Open Association of Landscape Industries
What does a gardener charge?
For those of you who are new to Landscape Juice, you might want to check out a post called 'what to charge per hour', I wrote in early 2007.
Attached to that post is a method for charging out machinery and how to charge-out your travel costs in the post 'hidden costs of travel'.
Attached to that post is a method for charging out machinery and how to charge-out your travel costs in the post 'hidden costs of travel'.
Tags: cash, charge-out, daily, hourly, profit, rates, turnover
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by alan mcmillan on -
Good attitude stuart!!..It's not all about money..but i guess some people here are under pressure to pay the bills..so all boils down to circumstance..as for me I'm like you.
Stuart said:I've just 2 jobs at the moment and I'm charging £10 per hour. Just grass cutting and a spot of clearing and thats fine for me as they are both local and within 5 mins of home.
I think as long as you're happy in your work, enjoy life, pay the bills then thats all that counts.
I earn £6.64 for days and £7.41 for nights at my present job and I still enjoy life.
I never worry what others have or earn I just do what I want to be happy.
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
For those of you who are new to Landscape Juice, you might want to check out a post called 'what to charge per hour', I wrote in early 2007.
Attached to that post is a method for charging out machinery and how to charge-out your travel costs in the post 'hidden costs of travel'.
-
Permalink Reply by Geoffrey King North Yorkshire on -
Hi folks,
I would be interested to know how much you think we could charge.
We normally work together as a pair, we currently charge between £21 -£26 per hour, on the average rates suggested we should charge £30-£40 per hour.
We both have 5 years pro experience, although personally we have been gardening for many decades.
We have a range of power & hand tools, a sign-written van, embroidered uniforms, website.
I have C&G Gardening cert, Fiona is studying Garden design at Leeds Met Uni part time.
What do you reckon? We moved from York to Pickering this year. We do gardens up to 2 acres and postage stamp size. We do once afortnight, per month, per quarter or once a year and one-offs.
Thanks
Geoffrey
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
You might be interested to check out the comparative charges of all of those who have contributed to the 'what does a gardener charge' sheet.
It's pretty raw data but it might help you with forming your own view on labour and machinery rates.
-
Permalink Reply by Geoffrey King North Yorkshire on
-
Hi Philip,
Yes I had a look, very interesting.
Philip Voice said:You might be interested to check out the comparative charges of all of those who have contributed to the 'what does a gardener charge' sheet.
It's pretty raw data but it might help you with forming your own view on labour and machinery rates.
-
Permalink Reply by Fenlandphil on -
Philip
I think you at some stage produced a spread sheet for calculating an hourly charge didn't you or am I thinking of someone else.
If it was you and you can find it might be useful to repost it.
-
Permalink Reply by Fenlandphil on
-
Paul
I thought there was an excel spreadsheet available where you could put the figures in and the formulas would work out a charge per hour.
Pro Gard said:Fen, Yes, Phil did, there is a link to it at the header of this topic!
As a general point Intresting to see that those charging peanuts are often those who judging by back posts are routinely working all hours and weekends.
Without wanting to offend he phrase 'busy fool' springs to mind. Charge a realistic rate and work less, the job isnt that fun that its worth doing it 7 days and not in a million years for £12 ph!!
-
Permalink Reply by Roy Robbins on -
99% of our work is lawnmowing and we always charge a fixed price per cut, never an hourly rate. For two reasons:
1) In the height of a warm summer when there is little growth a job can take half the time it does in the damp spring/autumn months. When many years ago we charged by the hour clients would query why we took twice as long/ charged twice as much from one invoice to the next. With a fixed price per cut the problem doesn't arise.
2) Our operator job sheet shows a maximum time allowed for the job and a good operator will complete the job well within that time on which he gets a bonus and we make more profit. The bottom line equates to a minimum of £30 per hour.
-
Permalink Reply by Niko Coulthurst on -
I don't understand how to make any money in this game!! We charge a minimum of £15/hr and as soon as the money is in, there is a letter from the tax man saying we owe more, or the fuel prices go up again or a tool needs replacing ...
We run 1 van and a landrover (part time), have 1 employee and rent a lock up (80/month). We don't have any tipping fees as a local farmer alows us to compost on his land. My husband works most weekends and is totally exhausted (the kiddies never see him), as for a holiday - yeah right! We spend loads of time at home doing admin etc.
At the end of the day, there is still no money in the bank! Is it worth it??? what are we doing wrong??
-
PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
Hi Niko
Have you analysed what your outgoings are and divided it by the amount of hours you want to work a year?
Have a read of this: http://www.landscapejuice.com/2007/02/what_should_i_c.html
I understand if you don't wish to share your private business info on here so feel free to get in touch in the week and I can look through your figures and help you with your charge out rates.
Instinctively, £15.00 per hour sounds way too cheap.
-
Permalink Reply by Fenlandphil on
-
I would follow up Phils suggestion Niko, when you are in the thick of it you can't always see the wood for the trees, someone looking from the outside can sometimes see what you have missed. It is sometimes very difficult to have the confidence to increase your prices when you need to. If you have the opportunity to let someone else have a look they can often be more objective.
Niko Coulthurst said:I don't understand how to make any money in this game!! We charge a minimum of £15/hr and as soon as the money is in, there is a letter from the tax man saying we owe more, or the fuel prices go up again or a tool needs replacing ...
We run 1 van and a landrover (part time), have 1 employee and rent a lock up (80/month). We don't have any tipping fees as a local farmer alows us to compost on his land. My husband works most weekends and is totally exhausted (the kiddies never see him), as for a holiday - yeah right! We spend loads of time at home doing admin etc.
At the end of the day, there is still no money in the bank! Is it worth it??? what are we doing wrong??
-
Permalink Reply by Niko Coulthurst on
-
We have an accountant do it for us.
THE GARDEN COMPANY said:niko do you do your own books ?? tax return ?
Niko Coulthurst said:I don't understand how to make any money in this game!! We charge a minimum of £15/hr and as soon as the money is in, there is a letter from the tax man saying we owe more, or the fuel prices go up again or a tool needs replacing ...
We run 1 van and a landrover (part time), have 1 employee and rent a lock up (80/month). We don't have any tipping fees as a local farmer alows us to compost on his land. My husband works most weekends and is totally exhausted (the kiddies never see him), as for a holiday - yeah right! We spend loads of time at home doing admin etc.
At the end of the day, there is still no money in the bank! Is it worth it??? what are we doing wrong??
© 2013 Landscape Juice ® Limited - Registered in England 08356644
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
