Good to hear from someone who's not just banging on about how an hourly rate doesn't work, I'm the same as you, if it's simple or easy to quote then a fixed price is used and I cross my fingers that I haven't under quoted, otherwise hourly and I can organise my day, knowing when I'm going to start, when I'm going to finish, less stress, sometimes a bit less money, but I'm more relaxed at the end of the day.
Thank you mark I use both as it’s really hard to just use one or the other I’ve got a good system that works for my business model Thanks for watching mate
Excellent talk very useful thanks. Great point on weeding. I think a lot of customers dont realise how long it takes to do this properly. Always longer than expected. Hourly rate makes sense especially for customers that might be problematic
Agree with you. I work with hourly rate, priced jobs and price per visit jobs. There’s no one system for all situations imo. Got to be flexible. All hourly rate jobs are 11 months of year so garenteed work. Mow blow and go’s are fine for the summer months to bank a few extra quid but the big ticket items are where you can earn the real money.
Exactly sounds like you run yours the way I run mine which again works well for small one man bands I think you have to do it the way which works best for you as an individual etc Thanks for watching jack hope you’ve had a great day Have an aswell me weekend buddy 🙌🏼
I’m the same hourly rate priced jobs and price per visit great video your videos are motivating me I’d like to know how many hours do you do a day what time do you start and finish in the spring and summer
@@andrewspink6730 I start about 8am and leave the house about 7:30am ish and work till 4-5pm now Summer sometimes 6pm and on rare occasions 7pm but I try not to work to late what with the family I try to get a good work life balance Really appreciate your support have a wonderful weekend
great video mate, Its good to get your take on pricing, its such a tricky one to get right, I also do some hourly rates and some price per jobs, I've just started my business and its fair to say I've done a few jobs now where I've totally under priced and miscalculated the time and amount of effort required , great for the customer but demoralising for me!😦
Hi mate thank you for the lovely comment I hope your business keeps growing Even with years of experience I still get it wrong sometimes it’s not easy so totally relate to what your saying about under charging on some jobs it can be demoralising I think o would always go slightly higher than what you think the jobs worth just incase you miscalculate the price Have a great weekend and thank you for watching 😎☀️
Great advise Pete, the only other thing I'd add is to properly calculate your total overheads and use that to decide how much your rate should be to make a tidy profit 💯
Thank you as I said in the vid some of the info might help but will all depend on how each persons business model works or how people do things Thank you for watching 👍🏼
@@jossratcliffe8908 hello mate really appreciate your kind words I’m pleased you’ve managed to find the videos some what helpful I basically just share my own experiences that I’ve had I wish I had watched a few videos before I started it would have helped me Have a good week and well done for starting up I wish you all the very best mate 😎🙌🏼
Another good video. Completely agree with everything you've said. I had a similar hedge job in the sense I was at the top of my ladders with the the extension. So heavy and hard on your neck/shoulders. I didn't charge enough in hindsight but I've now got the garden on a regular basis so it should work itself out.
Thanks for watching mate really appreciate it Sent you a WhatsApp The big ones are great but can be a pain aswell I think the temptation to earn some big money is to hard to turn away isn’t it Have a great weekend bud 🙏
I'll give you a different perspective. I run a burial ground for a Parish Council. We have a guy who does a mow blow and go for a fixed price per visit. He's done a great job for years and I guess for him it's a bit of a cash cow - we always pay within a few days and never quibble. However, because of the super complicated nature of public finances and legal nonsense, we are now forced by audit rules to make sure we have a ton of paperwork in place so recently we had to go down the public tender route. Sadly, the big companies were not interested because it was too small a job and the little guys had no interest because the paperwork was too complex so we got no interest. Eventually I had to jump through all sorts of bureaucratic hoops just to get the job done exactly like it has been for years by our same guy. Utter madness but thats how it works. Ironically all that extra cost is picked up by the Council Tax payer when its all pointless - very frustrating. Just thought I'd let you see the other side :-)
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Aye thanks. I'm extending our burial ground to create more grave space and this time of year is ideal to get the ground turned over ready for seeding in the Spring. I won't tell you about the Environment Agency forms (and their fees!), the Forestry Commission forms, the public consultations, the Government grant applications etc etc.The irony is we've been burying people since 1913 and none of the mattered before. At least the occupants don't complain :-)
Great video mate, when you're really busy and need extra help, how do you get the extra help on an ad-hoc basis when you need it, is there an agency you use?
good vid shame about the mug tho.. up the spurs! same here hr rate one of rate... is hard to work at times ive clients ive had ten years. new ones i try n do a visit rate rather than hr rate but whatever brings in the pennies
Great insight mate. How much do you pay for a labour for the day if you don’t mind me asking? How many hours is a working day for you? Enjoying catching up on your videos 👍
Depends on if they are skilled and can do everything I can or if they are just clearing up behind me or doing basic jobs like weeding etc I pay labourers about £15 an hour and buy them coffee and lunch as a nice little insentive and to make them feel appreciated because they really are appreciated to me When it gets busy help is a massive help Thanks for watching Carl have a great weekend bud
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 fair play to you….sound like a good boss! I pay £12 but thinking £15 is fairer. Especially to the hard grafters. Some other i get in are ok but not great. So might stick with £12 lol. Have a good weekend too mate
@@carl8035 thanks buddy I try my best to be a good boss I’ve worked for many in old jobs that haven’t been good to me which is why I went self employed because I owed it to myself to be free but to set a good example for others to follow etc
Hi mate! Hope you're well. Where do you get rid of your clippings/waste when doing a clearance? I'm trying to find somewhere that would work as I live in an apartment 😑 also YNWA let's hope tonight goes well 😬
Hi mate I go to my local tip also we have a farm not far and we get charged to take to the farm normally a van load price from the farmer to us Let’s hope for a win mate I feel alittle better after the last two results 🤞🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 thank you for getting back to me! Okay I'll ask my local tip to see if theyll accept the waste! I'll try make friends with a farmer as well 😂 Yeah so do I, but after some performances this year I do have a bit of doubt 😂 also love that tattoos man, they're addictive aren't they!
I do one off tidy ups,regular maintenance jobs ie weeding flower bed work pruning and borders plus any hedge jobs I didn’t get time for some years I’m still cutting grass into December as it’s still growing in places and then we’ve got all the leaf fall between November and mid December I seem to be just as busy in the winter as the spring and summer I just have less day light hours which is good I guess
February seems to be the one month we get snow and ice then I’m just off or salting driveways snow clearing if I get desperate If I had the money I’d go to Australia for a month 😂
@@jackstone4291 that’s the dream mate feb is cool tho it’s the one month just after the tax bills paid when everything’s abit slow but soon as March and April hit then it’s all systems go I like abit of down time and take long weekends throughout the year to help stay energised
Hi. You said that you charge around £30ph for a 20min job so how much should be charged for a 1 hour job of just cutting lawns? I live in East London. Also should each service (Weeding, Hedges, Pruning) be at separate rate, roughly how much per hour or cut?
I have an hourly rate for maintenance But if it’s just a grass cut then depending on size small to medium jobs that I can do in less than an hour I’d go for £30 as a set price
@@DaTruth1017 I charge £25 an hour for maintenance So if your doing just grass cut and not anything else then do a set price per job it’s that simple mate I don’t charge separately for individual services that would be included in a normal hourly rate for garden maintenance Hedges if they are big jobs then yes do a separate price every time Hope you understand what I’m trying to say mate So hourly rates for all maintenance in smaller jobs However if it’s just a grass cut you’d be better to do a set price per cut mate Hope this helps
LFC fan, I can't stand them so I'm leaving the thread - See ya! 😄 I'm only joking - Leicester is my team. Any how, another good video and thanks for sharing your thoughts 😉
@@stevedsimms it was a play with a legend match team Matt Elliot Vs muzzy izzet His match went to penalties my bro was the keeper and saved two pens for team Elliot to win
Hi, I've just subscribed to your channel. What I've seen so far has been brilliant, informative and helpful! I'm thinking of going on my own but I'll need some finance to get me going, so I'm a bit nervous as I've got a mortgage and 2 young boys to think about. Did you do any research before taking the plunge and going it alone?
I was working with another firm so gained some experience I then worked out what I needed and how long it would take to get everything ready ie tools van clients and once I was close to ready I gave my boss his notice then went for it and never looked back I promise you now it’s worth it It might seem scary but once you’ve done it you’ll realise you can do it and make a great little business for yourself It can be hard in the winter but if your willing to work in all weather and you promote and add we’re you can you’ll have work all year round Or atleast I have it’s only feb I get one or two gaps but I fill them fairly quick It’s all go now Best advise would be go for it but once you’ve got all your van tools and some regular clients booked in.I’d get on Facebook selling pages and also next door app do a post ie local gardener just starting out trying to build up a round then meet them quote your price and say I’m starting in a few weeks once you’ve served noticed with your current employer most people will be happy for you to start in a few weeks after you’ve met them You’ve got this mate and thank you for subscribing I do appreciate your support 💚🌳🌿
@THE TATTOOED GARDENER awesome thanks buddy! I took voluntary redundancy from a lawn care company that I've worked for the last 18 years. So I'm confident with the lawn side of things, and pretty confident with hedge trimming, I've done some on the side over the years. But I don't really know anything about shrubs and plants. I'm currently working for a commercial spraying contractor, we do a bit of clearance work but there's no pride in it, and I just don't get the boss. Im46 and think it's time to work for myself. Really appreciate your encouragement and positivity!
@@blueknight3943 I’ve just turned 40 and been solo for 6 years I only wish I had started years ago but never too late to start mate Let me know how it all goes
Hope the following helps mate: 1 think long and hard before buying big expensive equipment that you will rarely use . Is it REALLY going to earn you extra money? The only power tools I have are a small mower ,blower and strimmer . All cordless. Plus a large rather mottley collection of hand tools and carry it all in a twelve year old VW Caddy that has home made shelving so as not to waste space . 2 Do smaller gardens, contrary to what some say I have found ordinary folk pay you just as well as the super rich . And obvs on a small garden you won’t need or be expected to have all the big equipment . Plus there are more of them and so a lot easier to come by 3 Pete has already mentioned NEXTDOOR app in another of his vids . And yes it works but not only that it’s free! I would suggest you go the extra mile to do a really good job for the first couple of customers then get them to post a really glowing report on said app 4 MAKE SURE YOUR WIFE KEEPS WORKING
Good to hear from someone who's not just banging on about how an hourly rate doesn't work, I'm the same as you, if it's simple or easy to quote then a fixed price is used and I cross my fingers that I haven't under quoted, otherwise hourly and I can organise my day, knowing when I'm going to start, when I'm going to finish, less stress, sometimes a bit less money, but I'm more relaxed at the end of the day.
Thank you mark I use both as it’s really hard to just use one or the other I’ve got a good system that works for my business model
Thanks for watching mate
Good info mate, some customers expect alot for very little money, we as gardeners know what we're worth and our quality of work 👍
Thank you buddy have a great weekend
Excellent talk very useful thanks. Great point on weeding. I think a lot of customers dont realise how long it takes to do this properly. Always longer than expected. Hourly rate makes sense especially for customers that might be problematic
Hi pablo pleased it helped mate
Weeding jobs always take longer but just as important as lawns and hedges etc and makes a big impact
Agree with you. I work with hourly rate, priced jobs and price per visit jobs. There’s no one system for all situations imo. Got to be flexible.
All hourly rate jobs are 11 months of year so garenteed work.
Mow blow and go’s are fine for the summer months to bank a few extra quid but the big ticket items are where you can earn the real money.
Exactly sounds like you run yours the way I run mine which again works well for small one man bands
I think you have to do it the way which works best for you as an individual etc
Thanks for watching jack hope you’ve had a great day
Have an aswell me weekend buddy 🙌🏼
I’m the same hourly rate priced jobs and price per visit great video your videos are motivating me I’d like to know how many hours do you do a day what time do you start and finish in the spring and summer
@@andrewspink6730 I start about 8am and leave the house about 7:30am ish and work till 4-5pm now
Summer sometimes 6pm and on rare occasions 7pm but I try not to work to late what with the family
I try to get a good work life balance
Really appreciate your support have a wonderful weekend
yes please Jake Stewart we do it was fun thanks you for witching myself Jake Stewart ❤ garden services ❤❤
great video mate, Its good to get your take on pricing, its such a tricky one to get right, I also do some hourly rates and some price per jobs, I've just started my business and its fair to say I've done a few jobs now where I've totally under priced and miscalculated the time and amount of effort required , great for the customer but demoralising for me!😦
Hi mate thank you for the lovely comment I hope your business keeps growing
Even with years of experience I still get it wrong sometimes it’s not easy so totally relate to what your saying about under charging on some jobs it can be demoralising
I think o would always go slightly higher than what you think the jobs worth just incase you miscalculate the price
Have a great weekend and thank you for watching 😎☀️
Great advise Pete, the only other thing I'd add is to properly calculate your total overheads and use that to decide how much your rate should be to make a tidy profit 💯
Yeah totally agree with that mate
🙌🏼🙌🏼 well done mate another awesome vid with some good info
Thank you as I said in the vid some of the info might help but will all depend on how each persons business model works or how people do things
Thank you for watching 👍🏼
Love your channel mate iv set up on my own and you have really help me along the way thank you so much
@@jossratcliffe8908 hello mate really appreciate your kind words I’m pleased you’ve managed to find the videos some what helpful
I basically just share my own experiences that I’ve had
I wish I had watched a few videos before I started it would have helped me
Have a good week and well done for starting up I wish you all the very best mate 😎🙌🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 thanks for reply . Your channel is amazing keep up the great work . 😃
Another good video. Completely agree with everything you've said. I had a similar hedge job in the sense I was at the top of my ladders with the the extension. So heavy and hard on your neck/shoulders. I didn't charge enough in hindsight but I've now got the garden on a regular basis so it should work itself out.
Thanks for watching mate really appreciate it
Sent you a WhatsApp
The big ones are great but can be a pain aswell I think the temptation to earn some big money is to hard to turn away isn’t it
Have a great weekend bud 🙏
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 ah ill have a look. They don't always come through. Yeah the temptation is too big most of the time haha
Thankyou for the info
No worries bud
Really helpful video exactly the info I needed :)
Pleasure mate thank you for watching 🙏
Watching this after Everton beat is two nil a few weeks back felt like a kick in the nuts haha
It was gutting bro hopefully next season will be decent under the new manager
Thanks for watching mate
Good information. 😊
Thanks Mike welcome to the channel really appreciate the support mate 🙌🏼
I'll give you a different perspective. I run a burial ground for a Parish Council. We have a guy who does a mow blow and go for a fixed price per visit. He's done a great job for years and I guess for him it's a bit of a cash cow - we always pay within a few days and never quibble. However, because of the super complicated nature of public finances and legal nonsense, we are now forced by audit rules to make sure we have a ton of paperwork in place so recently we had to go down the public tender route. Sadly, the big companies were not interested because it was too small a job and the little guys had no interest because the paperwork was too complex so we got no interest. Eventually I had to jump through all sorts of bureaucratic hoops just to get the job done exactly like it has been for years by our same guy. Utter madness but thats how it works. Ironically all that extra cost is picked up by the Council Tax payer when its all pointless - very frustrating. Just thought I'd let you see the other side :-)
Hi Peter thanks for sharing I really appreciate hearing from another prospective
Hope your keeping well and ready for Christmas
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Aye thanks. I'm extending our burial ground to create more grave space and this time of year is ideal to get the ground turned over ready for seeding in the Spring. I won't tell you about the Environment Agency forms (and their fees!), the Forestry Commission forms, the public consultations, the Government grant applications etc etc.The irony is we've been burying people since 1913 and none of the mattered before. At least the occupants don't complain :-)
Good advice, your pricing is the same way I do more or less. Those big hedge jobs can be physically draining 😑.
Definitely draining mate
Great video mate, when you're really busy and need extra help, how do you get the extra help on an ad-hoc basis when you need it, is there an agency you use?
At the moment I’ve got a full time person on a self employed basis so
good vid shame about the mug tho.. up the spurs! same here hr rate one of rate... is hard to work at times ive clients ive had ten years. new ones i try n do a visit rate rather than hr rate but whatever brings in the pennies
Yeah sorry about the mug 😂good race for top 4 this year
Thanks for watching bro
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 always watch mate. Reckon ud b good crack to work with
Great insight mate. How much do you pay for a labour for the day if you don’t mind me asking? How many hours is a working day for you? Enjoying catching up on your videos 👍
Depends on if they are skilled and can do everything I can or if they are just clearing up behind me or doing basic jobs like weeding etc
I pay labourers about £15 an hour and buy them coffee and lunch as a nice little insentive and to make them feel appreciated because they really are appreciated to me
When it gets busy help is a massive help
Thanks for watching Carl have a great weekend bud
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 fair play to you….sound like a good boss! I pay £12 but thinking £15 is fairer. Especially to the hard grafters. Some other i get in are ok but not great. So might stick with £12 lol. Have a good weekend too mate
@@carl8035 thanks buddy I try my best to be a good boss
I’ve worked for many in old jobs that haven’t been good to me which is why I went self employed because I owed it to myself to be free but to set a good example for others to follow etc
Hi mate! Hope you're well. Where do you get rid of your clippings/waste when doing a clearance? I'm trying to find somewhere that would work as I live in an apartment 😑 also YNWA let's hope tonight goes well 😬
Hi mate I go to my local tip also we have a farm not far and we get charged to take to the farm normally a van load price from the farmer to us
Let’s hope for a win mate I feel alittle better after the last two results 🤞🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 thank you for getting back to me! Okay I'll ask my local tip to see if theyll accept the waste! I'll try make friends with a farmer as well 😂
Yeah so do I, but after some performances this year I do have a bit of doubt 😂 also love that tattoos man, they're addictive aren't they!
@@NewickGM very addictive mate
What jobs do you do in the winter time
(October to January)
to keep you in business..?….
I do one off tidy ups,regular maintenance jobs ie weeding flower bed work pruning and borders plus any hedge jobs I didn’t get time for some years I’m still cutting grass into December as it’s still growing in places and then we’ve got all the leaf fall between November and mid December
I seem to be just as busy in the winter as the spring and summer I just have less day light hours which is good I guess
February seems to be the one month we get snow and ice then I’m just off or salting driveways snow clearing if I get desperate
If I had the money I’d go to Australia for a month 😂
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Love it!
Bring on somewhere hot sunny and by the beach for a few weeks after all the hard work for the year
@@jackstone4291 that’s the dream mate feb is cool tho it’s the one month just after the tax bills paid when everything’s abit slow but soon as March and April hit then it’s all systems go
I like abit of down time and take long weekends throughout the year to help stay energised
@@jackstone4291 have a great day mate
Hi.
You said that you charge around £30ph for a 20min job so how much should be charged for a 1 hour job of just cutting lawns?
I live in East London.
Also should each service (Weeding, Hedges, Pruning) be at separate rate, roughly how much per hour or cut?
I have an hourly rate for maintenance
But if it’s just a grass cut then depending on size small to medium jobs that I can do in less than an hour I’d go for £30 as a set price
Hi.
You haven't answered my questions accurately.
Never mind.
All the best with your business.
@@DaTruth1017 I charge £25 an hour for maintenance
So if your doing just grass cut and not anything else then do a set price per job it’s that simple mate
I don’t charge separately for individual services that would be included in a normal hourly rate for garden maintenance
Hedges if they are big jobs then yes do a separate price every time
Hope you understand what I’m trying to say mate
So hourly rates for all maintenance in smaller jobs
However if it’s just a grass cut you’d be better to do a set price per cut mate
Hope this helps
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83
Wonderful.
I appreciate your time taken in replying back to me.
Thank you once again 😎
@@DaTruth1017 that’s ok bro have a great afternoon mate ☺️
Up the REDMEN YNWA
Up the redmen YNWA bud ❤️🙌🏼
LFC fan, I can't stand them so I'm leaving the thread - See ya!
😄 I'm only joking - Leicester is my team. Any how, another good video and thanks for sharing your thoughts 😉
My brother is Leicester he’s played at the king power
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Has he, what a place to play at. Was he in a final or a charity match?
@@stevedsimms it was a play with a legend match team Matt Elliot Vs muzzy izzet
His match went to penalties my bro was the keeper and saved two pens for team Elliot to win
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 That's brilliant and he saved 2 penalties. Matt Elliott and Izzet, 2 great players for LCFC - Well done him 😀
Hi, I've just subscribed to your channel. What I've seen so far has been brilliant, informative and helpful! I'm thinking of going on my own but I'll need some finance to get me going, so I'm a bit nervous as I've got a mortgage and 2 young boys to think about. Did you do any research before taking the plunge and going it alone?
I was working with another firm so gained some experience I then worked out what I needed and how long it would take to get everything ready ie tools van clients and once I was close to ready I gave my boss his notice then went for it and never looked back
I promise you now it’s worth it
It might seem scary but once you’ve done it you’ll realise you can do it and make a great little business for yourself
It can be hard in the winter but if your willing to work in all weather and you promote and add we’re you can you’ll have work all year round
Or atleast I have it’s only feb I get one or two gaps but I fill them fairly quick
It’s all go now
Best advise would be go for it but once you’ve got all your van tools and some regular clients booked in.I’d get on Facebook selling pages and also next door app do a post ie local gardener just starting out trying to build up a round then meet them quote your price and say I’m starting in a few weeks once you’ve served noticed with your current employer most people will be happy for you to start in a few weeks after you’ve met them
You’ve got this mate and thank you for subscribing I do appreciate your support 💚🌳🌿
@THE TATTOOED GARDENER awesome thanks buddy! I took voluntary redundancy from a lawn care company that I've worked for the last 18 years. So I'm confident with the lawn side of things, and pretty confident with hedge trimming, I've done some on the side over the years. But I don't really know anything about shrubs and plants. I'm currently working for a commercial spraying contractor, we do a bit of clearance work but there's no pride in it, and I just don't get the boss. Im46 and think it's time to work for myself. Really appreciate your encouragement and positivity!
@@blueknight3943 I’ve just turned 40 and been solo for 6 years I only wish I had started years ago but never too late to start mate
Let me know how it all goes
Hope the following helps mate:
1 think long and hard before buying big expensive equipment that you will rarely use . Is it REALLY going to earn you extra money? The only power tools I have are a small mower ,blower and strimmer . All cordless. Plus a large rather mottley collection of hand tools and carry it all in a twelve year old VW Caddy that has home made shelving so as not to waste space .
2 Do smaller gardens, contrary to what some say I have found ordinary folk pay you just as well as the super rich . And obvs on a small garden you won’t need or be expected to have all the big equipment . Plus there are more of them and so a lot easier to come by
3 Pete has already mentioned NEXTDOOR app in another of his vids . And yes it works but not only that it’s free! I would suggest you go the extra mile to do a really good job for the first couple of customers then get them to post a really glowing report on said
app
4 MAKE SURE YOUR WIFE KEEPS WORKING