I breakdown the job into tasks, figure a price for each task, add fuel for each trip, special equipment and maybe an extra 10-20% for the unexpected. Quote is only valid for 30 days.
I work in a different industry, but love all things Arborist and I gotta tell you, your mention of giving clients 3 different options is the way. I always feel a client out and give them the grand, deluxe and expensive one, the economical, just get it done one, but I always try and steer them to the middle one so that my people get paid, the job isn’t too insanely complicated and everyone’s happy. If they happen to go for the expensive one, even better. And if they go for economy, No one hates their lives for working too hard for too cheap. Thanks for these vids. Great of you to share your wisdom.
Great vid for us small solo business guys. I currently charge $25/hour. I’m solo. Just starting out but I feel like I do a pretty good job. I had one situation where someone wanted a quote. Pretty decent sized house. Was going to have someone else help me. Quoted him $900 for trimming, weeding, putting down paper and mulch, ripping out some plants, would have to rip out a small grass area, trim small trees. Your basic landscaping job but was a decent sized job. I did a job before for someone else at $300. Worked for $25/hr solo. My thinking the $900 job was triple the size so that’s where I got my quote. Guy didn’t think it was a good price. So still learning but some people just want something for nothing too
All part of the business don't get discouraged if they say no or say it's too high this other guy can do it cheaper..... Just thank them for their time and tell them hopefully it all works out, here's my business card if you need any other help.... 50/50 they might call back because the cheaper guy screwed up
The hardest part is knowing how long a job will take. I can guesstimate how long it will take me to mow a lawn on average but I find I am usually low. I think the ideal is you measure the square footage then somehow take into consideration string trimming, but I could be wrong.
This is awesome. I want to start a landscaping businesses post military in 2025. I have a sveral riding lawnmowers and tons of equipment. I live on 5 acres and keep it up PGA style. New sub. It's time consuming, but enjoyable and relaxing.
Yeah, I'm hitting that point now, where my first few customers aren't really a good fit for me. They would hit the roof if I charged then what I charge new customers. I'm close with them so it's hard to turn them down when they call but I got to do what I got to do.
I charge $55 per hour for landscaping but my dad and uncle specialize in stone masonry..mostly dry stack stone walls and blue stone patio very hard and detailed woek i feel like we make great momey but i definitely would like to make more and expand it from a 3 man crew and cousins on the weekends occasionally
@@keith-kalfas sorry we missed you today but hopefully we can see you tomorrow this is my son's business he has been in this for 2 years he just turned 18 and was able to get his llc setup which is Bright view outdoors llc he is doing really good and you have been really good for him as he and I follow you thanks for that. We are from South Carolina.
Thank you so much for all the transparent info, I just did my first quote and nailed down a $3500 job. Half now (buying tools lol) have later! craming it all into my little car and getting it done!! I have a question though, because you don't tell people how much you charge per hour unless they ask, how do you break down the quote that you give the client that explains the work that will take place?? TY!!!
I have just considered this today. I'm rebranding for next year and I'm considering lowering prices slightly to get the work and get the exposure. I'm taking popular service samples now and then raising prices to more than my current rate now. I have also used a short formula of if I'm booked out for more than 2 weeks I start charging more. But I haven't been tracking them 😔
This is interesting. I have been charging per man hour because quoting doesn't seem to be my forte and end up under quoting when I have tried to in the past. Some jobs require more physical activity as well. Any videos on this or prices? I have been scaling and hoping to be able to hire a full time employee. We are seasonal in Canada with our climate other than snow removal in the winter that I am not interested in pursuing atm
Keith I am just discovering your videos and I recently started my own lawncare/maintenance business. I am averaging 1 job a day right now and I end up spending 3-4 hours of straight work. I feel like if I did more than that I would be pushing physical limits. I live in SoCal and we've been averaging 103 degree days. How do I break past this barrier?
Congrats. You know your own physical limitations. Pace yourself and hydrate like crazy. Save those long 12 hours days for when you get backed up and have to dig your way out. Longevity is the key. 🔑 which means you can spent your remaining hours at home in the air conditioning, building your website, selling over the phone, marketing, creating systems, interviewing employees, etc.
@@keith-kalfas You are a real one! I agree 100% I come from a business background as a professional business coach and what you said about longevity resonates really well with me.
I like this video i usually charge per hour and I’m just starting and I have only 1 client rn and I’m doing 25$ per hour 2 hours a week also this is on the side
Depending on if I'm doing trees or landscaping.?..and the client also the area or their estimate d.income level one neighborhood ain't guna pay what the other does I know
What's up Keith , I Need to ask you a question and what do you think about this situation, The question is do you do work for any third party management group all leads, and what do you think about it. And when you get a chance you should talk about this To the lawn care and landscape industry👍👍👍👊
@@keith-kalfas These are third party management , They call you and see if you want to do work for them then they ask you for all types of paperwork of insurance Make you sign a contract , Some Of them Manage CVS & Walgreens , & residential properties. But they want you to sign a contract with them. Take pictures of properties pay you within 30 to 60 days. ??
Love the growth of the channel... evolving with your viewers... eh hemm... got 572xp coming in baby... wooooh!!!! Everyone tells me I charge too little. I think solo ops have a subconcious headwind with pricings for customers. They pay 5 zombies 75 an hour but 65 for someone who lives this by himself and cares?? Pfff ya kiddin me ova hea!!! Aye ohh Either way 28 INCH 572XP HUSQY BABY😂
Have you noticed a severe drop in the number of visitors to your website. I have seen that in mine. Is having a just a website enough in today's economy. What other marketing is needed if just waiting on calls for a website do you do. I used to get 40 plus visitors per day on my website now it's at 3 per day. I do commercial tile waxing In my area I am on top of page 1. Maybe website marketing is not enough. All I know is my last call was 34 days ago from a new prospect. My old customers are the only work I am getting.
One of my leaf cleanups, I'm charging her 85$ bucks a man-hour for 4 hours. Plus 120$ for brush and leaf removal. I'm gonna have a 2 man crew on the job. Shooting to get the job done in 2 hours. Is this right? And fair
Some may take your video in an askewed fashion….when I heard the per day part..I was like trimming/fence line type of work $750-$1200…. Hardscaping $1500-$2500…. ..general hourly $150
You really need to have 8 hours billable hours per day. At $78 per man hour each guy would be bringing in $624 per day. You mentioned $1200 for 3 guys doesnt add up. I basically charge for 1/2 day or full day no partial days.
Yeah you're totally right. I wasn't being clear enough. The reason I charge only $1,200 for 3 guys is because "I'm the 3rd guy" and all I really do is sit in the truck all day, then leave to go run business errands or sell jobs. But I only do like 10% of the actual labor. So I don't charge for my labor portion. Because technically I'm mostly doing sales, marketing, and admin work. And also, we are only actually working about 6 of those 8 hours
@@keith-kalfas your guys must be getting paid for 8 hours days? Someone is leaving money on the table. Your actual landscape business is probably not what you are really looking to promote but your online coaching which I believe is very smart. I’ve been in this business 35 years and the journey from actual customer phone call looking for service to actually getting that check is very long and it tends to wear on you. Keep up the good work it’s really helping people get direction in their business.
When 1 ton trucks cost 6 figures, you need to charge $500.00 per man-hour. You’re not going to be able to get a margin on less than $500.00 per man-hour.
This channel is aimed for landscapers who want to run a legitimate business and to earn a decent living for their hard work. Oh, and afford to pay their employees a decent wage so they'll stick around.
Get a huge discount on Jobber software with my Exclusive link. getjobber.com/kalfas
I breakdown the job into tasks, figure a price for each task, add fuel for each trip, special equipment and maybe an extra 10-20% for the unexpected. Quote is only valid for 30 days.
Very nice sir. 👌
30 days is smart. Some people just don’t realize how much growth they can get at the right time of the year. 😂
Woke up this morning and chose Kalfas. Every videos is speaking to the soul!
Best of success to you friend.
Excellent video sir! Thank you!
Concise and clear - great video. Gratitude.
Want your book! Kept grinding!
I work in a different industry, but love all things Arborist and I gotta tell you, your mention of giving clients 3 different options is the way. I always feel a client out and give them the grand, deluxe and expensive one, the economical, just get it done one, but I always try and steer them to the middle one so that my people get paid, the job isn’t too insanely complicated and everyone’s happy. If they happen to go for the expensive one, even better. And if they go for economy, No one hates their lives for working too hard for too cheap. Thanks for these vids. Great of you to share your wisdom.
Exactly bro haha thanks. Much respect.
Great vid for us small solo business guys. I currently charge $25/hour. I’m solo. Just starting out but I feel like I do a pretty good job. I had one situation where someone wanted a quote. Pretty decent sized house. Was going to have someone else help me. Quoted him $900 for trimming, weeding, putting down paper and mulch, ripping out some plants, would have to rip out a small grass area, trim small trees. Your basic landscaping job but was a decent sized job. I did a job before for someone else at $300. Worked for $25/hr solo. My thinking the $900 job was triple the size so that’s where I got my quote. Guy didn’t think it was a good price. So still learning but some people just want something for nothing too
All part of the business don't get discouraged if they say no or say it's too high this other guy can do it cheaper..... Just thank them for their time and tell them hopefully it all works out, here's my business card if you need any other help.... 50/50 they might call back because the cheaper guy screwed up
Easy , Lucrative and Fun is the business model I run in my business dawg👊
The hardest part is knowing how long a job will take. I can guesstimate how long it will take me to mow a lawn on average but I find I am usually low. I think the ideal is you measure the square footage then somehow take into consideration string trimming, but I could be wrong.
This is awesome. I want to start a landscaping businesses post military in 2025. I have a sveral riding lawnmowers and tons of equipment. I live on 5 acres and keep it up PGA style. New sub. It's time consuming, but enjoyable and relaxing.
Yeah, I'm hitting that point now, where my first few customers aren't really a good fit for me. They would hit the roof if I charged then what I charge new customers. I'm close with them so it's hard to turn them down when they call but I got to do what I got to do.
Just spotted you in the Expo parking lot! What up dawg! 💪🏼
Haha what's up!
I charge $55 per hour for landscaping but my dad and uncle specialize in stone masonry..mostly dry stack stone walls and blue stone patio very hard and detailed woek i feel like we make great momey but i definitely would like to make more and expand it from a 3 man crew and cousins on the weekends occasionally
Bright view outdoors will see you at the expo
See you there
@@keith-kalfas sorry we missed you today but hopefully we can see you tomorrow this is my son's business he has been in this for 2 years he just turned 18 and was able to get his llc setup which is Bright view outdoors llc he is doing really good and you have been really good for him as he and I follow you thanks for that. We are from South Carolina.
Thank you so much for all the transparent info, I just did my first quote and nailed down a $3500 job. Half now (buying tools lol) have later! craming it all into my little car and getting it done!! I have a question though, because you don't tell people how much you charge per hour unless they ask, how do you break down the quote that you give the client that explains the work that will take place?? TY!!!
Fantastic!
I have just considered this today. I'm rebranding for next year and I'm considering lowering prices slightly to get the work and get the exposure. I'm taking popular service samples now and then raising prices to more than my current rate now. I have also used a short formula of if I'm booked out for more than 2 weeks I start charging more. But I haven't been tracking them 😔
I'm from Louisville KY... I'll be there for sure!
This is interesting.
I have been charging per man hour because quoting doesn't seem to be my forte and end up under quoting when I have tried to in the past.
Some jobs require more physical activity as well.
Any videos on this or prices?
I have been scaling and hoping to be able to hire a full time employee.
We are seasonal in Canada with our climate other than snow removal in the winter that I am not interested in pursuing atm
Thank you!
Great advice man!
Thanks bro
Keith I am just discovering your videos and I recently started my own lawncare/maintenance business. I am averaging 1 job a day right now and I end up spending 3-4 hours of straight work. I feel like if I did more than that I would be pushing physical limits. I live in SoCal and we've been averaging 103 degree days. How do I break past this barrier?
Congrats. You know your own physical limitations. Pace yourself and hydrate like crazy. Save those long 12 hours days for when you get backed up and have to dig your way out. Longevity is the key. 🔑 which means you can spent your remaining hours at home in the air conditioning, building your website, selling over the phone, marketing, creating systems, interviewing employees, etc.
@@keith-kalfas You are a real one! I agree 100% I come from a business background as a professional business coach and what you said about longevity resonates really well with me.
I like this video i usually charge per hour and I’m just starting and I have only 1 client rn and I’m doing 25$ per hour 2 hours a week also this is on the side
I always enjoy the pricing videos.
“NAILED IT ✊”
My business is $50 per hour for my landscaping but when i do tree jobs i price by the job.
I need help knowing how to figure out my man hour rate?
Depending on if I'm doing trees or landscaping.?..and the client also the area or their estimate d.income level one neighborhood ain't guna pay what the other does I know
What's up Keith , I Need to ask you a question and what do you think about this situation, The question is do you do work for any third party management group all leads, and what do you think about it. And when you get a chance you should talk about this To the lawn care and landscape industry👍👍👍👊
I'm not sure about this. Haha. Sorry I don't know. But let me know when u find out bro.
@@keith-kalfas These are third party management , They call you and see if you want to do work for them then they ask you for all types of paperwork of insurance Make you sign a contract , Some Of them Manage CVS & Walgreens , & residential properties. But they want you to sign a contract with them. Take pictures of properties pay you within 30 to 60 days. ??
Are you using any software to do your quote?
getjobber.com/kalfas
Love the growth of the channel... evolving with your viewers... eh hemm... got 572xp coming in baby... wooooh!!!!
Everyone tells me I charge too little. I think solo ops have a subconcious headwind with pricings for customers. They pay 5 zombies 75 an hour but 65 for someone who lives this by himself and cares?? Pfff ya kiddin me ova hea!!! Aye ohh
Either way 28 INCH 572XP HUSQY BABY😂
Awesome. Sounds like you're crushing it.
Have you noticed a severe drop in the number of visitors to your website. I have seen that in mine. Is having a just a website enough in today's economy. What other marketing is needed if just waiting on calls for a website do you do. I used to get 40 plus visitors per day on my website now it's at 3 per day. I do commercial tile waxing
In my area I am on top of page 1. Maybe website marketing is not enough. All I know is my last call was 34 days ago from a new prospect. My old customers are the only work I am getting.
You make more money with your media channels than the landscaping and window cleaning business.
What is your close rate for jobs I've always been between 30-40%
What up Dr, $150 per man hour 👍🤑💰💰
$250 per man hour 💪🏻💰🤑
One of my leaf cleanups, I'm charging her 85$ bucks a man-hour for 4 hours. Plus 120$ for brush and leaf removal. I'm gonna have a 2 man crew on the job. Shooting to get the job done in 2 hours. Is this right? And fair
Yes
Every hour is billable if it's for the job. Obviously within reason.
Minimum 85 , some areas some times of year 100-150
Very nice bro.
Some may take your video in an askewed fashion….when I heard the per day part..I was like trimming/fence line type of work $750-$1200…. Hardscaping $1500-$2500…. ..general hourly $150
$150 per person or as in total
@@expressfashionman89 total @$20phr
I charge $100/hr
You really need to have 8 hours billable hours per day. At $78 per man hour each guy would be bringing in $624 per day. You mentioned $1200 for 3 guys doesnt add up. I basically charge for 1/2 day or full day no partial days.
Yeah you're totally right. I wasn't being clear enough. The reason I charge only $1,200 for 3 guys is because "I'm the 3rd guy" and all I really do is sit in the truck all day, then leave to go run business errands or sell jobs. But I only do like 10% of the actual labor. So I don't charge for my labor portion.
Because technically I'm mostly doing sales, marketing, and admin work.
And also, we are only actually working about 6 of those 8 hours
@@keith-kalfas your guys must be getting paid for 8 hours days? Someone is leaving money on the table. Your actual landscape business is probably not what you are really looking to promote but your online coaching which I believe is very smart. I’ve been in this business 35 years and the journey from actual customer phone call looking for service to actually getting that check is very long and it tends to wear on you. Keep up the good work it’s really helping people get direction in their business.
You guys better get ready for the financial crash and be ready to lower your prices! If you think 2008 was bad just wait for 2024.
You may be right sir.
Market your business properly and you will leave the competition in the dust.
Still waiting
Ha OMG don't we forget about fun!
$1500 an hour minmum of 4 hours.
Your clients must be millionaires…
Commercial only
You meant a $150 per man hour not $1500 man per ? 👍
For what type of job you charged those prices ?
@@JohnM... billionaires, well, there might be one who is still a millionaire. On paper at least
When 1 ton trucks cost 6 figures, you need to charge $500.00 per man-hour. You’re not going to be able to get a margin on less than $500.00 per man-hour.
Lol where are you located? Nobody gets anywhere near that in South Florida
@@JavierRamirez-ks9ji I’m located in South Denver, Colorado. What part of South Florida do you live in?
💚
Hmm
$78 / man hour in Sterling Heights Romeo Troy or Rochester is a straight rip off!! Lol
This channel is aimed for landscapers who want to run a legitimate business and to earn a decent living for their hard work. Oh, and afford to pay their employees a decent wage so they'll stick around.
Most of these guys have no clue that they are not making money@@keith-kalfas
90% of the guys in this area that say they know how to do shit, DON’T and 50% of everyone else does armature work.
Great video as always.
I appreciate that