Starting out

After reading some of the pricing comments I visited Craigslist and there is at least 2 dozen adds for lawn care company's or new businesses with starting prices at or for 15$ a cut. I'll bet this market gets hammered this year with lowballers :smile:
 
Ric said:
After reading some of the pricing comments I visited Craigslist and there is at least 2 dozen adds for lawn care company's or new businesses with starting prices at or for 15$ a cut. I'll bet this market gets hammered this year with lowballers :smile:
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Been like this for a couple years now here.
They spend more on road side signs then they make.
 
I started with 1 double lot yard at 30,trim mow edge blow,every 2weeks,that to me sucks. don't under price yourself,and if its side work make sure they understand that its on YOUR time off from your other job, or youll lose customers.
 
Ric said:
After reading some of the pricing comments I visited Craigslist and there is at least 2 dozen adds for lawn care company's or new businesses with starting prices at or for 15$ a cut. I'll bet this market gets hammered this year with lowballers :smile:
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And I will bet your right Ric there are so many people out of work they are trying to make ends meet anyway they can. I dont blame them for that but it will make it hard to compete for anyone who does this for their main income for the year.
 
Time gas wear and tear....sounds like a $40 minumum to me. Remember if something breaks you have to fix it quick and get your yards cut. People depend on you and you need to be paid for that.
 
wjjones said:
And I will bet your right Ric there are so many people out of work they are trying to make ends meet anyway they can. I don't blame them for that but it will make it hard to compete for anyone who does this for their main income for the year.
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Yeah there are a lot of people looking to make ends meet and I think it's going to be worse this year. I think your right though, it's going to make it harder for anyone who actually does lawn-care for there main income. I know a lot of people don't believe that at 15$ a cut these guys can be making money, but when you consider what they have for equipment they have absolutely no overhead to speak of and when you can mow 4 or 5 lawns on a gallon of gas they look at the rest as profit.
 
This pricing thing is gonna make me go wild! Just price what you have to price! If you only have a Craftsman mower and a cheap gas trimmer you don't need to charge as much then the guy with two 60" ZTR, huge trailer, STIHL equipment, a few employees and the list goes on. Some charge 20$ and do profits, some charge 35$ and barely make profits and again, the list goes on. You can even charge a little less if you have many different yards in the same area. More yards = less driving time = more productivity = more $$$$. Please charge what you need! Sit down and calculate it! I have done it and so can you!
 
You really only need to worry about the low ball mow and go guys if you your self are just starting out or wanting to pick up a lot more yard.

If you lose you customers to these guys then that your own fault.
I may be wrong but I thing most people still want Quality over a lower price
 
Carscw said:
You really only need to worry about the low ball mow and go guys if you your self are just starting out or wanting to pick up a lot more yard.

If you lose you customers to these guys then that your own fault.
I may be wrong but I thing most people still want Quality over a lower price
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I would have agreed with you a few years back but with money being as tight as it is for most people I don't think quality becomes as big an issue as price anymore.
 
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