Customer Demands An Hourly Rate. Goodbye!  

You are spot on there Rob, as soon as people start that nonsense, time to walk away. I had one, they just moved into a £3m barn conversion (so quite affluent)and started interrogating me about my hourly rate, I walked away but advised them to speak to someone I know who may do it cheaper. He got the job and they talked him down from his £25 hourly rate to £12 ??? I still wind him up now about it. What a wally. Really annoys me how people hold our job in so much contempt! Would these people go into the supermarket and get £100 worth of shopping and ask to pay £70 ? No of course they wouldn't.

Self employed people don’t work to an hourly rate because you’re not just working for that hour in their garden. You’re working if you’re servicing your gear, you’re working when you’re quoting, you’re working when you’re driving your van, you’re working when you’re doing your books. Basically you’re always working! 😂

Customers who want an hourly rate just want to be the boss of you. F… em. Cheers Rob.

Your right! I love my older customers, but I find they are some of the worst to work for.

I was an irrigation contractor, & I learned very quickly that if your “spidy sensors” are tingling you need to walk off. At first I thought I needed to secure every potential customer. Then I realised, I needed to hand pick which ones I wanted. These people will be the most high maintenance of all customers. You did the right thing. You really don’t need somebody that tells you £25 an hour is too much. He obviously has no clue of the costs involved with running a business. I think you’re very good value for money at that price.

I would not work for an hourly rates either Rob. I let the client know I work only for a price👌 if that does not suit both parties then just walk away🙏 Damien gardening channel from Ireland.

You absolutely right. I had the same last week. As a rule i don't take any jobs of less than four hour visits but last week i visited a garden that someone put me in touch with. Lady who's quite well off but got some physical disability and as it was a recommendation i said I'll drop my rate by £10 for her. When i turned up for a chat she only wanted an hour for a pretty large garden and also said my price is too high. I asked about her previous gardener, she said he had 80 customers, charged less but has closed up shop. I said, that's why. Im running a business, not a charity, smiled and walked off. Next day i landed a 8 hour day 3 days a month at my usual rate. Got to stand your ground.

Rob your spider was right. If a client is a pain BEFORE you do any work you can be assured they will be a pain every visit. If anyone insists on an hourly rate I always reply with the long list of expenses we all have - professional tools and equipment , petrol , vans , insurance etc etc etc. marketing and much much more. Don’t ever let a total stranger tell you how much you can earn. Be good if you can do an update later in the year to see if he found a suitable hourly rate cheap gardener and how his garden looks. Keep saying no if you have a gut feeling 👍👍

I am 78 Rob and I think your right. To charge by the hour you could take your time and string the job out with that customer. Keep charging the way you do.

I know what you mean Rob, I've got a lot of old ladies that don't understand a one off price, so I just break it down to an hourly rate for them and they're happy and so am I. They don't get bank payments either unfortunately, off to the bank with cheques. Bless them! I think people always query what the hourly rate is because that's how they're paid and they assume that's the way the world runs. Keep on keeping on and have a good season. Woohoo! Mowing the lawns and getting knackered soon.😂

In my humble opinion you made the correct decision. Unbelievably I had a customer recently ask if i would be lowering my prices. I asked if she was happy with my work (assuming there was an issue I wasn’t aware of) to which she replied “no, the work is brilliant, I just thought you might be reducing you prices to help customers with the cost of living crisis” With my best manners hat on, I explained that all my costs have increased too and further more I haven’t increased my prices to reflect that. I think there are an element of people in this world that just don’t get the correlation between a good deal and the real world. Keep smiling and keep the headphones charged up👍🏻👍🏻

Did the right thing there Rob….if in doubt then leave them out

I like it when it snow’s, i makes my garden look like everyone else’s

I used to do gardens for a tenner and they pretend u have done no work sometimes it would take 10mins sometimes 1hour i feel i can understand the oap but if u charge 40 u charge 40 so realistic your both right , i know this skill it can take up your full day and can get dirty goodday thanks.

I like those ones, I say some random high hourly rate just for the giggles 🤣

What people don't realise is even if its £25/p/hr its only £20 after making provisions for tax & Ni . That's not including travel costs, fuel for machines, insurances etc. You did the right thing Rob ..

Looking well Rob , All I've done today is shovel snow . Robbers Travis Perkins added £4 to the price of a bag rock Salt very poor local marketing . Rob the spider sense's are spot on just tell him you're £55 per hour

Right!

Hi Rob, I think you were totally right to get rid of that customer. Anyone who questions you about your prices and what they think you should be charging are a major red flag. He's probably been bumped off my numerous other gardeners because of the same attitude. You get what you pay for and a professional service is more expensive than someone turning up with a flymo and charging £5 to cut lawns!.

40gbp per visit, an absolute bargain! In Australia self employed gardeners want $65 per hour per man minimum

Thank's for all the information you share, it helps a lot.

All the best Rob looking forward to seeing the mowers back out ☀️ 🌱

You done the right thing, could end up a nightmare customer

It never seems to amaze me how customers cant seem to get their heads round per visit rates . For the record i think you are 100% right mate !

I absolutely love these videos man! The information you teach us is so valuable! I hope you continue to post for many years to come!!!!

Happy new year matey 👍🏻

your right Rob. Just discovered this channel and love listening to someone genuine.

We love you Rob... always keen to see what you're up to.. now having a quick look at Pete's channel 👍

Thanks for the video. I experience the same in my industry. When any time frame is mentioned the customer will always do the hourly-rate calculation. (I think you told him it would be around an hour and a half per visit) If you quote based purely on deliverables, it doesn’t matter to whether it takes you 5 mins or 5 hours to complete the work. The customer is basing your performance based on what you will do rather than how long it will take you.

You did the best thing ever! I hope he watches this video!!! I always have one or two filled trimmer heads! Great video!

100% Rob you are right all the best

That's right mate I used to work for an employee I earned 12 pound an hour but my boss averaged 60 pound an hour with what I produced he had the machinery and the overheads. You are the boss of your company!

Your spot on fella. 100% agree. Keep pushing forward Rob. 😅

I’m a landscaper mate just imagine when I’m quoting 10k 😅 there a nightmare some customers the best is cash cash cash so we get a discount Er no how does them paying less help my business 😅

Your right for sure. Good job dealing with the situation

Love your videos Rob........ what I've learned over the years since coming out of the army, is to try not to think in Right or Wrong terms.... black or white...... because life is a very big grey area..... is it possible that for this customer, being flexible could have benefited you..... £20 or 25 an hour...... forget that problems that are only in your head about cups of tea and strim line etc..... let them deal with that if they decide it's an issue at all.....

Rob, bottom line is if you don't get a good feeling for a customer when you first meet them, then walk. So you done the right thing.

Hi Rob,love the videos just subscribed, greetings from Northern Ireland

Great video, stand your ground even if you’re disappointed with the potential customer local to your base… he’d only be trouble down the line with that attitude.

grass,borders,weeding,and trimming shrubs some going in an hour and half Rob.great video as usual,look forward to next one.

Completely agree. As others have said, asking for hourly rate is basically the customer’s way of controlling how you do the job etc. I mean there’s always a chance the bloke who asked for hourly rate could be the only way he could work it out. I don’t know. It does sound a bit dodgy however. Great content matey so glad I came across your channel

You did the right thing Rob, when they start going on like that they will be nothing but a pain!

Rob, you're bang on right mate, I haven't given an hourly rate for years as it's dodgy ground! Keep smiling mate 👍

Hi Rob your absolutely correct I do the same type of work in Anglesey. You don’t need those kind of people on your books! All the best👍👍👍

100% right, I get lots of homeowners approach me when I'm hedge/shrub cutting. Politely turn them all away advising that I don't take on domestic clients. One chap in particular was so complimentary about my work, saying that he was only down the road grovel grovel etc. So I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I asked him about the hedge and gave him a budget but said I'd need to see it to confirm. Then he starts banging on about hourly rate. I wished him luck finding someone else and set back to work. So now, when he gets fed up with looking at the God awful job some poor monkeys did on his hedge (whilst no doubt working for peanuts), he can wander down the road to look at the lovely sharp and straight hedges at the appartments. Can't be doing with people like that, no time for them whatsoever....none!!....other than to moan about them now lol 😂😂

Absolutely right Rob, Fixed quote every time. Down here in Solihull , you always get the odd one who wants to barter on the price. I Walk away. Keep working hard Rob . Cheers Garry.

Rob I do mowing and maintenance in Perth Western Australia I have been in business for decades now and just took on a client on an hourly rate. Should have known better , ended in heartbreak for all the reasons you mentioned. Had a sandwich while cement was mixing , wanted a deduction. Never again mate. Love your channel Kev

Right👍

I had someone say I was on 15 mins to cut the grass and gone and I only charged £10 yrs ago and they lived in a big house with garage a sports car 😂😂 my wide Said you was gone in 15 mins 😂😂😂😂😂 cheeky xxxxx some people. Sometimes I wanna say do it yourself and save cash

Hi Rob...its always been a pet hate of mine. When they ask for an hourly rate.....i always wonder in what other profession do they ask this...i know my window cleaner would nt be happy.... avoid at all costs...lol

Yes Rob you don’t the right thing . Good video

Done gardening a couple of seasons, looking at working for myself next year, always a good insight, and reinforces my gut instinct.

I think you're great and love listening to your stories Thanks

I've been doing garden maintenance and lawn care for 10 years now and have decided know more getting used and abused. So decided this season I'm going to start my own business up your videos are brilliant and helped me and probably a lot of other people cheers keep up the good work

You're right 👍

Hey Rob, I agree, we always run a PPJ ( price per job) rather than per hour. This way we can maximise our work per day and revenue. G

Good call. I'm trying to make the transition away from hourly rates this year but like you said it's difficult to explain the price work to some of the older generation. All the best, Ciaran

Hi Rob A chap i used to work with said good lads aren't cheap and cheap lads aren't usually good All the best

Your absolutely right to stick to your guns Rob, would have been good having a local job / garden, but sometimes you don’t need the hassle of a difficult costumer. Good on you.

You definitely did the right thing. You also kept it polite and civil. I recon he’ll be back to take you up on your offer?

Sounds good to me. 👍👍

You did the right thing. YOU own and operate the business, not them!!!!

That bloke ain’t adding up the time your in your garage services all your tools etc . Always admin work . Keep going mate I enjoy your content

I think you’re right here rob. As soon as they start pissing you about with back and forth stuff move along

spot on pal

Some customers need to think what the minimum wage is then consider the time taken for a tradesman to travel to there home plus the cost of all there overheads and equipment.

Good move , here in Australia I give a fixed price for 20 visits per year , we take the good with the bad with longer or shorter grass . I tell them I take as long or as little as I like on each job

Bang on response in my opinion. Those type of customers are the ones who try to micro control you and put you in your place. I’m the Same with the guilty feeling for not being on the tools 😁

Hi Rob you are bang on !! If anyone asks me my hourly rate at the start alarm bells start ringing and I walk away. Let them find a monkey that will work for peanuts. !!! Keep the vlogs coming really enjoy them.

Weather been even wetter over therethan here by the sound of it ! Seriously though , wevthink You ‘re absolutely bang on Rob , (insisting on a job / visit price as opposed to an hourly rate. )

His loss , Iv had itself in past

Completely right rob. He sounds like nothing would be to his satisfaction.

You did the right thing there.

Hi Rob. You can usually tell a when a new customer is going to be a difficult one, but sometimes we all get caught a bit cold. I will check out the tattooed gardener.

A gardener on RU-vid was describing a customer who came out and told him ''I don't pay you to be on your phone'', whilst he was taking a business call. He said in the video for that particular customer he was on an hourly rate. That is why I NEVER charge an hourly rate. I will not have my freedom impeded. There is nothing worse than being clock watched through the window. When I am being watched I cannot relax. With a set price we both know where we're at - if I sit in the van for 10 minutes during the job, It's on my own time NOT THEIRS. Hourly rates = the customer making you their slave. When it comes to invoicing they will quibble about payment, because you sat in your van, was on a call, changed a strimmer head, getting tools out the van. No. Not for me.

Great post Rob. I don’t, never have and never will work work on an hourly rate. I quote for the job, making sure we’re totally clear on what I’m doing and what the customer expects. I won’t tolerate people telling me my worth.

Always listen to your spider senses, I've ignored it before now and boy did I regret it. anyway it's a great feeling to walk away with integrity, when you know, you know

When I first started off in business I used to do gardens as part of my property maintenance business and found customers wanting a grass cutting service were sticklers for an hourly rate. I'm not sure why this is? I just offer locksmith services now as my main trade and I quote or invoice for the job in hand. No hourly rate just a price for the service and it works well. I'll often get customers and I get the same feeling if they're going to be funny! I drop in now and again and listen to your talks from the van and I enjoy your content, keep up the great work and enjoy the time off relaxing because you know the grass is coming! All the best Andy

Good on you 👍🏼

Hello from Florida. The older “Customers” here constantly think they’re they’re “Employers” entitled to just pay a “wage” to service professionals. 😑

Your 100% right Rob never let any customer dictate the price of a job or tell you what you worth, you did right to walk away I would a done the same keep er lit buddy 👍

Rob. Don't know how I have ended up watching and subscribing since I am from the US and now retired in Mexico. I do very much enjoy your videos. Some comments and questions if I may. Three ways to bigger profits: Route density with knowing what is your ideal yard type/size , Having equip suited to your properties, having a real detailed understanding of how to recover your equipment costs, mowers, trucks, insurance, etc. and pricing, ok that's 4. Do you time your yards? What size lawn is your ideal lawn to mow? Cheers, Bill

Did the correct thing Rob,price thr job is the way,move on forget about him, ps keep the videos going ,very informative 👍.

Your right your right and your right again

Nearly time to get the punchbag out again lol nice video mate.

Top video as always Rob. 🫡👍

Totally agree mate-when I first started I charged by the hour,within a year and after talking to gardener friends soon realised my mistake. Now look at lawn - strim ,cut lawn say £20or £25 friendly attitude and hard work and am now in position where have great customers and can walk away from the tubes😂

100 percent right ..........they have no idea

Hey up Royal, just stumbled across your channel... its brilliant. I'm ex bootneck. Been gardening part time for years. Wish I'd found your info sooner. I've binned loads for taking the rise. My favourites are the ones that expect 2 weeks of dog crap scooping prior to cut. Soon learned when invoiced for hazardous organic substance removal. Another ex customer. Keep em coming bud. Room shun 😂

Hi Rob. Correct. There are a lot of people out there that think they are paying YOU £25.00 per hour. They don't understand that they are paying your company that, not you!!! Even small sole traders as ourselves have overheads. They don't see that accounts and taxmen and van insurance and everything else has to be paid BEFORE we pay ourselves. He just thinks that you get 100 quid for half a days work and dubs in that the self employed never pay any taxes either.!!!! I wonder what he used to do for a living. All the best Rob.

Hi Rob Yes you did the right thing but maybe don’t mention how long the visit will take. I always keep that to myself & that generally sorts out the clock watchers 👍

Hi Rob Completely right in my humble opinion I used to do hourly rate for a few years but now like you I look at the job and afterwards I give a quote for the work required... Otherwise they get a lot of work in that hour lawnmowers, Garden beds done for £20.00... Not for me...Excellent video I'm afraid the modern Gardener has progressed from the hourly rate.... Take care Rob...😃

100% perfect

Fair play to you Rob I would definitely of walked away a friend of mine had you similar incident and the chap he worked from use to watch him like a hawk and log down every time he stopped and then use to query his invoice every time.

Interesting video Rob, iv just started watching your videos iv got a gardening buisness in Cornwall. I always price my grass cutting because that's mainly what we do but if one of our regular customers wants additional gardening work doing we will happily do that on an hourly rate, it's always worked for us but each to there own.

You're right mate, I would do what you did, try explain myself and how I charge, once you say No thank you that is it. I also would find the statement insulting that the money was "too much for a self employed person" and that would of told me what I needed to know before working at the place, the person will try talk down prices when additional work is needed and you need to charge for materials.

Definitely right 👍🏻

Good for you rob. Stick to your guns! Don’t let those awkward customers dictate to you how to run your business. Your content is great. Keep up the good work fella 👍🏻

Totally the right thing. When i do a quote i always get a gut feeling and its pretty much always turned out to the be the case long term. People who don't understand why we don't work from an hourly rate baffle me.

Hi Rob, how are you mate, gardener just starting my own business here in rainy Scotland 😂. Vids are great, very informative and spot on. Regarding this video. I'm same as you, can't give people an hourly rate for usual garden services but do an hourly rate for weeding. And as yourself have had some pushy ones asking for hourly rate , tell them I can give a price for what the job entails , as I could be there longer or shorter. But end up having to say I can't give an hourly rate therefore I don't think we can work together .bye bye lol. And tbh , I feel better for it as I've now got another 3 customers (their next door neighbours) as they overheard the convo and signed Me up and want me regular and better payment arrangements as well. Cheers mate keep up the awesome work 😊😊