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How does that compare with the estimating from SAP ?
Hi Gary.
The prices that relate to our business are fairly accurate, but I would say that the hedge trimming price they show is lower than what we would charge.
http://local.which.co.uk/advice/cost-price-information-gardener-lan...
Still believe the best way to calculate your own costs is following a site visit and proper pricing exercise.
Seems on the pricey side to me for the average domestic customer. I suspect that the people that read Which and complete this survey, are more "upper-class" for want of a better word and we are not getting a true picture. I'd never get any work if I told a customer it would be £30 to cut their lawn or £90 for the hedge.... a lawn that size would take me about 10 minutes..... a hedge that size 1 hour comfortably if it wasn't neglected. Assuming I didn't have to go out of my way, I'd certainly halve those particular prices.
Dangerous ground. Certainly labeling clients.
Reading the above suggests a price range and an average. An average is just that.
You do not know whether that price is a mow&go, or a mow,strim,collect&go etc
Many contractors have a minimum prices per cut. For us it is £25.
By endorsing those prices without knowing "context", I think you may be cutting your nose off....
We all set our 'stalls' out, the market we want to participate in and the level of living one wants to make....
Profit is not a dirty word............
10m hedge, cut both sides and top? I couldn't unload the ladder and other gear, cut the hedge, clear everything up, re-pack the van, and do a run to the tip, in an hour!
Similarly, I couldn't drive somewhere and park. Unload the strimmer and edge the lawn, then unload the mower and cut the lawn, remove the cuttings, blow round, re-pack the van and drive to the next job in 10 minutes.....
Factoring in the investment in vehicle and machinery, the fuel, the maintenance and servicing costs for the machines, the time to invoice, the cost of the business bank account, the time taken to quote even, we do sell ourselves short sometimes!
http://local.which.co.uk/advice/cost-price-information-gardener-lan... Great thread Adrian, thanks for bringing this into our public domain.
As for pricing, give or take the odd 10% it fits with this business model, that said and even so prices are erring towards bare minimum from the report.
As with every task it depends on so many other factors as outlined by others above. Geo location, access, ground conditions, neighbourly relations, etc etc....the list is endless.
I am astounded £25/£35 is considered pricey as a minimum charge to 'mow & go'. £25 is absolutely the bottom line as far as this business is concerned. Absolutely bottom line, full stop.
Clients don't have the time to do tasks outdoors but have the desire to enjoy lovely outdoor space(s); some clients don't even have the space for a shed where a lawn mower can live! But they do have spaces outside and, when taken into consideration, these spaces are 'generally' larger footprints than the entire floor space of the house itself. Helping them understand this factor is key to moving prices forward in line with the report.
If clients wish to buy from this business I think Which's prices are a good ground level basis from which to price from.
Cheers, Eugene
The only issue really with these sorts of things is that you can get held to the price. I'd hate to hear from a client 'oh Which said it'd be this much'
I quite understand that the bigger the business, the more you have to charge for a small job like the grasscut mentioned in order to cover expenses, overheads etc. Often there will be 2-3 men in a van and consequently you have 2-3 mens non-productive traveling time each way to/from the job. There'll also be men standing around with nothing to do whilst the others finish their tasks. Being a "one-man-band" does make these sort of jobs much more cost-effective for the customer.
Lets be pessimistic here and say, with travelling time, we can "only" get 2 of these jobs done in an hour....... I'll get £30....... excellent money for what is basically a task that really doesn't require any skill (some will disagree I'm sure lol!!!)
Wrong assumptions, often the bigger the business work force the lower their rates would be as they benefit from economy of scale. Poor work practices and productivity are more the issue with your assumption as no-one with any business sense would send 3 men to do such a job...
Have you ever looked or worked out how you 'really' charge? There are simple spreadsheets available that demonstrate this principle. It is like having a Eureka moment. This is how large services based FM's / Landscaping companies work (and how Council's Ground Maint Depts should have worked, before they went to Competitive Tendering as a means of delivering a cost effective service).
I would guarantee a business with productive multiple staff would have their internal hourly rate more competitive than a 'one-man-band' who has to carry 100% of his overheads on his own back and thus the business can choose to price lower to take work or take the profit.
Your comment about skills probably says more than anything else. I know my guys would take exception to that comment, as would a lot of contractors who deliver their work with skill & pride, but I guess basic business principles are at odds here.
I make no apologies for trying to run a profitable business....
Geoff Norfolk said:
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