I’ve said this before. Maybe on this site. Customers want to hear the job will be 900$ and not 300$ per hour for a three hour job. Great money can be made in this industry!!! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with making money guys and gals. I charge a lot for my trimming and landscaping services. It’s hard work. You all know this. Strive for nothing less than killer professional service from beginning to end. Thanks Keith😃😃
Thank you for preaching this. Unfortunately, most of the lifers in the landscape industry would work for less than they're currently making, but this message helps all of us. A lot of people charge an unreasonably low amount for landscaping work and guess what, nobody is hyped on digging trenches, ripping out roots and doing work that literally makes soft people curl up and die. Charge what WE'RE worth.
Watch out for customers who ask you to do extra stuff, and then say, " I'll pay you!" Yeah no kidding you're going to pay me! These people usually think they're going to hand you 20 bucks or something like that for a $200 piece of work.
I have heard of a customer going up to one guy on a busy crew and wanting a few weeds pulled "real quick" thinking that they would not get charged. The boss has to be on his toes because the next time it was "Can you fluff up the mulch with a rake"! I know that's nickle and dime stuff but lawn mowing and garden maintenance are different, at least at my house!
Good video! Just had this happen today, was doing some tree removals and pruning and the customer wanted an extra limb removed so I gave him the quote and did it!
Hey Brother. So cool to see how you blokes do it over in the US. I do what you are doing in Australia. For us, it's all about the initial conversation with the customer. We get real clear on what the terms of the job are. Exactly what's in the quote and what we will be delivering in what timeframe. Now of course, if anything wants to be added. It's going to the extra. Maybe they can schedule it for a later visit. Mind you, If I'm ahead of time on a job, and i can see things that need to be done, sometimes i'll go the extra mile myself - but I always keep the ball in my court whether to do that or not Best of luck with your business :)
I told her it was starting to rain, she said it was probably a sprinkler, then it kept on and got a little heavier, lol.."That's some kind of sprinkler with some serious broadcast"..then you said it, and ran off lolololol
Evertime I have a situation like the topic u covering its like god sends u a message and said says: this landscape/ Gardner needs help and motivation. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭.
When I'm on a job and a customer asks for an add-on before I move a muscle I tell them the price of it right then and there, before we do anything else, and I make sure they know that it's an additional fee added on. If they agree to it then we proceed with the next steps
I'm in a different industry (junk removal) but the same principle applies. Thank you! Unrelated, what shirt are you wearing in the video? Time for new shirts and I like the fit
so my friend and i just started a lamdscaping gig togeather this spring and summer…. may i ask, what do you do when you do a garden clean up for pretentious spiritual city people and you do it faster than what you estimated and they dont respond when you send them a bill? its been two weeks and they owe my friend and i like 500 dollars lol.
Keith, I have a question ! I noticed you stated a signature.. from point A to Z what does your scheduling procedure look like … I’m talking from that first point of contact with a prospect customer to the point where you start working? Please… if you could find the time I would highly appreciate some advice on this or just some insight would be appreciated ❤️
Don't break the 5 minute rule. That rule is always help with a 5 minute favor. But anything else will be extra. And if you discuss this with a customer it will break the ice...
Keith I have a question I charge 50 per hour. I work alone doing every aspect of landscaping and handyman stuff when trimming gets slow. I am pretty picky when it comes to what work I choose. I have been in business since june of 2017. My question is can I actually expand only charging hourly I live in a neighborhood that is upper middle class with roughly 8-12 houses per 1/4 block. I charge roughly 40-50 per property to cut and edge their grass which gets me on a first name basis with a bunch of people but I worry that I will never be able to expand if I don't start charging per task completed. for me making 1000 dollars takes 20 hours.
Try to obtain a few commercial accounts. We just did a job last week a little under 2k for only a few hours of work. “People will spend money on the things they value”
As long as you bring value to the customer, charge what makes it worth it for you. $50/hour might be ok, but figure in taxes, equipment cost and maintenance, insurance, etc, you might not be charging enough.
Sounds like solely hourly will haunt you. Let's say you agree to do hourly on a leaf job. Suddenly..you upgrade your equipment.. now you just shaved 20% of the time from each job. You not only spent money on that equipment- but its literally losing you money because you can complete it faster and possibly with better quality. That's not right.
I noticed you favorite questions, but do not answer them, do they require an additional line item or would a change order be required to get responses? It does not help me to read the comments and useful questions, if you do mot answer them 🙈
I don't have thousands of separate customers that I do small jobs for I have much larger ones that do not want to deal with negotiating I just do the work and send a bill. Works out well . Consistent work all year just like any other job but I am the boss not a corporation with HR telling me what to do
I used to do hourly when I started and didn't know what I was doing. I now do more fix rate. On occasions I might do hourly but that is for either a small job or if it is a job I have no idea how long it will take me. I had to do a yard clean up on an over grown jungle once. But a fix rate is better because you know how much you are making. Just base your rate on your hourly rate. My hourly rate is usually $45/hr. Don't short yourself.
Keith, I am so disappointed in you. The way that you ended your video. You really need to go and watch this UA-cam video. Working in The Rain Can Make You An Extra $18,000 This Year by Keith Kalfas. So what if it is raining. Go watch this video. lol lol lol I have been burnt on 2 big jobs because the customer pulled out the day before the job. I am looking into a contract now. I also have another customer that is cheap. I dropped him from weekly mowing but every so often he wants to call me another job. But given his position he plays that because he can be very powerful with other accounts. I don't move to fast with him but I try to keep him in check. And there is to much micro management with him and his wife knows everything about yard work and plants. That is why all of their trees are dying. Because his wife knows you have to put 6-8 inches of mulch down around a tree. Not 2 inches that is not enough. lol I have tried but I don't argue with them anymore. It is pointless. lol
I’ve said this before. Maybe on this site. Customers want to hear the job will be 900$ and not 300$ per hour for a three hour job. Great money can be made in this industry!!! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with making money guys and gals. I charge a lot for my trimming and landscaping services. It’s hard work. You all know this. Strive for nothing less than killer professional service from beginning to end. Thanks Keith😃😃
Thank you for preaching this. Unfortunately, most of the lifers in the landscape industry would work for less than they're currently making, but this message helps all of us. A lot of people charge an unreasonably low amount for landscaping work and guess what, nobody is hyped on digging trenches, ripping out roots and doing work that literally makes soft people curl up and die. Charge what WE'RE worth.
Watch out for customers who ask you to do extra stuff, and then say, " I'll pay you!" Yeah no kidding you're going to pay me! These people usually think they're going to hand you 20 bucks or something like that for a $200 piece of work.
If I learned any from this video it’s never let a toad escape paying attention to your burnt ankles 😄
I have heard of a customer going up to one guy on a busy crew and wanting a few weeds pulled "real quick" thinking that they would not get charged. The boss has to be on his toes because the next time it was "Can you fluff up the mulch with a rake"! I know that's nickle and dime stuff but lawn mowing and garden maintenance are different, at least at my house!
Good video! Just had this happen today, was doing some tree removals and pruning and the customer wanted an extra limb removed so I gave him the quote and did it!
Great knowledge and the production is on another level! Glad i caught this one thx for the advice all these years.
Very good talking point Keith! As per usual! I am glad to see you are still posting videos on a regular basis.
Hey Brother. So cool to see how you blokes do it over in the US. I do what you are doing in Australia.
For us, it's all about the initial conversation with the customer. We get real clear on what the terms of the job are. Exactly what's in the quote and what we will be delivering in what timeframe. Now of course, if anything wants to be added. It's going to the extra. Maybe they can schedule it for a later visit.
Mind you, If I'm ahead of time on a job, and i can see things that need to be done, sometimes i'll go the extra mile myself - but I always keep the ball in my court whether to do that or not
Best of luck with your business :)
I told her it was starting to rain, she said it was probably a sprinkler, then it kept on and got a little heavier, lol.."That's some kind of sprinkler with some serious broadcast"..then you said it, and ran off lolololol
Evertime I have a situation like the topic u covering its like god sends u a message and said says: this landscape/ Gardner needs help and motivation. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭.
-Keith Kalfas 2.0; the scumbag customers worst nightmare
Thanks for this......Same thing happened with my client recently
When I'm on a job and a customer asks for an add-on before I move a muscle I tell them the price of it right then and there, before we do anything else, and I make sure they know that it's an additional fee added on. If they agree to it then we proceed with the next steps
You need to collaborate with us and build that client a pond…👊🏼👊🏼
This has happened to me many times. Great information
I'm a sucker for "yeah sure I can do that" because always think I have time and I never do
Love the toad video. I love animals too
I'm in a different industry (junk removal) but the same principle applies. Thank you! Unrelated, what shirt are you wearing in the video? Time for new shirts and I like the fit
So right man couple form Texas moved to SC got me the same way 😭😭😭😭😭 know that feeling
thanks
FALKAS whats going on my man. UNIVERSE BLOCKERS haha just kidding hope youre having a dope summer.
So true
What's up Keith always love the video's. Great advice.
You can cover this topic once a week and it wouldn't be too often.
so my friend and i just started a lamdscaping gig togeather this spring and summer…. may i ask, what do you do when you do a garden clean up for pretentious spiritual city people and you do it faster than what you estimated and they dont respond when you send them a bill? its been two weeks and they owe my friend and i like 500 dollars lol.
Keith, I have a question ! I noticed you stated a signature.. from point A to Z what does your scheduling procedure look like … I’m talking from that first point of contact with a prospect customer to the point where you start working? Please… if you could find the time I would highly appreciate some advice on this or just some insight would be appreciated ❤️
I'm so glad I'm not the only landscaper out there that likes toads.. there cool lil dudes.
I just right them another quote for that seperate extra work and make them pay it upfront.
Wat up dou! Your the Man
Don't break the 5 minute rule. That rule is always help with a 5 minute favor. But anything else will be extra. And if you discuss this with a customer it will break the ice...
Very nice. I like it.
Keith I have a question I charge 50 per hour. I work alone doing every aspect of landscaping and handyman stuff when trimming gets slow. I am pretty picky when it comes to what work I choose. I have been in business since june of 2017. My question is can I actually expand only charging hourly I live in a neighborhood that is upper middle class with roughly 8-12 houses per 1/4 block. I charge roughly 40-50 per property to cut and edge their grass which gets me on a first name basis with a bunch of people but I worry that I will never be able to expand if I don't start charging per task completed. for me making 1000 dollars takes 20 hours.
Sounds like you already know the answer for that
Try to obtain a few commercial accounts. We just did a job last week a little under 2k for only a few hours of work. “People will spend money on the things they value”
Why don't you just hire a business consultant to go over the issue with you. It sounds like you can afford to pay for the service.
As long as you bring value to the customer, charge what makes it worth it for you. $50/hour might be ok, but figure in taxes, equipment cost and maintenance, insurance, etc, you might not be charging enough.
Sounds like solely hourly will haunt you. Let's say you agree to do hourly on a leaf job. Suddenly..you upgrade your equipment.. now you just shaved 20% of the time from each job. You not only spent money on that equipment- but its literally losing you money because you can complete it faster and possibly with better quality. That's not right.
I noticed you favorite questions, but do not answer them, do they require an additional line item or would a change order be required to get responses? It does not help me to read the comments and useful questions, if you do mot answer them 🙈
I answers tons of questions in the winter. But in the summer it's almost impossible to even get these videos out in a timely manner.
I apologize.
@@keith-kalfas the price of fame 😜
Thats my new costomer do work mor work extra
Chief Kalfas! Hope ya doing well
Can we see a copy of your Contract for reference 😁
Lets go ⛄⛄⛄
Why jobber over markate? Besides your ambassador role
Once I give a customer a price and they want more work I say no problem but that is a different bid
Marketing, route density building, delivering, repeating. $100k (maybe)
Paying you employees to hold a camera now ? Keith what are you a bigshot now. Bring back the struggling hustle stories!
Come on ffs. Give the man a break
I think he dosent do the struggling videos anymore... well cause he's not struggling anymore keep watching his videos and no one will struggle
Money makes people act funny.
This is where I never have a problem because I always work hourly.
Hourly is terrible because the incentives are wrong for every party involved.
Must be 100 hours
I don't have thousands of separate customers that I do small jobs for I have much larger ones that do not want to deal with negotiating I just do the work and send a bill. Works out well . Consistent work all year just like any other job but I am the boss not a corporation with HR telling me what to do
Thats fine until you have employees
I used to do hourly when I started and didn't know what I was doing. I now do more fix rate. On occasions I might do hourly but that is for either a small job or if it is a job I have no idea how long it will take me. I had to do a yard clean up on an over grown jungle once. But a fix rate is better because you know how much you are making. Just base your rate on your hourly rate. My hourly rate is usually $45/hr. Don't short yourself.
Keith, I am so disappointed in you. The way that you ended your video. You really need to go and watch this UA-cam video.
Working in The Rain Can Make You An Extra $18,000 This Year by Keith Kalfas. So what if it is raining. Go watch this video. lol lol lol I have been burnt on 2 big jobs because the customer pulled out the day before the job. I am looking into a contract now. I also have another customer that is cheap. I dropped him from weekly mowing but every so often he wants to call me another job. But given his position he plays that because he can be very powerful with other accounts. I don't move to fast with him but I try to keep him in check. And there is to much micro management with him and his wife knows everything about yard work and plants. That is why all of their trees are dying. Because his wife knows you have to put 6-8 inches of mulch down around a tree. Not 2 inches that is not enough. lol I have tried but I don't argue with them anymore. It is pointless. lol