how much should i charge for lawn mowing?

Question

any ideas i have not a clue?, how much per sq metre or whatever?

Answer 1

Depends on whether you're expecting to provide the equipment - mowers etc. - or just offering the service, using customer's own stuff and electricity etc. If people provide their equipment, this is the easiest option.

I'd start with about 10 to 15 places, that you can get work at, and see how your pricing goes. Offer a deal, such as 10 cuts and 1 free, or something, to make it more attractive - repeat customers are easier, it stops you having to find new people every week.

A mate does gardening and charges £15 per hour. Assuming that you will be there for an hour, start at £17.50 total job. If you're good, friendly etc. they may give you £2.50 tip, and you'll get £20. Agree in advance that this is for a maximum of 1 hour or 1 hour 15 minutes work or something like this. (If you do 1.25 hours, it's still a good hourly rate). You could always offer to tidy up their garden if it's really small, to fill in the time. Don't work slowly, as this will make people dislike you, and you're not likely to get asked back.

A few cuts, and you're getting a nice holiday in the sun, like somewhere such as Spain etc. Or just managing to pay the bills.

If people are wavering on the price, drop it to - bit by bit - £15, but never below - unless it's for a postage stamp size. I'd steer clear of these tiny gardens, as these could be harder customers to get though, (easier for them to do) and they waste your time whilst you're discussing price and getting set-up.

Be smartly dressed when you turn up to sell your service, you can always strip-off to do the job. You'll seem more professional and trustable.

Think of printing and photocopying some leaflets, and get them delivered, when you're not working, or there's no one in. Always give a name, as this is more personalised. State how many years lawn care experience you've got and that you've got dozens of satisfied customers. You could ask a quesion on here, about what people think your advert should say.

If no-one buys your service, after tons of house calls, either drop your price - slightly - or charge by the hour and then charge for the proportion of the hour, with a lower minimum charge, such as £10.

Be prepared for some people to say that you're too expensive and figure out your answer, before you ever meet this type of person. Reasons could include the fact that you can't do this in winter, rain etc, as well as travel costs that you're not passing on to them. You'll come up with some other answers too, but it's always better to be prepared with answers, so that you're not thinking on the spur of the moment.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 2

Small Lawns= $30 Big Lawns= $50 Mansion Lawns= $70-$90

Answer 3

Wow! you sure have a variety of answers so far...
I used to work for a lawn cutting business and what you offer in your price can vary ALOT. do you just cut? or do you trim and edge the lawn along the driveways and pathways, do you remove the weeds? do you haul away the cuttings or leave it on the lawn? do you use a gas or electric or a push mower? How fast are you?

You need to set a 'base' price -- say $20 for a simple cut of a 2000 square foot lawn, then add to that depending on the extras that a customer wants done...

Oh and doing 20 lawns in a day, is not likely, if you do a good job you may fit in 6 or 8 and should earn about $150 to $200 for a full days work.

Your customer base does not need to cater to retired people, younger working couples will gladly pay to have some one put in the time cutting so they can have a restful weekend or spend time playing with their kids...

You can tell your first few customers that you are starting out and that your price with rise with experience, but don't double your price in two weeks -- figure out to get paid a reasonable day's work or an equivalent to what you would get working for someone else.

Answer 4

Lawn Cutting Prices

Answer 5

We have a couple of blokes who come and mow my lawn, trim the edges and hoe the borders. They charge £10 but it only takes them about 30 minutes, maximum.

The last guy charged £16 to do the same job, but he took slightly longer.

Somewhere between the two prices should be fair, depending on where you live in the country and the size of the lawns you're mowing.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how much should i charge for lawn mowing?
any ideas i have not a clue?, how much per sq metre or whatever?

Answer 7

a tenner per lawn and then your hourly rate. (for friends and first customers only). Then word of mouth gets round and by the time your customer portfolio builds up, you will have more idea of a sensible rate to charge.

so for a front and back lawn, you already have £20 before you start... good luk xxx

Answer 8

ask a neighbour who has a average size garden and ask if you could mow it for free. tell them its so you can workout how much fuel you use and how long it takes you as you are starting your own business up and want to work out your pricing. try and pick a nieghbour who is quite elederly as they have lots of freinds the same age and could get you lots of business through them as its too hard for them to cut grass themselves. be nice, be cheerfull and helpfull... it never fails
i think £10 is about right for an average sized garden and you could easily mow 20 gardens in a day.

Answer 9

i think it depends on what area your in if your in an area that is richer then charge more as in the poorer area charge less and i think it should be more if its the 1st cut too as its very difficult ! but im not sure on the prices if your in the uk then id say £6-8 for the average garden and £10-15 for a large garden goodluck !! :0)

Answer 10

You have to figure in the amount of stuff you have to trim around. It makes sense that high oil prices will affect lawn mower operating costs, You would have to charge by the yard..how much stuff you had to go around..or if you had to go around anything. How much stuff you had to trim...you should figure in discounts for older people.