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Hi Lucy
Good luck with your new career. There are already lots of helpful threads in previous discussions about garden design charges which you may find useful. They can vary a bit in locality too, so it is worth finding out what potential competitors charge and how they charge in your local area.
As this is your first design job, I would suggest you treat the first few jobs as learning experiences and don't worry too much about getting the full price for them. You will learn lots and if they turn out well, will be useful for your portfolio and as client testimonials. You can always review your pricing when you have a few projects under your belt.
As for tips on getting started - have a look at super Juicer Tracy McQue's blog http://mcquegardens.blogspot.com/2010/08/im-designer-3-years-on.html
Good luck!
Hi Lucy
There's usually scarce info at college on running the business. Everyone has their own way of doing things but start as you mean to go on. Take yourself and your services seriously and be fair in your pricing. Do not feel guilty in making a profit, it is not a dirty word. There is often a tendency to undersell ones self in a job that we love doing.
A design package will include a couple of consultations, survey, drawing plans, sketches and final designs. You'll have to work out the quants for materials including waste removal and labour to arrive at a cost to build figure - unless you're able to hand over plans & dimensions to a landscaper to give you a build price. It's a good idea though to familiarise yourself with basic quants such as price of sand/Type 1/topsoil/turf per ton or bulk bag and brick/slabs/blocks/deck/timber etc p sq m. Over time this will also help you price a job when you make the 1st visit to a new site. You'll be able to give an estimate and determine whether the job is for you or not or whether the client's budget is realistic.
Once you've established how many days it will take you to complete the above stages you'll arrive at a final figure for your design service based on what you're prepared to work for per day and your costs.
Having been through college as well and worked for a few different designers, I'll pass these comments.
Courses & College never, never prepare you for the real world. You leave with a head full of wonderful ideas, skills and a zest for the future. Then the reality hits when you need to work out costs, run a business and make a profit (as said above, Profit is NOT a dirty word). It is something hard to teach and often those that succeed will have been around the block a few times to get where they are. So don't be despondant.
I sit on on Industry/Employers Landscape Training Committe that works with some of the colleges to feedback what 'they' need to do to produce students that are equipped to work in our indusrty. The issue of real world experience and running a business are hot topics that colleges never seem to address as they, themselves lack the knowledge to pass on (ask how many 'landscape' Lecturers actually have run a successful business - then you'll start to understand...)
Design costs: Most that we have worked for offer a fixed scale of fees based upon size/complexity of the proposed garden. They have arrived at these costs through experience. So, don't be afraid to go looking at what other charge and adjust accordingly. Project Managment is one area where an experienced Designer can make 'Profit' over and above pure design work.
Build costs: Be cautious initially and offer 'pricing guidelines' until you either work up a relationship with an experienced landscape contractor or you, yourself, gain that experience. Set up some Excel pricing spreadsheets and adopt a consistent approach to pricing. There are software packages out their that can help, but you still need to know- a/ what you want to earn & b/ your costs & overheads.
Finally never undervalue your own worth, do not 'give' your knowledge & expertise away cheaply. You will come across chancers who try to 'gain' your knowledge without paying. So protect your IP at all costs.
Hi Lucy, well done on getting your first design job. I echo a lot of what's already been said. Definitely don't give your ideas away for nothing or too cheaply. You've been through training and deserve to earn the hourly rate you've set. It'll just make a rod for your own back if this client passes your name on to a friend and they too think they might get a 'cheap' garden design.
I think good advice is to break down your quote into each separate item that your design package process includes. When I first started and would just give a single figure for the design package I found the clients would exclaim how expensive it was. I started listing my hourly rate and breaking fee down in to tasks the client would realise it wasn't just sitting doodling for a few hours and then showing up to present them some drawings. So a very loose and simple example might be:
Site Survey and Analysis: 6 hours (designer, plus assistant for 3 hours each)
Draw up survey taking conditions, levels into account: 2 hours
Initial concept sketches: 6 hours
3D models: 4 hours
Presentation to client: 2 hours
Draw up final plan: 6 hours
If they only want consultation and drawings they can see where their money is going. I more often than not write specs, do technical drawings and oversee the project so tell them that I can give them a figure for this should they wish to engage my design services. Quoting up to the final drawing stage is a good place marker.
You might well spend longer than what you list time-wise working on your designs, but that's to be expected when you first start out. I keep a note of what I quoted for and how long it actually took me so that I can quote much more accurately next time I have a potential client. You need to be realistic and accept to a certain extent that you might have to take this hit, but you will get faster and getting work on your portfolio is very important at this stage. I did some jobs at the beginning for less than I really needed to earn and those gardens on my website got me much better commissions. And so it goes on.
Lastly, no matter what happens, don't let a client 'persuade' you to throw in a free planting plan or to leave the design with them without being paid. Be brave and know your own value.
Good luck!
Tracy
www.mcquegardens.com
Hi Tracy
Excellent advice, straight talking and honest - thanks. I am still getting my qualification and have taken on a few designs on a "student rate" but as you say I am taking this hit to build up my portfolio in order to get better commissions. It is hard when you see articles in Gardens Illustrated or SGD publication on the fees that designers are charging when they are fully qualified and have a good portfolio to think you will ever get there and start to really make it financially worthwhile. Here's hoping!!
Nicki
No problems Nicki, happy to help if I can. Sure you've read this blog post of mine, but stick in there and I'm sure your business will grow and before you know it earning a decent wage from garden design.
Tracy
Hi Thanks for all the advice guys!
I totally agree that more should be taught in colleges and Uni's and have told my old tutors this a lot. My course was taught with landscape architecture so im well practised in consulting communities and city planning but not so hot on small scale and practicalities so all your advice is much appreciated!! I guess a lots going to be trail and error to begin with :)
If you find the answer let me know.
Like you I am just starting out. Also, like you I have my first design job to quote for. Its quite a small garden but has some major problems - lack of topsoil for one.
It seems that this issue is one many recently qualified designers struggle with, at best we were told to charge what the client/market will support. It is also something visiting designers were reluctant to discuss with students, making it difficult to see what the market would support!
My thoughts at the moment are that if I charge too little this time at least I will have added to my portfolio and learnt how much to charge for next time.
All the best
Hi TGV
I have almost finished Level 3 Nat Cert Hort which included Business Management at Merrist Wood college, we all thought great, fantastic, just what we all need. Wrong, stupid us, all of us !! It is an Edexcel syllabus and only covers "What is an organisation, what is a mission statement, how do you motivate" - you can guess the rest!! The biggest waste of time ever and the biggest disappointment ! Most of us are career changers and most if not all don't need to learn this basic info, we needed to understand running a small business, costings, cash flows, tax etc - most of us ended up reading Paul Powers How to start a Gardening business and learnt more - sad state of practical tertiary eduction.
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