Starting a Landscaping Business: The Art of Estimates

Landscaping Business Advice > Making Price Estimates

As we mentioned in our previous posts, starting a landscaping business isn’t as easy as it might seem. Sure, you might have the skills and passion to be successful, but at the end of the day, it’s still a business and you have to think long-term. Guesstimating isn’t the same as providing an accurate estimate, and accurate estimates are what’s going to keep your customers happy and your business lucrative. In this post, we’ll explain how to evaluate and devise an effective estimate. Before reading on, secure your company with a Dayville Landscaping Insurance policy.

Consider production elements.

Figuring out how much material you’ll need and how long the job will take is the first step in creating an estimate. Track your crew’s time to complete tasks, and use it as a baseline to accomplish more in the future. For example, note how long it takes to install 100 square feet of grass to gauge how long a big job will take.

Measurements.

Whenever property measurements are available online, take advantage of them. This will allow you time to scope out the work load and the potential for hiccups along the way, including what types of issues you might encounter.

Overhead expenses.

You not only need to cover the cost of your time or your employees’ time for servicing a property, but you also need to consider fuel costs and drive time.

The geographic location of a property is a big factor when preparing an estimate in determining the time it will take you to service a property. I’m sure you have a sweet spot, an area where you like to work and want to increase your exposure. If you’re going to travel outside of that sweet spot, it better be for a big job or multiple jobs in your usual book of business, explains Jobber Academy.

Be sure to evaluate the scope of work for each job you accept, as well. If you’re traveling outside of your niche market, make sure it’s going to be worth it.

About Byrnes Agency

At Byrnes Agency, we provide insurance solutions for businesses throughout Connecticut. Our insurance plans cover everything from employee protection to workers compensation insurance. If you’re starting your own business, contact our experts today to make sure you’ve got the right insurance to allow you to thrive. For more information, contact us today at one of our two locations.

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Dayville Office

Phone: (860) 774-8549
394 Lake Rd
Dayville, CT 06241
United States
info@byrnesagency.com
Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

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Norwich Office

Phone: (860) 886-5498
6 Consumers Avenue
Norwich, CT 06360
United States
info@byrnesagency.com
Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday 9:00am-5:00pm