If you have a lawn mowing business or are considering opening one, chances are you ask yourself: How much should I charge? Pricing can be tricky. You do want to make a profit, but you don’t want to drive potential customers away with prices that are too steep. Conversely, if your prices are too low, you’ll be working a lot but might not be covering your expenses.
Don’t fret. In this blog, I’ll guide you through setting your lawn mowing prices confidently. I’ll demonstrate how to calculate your expenses, look at what others are charging, and select a rate that is comfortable for you and your clients.
Know Your Expenses First
Before you establish any prices, you must know your cost per lawn mowed. This involves more than your time. Consider:
- Gas or electricity to power your mower
- Repairs and maintenance on your equipment
- Purchasing or renting your mower and other equipment
- Fuel and travel time to get to the job
- Insurance or business licenses, if applicable
- Your own time—how many hours a week do you want to work?
Write all of those down. For instance, if it costs $5 for gas and maintenance to mow a lawn, you wish to get paid $20 per hour, and the job only takes 1 hour, your cost is a minimum of $25. You must never charge less than your overall cost. Otherwise, you are losing money.
Look Around: Check Local Prices
Then, discover what other lawn care companies in your neighborhood are charging. Each area is different, so this ensures you remain competitive. Here’s how you can do it:
- Look at local lawn care business websites to determine if they include prices
- Phone some businesses and request a quote for cutting your lawn
- Look at community Facebook groups or local apps where locals discuss local services
Note down the average rates you come across. This should give you a fair notion of what customers are willing to pay around.
Choose a Pricing Strategy That Suits
You can bill in several ways:
Charge by the Hour
This is good if the lawns are quite different in size or complexity. You can tell people, “I charge $30 an hour.” It’s easy and reasonable for complicated jobs.
Charge by Job (Flat Rate)
If your typical lawns are all about the same, a flat fee is best. Such as, “$40 to cut an average yard.” Customers prefer to know exactly how much ahead of time.
Charge by Lawn Size
If you cut large yards, charge per size. For instance:
- Small yard (less than or equal to 1/4 acre): $30
- Medium yard (less than or equal to 1/2 acre): $50
- Large yard (over 1 acre): $80 or more
This is a good way to charge since larger lawns require more time.
Add Extras for Additional Income
Mowing is only a component of lawn maintenance. Most customers desire additional services such as:
- Edging sidewalks and flower beds
- Trimmers around trees and fences
- Blowing grass clippings off patios and driveways
Fall leaf removal
You can provide these extras at an added cost. For instance, you can charge an extra $10 for edging. This increases your income without doing much extra work.
- Create Packages to Make it Easy for Customers to Decide
- One of the best ways to sell more services is to provide packages. For instance:
- Basic Package Mowing alone
- Standard Package Mowing + edging + blowing
- Premium Package: All of the above + fertilizing or weed control
Packages allow customers to easily select what they desire. They make your prices clear and enable you to make more per visit.
Be Transparent and Honest With Your Pricing
Confidence is gained through professionalism and clarity. Always:
- Provide customers with a written estimate of price prior to work commencement
- Clarify what is included in the price
- Inform them of any additional costs for large or dirty lawns
- Maintain consistent prices unless you provide reasons why they have changed
Customers appreciate honesty. When you can communicate effectively, they will trust and return.
Raise Your Prices When You Need To
As you get more experience or better equipment, you can charge more for your services. If you’re busy and customers keep wanting your service, that’s a sure sign that you can charge more.
When you raise prices, just let your regular customers know ahead of time. Most will understand if you explain why, like higher gas costs or equipment repairs.
Final Tips for Setting Your Lawn Mowing Rates
- Don’t price low to attract customers. Your time and labor are worth it.
- Record the time it takes to complete each job and what you spend on material.
- Always get customers’ opinions on your price and service.
- Continue to learn and review your rates as your business expands.
Conclusion
Establish lawn mowing prices doesn’t have to be complicated. Begin by understanding your expenses, see what other people are charging, and select a pricing method that suits your business. Package up extra services so that you earn more money and always be honest with your clients.
You can now establish lawn mowing prices confidently today! You will feel comfortable about your prices and attract the right kind of customers who appreciate your work.
