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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on May 27, 2012 at 10:14

Gaz

Take a look here: http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/treating-your-tra...

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on May 27, 2012 at 11:19

thats a 60 mile round trip? Think carefuly about thge lost driving time and perhaps pass the job over? I would be reluctant to drive that far for a maintenance job - unless it was a whole days work per visit.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance on May 27, 2012 at 12:19

I would also pass it on unless you were really struggling for work.

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Permalink Reply by Gaz on May 27, 2012 at 16:53

Not struggling for work but would like to branch out but there is no guarantees i can pick up a few more jobs to make it worthwhile. I think i'm trying to talk myself into it knowing in my heart i should pass it on. 

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on May 27, 2012 at 17:44

Clearly can't advise you one way or the other, but key to making your decision is to calculate the motoring costs of taking the job.

Three simple ways you can do this with varying degrees of accuracy:

1 - go to google maps and plot out the journey using the 'Directions' options. This will give true road mileage and there is an option at the bottom to calculate fuel costs (it uses current £ per litre). Remember this will only cover fuel - no on Costs.

2 - use hmrc mileage approved rates ( which is the rate someone claim as expenses for performing a journey that is claimed as a business expenses. Currently ranges from 40 p per mile upwards depending on engine size. Within this amount is an allowance for vehicle deprecation, tax and insurance.

3 - Calculate your own costs. For this you need to know all your motoring expenses ( vehicle purchase costs, fuel usage, mot, service, tax,tyres etc). Often calculated on last years accounts and uplifted by a %. This is the most accurate as it relates to your situation in your business and NO ONE's else.

I am a firm believer that if you must know all your own costs to be able to price correctly and recover your costs and pay yourself a wage. It doesnt matter who else is charging what .... If you know your own costs, everybody else is an
Irrelevance.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on May 27, 2012 at 19:36

Personally, I would pass it by. We took on a similar job 3 years ago and ended up having to give it up last year because we couldn't make it pay. We knew it was a mistake at the time but it was a 'friend of a friend'.

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Paul McNulty on May 27, 2012 at 20:49

Take the "motoring" costs from your annual accounts, including depreciation, fuel, insurance, tax, servicing, fluffy dice, everything. Divide it by your mileage over the year. That's the cost to drive every mile, and is usually a bit scary. Mines a little over 50p per mile, so doing a 60 mile round-trip would cost me over £30 before I earned anything.

One other thing with travelling for maintenance work is that any recommendations are likely to be local to the job, so you might end up with loads of work a long way from home. Fine if there's a reason, for instance I travel 15 miles regularly for a full day in an area that pays more than I get locally, but worth thinking about.

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Permalink Reply by Gaz on May 27, 2012 at 20:59

Thanks some great comments and gives me a lot to think about.

Thank You

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Permalink Reply by briggsandscrapem on May 28, 2012 at 19:16

Gaz, if you enjoy a drive out and deep in your heart you fancy giving it a go then just give it a try. you can always pass the job on to another gardener in the future if you have to let it go. I would be getting out of bed an hour earlier that day if i were you and doing the drive in non working hours. Its only the fuel and extra wear and tear on the van that will increase in cost as the other costs will still be there anyway more or less.

My furthest job is 50 miles for a full days work and i like the way it gives me a change of scenery once a fortnight. After all if you are in this game purely for the money then its probably not the right game to be in.

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Permalink Reply by Gaz on May 28, 2012 at 20:08

I tuck the risk and went to see the two jobs today both 30miles each way! First job was a really lovely couple very friendly. The job its self was a very overgrown garden they just never have the time to maintain the garden and keep it looking nice. i put my price in for a 3 day visit to get the garden right then a price for a monthly visit. They was over the moon with the price and gave me the job. 

Second Job well what a mess ....

Set off and pulled over to double check someone would be there. YES he said...

Get there nocked on door, no answer... Phoned him " JUST HAVE A LOOK AND GIVE ME A PRICE AND I'LL COME AND MEET YOU I'M ONLY UP ROAD "

walked round rang a few places priced it up rang him ... NO ANSWER 3 times i tried to call him.

couldn't waste anymore of my day so i left to get on with real work. 8:30 and i've just finished , time waster...

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