Are you Quoting it Accurately?
One of the changes for this spring is the separation of Weekly Lawn Cutting from Garden Maintenance in your pricing. There are a couple of reasons for this change with the most important being the need for Franchise Owners to ensure that they are quoting the service accurately. Too often an Owner will accurately quote the lawn cutting, for example $140/month, and then with a quick glance around the yard they’ll add on $30/month for gardening.
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Do you know what $30/month allows a two-person crew to do each week?
Quoting $30/month for gardening = $7.50/week
Assume a goal of $45/employee/hour (you should have a goal of $50 but let’s start at $45/hour).
$45/employee/hour x 2 = $90/hour for a 2-person crew
$90/hour = $1.50/minute for 2 employees
That means your crew can spend five minutes each week on garden maintenance.
$7.50 per week / $1.50 = 5 minutes
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How much gardening can a crew do in 5 minutes…Not that much! It creates tension all season with the client as they question why all the beds weren’t turned, edged and weeded this week. You’re trying to explain that the crew is “rotating” through the gardens in the next few weeks while in your mind you’re thinking “What do they expect, they’re only paying $30” However, you’re the one who quoted the price!
Only the smallest property with a minimal amount of gardens can be maintained properly in 5 minutes per week. A more reasonable starting point is 10-15 minutes which should be quoted at $60-90/month. (if we’re still assuming $45/hour/employee)
You’re better off with fewer garden maintenance clients but have them all paying the right price while you deliver the right service!
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