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I have a small lawncare business that i just started this past summer. but i feel like the price i charge is wrong. if i can do the job by myself and its not to intense then i cahrge 10bucks an hour but if i have to bring somebody else in to help then i usually charge 20bucks an hour. can anybody help me out on what you guys charge? I usually mow lawns and clear leaves but sometimes i cut trees and split them for firewood. thanks.

metz12 said:

I have a small lawncare business that i just started this past summer. but i feel like the price i charge is wrong. if i can do the job by myself and its not to intense then i cahrge 10bucks an hour but if i have to bring somebody else in to help then i usually charge 20bucks an hour. can anybody help me out on what you guys charge? I usually mow lawns and clear leaves but sometimes i cut trees and split them for firewood. thanks.

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There are numerous ways to charge for lawn-care. You can charge by the square foot, by the hour by the cut and so no. The first thing to look at would be your competitors and find out some of the pricing in your area. Just FYI if you are charging $10 an hour your way to cheap, the national average rate by the hour is between $30 and $50 a man hour but that can vary on the business and location. I personally charge by the cut and charge extra for any side work they want like bed cleaning, hedge trimming etc.

The things you need to calculate are your expenses like License fees, fuel costs for your equipment and vehicles, liability insurance, labor costs, unemployment insurance for employees (if you have them), travel time and mileage, office overhead, equipment maintenance, interest paid on any loans, (if any ) and repairs, all need to be budgeted into your estimate for a lawn service price.

I agree with everything that Ric said, but how long does it take you to mow a lawn?? If it only takes you an hour to mow the lawn then you only make $10?! That is definitely too low.

Thanks guys that really helps. I tell everybody that I work for that they pay for the gas (for transport and for my equipment). I got the idea from one of the first people I worked for and it has worked ever since! but you helped me out alot. thanks again.

metz12 said:

Thanks guys that really helps. I tell everybody that I work for that they pay for the gas (for transport and for my equipment). I got the idea from one of the first people I worked for and it has worked ever since! but you helped me out alot. thanks again.

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Just curious, how long does it take you to do an average-sized lawn?

I push mow alot of lawns. i would say around 2 hours. give or take. I do this one guys with a rider and i run it pretty much wide open and it takes me 1hour and a half. its like regulation soccer field size. i get 15 for that because i have to bring my own mower.

metz12 said:

I push mow alot of lawns. i would say around 2 hours. give or take. I do this one guys with a rider and i run it pretty much wide open and it takes me 1hour and a half. its like regulation soccer field size. i get 15 for that because i have to bring my own mower.

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OK. Yeah I would say to raise your prices a bit. I'm glad you said it takes you two hours and not like 30 minutes because that way you are getting $20 and not $5 for your rate of $10/hr. But you could still get more per lawn.

Diffinately raise your prices, i do 4 lawns an hour in my area and charge 20-25 per lawn.

CZLawnCare said:

Diffinately raise your prices, i do 4 lawns an hour in my area and charge 20-25 per lawn.

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Must be town houses.
I charge $35 a man hour or women hour as my wife works with me. Our easiest yard takes a hour. Could take 15 mins if we was a mow and go company.

Your getting $10 a hour so your working for free
Is that all you think your worth?
You can get a job at a fast food place and make $10 a hour that's more than you make now.

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Thanks guys. I guess I was undercharging.

No they're not town houses, but as youve already seen ive equipped myslef with the right rquipment to give a quality cut at a fast pace

CZLawnCare said:

No they're not town houses, but as youve already seen ive equipped myslef with the right rquipment to give a quality cut at a fast pace

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Yes you sure have....I'm jealous! :laughing:

CZLawnCare said:

No they're not town houses, but as youve already seen ive equipped myslef with the right rquipment to give a quality cut at a fast pace

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At 15 mins or less a yard there is no way there is any quality going on.
A 1/4 acre yard is a half hour yard. There is no way you can do a good mow job , edge , blow , make sure pin straw mulch beds are clean.

But I guess at $20 a yard you don't have to do a good job.

You mow and go guys are just about money and speed. No pride in your work.

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Cutting grass with a zero turn just never looks good

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Carscw said:

Cutting grass with a zero turn just never looks good

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What do you use?

Actually their is quality going on. contrary to wht you may think youre not te only person who knows what hes doing in this buisness. its not my fault if youre bitter about the fact that i'm able to enjoy what i do and give good service while still making good money. And i do about 1/8 of an acre lawns so my lawns line right up with your statistics.

Carscw said:

Cutting grass with a zero turn just never looks good

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I have more than a zero turn by the way

CZLawnCare said:

I have more than a zero turn by the way

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A lot more than just a zero turn! Personally I think ZTR's have good cut quality.

So like I said town homes


I use snapper push mowers and toro greens mowers.

There are 200 plus homes in the country club of the south and not one zero turn mower.

Just because you buy the big mower and the over priced weedeater does not mean you know what you are doing.

Any one can cut grass but it takes a lot of pride and skill to do it right.
A lawn should never look like it needs to be cut you should never never see tire tracks

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CZLawnCare said:

Diffinately raise your prices, i do 4 lawns an hour in my area and charge 20-25 per lawn.

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I'd say that your price range is accurate. 20-25 is the average for this area also.

CZLawnCare said:

I have more than a zero turn by the way

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I'd say you have some nice equipment and enough to do the job. :thumbsup:

lawn mower fanatic said:

A lot more than just a zero turn! Personally I think ZTR's have good cut quality.

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The ZTR has probably the best cut of any mower going, for a rider. LMF if you get a chance you need to demo the GS. :smile:

Thanks ric, you have some nice machines too! And yeah i agree, as soon as i get my license and truck im going to be looking into buying a grandstand

i charge 35 for a small yard and 55 for a large yard i dont mow over 2 acres i have since upgraded to a cub cadet ZT with a 50 inch cut deck :thumbsup:

On the lawns that I do, I have them priced at $35.00 an hour, and it ends up being no great shakes by the time I drive there, do the job, fix what I break, and send 1/3 of the money away in taxes...

benski said:

On the lawns that I do, I have them priced at $35.00 an hour, and it ends up being no great shakes by the time I drive there, do the job, fix what I break, and send 1/3 of the money away in taxes...

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That's the reason I charge by the cut, not by the hour. If I charged by the hour I wouldn't make any money.