costs Of Lawn Care
You may be wondering how someone who offers lawn care services sets their pricing, and dont be afraid to ask. Often, supply and demand come into play, but it can also come down to the services they are offering and your unique situation.
If you require a service that your lawn care provider has to outsource, then this may come at a higher cost. You may also pay less for some services if you initially hire someone to mow your lawns. The more you can pack into one visit, the more competitively priced the costs of lawn care will be.
Where you live may also feature in the pricing structure of lawn mowing. If you are on the outskirts of a township, you live rurally, or your contractor has a per-kilometre rate, then these may appear on your invoice as well.
The best thing you can do is talk to your preferred lawn care provider. They can outline all costs with complete transparency so that you can avoid any unexpected fees.
Secrets To Subcontracting Success
The job of a subcontractor sounds simple enough do the work that someone else acquired and get paid.
In reality, the subcontracting game is anything but simple. Recruiting and retaining quality subcontractors in an industry with variable and unpredictable working conditions is a never-ending challenge.
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How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost In Sydney
Stepped out of your door, and the sight of your lawn didnt give you that proud feeling you always get? An immaculate and lush green lawn might just be a mow away. However, while it is something almost everyone wants, not many can take out the time and effort it requires to make a lawn look like a piece of paradise.
The days of sweating yourself away while trying to trim the grass blades under the sun are history. Hiring lawn mowing in Sydney will not only free up a great deal of your time, but it will also give your green a professional touch that cant be matched.
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.
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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.
How Much Should I Charge For Lawn Mowing
When youre self-employed with your own lawn mowing business, one of the best freedoms is being able to set your prices however you like. Its wonderful to be able to set the bar however you feel is appropriate and profitable instead of being tied to somebodys pricing conventions. Sometimes, however, it can be a little difficult to know what is the right price guide for you. How much is too much? Whats the right price for the client? What covers your costs appropriately?
While we detail average costs on lawn care on our lawn mowing page In the following guide, we outline the key factors of pricing from the perspective of new lawn mowing businesses. This way, you can learn how to make suitable decisions on the right price to charge for your lawn mowing services to help grow a profitable business and deliver fair prices to your clients.
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How Often Should I Mow My Lawn
This can sometimes depends on the time of year. Some clients prefer to have their lawn cut weekly during the spring and most like to try and save some money during the Summer and try to keep it at once every two weeks.
According to CustomLawn, Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.
What Other Services Could I Get At The Same Time
So, youve decided you want to hire someone to mow your lawns, but the price of lawn mowing services is more worth your while if you add other services in a single visit. What can you get? Lawn mowing services are wide and varied, and it can often depend on who is providing them.
Commercial lawn care, water blasting, tree trimming, lawn mowing, hedges, and section tidies are many of the outdoor services available from lawn care providers throughout New Zealand. However, its not out of the question to find some who will offer gardening, weed spraying, repairs, lawn repair, fertilising, and more. When you find the right lawn care provider for you, ask the question.
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Lawn Replacement Or Restoration Costs
Sod costs between $120 and $400 per pallet. Youll pay between $2,500 and $6,620 to fully replace or restore an average-sized lawn thats about one-fifth of an acre.
To seed a lawn costs between $410 and $1,510. It takes between one and two years for a seeded lawn to fully grow in. During this time, its susceptible to pests and damage. Sod is a much quicker way to get the look and feel you want.
Powersmart Db8621cr 21 170cc 2
This push mower from PowerSmart has all the power you need for a half-acre or less lawn with its 170 cc gas engine. At 54 pounds, its about 10 pounds lighter than your average gas mower, making it easier to maneuver around a yard.
Bonus points: Several reviewers said this mowers easy-pull cord consistently starts the motor on the first try.
For even more convenience, the PowerSmart DB8621CR has five cutting height adjustments with a simple lever switch. It also has 8-inch rear wheels that make it easier to push through rough or uneven terrain. The 2-in-1 in its name refers to its discharge chute and mulcher for grass clippings.
For the low price tag, this gas lawn mower delivers a tough, reliable performance and all the features the average homeowner needs to mow a lawn.
Specifications:
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I Have A Large Lawn How Can I Keep The Lawn Mowing Costs Down During The Summer Months
Consider turning over some of the lawn to borders or pathways or just losing some for a hard-surfaced area like decking or a patio. You could also allow some of the lawn to run wild and keep it as an area to encourage wildflowers and insects or create a sports and play area for the children which will inevitably suffer but will leave you with a smaller area to keep pristine. Another option is to split the work with a gardener and do some of the cutting work yourself this halfway house can work well as you are more likely to be able to fit around the weather but always coordinate what you are doing with the gardener so that you dont cut across each other.
