How to quote for gardening work
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2024
- How to achieve/ attract your first twenty customers. My marketing strategy. • How to get new gardeni...
My take on how to be successful when trying to gain gardening work. Thanks for watching.
My written quote. Please feel free to cut and paste, adapt to your specification.
Quote ........
Regarding the three lawned areas to the front and rear of your property.
I will strim where necessary, ie the edges, around the border lines then mow and leaf blow the immediate area to give a tidy finish.
All grass waste is to be placed into bags and then into your bins.
All work is carried out by myself and is done to an extremely high standard. I work alone.
I use petrol rotary lawn mowers and professional equipment.
The price per cut is £.......?
I mow from mid March until late October weather permitting. Approximately 19 cuts per year.
Payment is required on completion of the job , cash or bank transfer.
Please let me know if this meets your needs.
Kind regards.
Rob.
Maxwells grass cutting services.
www.maxwellsgrasscutting.co.uk
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel, please like and subscribe. See you next time👍🏻
Absolutely brilliant, I am a self employed Gardener and I have had some trouble figuring out how to quote.. I have given quotes and then got to the job and they've been so much more difficult than anticipated and Ive realised why the customer snapped my hand off at the original price Haha.. but I think the little 20 and 30 quid calls are the best.. if you can fill your diary and your days with them you're on to a winner.. I also have trouble with a few customers paying on time, I think I will send them Sunday reminders from now on..
Good for you Josh. All the best.
If you get offered work you really don't want to do, ask for a price way higher than you would normally charge. That way if they do agree to it it's worth your time.
Great advice, thanks Daniel. It takes a few years to work that out and to have the confidence to do it.
I agree 100%
I agree with the no money talk when quoting because there are times when they will try and knock you down I hate that it puts pressure on which we don’t need
Thanks for the comment and watching, your right money is awkward and it’s better to send the price later. 👍
What a top bloke you are. Such helpful advice and done in a very professional way. I’m in my 50s and looking to do something outdoors and with no office politics. Your videos are pure gold. Thanks a lot.
Glad to help. All the best to you .👍🏻
Yes mate, might be two years ago this video but this is a big help even in this day and age!
Thanks Tony. All the best.
This is invaluable information folks. Listen and learn. Where has this guy been all my life 😆. This is how to do it.
Thanks Jon, All the best. 👍🏻
Great advice thank you
Some great info here some people starting out Rob
Thanks Robbie, all the best to you .
2 years on brother and now your at 8.6k subs well in brother
Thank you . 🙏
I went to give a quote when I really got too much work but I was in that area and I said ok well if I did want the job I would have said £ 40 quid but actually I was really busy and I thought I couldn't really take this on so I said 80 quid and they said OK did that job for years one the best jobs I've ever done if you don't like the looks of a job just put a ridiculous high quote in.👍
Jess your right , we can all learn from your comment. Thanks 👍🏻
Great bit of advice. Thank you.
Your welcome, thank you for watching.
Just discovered your channel,thanks for the tips
You’ve helped me so much thank you
Happy to help! Good luck going forward.
Thank you so much for these tips, these can help me in the next future!
Thank you!
Cheers Tommy, good luck for the future, let me know how you get on. Rob.👍🏻
Thanks very much. Excellent video
Thanks
This is all excellent advice, thank you for sharing these things.
Your welcome. Thanks for watching.
Top Man Rob
Thank you Keith. 👍🏻
Some more helpful tips, thank you, enjoying your videos :-)
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel, all the best , Rob.
Really useful 👍🏻
Thanks again.👍🏻
EXCELLENT video Rob 👍🏼
Thank you . Appreciated.
Hi Rob great videos 👍
Thanks for watching Diane. All the best.
Good on you Rob, keep it going mate. I'm enjoying your videos.
Thanks Geoff, appreciate your support and comment. 👍🏻
Great video. Pricing is doing my head in.
Hi Rob,
Excellent advice very wise glad your business is doing well and your videos are very useful
Thanks Lee.
Just stumbled across your video and have to say thanks so much for the advice! I'm just starting my own grounds maintenance business after losing my job as a grounds maintence operative and was struggling with pricing ect as I know nothing about that. I've just subscribed and look forward to watching your videos 👍
Glad I could help! Good luck going forward.
Hello Rob.You have popped up on my feed, so have watched a few of your videos. Good to listen to you with your advice on your own experiences. Have subscribed to help you out and look forward to seeing more from you !
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel.👍🏻 All the best .
Great videos you put together. Just seeing this one now
Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you.
Been doing domestic and commercial work for a good few years now. Just watched all your videos liked and subscribed .keep them coming Rob.
Thanks Mark, appreciate your support.
Thanks Rob, really helpful and some good tips, wish you had been around with advice when I started! Have a good great break.
Thanks Diana. Merry Christmas to you.👍🏻🎄
I am starting this spring, going from health care for 18 years. Done garden maintenance part time with a mate for 6 years, here and there. I'm a little anxious but this has made me feel more confident. Taking the time to express exactly what there money is going on makes it more lucrative
Thanks for watching and your comment David. Good luck with your new business venture. Let me know how you get on.👍
How's your first year go?
Just watched this video too Rob. Planning to give up the office life and try my hand at my passion . Slowly at first like you did and hopefully build it up. Cheers
Good luck Richard, let me know if you need any help or advice. 👍🏻
Some great video on this chanel! I've just started a small gardening company back in March. I'm based in South Shields so not too far! Looking forward to more video keep up the great work!!
Thanks for the comment and support. All the best. Rob.
Another great video Rob, I'm a new subscriber but I've gone back and watched a fair few of your videos already! Absolutely nothing worse than chasing up a customer for money when you're already busy with everything else.. especially when you've done a good job and worked hard it is the very least they can do in my opinion.
Thanks for following my journey. All the best to you.
Helped me G
Don’t understand?
Very honest vid. I know exactly what your saying. I bet you had some hard lessons before you came to where you are now lol. People don't realise the work we put in. Best of luck from Ireland and to your channel. 👍🇮🇪
Thanks for watching and your support. All the best. Rob.
I love the videos mate! Wise words and great minds think alike! New follower here keep the videos coming. We could be brothers the way we think and the same hair cut 😂
Welcome aboard! All the best.
An old vid, but great stuff mate. I learning a few things! I like the idea of immediately handing them a business card... that's a good ice breaker to get your foot in the door. I've just subbed as I enjoy your content :)
Glad you enjoyed it . Welcome.
All the best.
Hi rob frist time on watching your video 👍very interesting on quotes how you 👍 £20 pound a lawn sounds about right other wise customers just dont want to pay yeah bigger the garden you have to charge more. Hope to watch your next video 👍
Thanks for watching Carl, I will do a video on what to charge. Have a look at my video on how to get 20 customers.
Once you have an online platform and quotes are coming in daily you can up your prices to a comfortable level. There are lots of busy fools rushing around charging very little. Charge a fair price and every one is happy.👍🏻
Great video rob.totally agree with you on prices. I have been doing this along time. I went to horticultural college for 3 years and learnt about plants etc. So when we go and quote at jobs and or if we get the job these people are paying for a pro job. And your work looks amazing pal.rob we also have to buy pro machines. I've just currently invested in a sthil long reach battery hedge cutting unit. Amazing by the way. This obviously needs to be taken into account. Great video rob.
Thanks for watching Tim, great advice too. All the best.
Rob. You certainly don't need advice. Your work and ideas are brilliant. Keep the videos coming.
Hi Rob
Really enjoyed this video buddy, very informative. I’ve been a self employed gardener for 16/17 years now. Last year went grass cutting only ( not getting any younger). New to you tube and can’t see the link you said you’d post. Like the way you worded that. If you could help please.
Thankyou John
It’s an old video not sure what the link was?
Good video mate. I have never talked money. It puts people on the spot and they could sign up in haste so you are right let them process it.
Thanks Scott, have a great weekend.👍🏻
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices and you Rob 👍
really seem like a very nice person, always good for business, I'm a gardener myself on £140 a day but I'm about to start getting my tree surgery tickets so gonna have to take a little paycut.
Your too cheap. All the best.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices I was working for my brother in law, there’s three of us and he puts my pay up by £20 a year but I’ve now got a far better offer to become a tree surgeon and work for myself starting at 140 and hopefully by next year 200 a day
👍
Thanks for watching Jeremy.👍🏻
Can you do something about all the catches/negatives about having a business (tax.bad customers.hours. etc. O yeah ur videos are brilliant thanks for teaching us stuff
I will mate, watch this space. 👍🏻
Hi buddy. I've subscribed to your new channel. Best of luck with it. I've been a full time gardener now for 6yrs. I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I disagree with a bit also. But I really like your honesty and there is no right or wrong way to run every business. You do what's best for you in your area. I do what works for me in mine. Good luck with the YT channel and your business! Happy to chat anytime.
Thanks for watching and your honest opinion. All the best with your business. Do you have a name other than duck.?
Have a great weekend.
Rob.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices lol. I used to fly drones, edit the footage and put them on here. So I called my YT channel funky duck productions. I need to set up something different now. But Im generally working up to 7 days a week and changing my channel name is low on my list of priorities when I get in.
My name is Gary.
That’s understandable. All the best Gary.
hi robyour so right in in quoting and pricing,mark
Thanks Mark . Appreciate your comment. All the best.
I get what you say, but I visit potential clients face to face. You then learn early on if the folks are decent (usually over a cup of tea) and learn whether they are liabilities over payment or not.
Never have I relied on a photo of a job, in 21 years as clients can refer photos of when they bought the house years previously, but let go over the years......lol
Sound advice, thanks. All the best.👍🏻
Great vid very informative !! I started a few years back when i retiered just something to keep me going so to speak the one thing as corny as this seems is i did not want to take work
from those that needed it ie to pay the mortage feed the kids etc etc all i wanted was to work and do a good job !!! I only say this because i did no marketing at all NOTHING but work
kept coming and one day i asked a customer why me scruffy van no logo etc etc etc andthe answer was quite up lifting for me " I use you because you turn up when you say you will
you always have a smile but most important you go the extra mile " what extra mile ???? well you have not complained once about moving the swing and kids toys and how many times
have you rolled up the hose and put it away tidy ?? thelast word she said was YOU CARE !!! Sorrynot wishing to blow my own trumpet moving the toys etc pisses me off but and a big
but it has kept me in work !!!!! I am not cheap I charge what I think is the going rate and have even offered to bow out to give a pro a chance on one occasion so my conclusion is simple
if you care and want to do a good job you will never ever be out of work and dont panic if its not there over night build a strong base from good footings "lecture over" thanks again
for the up load it will help many that i am sure !!
Great comment thank you Allan.
This is all very interesting stuff and I agree with what you say, I've said it too, that you wouldn't expect to take your groceries home without paying. In my profession, photography, it was common practice to ask for payment a fortnight in advance of the event. The overheads are immense and the research involved is time consuming and that's before the costs of printing the fuel etc. Today Photographers have a day rate for a job and you wouldn't go below five hundred for the day but would more realistically aim at about eight hundred plus.
Thanks for watching and your comment John, that’s good money. I hope your busy after Covid.👍🏻
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices It was far more difficult in my day Rob, I'm one of the old school from the last century and like many of the big names , I was self taught in the days of film when you had to get each shot right first time. The equipment is very expensive and my current machines cost over two grand before the cost of lenses on top. But I'm retired now, otherwise my day rate would be 900. I helped a gardener write some books a couple of years back and he had some awful customers on his books with all the problems you talk about. I wish you every success in this new venture and it's always interesting to hear other's experiences.
Hi Rob
What do you do if you ever have a customer try and haggle and negotiate over the price? Amazing to see you had 50odd subscribers back when this video was made! Your channel has come a long way, fantastic channel with sound advice 👍👍thanks for all the content Rob cheers
Thanks James. Appreciate your comment.
If they try and haggle, I walk away as it’s an indication that they will be difficult customers.
I hope that helps.
Great tips there mate. For my regulars i mostly do monthly invoices, i find it easier to keep track of things that way and it makes the accounting at the end of the year a breeze. Keep up the good work pal. 👍
Thanks, appreciate your support. 👍🏻
Hi Rob great video, very engaging and informative. I’m staring my own business and thinking about building up a customer base. Am wondering how you would go about telling people you don’t want the work? For me it’s an awkward situation so would be interested to know how you handle it. Thanks. Am off to watch your other videos now looking for handy tips!!!
I tell the customer that I will be in touch with a price, I thank them for allowing me to view their garden.
When I I get home I send them a polite message that I am unable to take on their garden and I wish them well.
Keep it simple and polite. As long as you communicate I find everything works out well.
I hope that helps. 👍🏻
Great videos! Recently found your channel and am enjoying the content! Just curious with your garden care if your price includes hedge cutting and weeding, etc or just the mowing? How do you handle the extras?
Every garden is different, it depends on what the customer wants.
Ie, lawns cut only all the way to a full maintenance program involving weekly visits.
Thanks for watching and your comment.
Hi Rob, that's a great tip you gave about not giving potential new customers an hourly rate, but instead giving a quote in writing later that day.
I have to say I'm new to your channel and I take my hat off to you for all your free advice. I'm the same age as you and I'm about to start up my new gardening business so it's good to see and hear of your success. Keep up the great content 👍
Thanks for watching Christian. All the best with your business. Let me know how you get on.👍🏻
Hi Rob. Very much enjoying the channel. Been gardening for a long time now, but your business head is very much more screwed on than mine so it's really made me think about some changes I need to make for the better, so thanks for that. Can I ask when you go to quote a garden an you know you dont want the work, how you then approach the customer to say it's not for you?
I send a very polite message after I have been to see the property and inform them that I am sorry but I am unable to take on their garden. Wish them well and move on.
All the best.
Hi just to say for this video mate .
Thank you 🙏
Great video, everything you say makes sense to me. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
I ever spout cost money, because believe you me they never forget what you said so when you go home and do a quote and it’s more there not happy. I always say I’ll email you a quote and I break it down so they can exactly see what there getting.
Yes commercial customers nightmare wait ages for payment Mrs Jones pay instantly
Happy days
Cheers Peter.👍🏻
Exactly right Peter! I've let all my commercial customers go, I'm lucky to have a golden run of 'Mrs.Jones' types all in one area, barely have to move the van, word of mouth and next door neighbour and across the road customers. They all have garden waste bins so no waste removal worries. The main risk is too much free tea cake or bacon sarnies👍
@@Raven-qj8xk Best keep up that Gym membership with customers like that😂
Hey, great videos. All very helpful for a newbie gardener like me!
I just wondered how you keep records of payment for your tax return? Do you invoice for every visit?
I use pen and paper records. Looking at apps . Trying to move forward. Watch this space.
What do you do in the winter months Rob?
The winter is tough. Save a little during the 38 week growing season. Leaf clearance, winter tidy ups, one off jobs, hedge work if the weather is kind. Some gardeners take Christmas work to get through December, January and February. Hope this helps. Rob.👍🏻
Rob is it a worthwhile prospect when quote a lawn cut by the square mtr or is there other things to consider?
Hello Tony.
Lots of things to consider, access, is it weekly or fortnightly, I wouldn’t touch monthly cuts.
Waste, how much strimming around beds etc.
Work out how long it will take and go from there.
Ie, an hours graft , mowing , strimming and blowing for a tidy finish. I would suggest you want at least £30 per visit for a fortnightly cut. 17 cuts over a 34 week season.
I hope that helps.
Rob.👍🏻
I’m in South Wales and just setting up I’m going to buy some equipment tomorrow and sorting business cards today what are your top tips for me for the next few week. I’m excited but nervous any advise is so welcome. Many thanks in advance.
Thanks for watching and your comment Lisa, enjoy every minute I am sure you will be brilliant.
Good luck and let me know how you get on.👍🏻
Hi Rob,
Just noticed this video is two years old. Is this still the system you use or have you had to amend it in any way?
Really helpful stuff, this
Yes, absolutely, I will do an update soon.
This might seem a strange question, but what do you do if you turn up and see a couple of dog doings lying dumped on the lawn by a great big Irish Wolfhound, that the customer let's run wild, even when you are there trying to give them a price?
Trust me, I've had similar experiences, although in a slightly different field.
My jobs were one offs, but if I saw anything like that, it immediately changed a price from £2,000 to £2,500.
I don’t like dog mess, the customers must clean it , before I arrive.
Thanks for sharing. What do you do if a customer doesn't pay on the day and doesn't pay after the Sunday prompt? Do you write that money off and then let them go as a customer? Just curious.
I send a text as a gentle reminder. If after three days they still haven’t paid I post an invoice and final reminder letter through their door.
After that it’s a threat of legal action. Fingers crossed never got to that.
Others go down the ton of grass left on the door step , every Friday afternoon until the bill is paid route. Thanks for watching and your comment.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices thanks for the reply - food for thought
I's so close to getting myself started out. But there is one question I haven't found an answer to. What kind of work can I fill the winter months with?
Thanks for watching Lewis. The winter is a difficult time work wise. I am going to do a video on the different ways to get through. You can start advertising during September offering leaf clearing, winter hedge work at a discounted rate. This will bring some income in.
The truth is, it’s very difficult and lots of people take on a short term winter job to get you through December, January February and the beginning of March.
It’s like a switch being turned off during the last week in November and it doesn’t get put back on until the second week in March , again weather permitting.
All the best. Rob.
Get a grow on the go that will get you through the winter months
I run a large grounds maintenance business in Melbourne, Australia where due to our climate grass grows even in the middle of winter. I am originally from the UK and always wondered how gardeners got through the winter months over there. Very interesting and informative videos Rob.
How strange, I work in the south east, I could never charge those prices here. People think a lawn cut is only worth £10 as only takes a short time. But suppose if people are willing to quote that, that's all customers think it is worth!
Look at the amount of costs it takes to be able to provide the service. An average quality mower, strimmer and leaf blower will cost in the region of a £1000, then fuel, repairs, wearing parts, insurance, not to mention a vehicle.
There are lots of buys fools cutting grass. Charge what you are worth.
A pound a minute!
That would be nice. 👍🏻
Let the negative comments gooooo. As long as you can close your eyes before you sleep content you are a millionaire my friend. He has the problem not you my friend. Chin up new day dawns.
Thank you. Wise words.
@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices
That was meant for the bad comment on your page last video. Hope you're doing good soon be relax weekend time😎
How do you turn someone down? I'm nervous about doing that. Going to someone's garden and telling them I don't want to mow it. How do you do it?
Great advice in these videos
Hello Brandon.
Tell them , thank you and you will email or message the quote over later that day.
You then message the customer with something like, thank you for allowing me to provide you with a free no obligation quote today.
Unfortunately due to my busy schedule I am unable to maintain your garden. I am really sorry and wish you well.
Kind regards .
Brandon.
I hope that helps. Good luck.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Thank you very much. That is so helpful
I think i need to up my game , i only charge £15 per hour !
That’s too cheap.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Yeah i realise that now , only been doing this for a year ,made lots of mistakes and i think i work too hard and customers take advantage of me , thanks for your great videos,been an eye opener and learning curve.
@@wagner251 Your a hardworker! I always quote 20 quid minimum also, even for tiny gardens, most of these are in a run over a couple of streets, works out as 60 -80 quid an hour for one street with neighbour word of mouth customers. Good luck buddy
@@Raven-qj8xk Thanks Raven , taking on board all the comments ,now time to change
@@wagner251 👍I started out quoting £10 an hour some years ago so I made the same mistake, I once had a customer try and pay me £5.20 in silver and copper change because she timed me at 32 minutes😂 that's when I went price only, then stopwatch people can't complain if I take 15 minutes once I've got the lawn in a nice condition. Its our hardwork, knowledge and expensive equipment that makes it faster over time!
What sort of things can I say if I don't like the job
Sorry it’s not for me .
What do you do if they refuse to pay after you done the Job mate?
Regulars 99.9 % pay.
That’s a tough one . Never happened thus far.
👍🏻
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Glad to hear that love the channel only found you yesterday wish you all the best for the future mate.👍
Thanks
Bad days when people think youre expecting to be paid on the day of the iob being completed is asking too much lol. Why is it only gardeners are expected to wait for their money or be reasonable. If a plumber or spark turned up those people would pay up in a heartbeat.
Your so right. Thank you .
A pound a minute job takes half HR that'll be 30 takes an HR thats 60
Great point . 👍🏻