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Difficult one, depends on the market you are aiming at along with the competition. You don't say what sector you are in, soft, hard , maintenance, commercial or domestic? Are you making a margin on plants / materials? We are at minimum of £350 pppd plus vat.
With the odd exception we have no plans to raise rates.
Hi Peter,
thank for your response.
We are domestic hard and soft landscaping and garden maintenance.
Which sector are you and which part of the country?
Thank you
Helen, the majority of our work is commercial maintenance with a modest amount of high end domestic work along with a small amount of soft landscaping in both sectors, we also do tree work which I have left out of the day rate question as there are too many variables. We don't do hard.
Been in the trade 40 years plus and took the decision a long time ago that the money was in commercial maintenance, very hard to get good rates for maintenance in the domestic sector ! We will always quote for domestic maintenance but if we can't get our usual rates happy to walk away as the commercial is our core business.
We are in North Staffs which is not a particularly well off area but bordered by Cheshire, Shropshire and Derbyshire which are fairly rural with plenty of high end domestics but as said not our core work. However North Staffs does have plenty of commercial sites..
If you want to make more profit commercial maintenance is the way forward, hope all of that helps?
I should add we don't do day rates or hourly charge only price work.
Hi Peter,
this is helpful, thank you. We've been considering making a change to aim at more comercial work for a year oir two now, it is interesting to hear that it has worked for you.
The domestic gardens alow more scope for creativity though I think, but perhaps I'm wrong on that!?
This is great to see Peter, this is what I've been aiming for a last couple of years. I always get priced out of commercial because I don't have the machinery yet , but it's getting there. Any advice on how to get more comms work?
Thanks
Bryn, it's not easy but don"t let that put you off.
Assume you have a website?
The majority.of our commercial work has been gained by firstly identifying the sites we want to maintain and then approaching the businesses in person by calling in or phoning to try to get hold of the right person, its not easy and you will get knocked back but persistence pays off !
Be highly professional, first impressions count! Have embroidered work wear with your business name on and that is clean! Forget using email to make contacts, does not work .
Lookout for sites that have new occupiers and get in fast.
Its a good time of year whilst you are quiet to drive round and find sites, don't take on more than you can cope with.
Good luck!
Hi Helen,
I'm based in Berkshire. I do note care for employees nor am I vat registered. I've been doing this job for 22yrs.
I do mostly domestic gardening, I also do hard and soft landscaping.
Some old garden's I do confess I work on hourly which is £40 per hr.
Everything new the past two years has been price only, based on a £1 per minute.
There is no way I'd give a customer an hourly rate for any form of landscaping only a total price. Why should a customer benefit from efficiency and years of experience, If I make less than £60 per hr for landscaping I berate my self. I'm not the cheapest quote nor am I the most expensive. Don't forget the dead time where your doing site vists, pricing, designing, (garden design plans and plant lists are billable far as im concerned) making material list and ordering materials. You have to be compensated for that time.
Cornwall is no cheaper to live than Berkshire.
Hi Honey Badger,
thank you for your responce, It is good to hear that gardening proffessionals are charging a decent rate. It can feel like a race to the bottom in this area! Refreshing to hear your thoughts!
Helen
I charge more than that (ok no VAT) for garden maintenance -- - and all kit is supplied by the clients. But I know COrnwall isnt the richest part of the country... and there are probably loads of "gardeners" who have basically dropped out and are not in any way trained gardeners?
Maybe this will help.... and it may be different if you are in the hard landscaping world.
Each April / May I write a nice letter to all the clients informing them of my increased costs (nowadays very easy) and put the price up by x.... normally 10 to 15% (if you want a copy of a letter I used in the past ask). Make the new price an easy number whole number.
Their gardens are in full growth mode - good gardeners are a scarce resource (well they are here in Wilts/Dorset) ... they generally pay up - some may not (you then have the decision "do I like this client ,or is the work useful to my business?" You can always relent "as a special case" - I did this on really big gardens measured in acres, because I knew they would need me all year - and there would probably be more work in the winter.
Then.... the important bit - when the new increase is in place, and the next wouldbe client knocks on the door, give them a rate 15% up on your new rate - by the following year you will have a good number of clients on that new rate, and will have proved to yourself it works as a rate in your area - then the price increase letter goes out again (edited version :) ) For a month or two all the clients are on the same rate. Then repeat... its all too easy not to do an annual price increase, then realise you are way below the going rate.
I'm mostly retired now, just a couple of big gardens to avoid me having to go near a gym or exercise class.... but 3 years ago when I had all the kit and van we were charging £60 an hour for me and a helper.
Hi Adam,
thank you for your responce. It sounds like you know the challeges well!
Yes please, if you are happy to share your template I'd be greatful.
Did you have staff previously and how many? I am concerned about staff jobs if we raise too much and loose clients but I don't think we have any option except to raise the day rate a fair bit! Hopefully clients will stay with us!
Thank you
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