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I think you are right about some domestic gardens just not suiting a fixed price as there is often always more that can be done. I have a mix of fixed price and hourly but the fixed price earns me a lot more so I just don't take on any more hourly
That's exactly my argument against fixed prices for domestic customers, though lets not go through all those arguments again lol!! There's always something more that can be done in nearly all domestic gardens so you've got to know when to stop and some sort of time limit seems the way to me and works well.
We have fixed price contracts for many of our domestic clients and it works well.
We sell it as a means that the sites we maintain will always look good and if our price arrives over their budget then we can reduce the specification to suit.
This means that we can still cover our overheads whilst the customer retains control of their own budget.
I don't have any contracts with my domestic customers although all of my work is fixed price. I have a verbal agreement at the beginning which is followed up by email by detailing all the tasks per visit and the price per visit.
Both the two guys before me have said 'there's always something more that can be done'. Of course there is; you can spend a week on a garden if you wished to. A mechanic could always do more on my van but he won't if he's not paid for it. You sell a service not time (unless you want to limit your earnings) and the other thing to consider is that despite professional pride in our work, it is the customers garden, not ours, and they request our services to do part of the gardening requirement.
In direct answer to your piece of string problem, I would detail on paper everything that needs to be done in a calendar year. So that may include trimming leylandii in Mar and Sep. Then add up the total value of all the visits (such as £30.00 per visit x 20 visits = £600.00 and divide by 12 to give a monthly fixed price - £50.00. You then put the non regular tasks in the calendar, give your customer a copy of that and your visit schedule. This avoids the 'when are you cutting the forsythia?' and clearly defines the task to both parties.
You should add a premium to your charge for difficult clients
This forum is definitely helping me toughen up and not be so much of a pushover I've given away too much for too little for a long time and this forum has given me such a confidence boost it's really given me a renewed interest in my job. I'm getting some great jobs at a good price now and feel much happier!
Good to hear Helen.
Yeah, they think we women are soft touches. I am currently contemplating ditching two more customers who do my head in and make me feel upset and resentful. Stress I don't need.
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