Price This

[Andy Collins]

I did say "as we know it now". I think things will revert back to how they were pre1987, fewer concentrating on domestic work, maybe a move back to forestry and woodland management, a small number in any area doing the domestic stuff. lets face it, how far do you have to drive before you dont see a tree that hasnt been worked on before? so many of the trees that have been around for centuries are removed now for insurance reasons, with smaller growing replacements, lower maintenance? then of course as you rightly point out, the so-called recession we're supposedly headed for.

Of course, I'm probably wrong.

[Mesterh]

the so-called recession we're supposedly headed for.

Of course, I'm probably wrong.

 

So called its allready happening around here m8

Way less work than last year,speaking to a Landscaper today that also says his business has dropped right off.

[wattie]

Interest this I also belive that each job has its price but companies do not. We all have a rough Idea of what we should charge but how many have sat down and worked out they real costs.

 

I have scaled down from four crews twelve men large depot etc etc. That was not due to a lack of work but the amount and work it takes to keep everyone happy and as Will bruch has said more men does not mean more profit he has done the same a me.

 

Its just a hard game to make good profit but if we are all looking ahead and price right we will all make a living but we would all need to look at the out goings and reduce any wasted money spent, it is the little things that add up.

 

I have found that our domestic work far outways any other type and is about 80% of our work now.

 

Regards

 

Wattie

[Lee Winger]

I do feel alot of us work extremely hard for an unattainable goal.

 

 

Wise words..

[Lee Winger]

Well if I couldn't get the £1200+vat I wanted for the tree i'd leave it, because that tree is £1200 all day long!

 

Anyone charging less than a 1k shouldn't be in the tree game , as you must only being doing it for kicks or a hobby..

 

Priced up a load of work a few weeks ago big trees decent work didn't get it oh well , who cares i'm out on the boat, and my kits sitting at home, not busting its arse for nothing!! any fool can work for nothing!

[Andy Collins]

because that tree is £1200 all day long!

Anyone charging less than a 1k shouldn't be in the tree game , as you must only being doing it for kicks or a hobby..

any fool can work for nothing!

 

Perhaps you're right Lee, I'm in the wrong job:crying: good job its only a bit of fun to me, not like I need the money anyway.

However, for those of you who do take it seriously, I think with this credit crunch thingy you may have to accept lower profit margins.

[Steve Bullman]

However, for those of you who do take it seriously, I think with this credit crunch thingy you may have to accept lower profit margins.

 

nonsense.....with the rising prices of everything else, lowering rates makes going out to work pointless.

[Andy Collins]

nonsense.....with the rising prices of everything else, lowering rates makes going out to work pointless.

 

I didnt say lowering rates, I said a reduced profit margin. The fact that fuel etc is going up daily will dent the net profit you can make.

[arc]

We're haven't really seen work drop off too much and I've not really had to lower our rates in order to get the work. However our running costs have gone up, fuel, wages etc so I'm now looking at improving the effieciency of how we work. Anything that isn't used daily, should we be keeping it of changing it for something that can etc. A few quid saved in downtime every day all adds up the end of the month.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I have sat down and worked out costs as I do with everything. It's how a good business should be run.

 

When you do your books at the end of the year is an ideal time.

 

Basic stuuf, work out all your costs and divide by how many days you work, less income tax gives you what you earn per day.

 

If you do it over two or three years, it gives you a more accurate figure and you can base your day rate on that.

 

Lowering profit margins is out of the question if you have done the above, if you are over charging customers then yes, but your day rate should acurately reflect your overheads