Small flats gardening contracts

Hi,I'm a little perplexed as I've always done domestic work, and worked to a tight price per job, as appose to any hourly rate.I've recently been asked to quote for 6-8 blocks of local flats, doing the usual gardens, weeding, shrubs when and where necessary (I presume upto 4 times per year) clearing the bin area, over a full fortnightly basis over the year.I know over the winter the time will be much reduced.I'm very much confused as to where to start on my pricing structure.For one block, the largest, it is on average a 2 person x 3 hr visit on average, taking into account the shrub visits will be a lot longer ie 2 x 5 hrs.I've based my figures around 2 formulas, firstly around £30 per person hr worked (this includes petrol, overhead expense, tool service and depreciation, tax, no etc) this would work out to 6 x £30 - £180 x 26 visits £4680 / 12 invoices £390The 2nd formula, I split each flat into lawn, weeding / edging, shrub cutting, and refuse/litter picking, and gave each part an average time cost, but basing it around my domestic rate this only gave me a cost figure of £313.00 per calendar month, this did not take into account refuse disposal and business overheads.Am I working around the right lines, or can anyone help me, or shed any more light, especially if your company just does commercial work.Kind regardsAndrew

I would have thought they already have a budget in mind if it is a commercial site. Most of these sites do a budget year in year so a budget might already be in place.

I sometimes ask a few sneeky questions to see if our price is in range. it sometimes works, sometimes doesnt.

Obviously i cant see how big the site is and do not know your business costs per month so only you know the price to quote, but the good thing is the price usually stays the same all year round, which will keep your cash flow good in the winter months. During the growth of the spring time or leaf picking of the autumn time you may think that it is alot of work for the monthly contract. But the slower months is when it all becomes alot easier.

I would price it per annum and split the cost into twelve monthly installments.

Good luck

Replies

PRO

Brian www.mibservices.co.uk September 9, 2012 at 9:35pm

Who is the customer H A or factor agent ?
PRO

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd September 9, 2012 at 9:55pm

Brian - why does it matter who the client is?
Brian www.mibservices.co.uk said:
Who is the customer H A or factor agent ?
Benjamin O'Neill September 9, 2012 at 10:08pm

Hi andrew were about in the country are you ?
Dan Frazer Gardening September 9, 2012 at 10:26pm

Andrew, please do realise if the main contractor does any google searches for your name they will probably find this discussion which may reflect badly on you or otherwise impact the contract and decision-making process. Everything on this forum comes high on google searches.
Benjamin O'Neill September 9, 2012 at 11:18pm

Well i charge 20.00 p/h per man so i must be well under the average ? But your structure does sound correct in terms of pricing, i do agree with dan in clients searching for your company and possibly finding this disscussion but it do however reflect you have a professional team or advisors if i can call you all that =] well good luck in your tender.
Steve Sonic Grounds Maintenance September 10, 2012 at 8:39am

I would have thought they already have a budget in mind if it is a commercial site. Most of these sites do a budget year in year so a budget might already be in place.

I sometimes ask a few sneeky questions to see if our price is in range. it sometimes works, sometimes doesnt.

Obviously i cant see how big the site is and do not know your business costs per month so only you know the price to quote, but the good thing is the price usually stays the same all year round, which will keep your cash flow good in the winter months. During the growth of the spring time or leaf picking of the autumn time you may think that it is alot of work for the monthly contract. But the slower months is when it all becomes alot easier.

I would price it per annum and split the cost into twelve monthly installments.

Good luck
PRO

Brian www.mibservices.co.uk September 10, 2012 at 9:42am

Why does it matter who the customer is ???
Well it has a great effect on what the the price they are prepared to pay for a start. There may also be H&S requirements amongst lots of other papers required depending if its a H A or factor

Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd said:

Brian - why does it matter who the client is?
Brian www.mibservices.co.uk said:
Who is the customer H A or factor agent ?
Andrew Michael Palmer September 10, 2012 at 9:48am

Thanks for your replies, all the knowledge is greatly appreciated, ps great website and the only one I've found on the net, well a few dedicated to tree surgery but non to general gardening and horticulture, I've read on here your no 5 on the google hit list, what are the other 4, I'd love to have a browse of them???

Andrew