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  Ian Street September 27, 2014 at 6:46pm

  Carly, good luck with the course.
  Personally, I do not charge for an initial visit to discuss ideas with a client, at which point I can assess what work would be required to design the garden. I then offer a quote based on my observations. I do not have a 'one price fits all', as there are so many variables in designing a garden, for the site, levels and aspect, to complexity of the design...
  Sorry if this doesn't give you the answer you are looking for.
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  carly dobson September 27, 2014 at 7:05pm

  Thanks Ian it all helps. Do you not feel you are giving away your knowledge for free if you don't charge for an initial visit? As the customer could then take this and do it themselves. This is just the way I have been taught. Do you find out what the clients budget is before doing the quote?
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  Mike Bradley September 27, 2014 at 7:22pm

  Similar response to Ian.
  The first site visit for me is to present myself, my portfolio, client questionnaire/site survey/photography. No design work/knowledge is imparted at this stage - only price and work content is agreed.
  With respect to budget - I need to know that the client has considered budget and that it is reasonable for the job (rather than exact) for guidance. Some clients have no idea or are reticent to specify an amount.
  I would perhaps start offering design to your existing clientele, if that is appropriate, and try to build up a decent portfolio that way.
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  Eugene Baston September 27, 2014 at 7:38pm

  Hi Carly

  From recollection there are a number of threads already about garden design and the initial 'do you charge up front or risk having your ideas used by someone else'. I think there's even a thread that blatantly demonstrates how some potential clients can be less than principled when it comes to receiving ideas and designs and then utilising the plans themselves without recourse to the original designer.

  If someone would like a re-design or something new in their garden that requires an overall 'design' approach I think a good rapport will see you through the doubt factor you're asking about here. By a good rapport I mean: listening and understanding the potential client's needs - but more than that, in that you must gain their confidence & trust that you are competent, credible and will deliver what you propose. If you walk away from a consultation feeling happy that they know you have the above qualities, the chances are the relationship you form with them will be a good one.

  That's all gut instinct and based on nothing scientific, but your confidence to deliver (because you are confident!) will see you through. After all......why were you asked to quote for any specific design in the first place if an element of those attributes weren't already on show to the potential client when they chose to contact you? :->

  Periodically our regular clients ask for something to happen outside of the regular garden maintenance they enjoy from us. A new herbaceous border perhaps; a new hedge; some hard landscaping....or a combination of hard and soft scaping with a myriad of potential developments in between. These are lovely projects to work on because the rapport already exists through ongoing regular garden maintenance - you and the client are already 'as one' and your work really comes to the fore at that point.

  In a nutshell: always be pleased & confident to quote, whether for an existing client or as a new business enquiry - your relationship/rapport with that person will see through the issue of 'giving away knowledge' if they and you can genuinely hit it off.

  Cheers, Eugene.
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  Ian Street September 27, 2014 at 8:19pm

  Yes, you could risk giving them the idea, but the key is not to give too much. Just a taster of what you could offer. Not on paper, just get the inspiration and talk them through it... 'The patio leading from the house, with wide steps sweeping down to the lawn, curved around the feature Catalpa. Reshape the lawn to follow the curves created by the patio/steps...' You get the gist of it. Talk it up. However, as I build too, I focus on making my profits through construction and design for me is not a money maker, I just break even on it, as it is hopefully a way of getting the construction contract.
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  Paul McNulty September 27, 2014 at 8:39pm

  Ian's spot-on. You have to balance convincing the client to part with money for a great design, with the risk of giving too much away.

  You will always lose quotes, that's business. You'll also have clients occasionally "steal" your ideas and build it themselves; that's life!

  I've always seen the first face-to-face contact with any client as free, and my one chance to set up a relationship with them. Even if a project doesn't come off, if you've made a friend of the client there's no end to the potential work in the future from them recommending you.
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  carly dobson September 28, 2014 at 8:50am

  Thanks these are all very sound points.i agree I'd rather build up a good relationship with a potential client rather than charging them straight away. Definitely something for me to think about. Does anyone know of a website or source that I can look at for some guidence on what to charge as a designer?
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  Ian Street September 28, 2014 at 9:11am

  Good morning Carly. Pricing, again, a difficult one. There are so many variables... Where you live/living costs, experience, overheads, (drawing boards, pens... V computer, printer, inks...). Profit margins. Personally, I am not interested in what someone else charges, so long as my quotes are being accepted and I am hopefully making profit. To quote that way, you need to assess the job, on how long you think it will take (hours), the cost of materials needed to produce the design, from pens and paper to postage/presentation. Cost the hours at a rate you feel you are worth, (which will probably differ from maintenance gardening), add all the overheads you think will be necessary, then see what the total is. If you feel this is still within a sensible realm, add a % on for profit margin/oversights. Offer the quote and see if you get the work. If after a few you have not secured any, I would suggest your costs are too high. If you have secured some, assess the job on completion to see how long it actually took, compared to your initial costIngs and see how much profit you made. If the margin is high, you can then decide whether or not you want to reduce it to try to gain more work, or keep it higher and risk not as many jobs. (Age old one: high profit, low turnover V low profit, high turnover). Sorry again, but good luck.
• PRO

  Geoffrey King September 28, 2014 at 10:49am

  Hi Carly,
  
  Why not sign up as a student with the SGD and get info about fees from them
  
  www.sgd.org.uk/the_market_place_blue/Student_Membership.aspx
  
  You could also try doing a garden or border design for an existing client, as an exercise, to see how long it all takes...
  
  Think...
  Training
  Marketing
  Travel
  Consultation
  Thinking
  Quoting
  Waiting...
  
  that's all before you even start, LOL!
  
  or get involved with the SGD local to you
  
  In addition, you could try a bit of research, some designers publish their rates online
  
  http://www.plantpassion.co.uk/advice.php
  
  http://www.gilliansandhamgardendesign.co.uk/fees.htm
  
  
  
  
  carly dobson said:

  Thanks these are all very sound points.i agree I'd rather build up a good relationship with a potential client rather than charging them straight away. Definitely something for me to think about. Does anyone know of a website or source that I can look at for some guidence on what to charge as a designer?
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  Thermo September 28, 2014 at 11:17am

  agree with Ian. for me the design aspect is part of the package for getting the landscaping work. I basically charge to cover my time for the drawings, so that I don't get the drawings taken for nothing and used by someone else. had that happen before as I assume most of us have. At least that way if they do, I've been covered for my time.I think from your point of view, you may need to run it alongside your other work to get your portfolio built up. Don't undersell yourself though!