I'm looking eagerly for you to talk more about this topic. I still keep my rates of £30 per hour but want to let go of customers asking for me to do cheaper than that.
If I could get £30 an hour I’d be over the moon I’m sure some customers won’t want to pay or might give you some issues but stick to your ground because you’ve got the overheads and running costs and if people don’t pay more then you end up making less profit closer to break even which is ridiculous so deffo know your worth 💪🏼
I did what Jeff in Australia recommended. I increased my prices at the end of spring (I'm in NZ). Best thing I could have done. Gardens needing lots of attention and all gardeners busy. Now a few months down the road , everyone has adjusted to the change and are not concerned and I d proven I'm worth the rate by continuing to be reliable and doing a good job.
That’s a good shout what’s your weather like down in NZ do you have a good mix like the uk of rain sun and abit of everything in between Thanks for sharing your tip mate I also watch Jeff top guy Keep up the great work your end mate
Hello Pete. Thanks for the video. Yes it can be very challenging with pricing, I have been charging the same for around 2 years now so I think in 2024 will be increasing my prices on some of the gardens I work on. Thank you Pete. Mark
Hi mark thanks for the comment buddy definitely up your prices alittle and I think that’s the key slight increases that help you but don’t make the customers look elsewhere for cheaper options Keep up the great work Thanks again for watching 🙏
Good video and topic bud! Personally will be keeping all my regulars the same! As I feel they are priced well!! New jobs might up it a little bit but overall pleased!
Hi mate I think that’s what a lot of gardeners will do this season and it’s probably the most sensible thing to do at the moment your keeping your loyal regulars happy Thanks for watching mate happy new year all the best for the year ahead
I run a property services business, we are now introducing interest free split payments over 3 months for our clients. This will hopefully keep our cashflow going and make our services a little more affordable to our clients. That's the plan anyway, we will see in reality. Thanks for your videos mate.
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Paid work the 8th an less anyone phones up with an emergency job The farming side of the job never stops got a few on going home projects to do enjoy the rest of your brake Thanks again
I am fairly happy with my pricing as I did a fairly large price hike last year. Will just do a smaller rise this year, about 5% on the regulars. One offs/hedges/tidys etc get priced separately and tend to increase by about 10% each year. This system works for me.
Hi jack I think my last increase was two years ago so it’s well over due now especially because of the cost of living and reasons I spoke about I appreciate people all feel the affects with bills and things going up so I’ll try and up the prices slightly but without tipping the scales Have a great New Year’s Eve mate all the best for the new year ahead 💚💪🏼
@@Torchhead_ginge So long as you have a banana and 2 litres of water at least 4/6 hrs before. You'll be fine. Words of wisdom from Pete's dad. He ends today's lesson. Amen.😂🤣
I will keep my prices the same for my customers as I put them up last year. New garden s will be on my new rate and my one off jobs prices will go up. I got the saker mini chainsaw for Xmas will try it out over the New year. Also was my birthday on Boxing day so apparently parents have ordered me something else's for the business as a present.
Hi Robert happy belated birthday you’ll have to let me know what you get Thanks for watching and leaving a comment here’s to a great. New year 🍺🥂 All the best for 2024 mate
usually up mine no more than £2 per job, unless a day rate or half day rate, Usually we do half the customers 1 year and the other half the next, it all depends, its a thin line between over charging and undercharging, one thing new this year will be t's and c's
Nice video Pete. As I only just started my business last year, my current customers will stay on their current prices, new customers I will charge a little bit more in 2024.
Hello Pete My lawn man uses a stand up zero turn riding mower on my yard. His mower runs pretty fast. The company my son works for has Scag stand up, zero point turn. Son told me the mowers move along at about 13 mph. Do you all ever use a stand up mowers on your jobs?
Hi Nancy I’ve not seen many in the uk but seen plenty in the us I’d love to try one I’ve seen how good they are I really wish we had more of that sort of thing here in the uk I think they sell them you just don’t see them about
It’s a tricky one mate. I’ve been really bad at putting my prices up! My own fault but this year any new jobs and some of the bigger regular ones I’m going to put up. It’s harder with some of the regular ones I’ve had for a long time! I will have to try and keep them creeping up slowly. Happy new year🎉🥳😊
I will be contacting customers at the start of March and raising the prices effective 1st April. I raised my prices last year so I don’t want to increase too much this year. I started off too cheap to begin with and most of my hourly rate customers are on £20 per hour, so I think they should go up to £22. One of them I’m going to have to increase by about 30% for the 3 hour visit because I do mowing, strimming and often hedge cutting. Can’t do that for a silly hourly rate anymore. If they decide to let me go it won’t be the worst thing in the world.
Morning buddy I think that’s fair mate I’d say £22.50 would be fair then any new ones you take on this year £25-£30 if you can I know how hard we all work across the country doing this job and non gardeners don’t realise how hard it is and that’s purely because we make it look easy but we both know that’s not always the case Keep up the great work wishing you all the best for 2024 and the season ahead Appreciate the continued support 🙏
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83thanks for the advice. Yeah one of them i took on in September is on £22.50 already so I’ll hold their price this year. Any new ones I’m going to get as much as I can, as the diary is already busy I can afford to lose a couple. We need to earn fair money as I have quite a bit of work related stuff on my shopping list. Business reinvestment is important. Hope you have a great season too
Awesome question to this point I’ve always included it in my prices but this season I’ll be adding fuel use to my pricing I think it’s only fair or else you eat into your profits too much
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 good plan. I’ve seen some people charging £5 per hour supplement. But part of me wants to charge more for those sorts of jobs in the first place. It’s a tricky one to get right.
@@laurencechapman1990 it really is buddy the biggest concern is there’s always someone cheaper around the corner willing to undercut you I think small charges will make a big difference across the client base It’s just getting it right
Pricing can be abit of a nightmare , I know. Been a self employed maintenance gardener for 15+ years, and every now and again your prices have to go up mate. ( or you are taking the hit) it’s hard because they’ve been good customers, some right from the start. I go up every couple of years. But this year inflation has been so high, everyone is going up. KR John.
Hi John sometimes it’s got to be done I’ve got to get mine up this year I’ve left my bread and butter jobs for a few years but I need to up people slightly As people say we’re running a buisness not a charity and these are basic fundamentals to succeed and keep trading Thanks for watching John
How long have you been going bud Only asking as I had this in my first year but once I got established my regular jobs all came back you might loose one or two smaller jobs but 90% always return There’s no guarantees or loyalty in our game but all you can do is try your best and go the extra mile for your clients Sometimes people will look for cheaper options especially with everyone watching the pennies not easy mate Maybe offer your clients a set price for two years meaning your offering some form of loyalty to them meaning they’ll more likely return
Hi roger welcome to the channel really amazing to have you here mate I’m based in West Sussex and Surrey area Have a great rest of the week too Thanks again
We’ve got no choice of everything’s going up around us we’ve got to have some increases across the board I’ll also up my price to remove any waste either per bag or van load Thanks for watching Steven have a great new year mate
I’m putting all my grass cuts up a fiver too, I’m expecting some customers to complain and I’ll maybe loose some work but at the end of the day I’m a business not a charity.
That's what you mentioned mate.. you go in the site and then you spend more than what you quote, thats why I keep it on hourly rate. I couldn't be dealing with underpricing my work.. I would feel used if I did not give an hourly rate and would have a shitty rest of the week. There are always those who say ' Can you do this also while you are here.' The hourly rate is so transparent. I charge exactly on my time.
I can agree with this you hear so many people with mixed opinions on hourly and set price but it all depends on the business model and what job your doing If I get a hedge job I’ll price for the full day even if I think I can do it in less time same with bigger grass cuts that way if it’s done quicker happy days Always do works best for your business
I think if you do regular weekly / fortnightly maintenance it has to be hourly rate as its a never ending job. I love weekly work and have people on 2-3 hrs a week like that, and do smaller lawns for a fixed price.
@@jameswyeth8223 Yeah, that aligns with me as well. It feels good to go to jobs where you know what to do and you have no stress of thinking a number out of your head for clients. I love my regulars. I'm thinking of changing the price for lawns as you mentioned. Minimum £30 per small lawn (not hourly rate but could finish under an hour), £40 per lawn jobs that are a bit bigger, and then £60 for regular visits (twice a month). I'm just terrified of clients who come up with "While you are here could you.."
i have a thing were i say i up prices every other year but i do this to 50% customers so price is up every year and if any say cant afford it from 50% smaller loss to our cash flow this works well for me and any new i put what i think it will cost plus a bit for the hidden bits we will get and round it up to and this has worked well also. any new ones have a higher price we have to and hedge bushes those jobs i price each bit of hedge bush etc and 5 or 6 at £30 to &£70 is good price if you put all in price off £350 or something for a few hours work customer not so willing to pay this all works well for me and i have work booked for Jan and Feb a good amount if weather lets me work and then march comes and i already have 2024 booked until Christmas i will lose some the will ring also but i like the idea of having a work flow. you need the work to flow to have a cash flow. this works well i find may not suit all businesses but find what is right for you and your business hope you have a great Christmas and happy new year and birthday for Feb its good to get the birthdays out the way before we get busy mine Jan 13 all the best Pete
Hi Shane sounds like you’ve got it all sussed buddy and that’s awesome your as good as fully booked until Christmas next year I’m looking forward to getting back out there the weather isn’t looking great tho I’m pleased I’ve been off this week we’ve had so much rain and strong winds Have a great new years mate and all the best for 2024 mate Thanks for watching this evening your a legend
If you are a qualified gardener,RHS and above,know the majority of plants,soil types,planting schemes,good professional equipment and few years at least of experience then £30 ph is reasonable . Anything other than that and you are just an outdoor labourer.Just as watching SpongeBob does not make one a marine biologist,so pushing a mower does not make one a professional gardener.I think there are too many people drifting into the profession now with hardly any skill or knowledge giving us a bad name and thinking they can take people for a ride on pricing. Got to be realistic,people are not idiots.
My old boss was 30 years experience and RHS wisely trained and more and even with all his years of experience he said you never stop learning so if you are willing to start at the bottom and work hard and learn along the way you stand a great chance of going far and making a good living for yourself in this industry I know a people with lots of plant knowledge but lack the work ethic and basic common sense needed to be successful I think you have to be fair as no matter what form of life you come from everyone has out goings and the cost of living will affect everyone from a council house to millionaires mansion best to always be realistic on pricing
If you think someone who isn't RHS trained is just an outdoor labour. What would you think he / she should charge? Given that the national minimum wage for someone 21yrs plus is currently £10.18 (I think) Then a gardener, even a non RHS trained one has all the business running costs as mentioned in this video and has to make a profit to stay in business. I wonder what you think a non RHS trained " outdoor labour" should charge?
@@funkyduckproductions.8844 Hi mate I found it difficult to answer his question so did as well as I could mate I’m not RHS trained I’m self taught to a degree and also worked with bigger gardening firms before I went self employed Someone said to me Pete you might not know the names of every plant but you know enough and work really hard and never let us down which is what we’d prefer Clients want a tidy garden and someone reliable that will turn up when they say which is what I do to the best of my ability Myself Damien Rob and many of us gardeners on UA-cam all work really hard and try to show that in our videos We prove you don’t have to be RHS and have all the tickets to be successful Happy new year mate 🥂 I hope 2024 is a great year for you 🙌🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 All the best to you and yours as well. I think he has a point.... To an extent. Someone can literally go on Facebook marketplace, buy a second hand mower and strimmer for sixty quid and set themselves up as a gardener. This is why I've always been opposed to UA-cam "influencers" encouraging people to enter our industry. From my point of view there are no winners in doing that. But equally, to think someone isn't a gardener just because they may not have an RHS qualification is, in my view, obsurd. There are plenty of us like yourself who have been doing this for many, many years. Have a wealth of knowledge no book could teach and have provided a first rate service to our customers for many years.
The same here, i have an RHS Level 3 Qualification along with an RFS Arboriculture Qual, have 25 years+ and started out as an Parks and Countryside Ranger Apprentice with The National Trust, yet, despite all this and being the Only Chartered Horticulturist in my area, i can't get passed charging any more than £20 an hour, not that i charge by the hour! One of my main problems is, as you mentioned, there are loads of people springing up in Telford, doing Garden Maintenance and Handyman/Gardening whom charge around National Living Wage. I just can't compete with that, and i have been forced to shut down my Garden Maintenance business and diversify into Ecology and Environmental Management (Which isn't such a bad thing though, as that's more in keeping with my original work scope with the National Trust) this is a shame though as I'm beginning to hate garden maintenance and especially for the Domestic/Residential clients. I have had to let go of All my clients and start again (Most of my clients though have already jumped ship and gone with the "Cheap and Cheerful Brigade, as it all comes down to Money in my town and most people don't care about the quality of work, as long as their garden looks Tidy and the gardeners are reliable, that's all that matters) I'm now having to change my clients and go more for B2B, so I'm now going into this year with No Customers and 2 Brand New Businesses to market @@THETATTOOGARDENER83
You saying there are some gardeners around your area charging £40p/h which you said was nuts!! TBF mate people are paying it so bare that in mind 🤔. Keep up the good work too.
That’s very true the most are around the going average One of my friends is a gardener and will sometimes get asked to quote jobs he doesn’t want to take on so quotes abit higher if he then doesn’t get the job he’s not to bothered but then if they do agree he’s got a good earner
Pete, in U.S / CT..we are talking the same$$,. Most customers will understand! It's a fine line, but 10/20$ each stop adds up..cheaper companies are lurking!!🤔🤜🤛
Hi Dan agree mate it will be newer gardener who don’t have the experience yet that come in cheap I say that because when I started I was too cheap not because I was trying to be cheaper I just lacked the knowledge of running costs this comes in time I’m sure your costs of living are going up in the us too In the uk working families use food banks because they can’t afford to live after paying bills it’s very worrying and so I don’t want to up too much and scare people off Small but fair increases I think Hope you’ve had a great Christmas mate
Professional job and should be paid for it, cost of living is rising and as long as your good at your job you should be rewarded with a decent salary. I charge a daily rate that covers van cost equipment maintenance fuel and it goes up every year, all my customers say is that’s fine we don’t want to lose you, the person reflects the cost
Cracking chat mate I’m hourly rate but only been gardening 3 years now it just works better for my line of customers and gardens I work on I’ll be upping mine by £2.50 from January Great chat Christmas was lovely I’m not back to work until 6th January or tho I’ve heard rumours of snow ☃️ let’s hope not ayyy
Thank you buddy yeah I’ve heard that too I hope we don’t get snow this month February fine but I could do with a good January to get the last of my tax lol
Nope,,, 75% of my customers I have kept for over 20 to 25 years, I'm not about to cut my own throat to scrabble for a few more pennies, they understand prices fluctuations in materials and a small % rise in costs, I'm prepared to take some of the price hikes to keep the loyalty of my customers.
Hi mate that’s a fair way to look at it and your customers are very lucky to have someone so professional and willing to offer such a great service I totally respect this Have a great year ahead 💚🙌🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 your strategy for raising the prices is spot on I think. 👍 Look after your loyal customers as long as you can, ramp it up slowly.
I heard you say on one of your videos I watched a few days ago that you’re 41 years old, not sure if I’ve got that right. And then on this video you just said your birthday is on 11th February, mate thats really weird because I’m 43 this year and my birthday is 8th February….. little bit of useless information there. On a serious note, you’re probably getting annoyed with me because I find myself commenting on quite a lot of your videos, however, you replied to one of my comments earlier on in the week because I said I was looking to start my own gardening business and what did I need, you gave me a few pointers of the basics to start with. I was just wondering, if you get the time could you send me some of the makes a models of things I should be looking to get as opposed to buying cheaper etc. Obviously, I can’t afford to go all out at this stage, but having said that with them being the tools of the trade, I wouldn’t want to get something that’s going to let me down within the first month. I’m so nervous of the things to come, but excited as well. I’m just trying to work out a business plan. Keep up the good work
I’m 41 on the 11th feb lol I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on the videos I’ll happily guide you and give you some pointers and tips of what to go for starting out
I really appreciate that, and any help you could give, I would be truly grateful. I’ve been looking at Facebook selling sites, but not sure whether to trust the items or not.
Hiya Pete hope you had a good Christmas and have a good day today aka happy new year loving the vids mate 😁👍
Thanks buddy keep up the good work your end all the best for 2024 🙌🏼💪🏼
👍 It's so good to hear your enthousiasm for your work 🙂👍👏
Thank you massively appreciate the kind words 🙏
I'm looking eagerly for you to talk more about this topic. I still keep my rates of £30 per hour but want to let go of customers asking for me to do cheaper than that.
If I could get £30 an hour I’d be over the moon I’m sure some customers won’t want to pay or might give you some issues but stick to your ground because you’ve got the overheads and running costs and if people don’t pay more then you end up making less profit closer to break even which is ridiculous so deffo know your worth 💪🏼
I did what Jeff in Australia recommended. I increased my prices at the end of spring (I'm in NZ). Best thing I could have done. Gardens needing lots of attention and all gardeners busy. Now a few months down the road , everyone has adjusted to the change and are not concerned and I d proven I'm worth the rate by continuing to be reliable and doing a good job.
That’s a good shout what’s your weather like down in NZ do you have a good mix like the uk of rain sun and abit of everything in between
Thanks for sharing your tip mate I also watch Jeff top guy
Keep up the great work your end mate
Hello Pete. Thanks for the video. Yes it can be very challenging with pricing, I have been charging the same for around 2 years now so I think in 2024 will be increasing my prices on some of the gardens I work on.
Thank you Pete.
Mark
Hi mark thanks for the comment buddy definitely up your prices alittle and I think that’s the key slight increases that help you but don’t make the customers look elsewhere for cheaper options
Keep up the great work
Thanks again for watching 🙏
Good video and topic bud! Personally will be keeping all my regulars the same! As I feel they are priced well!! New jobs might up it a little bit but overall pleased!
Hi mate I think that’s what a lot of gardeners will do this season and it’s probably the most sensible thing to do at the moment your keeping your loyal regulars happy
Thanks for watching mate happy new year all the best for the year ahead
I run a property services business, we are now introducing interest free split payments over 3 months for our clients.
This will hopefully keep our cashflow going and make our services a little more affordable to our clients.
That's the plan anyway, we will see in reality.
Thanks for your videos mate.
That’s sounds quite cool let me know how that works it could be something to consider
Thank you for watching really appreciate it mate
Hi Pete nice one thanks again
Hi mate thanks for tunning in hope you had a great Christmas
When you back to work
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 Paid work the 8th an less anyone phones up with an emergency job The farming side of the job never stops got a few on going home projects to do enjoy the rest of your brake Thanks again
@@DJC995 that’s good your keeping busy mate it won’t be long before the springs upon us again and it will be all systems go
I am fairly happy with my pricing as I did a fairly large price hike last year.
Will just do a smaller rise this year, about 5% on the regulars.
One offs/hedges/tidys etc get priced separately and tend to increase by about 10% each year.
This system works for me.
Hi jack I think my last increase was two years ago so it’s well over due now especially because of the cost of living and reasons I spoke about
I appreciate people all feel the affects with bills and things going up so I’ll try and up the prices slightly but without tipping the scales
Have a great New Year’s Eve mate all the best for the new year ahead 💚💪🏼
Not long till I see you 💪💪💪
Not long now mate can’t wait to get back to work 💪🏼
Leon, drinks are on Pete in February. Pete's dad. 👍🍺
@@antonywalker8837 100% and your invited too dad x
@@antonywalker8837 sweet good too hear 😂 cheers Pete I’ll take a double au blue razz and lemonade and 4 pints off madrí 😂
@@Torchhead_ginge So long as you have a banana and 2 litres of water at least 4/6 hrs before. You'll be fine. Words of wisdom from Pete's dad. He ends today's lesson. Amen.😂🤣
Happy new year Pete👍
Happy new year Carl 🥂🕺🏻
I will keep my prices the same for my customers as I put them up last year. New garden s will be on my new rate and my one off jobs prices will go up. I got the saker mini chainsaw for Xmas will try it out over the New year. Also was my birthday on Boxing day so apparently parents have ordered me something else's for the business as a present.
Hi Robert happy belated birthday you’ll have to let me know what you get
Thanks for watching and leaving a comment here’s to a great. New year 🍺🥂
All the best for 2024 mate
usually up mine no more than £2 per job, unless a day rate or half day rate, Usually we do half the customers 1 year and the other half the next, it all depends, its a thin line between over charging and undercharging, one thing new this year will be t's and c's
Hi Reas that’s it I don’t want to go over but at the same time not too cheap either way I’ve got to put mine up alittle
How’s the van any news on that
Think it will be mainly hedges I'm gonna up .. and just new customers
If the rest of your customers are bread and butter then this might work out best for you Graham
Nice video Pete. As I only just started my business last year, my current customers will stay on their current prices, new customers I will charge a little bit more in 2024.
That’s the best way buddy then see how it goes following year
£40 plus VAT per hr in Berkshire and still turning away work.
Fair play my friend that’s mega some big properties your way
Happy new year keep up the great work all the best for 2024 🥂🍺💪🏼
Hello Pete
My lawn man uses a stand up zero turn riding mower on my yard. His mower runs pretty fast. The company my son works for has Scag stand up, zero point turn. Son told me the mowers move along at about 13 mph. Do you all ever use a stand up mowers on your jobs?
Hi Nancy I’ve not seen many in the uk but seen plenty in the us
I’d love to try one I’ve seen how good they are I really wish we had more of that sort of thing here in the uk
I think they sell them you just don’t see them about
I watched a few videos on the stand up mowers. They were interesting.@@THETATTOOGARDENER83
👍
Thanks for watching happy new year all the best for 2024
Great job Pete,
Love listening to you,
"This time next year Rodney, we'll be millionaire's" 🤣
Happy New Year
Steve
He who dares Stephen 😂👌🏼
It’s a tricky one mate.
I’ve been really bad at putting my prices up! My own fault but this year any new jobs and some of the bigger regular ones I’m going to put up. It’s harder with some of the regular ones I’ve had for a long time! I will have to try and keep them creeping up slowly.
Happy new year🎉🥳😊
I think that’s the way I’m going to play it small increases and new ones new prices for 2024
Happy new year mate 🥂
I will be contacting customers at the start of March and raising the prices effective 1st April. I raised my prices last year so I don’t want to increase too much this year. I started off too cheap to begin with and most of my hourly rate customers are on £20 per hour, so I think they should go up to £22. One of them I’m going to have to increase by about 30% for the 3 hour visit because I do mowing, strimming and often hedge cutting. Can’t do that for a silly hourly rate anymore. If they decide to let me go it won’t be the worst thing in the world.
Morning buddy I think that’s fair mate I’d say £22.50 would be fair then any new ones you take on this year £25-£30 if you can
I know how hard we all work across the country doing this job and non gardeners don’t realise how hard it is and that’s purely because we make it look easy but we both know that’s not always the case
Keep up the great work wishing you all the best for 2024 and the season ahead
Appreciate the continued support 🙏
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83thanks for the advice. Yeah one of them i took on in September is on £22.50 already so I’ll hold their price this year. Any new ones I’m going to get as much as I can, as the diary is already busy I can afford to lose a couple. We need to earn fair money as I have quite a bit of work related stuff on my shopping list. Business reinvestment is important. Hope you have a great season too
How does your hourly rate work for your regulars when it comes to mowing/strimming/blowing etc, do you charge extra for petrol?
Awesome question to this point I’ve always included it in my prices but this season I’ll be adding fuel use to my pricing I think it’s only fair or else you eat into your profits too much
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 good plan. I’ve seen some people charging £5 per hour supplement. But part of me wants to charge more for those sorts of jobs in the first place. It’s a tricky one to get right.
@@laurencechapman1990 it really is buddy the biggest concern is there’s always someone cheaper around the corner willing to undercut you
I think small charges will make a big difference across the client base
It’s just getting it right
Great video mate, hope your well
Thanks Simon I’m well thank you mate hope you had a great Christmas
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 No worries Pete, that’s good to hear. Yeah it was nice/good thanks mate, I hope yours was nice to
Pricing can be abit of a nightmare , I know.
Been a self employed maintenance gardener for 15+ years, and every now and again your prices have to go up mate. ( or you are taking the hit) it’s hard because they’ve been good customers, some right from the start. I go up every couple of years. But this year inflation has been so high, everyone is going up.
KR John.
Hi John sometimes it’s got to be done I’ve got to get mine up this year I’ve left my bread and butter jobs for a few years but I need to up people slightly
As people say we’re running a buisness not a charity and these are basic fundamentals to succeed and keep trading
Thanks for watching John
One problem I'm having is bringing the customers back after the winter is over is manic.
How long have you been going bud
Only asking as I had this in my first year but once I got established my regular jobs all came back you might loose one or two smaller jobs but 90% always return
There’s no guarantees or loyalty in our game but all you can do is try your best and go the extra mile for your clients
Sometimes people will look for cheaper options especially with everyone watching the pennies not easy mate
Maybe offer your clients a set price for two years meaning your offering some form of loyalty to them meaning they’ll more likely return
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 So I have been going for about 4-5 years and with my prices they are all fixed I only have one old lady on a hourly rate.
Hi ,I'm new on your channel, what area are you working in ?
Hope you're having a good rest .
Hi roger welcome to the channel really amazing to have you here mate I’m based in West Sussex and Surrey area
Have a great rest of the week too
Thanks again
My bday day is Feb 9...58..💪👍
Very close to mine 🍺
I’m putting all mine up by £5 a cut and if they don’t like it they can find someone else I’m afraid
We’ve got no choice of everything’s going up around us we’ve got to have some increases across the board
I’ll also up my price to remove any waste either per bag or van load
Thanks for watching Steven have a great new year mate
I’m putting all my grass cuts up a fiver too, I’m expecting some customers to complain and I’ll maybe loose some work but at the end of the day I’m a business not a charity.
@@johnpeters7316 100% this John 💪🏼 I’ve been too nice and now is the time for some increases
That's what you mentioned mate.. you go in the site and then you spend more than what you quote, thats why I keep it on hourly rate. I couldn't be dealing with underpricing my work.. I would feel used if I did not give an hourly rate and would have a shitty rest of the week. There are always those who say ' Can you do this also while you are here.' The hourly rate is so transparent. I charge exactly on my time.
I can agree with this you hear so many people with mixed opinions on hourly and set price but it all depends on the business model and what job your doing
If I get a hedge job I’ll price for the full day even if I think I can do it in less time same with bigger grass cuts that way if it’s done quicker happy days
Always do works best for your business
I think if you do regular weekly / fortnightly maintenance it has to be hourly rate as its a never ending job. I love weekly work and have people on 2-3 hrs a week like that, and do smaller lawns for a fixed price.
@@jameswyeth8223 Yeah, that aligns with me as well. It feels good to go to jobs where you know what to do and you have no stress of thinking a number out of your head for clients. I love my regulars. I'm thinking of changing the price for lawns as you mentioned. Minimum £30 per small lawn (not hourly rate but could finish under an hour), £40 per lawn jobs that are a bit bigger, and then £60 for regular visits (twice a month). I'm just terrified of clients who come up with "While you are here could you.."
Ahh yes the old "could you just " @@FromLawtoGardening
i have a thing were i say i up prices every other year but i do this to 50% customers so price is up every year and if any say cant afford it from 50% smaller loss to our cash flow this works well for me and any new i put what i think it will cost plus a bit for the hidden bits we will get and round it up to and this has worked well also. any new ones have a higher price we have to and hedge bushes those jobs i price each bit of hedge bush etc and 5 or 6 at £30 to &£70 is good price if you put all in price off £350 or something for a few hours work customer not so willing to pay this all works well for me and i have work booked for Jan and Feb a good amount if weather lets me work and then march comes and i already have 2024 booked until Christmas i will lose some the will ring also but i like the idea of having a work flow. you need the work to flow to have a cash flow. this works well i find may not suit all businesses but find what is right for you and your business hope you have a great Christmas and happy new year and birthday for Feb its good to get the birthdays out the way before we get busy mine Jan 13 all the best Pete
Hi Shane sounds like you’ve got it all sussed buddy and that’s awesome your as good as fully booked until Christmas next year
I’m looking forward to getting back out there the weather isn’t looking great tho I’m pleased I’ve been off this week we’ve had so much rain and strong winds
Have a great new years mate and all the best for 2024 mate
Thanks for watching this evening your a legend
If you are a qualified gardener,RHS and above,know the majority of plants,soil types,planting schemes,good professional equipment and few years at least of experience then £30 ph is reasonable . Anything other than that and you are just an outdoor labourer.Just as watching SpongeBob does not make one a marine biologist,so pushing a mower does not make one a professional gardener.I think there are too many people drifting into the profession now with hardly any skill or knowledge giving us a bad name and thinking they can take people for a ride on pricing. Got to be realistic,people are not idiots.
My old boss was 30 years experience and RHS wisely trained and more and even with all his years of experience he said you never stop learning so if you are willing to start at the bottom and work hard and learn along the way you stand a great chance of going far and making a good living for yourself in this industry
I know a people with lots of plant knowledge but lack the work ethic and basic common sense needed to be successful
I think you have to be fair as no matter what form of life you come from everyone has out goings and the cost of living will affect everyone from a council house to millionaires mansion best to always be realistic on pricing
If you think someone who isn't RHS trained is just an outdoor labour. What would you think he / she should charge? Given that the national minimum wage for someone 21yrs plus is currently £10.18 (I think) Then a gardener, even a non RHS trained one has all the business running costs as mentioned in this video and has to make a profit to stay in business. I wonder what you think a non RHS trained " outdoor labour" should charge?
@@funkyduckproductions.8844 Hi mate I found it difficult to answer his question so did as well as I could mate
I’m not RHS trained I’m self taught to a degree and also worked with bigger gardening firms before I went self employed
Someone said to me Pete you might not know the names of every plant but you know enough and work really hard and never let us down which is what we’d prefer
Clients want a tidy garden and someone reliable that will turn up when they say which is what I do to the best of my ability
Myself Damien Rob and many of us gardeners on UA-cam all work really hard and try to show that in our videos
We prove you don’t have to be RHS and have all the tickets to be successful
Happy new year mate 🥂 I hope 2024 is a great year for you 🙌🏼
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 All the best to you and yours as well.
I think he has a point.... To an extent.
Someone can literally go on Facebook marketplace, buy a second hand mower and strimmer for sixty quid and set themselves up as a gardener.
This is why I've always been opposed to UA-cam "influencers" encouraging people to enter our industry. From my point of view there are no winners in doing that.
But equally, to think someone isn't a gardener just because they may not have an RHS qualification is, in my view, obsurd. There are plenty of us like yourself who have been doing this for many, many years. Have a wealth of knowledge no book could teach and have provided a first rate service to our customers for many years.
The same here, i have an RHS Level 3 Qualification along with an RFS Arboriculture Qual, have 25 years+ and started out as an Parks and Countryside Ranger Apprentice with The National Trust, yet, despite all this and being the Only Chartered Horticulturist in my area, i can't get passed charging any more than £20 an hour, not that i charge by the hour!
One of my main problems is, as you mentioned, there are loads of people springing up in Telford, doing Garden Maintenance and Handyman/Gardening whom charge around National Living Wage.
I just can't compete with that, and i have been forced to shut down my Garden Maintenance business and diversify into Ecology and Environmental Management (Which isn't such a bad thing though, as that's more in keeping with my original work scope with the National Trust) this is a shame though as I'm beginning to hate garden maintenance and especially for the Domestic/Residential clients.
I have had to let go of All my clients and start again (Most of my clients though have already jumped ship and gone with the "Cheap and Cheerful Brigade, as it all comes down to Money in my town and most people don't care about the quality of work, as long as their garden looks Tidy and the gardeners are reliable, that's all that matters)
I'm now having to change my clients and go more for B2B, so I'm now going into this year with No Customers and 2 Brand New Businesses to market
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83
You saying there are some gardeners around your area charging £40p/h which you said was nuts!! TBF mate people are paying it so bare that in mind 🤔. Keep up the good work too.
That’s very true the most are around the going average
One of my friends is a gardener and will sometimes get asked to quote jobs he doesn’t want to take on so quotes abit higher if he then doesn’t get the job he’s not to bothered but then if they do agree he’s got a good earner
Pete, in U.S / CT..we are talking the same$$,. Most customers will understand! It's a fine line, but 10/20$ each stop adds up..cheaper companies are lurking!!🤔🤜🤛
Hi Dan agree mate it will be newer gardener who don’t have the experience yet that come in cheap
I say that because when I started I was too cheap not because I was trying to be cheaper I just lacked the knowledge of running costs this comes in time
I’m sure your costs of living are going up in the us too
In the uk working families use food banks because they can’t afford to live after paying bills it’s very worrying and so I don’t want to up too much and scare people off
Small but fair increases I think
Hope you’ve had a great Christmas mate
Professional job and should be paid for it, cost of living is rising and as long as your good at your job you should be rewarded with a decent salary.
I charge a daily rate that covers van cost equipment maintenance fuel and it goes up every year, all my customers say is that’s fine we don’t want to lose you, the person reflects the cost
Agree with this massively I’m lucky I’ve now got a really good group of clients and all nice people to work for which really helps
Cracking chat mate I’m hourly rate but only been gardening 3 years now it just works better for my line of customers and gardens I work on
I’ll be upping mine by £2.50 from January
Great chat Christmas was lovely I’m not back to work until 6th January or tho I’ve heard rumours of snow ☃️ let’s hope not ayyy
Thank you buddy yeah I’ve heard that too I hope we don’t get snow this month February fine but I could do with a good January to get the last of my tax lol
Nope,,, 75% of my customers I have kept for over 20 to 25 years, I'm not about to cut my own throat to scrabble for a few more pennies, they understand prices fluctuations in materials and a small % rise in costs, I'm prepared to take some of the price hikes to keep the loyalty of my customers.
Hi mate that’s a fair way to look at it and your customers are very lucky to have someone so professional and willing to offer such a great service
I totally respect this
Have a great year ahead 💚🙌🏼
@THETATTOOGARDENER83 you too , have a great new year and hope all holds together for you in the years to come.
@@fbeale3537 thank you I really appreciate it I’ve managed 6 years on my own so far with some help along the way but really enjoyed the journey
January is a scary month 😯 many people don't make it through unfortunately. Don't drink and drive though 🤣🤣🤣 even it's a mower.
January is very tough when says beer it’s more a stubby but thought that counts my stripes are always straight 🍺🤣
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 your strategy for raising the prices is spot on I think. 👍 Look after your loyal customers as long as you can, ramp it up slowly.
@@MalteseMafia exactly this 🙌🏼
I heard you say on one of your videos I watched a few days ago that you’re 41 years old, not sure if I’ve got that right. And then on this video you just said your birthday is on 11th February, mate thats really weird because I’m 43 this year and my birthday is 8th February….. little bit of useless information there.
On a serious note, you’re probably getting annoyed with me because I find myself commenting on quite a lot of your videos, however, you replied to one of my comments earlier on in the week because I said I was looking to start my own gardening business and what did I need, you gave me a few pointers of the basics to start with. I was just wondering, if you get the time could you send me some of the makes a models of things I should be looking to get as opposed to buying cheaper etc.
Obviously, I can’t afford to go all out at this stage, but having said that with them being the tools of the trade, I wouldn’t want to get something that’s going to let me down within the first month.
I’m so nervous of the things to come, but excited as well. I’m just trying to work out a business plan.
Keep up the good work
I’m 41 on the 11th feb lol
I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on the videos
I’ll happily guide you and give you some pointers and tips of what to go for starting out
I really appreciate that, and any help you could give, I would be truly grateful.
I’ve been looking at Facebook selling sites, but not sure whether to trust the items or not.
@@gavinwood8431 follow my Instagram and I’ll DM you my mobile number I’ll keep in touch with you via WhatsApp gavin
You must be doing something right son. Your video was full of orb's.Dad🙏
Thanks dad 🙏
Aint 2024 yet !!!!! Pfffft
Not quite no but soon enough bud
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 yh i know matey just tryin make most of last few days hahaha
@@markjw1985 all the best for the new year ahead mate 🍺🥂🕺🏻
@@THETATTOOGARDENER83 and u matey have a good un 👍👊