landscape questions

[crappieseeker]

I am going to try and find me a few yards to mow this summer for a little extra money. Those of you who cut grass for a living or a side job how do you decide how much you are going to charge? Do you measure and have an amount per mowing area like so much per acre? Do you add charges for having to do more than average weed eating or sloping hard to mow lawns?

[DockShootinJack]

I do not mow professionally. I would think a fella needs to figure how much he wants to make per hour. Then decide how long it will take to mow each property. Yards are not created equally. Lots of land scaping slows down cutting. The father in law has stuff planted close enough together that you can't get the mower between it. But far enough apart you have to trim with a push mower. Takes a lo of extra time

[crappieseeker]

I agree. That's why I mentioned about extra weed eating and sloping lawns that you can only use a push mower or weed eater. I did not know whether most people added just like a flat rate per acre to the price for having to do extra work.

I do not mow professionally. I would think a fella needs to figure how much he wants to make per hour. Then decide how long it will take to mow each property. Yards are not created equally. Lots of land scaping slows down cutting. The father in law has stuff planted close enough together that you can't get the mower between it. But far enough apart you have to trim with a push mower. Takes a lo of extra time

[Slabprowler]

I’ve done this on the side for 7 years now and I can look at a yard and tell about how long it will take to get it done !
I try to average at least $60.00 + and hour or else I don’t fool with it and travel time is included in that.
at todays prices you can’t do it for much less and come out to the good ! I give a up front price and let them know what’s included anything outside of that is extra . I do use a zero turn mower so I can cover quite a bit if ground in a hour ! Some wants it done every week others will wait as long as they can but I’m not cutting one if I can’t keep it cut every 10-12 days unless it’s super dry or real shaded yard. Good luck on your venture!

[DockShootinJack]

The time between cuts is another consideration

[crappieseeker]

I have a new zero turn Spartan mower. I'm going to get me some more equipment and a utility trailer, man have those trailers shot up in price. They are outrageous. I have one lady wanting to know what to charge her for her yard. It's about an acre and has one steep long hill that will need weed eated. She wants me to use her mower and her gas. I have no idea what to charge on that one. I will probably try to cut 3 times a month.

I’ve done this on the side for 7 years now and I can look at a yard and tell about how long it will take to get it done !
I try to average at least $60.00 + and hour or else I don’t fool with it and travel time is included in that.
at todays prices you can’t do it for much less and come out to the good ! I give a up front price and let them know what’s included anything outside of that is extra . I do use a zero turn mower so I can cover quite a bit if ground in a hour ! Some wants it done every week others will wait as long as they can but I’m not cutting one if I can’t keep it cut every 10-12 days unless it’s super dry or real shaded yard. Good luck on your venture!

[Slabprowler]

I kinda figure it as 30 bucks an hour for my labor and about 30 bucks hour for my equipment!