How Many Did I Lose? Final Figures Are In. 

Reality hits home when you do your tax accounts and see what your expenditure has been for the year. We are not charities . You are exactly right and an example to many

LOSING 10% OF CUSTOMERS IS PROBABLY NO BAD THING ASSUMING SOMETHING LIKE: 60 CUSTOMERS PAYING £30 = £1800 FOR 60 HOURS WORK INCREASE PRICES BY 10% AND LOSE 10% OF CUSTOMERS NOW YOU HAVE 54 CUSTOMERS PAYING £33 = £1782 FOR 54 HOURS OF WORK PRETTY MUCH THE SAME INCOME FOR LESS WORK AND AVAILABILITY TO TAKE ON REPLACEMENT CUSTOMERS @ £33 EACH

Hi rob I live in Ireland I have two gardens at my house. For the last two years I have a man come in to keep the big garden out the back as my back would not be able for the 3 hours it take me. He put up has prices this year. But he is wort it. I can trust him to do a good job he even looks in on the house if I am away. So if you need to up your prices to feed your family don’t worry about the ones who say your worng. Going by your videos I say you do a good job and look after your clients

well done, 50% due to inflation is where we are at in 4 years really.

I'm retired now but for many years a self employed decorator with a load of yearly repeat customers and I believe you are right to increase your prices. I know exactly what you mean about the time taken to get to job's plus picking up materials etc, not to mention buying tools, paying for fuel and maintaining transport. Good on you stick to your guns.

It's down to government incompetence with the economy. We have had record high inflation, that's increased prices of everything, fuel, insurance, tools and supplies. Unfortunately some people don't realise this.

Totally agree with you mate. I had a customer recently I put her window cleaning up by 2 quid. She moaned I explained that in the last 5 years I have not put my charges up, but in the last 5 years her rent has gone up, her gas, elec, cost of food not to mention council tax and fuel and car insurance. Why do people think us self employed people have to be cheap to get work.

Hi Rob, keep doing the right thing . Quality customers who appreciate your work is definitely the way to go 👍

Hi Rob been in gardening 25 years in West Sussex and agree with everything you say I try and put my my prices up every 3 or 4 years and I do lose a couple but they are usually the ones that are a pain so I don't mind but I always replace them with new ones from recommendations has you know in the last 4 years everything has double in price but gardening labour's work hasn't so we battle on and try and make a living

My grass in my back garden needs cutting now, but it's soaking wet. If it ever drys out I will cut it but down here in Dorset, it just needs to stop flippin raining !!!😊

Hi Rob, for all those who say its too much, tell them this, it costs me £30 just to have my toe nails cut by a professional, (10 to 15 min job, once they arrive) because im disabled and cant do it myself. IF i had a lawn, i would happily pay £40 to have it looked after by a professionl gardener. All the best from Nick in Wolsingham.

Onwards and upwards Rob. Good luck to all gardeners for the new season.

Total agree with about putting prices up.

Well done Rob,a message to all self employed is to never undersell yourself.Good luck for the forthcoming season

I have all jobs on a spreadsheet and look at what the hourly rate works out at. All those that are low I uplift more so sometimes with price uplifts I uplift so e by 20% and others not at all. We have let awkward customers go but they are very few. If we turn up to a job and think OMG here we go again invariably that job will be paying a premium rate. You are dead right with the costings you need to be careful with overheads and as you say an hour of your time could easily be two hours of a homeowner especially the first cuts of the year when the grass is long and wet. Best of luck.

You've done the right thing, Rob. Every year you have to reevaluate your customers , not just price , workload, payment of invoices, everything has to be looked at. I'm sure you will fill the spaces , all the best for the season 👍

im in agreememt with those who say put your prices up yearly.big increases are hard to take sometimes and everyone is hit by inflation,not just gardeners.

Hey Rob great video again! Only had my first full season as a self employed gardener and still contemplating putting my prices up. Definitely charging more for new customers and been a little more selective on new jobs. All the best for 2024 👍👨‍🌾

Totally agree with ur price increases Rob, it’s a big investment to become a gardener and it’s also seasonal

I really like your videos. Spot on about a lot of topics. We run 4 maintenance teams in and around Edinburgh. Every 3 to 6 months we run a profit and loss statement from xero (accounting software). This allows us to see how much it costs us to supply each man hour of labour on average. We can then calculate the average hourly rate we need to charge to make 20% net profit. For us we find this helps justify our rates. There are individual factors that determine individual pricing. These include speed of payment, ease of parking, winter work, how easy is the cusomter to get on with etc. It's not an exact science but it's good to start off with good accounting and then tweak with the softer parameters. Great videos. Keep up the good work!

Sounds like a win. Starting the season with about the same income as last year but with a few hours less work meaning space for new customers.

Rob, it's your business and as customers you get what we pay for. You seem an honest and reliable chap and the way ALL prices have gone up over the last 3 years you have no option but to increase yours. Don't take it to heart when customers say no, everyone is finding it difficult to survive and it's not a reflection on you when they say no, its a reflection on the cost of living. Spring is coming and i'm sure you're work will pick up. keep on trucking

hi rob, agree with every word, just found your channel tonight & loving every video

Rob your bang on mate what do people expect just to be charged the same price forever

Top video again Rob. Always a good watch. You are right to stick by your prices. And offer a quality service, knowing that you are being paid your worth. Take care

Mine are going up this year.. Haven't done it for about 5 years

You’re absolutely spot on Rob, we are doing the same thing. Some jobs we haven’t put the prices up since 2021 and we all know how crazy things have gone since then

Hi Rob. I agree with you 100%. What's the point of being self employed if you dread going to a certain garden or customer? It's one of the joys of being your own boss. You work when you want, for who you want, if you want. Regarding prices. Again. It's your business. You charge as you see fit and let others do the same. If your customers don't like it. Then let them find someone cheaper. All the best for the coming season. Gary (ex funky duck)

Agree agree agree rob happy days to you have a good weekend 😊

well done your working smarter not harder less work more profit customers need to realize that they can be replaced and good service demands a fair price

Totally agree with you Rob All my prices will go up April 1 to all customers I'm a one man band and my own prices for repairs etc is sky high this year The customers you lost will struggle to replace you in my opinion 😉

when you reach full capacity you put your prices up its that simple , thats is how you make profit for you family , you may find less customers , = the same profits as previous year more or less due to the price increase , now you have spare capacity

Love your posts and like that you are so open and honest Good luck for the new season.

Interesting little videos these, every one likes to hear facts n figures, I’m in blacksmith work and remember asking a local fellow blacksmith what he takes for a pair of standard garden gates in broad terms, and he replied’ as much as you can get “. I didn’t understand at the time but I do now. Essentially what it means is what ever they are willing to pay won’t be enough anyway.

'Buy Cheap, Buy Twice' is a phrase that is very true. That's why you buy quality equipment to do the job properly & efficiently. Customers need to realise this and stop this obsession with getting everything as cheap as possible.

Correct Rob good luck with the new season I have put my prices up as well

Hi Rob I’ve never double cut a lawn in all my years unless it’s a new customer lawn and it really long. I haven’t got time to double cut and my customers are more than happy and I keep my prices sensible. Something to think about.

Nice one Rob.

You run your business how you want to as long as your happy with what you're earning good luck with this years season

Hi i put my prices up every year starting the 1 st of Jan. I send my regular customers out new quotes the end of October, asking them to let me know buy the end of November if they require my serices for the folowing year. It gives them time to find a new gardener if they so wish, but it also gives me time to find new customers before the season starts. Any customers i have to replace are quoted again slightly higher priced. I also put in the quote winter visits to keep the garden tidy, this has increased my winter work and made the start of the season easier. Love your videos good look for the new season.

Thanks Rob. As soon as the suns out your phone will be ringing off the hook. You’ll have the pick.

Absolutely right Rob, people need to realise that they are paying for the service you provide with the tools and experience that allow you to do the job in the time you do it. If it took you twice as long would they pay you more…no way…it’s hard graft, know your worth…👍🏻

Hi Rob, losing approx 10% of your customer with the price increases isn't to bad given how many people are trying to cut costs the way inflation has gone. £30 to £35, or £60 to £70, means you have put your prices up approx 17% since your last increase two or more years ago, that's pretty much in line with the rate of inflation during that time, so isn't unreasonable. Some Car and Van insurance quotes have been up nearly 100% over the last 12-months! Your increases should also cover for your 10% loss of customers, so you'll have a similar income, but a bit more time, this could enable you to be a bit more selective on who/which gardens you decide to fill in the available gaps. All the best Rob as you get ready for your new season.

Some great words of wisdom 😁.

We arnt all in this ball busting game to just about break even.

Nice video Rob,yr always good to watch really enjoy yr banter and chat,I think yr doing the right thing, you do need to to raise yr prices I have slightly as well the same as you needs must for sure. How about you Rob running along side yr business an agony aunt channel you definitely have the gift of the gab and are very entertaining just a thought. Anyway Rob see you next time take care for now.

Hi Rob, I do put my prices up yearly but as suggested by some other gardeners I only go up by a pound or two, I think this lessens the impact to the customer. I also have a particular customer that I don’t enjoy going to “we have nothing in common and he only comes out to talk as I’m leaving” where I have been working for three hours in his garden, I don’t want to talk in my own time as I have other customers to go to and it has an impact to the end of my day. Just for the record I charge £21 per hour for maintenance plus removal of waste and give a price for the job for lawn cutting, hedge trimming and one off customers.

You did right Rob, it's also about charging you're worth and loosing 10% of customers each year and filling those gaps with customers who value what you do is how the business moves forward, onwards and upwards mate👍

10% is bloody damn good Rob, me and the boy will be starting the season shortly and those letters will be going through the doors to give customers a few months to get used to the idea and start paying the new prices, if they don't, ta ta, like you, hopefully, the one's to leave will be the one's we turn up at (not many) and let out a huge sigh knowing how much of a pain it is. If they don't go, they'll be let go at the end of this season!

Well done mate.

Hi Rob keep your head up and you are spot on with what you say I'm in the same boat and the ones you have lost won't bother you the increase prices will cover them and let's be honest do they moan about mobile phones going up water ect does my head mate you have done the right thing take care

Always good to listen to your videos! No bull and straight to point! Good luck with new season! Will soon be here if not already!

Quality. Not quantity. Keep up the good work Rob. Peak is about to start for you Northeners, down here in the Southern Hemisphere it's only got about 6 weeks left. It still grows in Winter though, but it slows.

All the best for the season ahead Rob !

Great video Rob

Hi Rob, I try to charge per service. £55 atleast for a back garden. Striping, strimmer, Blowing and spraying is additional 15. Have to get too and from the job! Diesel, petrol + 2 stroke but at the end of the day you pay for results and I give good results but I’m not a charity it’s that simple you can’t go into Tesco and say oh I’ll pay you later or can you lower the price. The price must reflect the work undertaken! When I first started 2 years ago it would take me over an hour. Now it takes 20/25 mins! However when I turf garden I make money from other factors and planting ext

Hi Rob, I recently started my own gardening business. Your knowledge has been invaluable. Id love to be able to return the favour, I owe you a pint or 10! Keep up the good work!

Easily said Rob but always harder to implement. I try but aren't quite there yet. In a few months you'll have replaced the lost customers and this'll be a distant memory. Always enjoy your chats, all the best.

Great video again keep it up Not picky at all that’s the reason why we all are self-employed so we can pick and choose what we want to do 👍🏻 all the best

Well there you go! Only 10%, so not so bad after all. At least this experience gives you the confidence next time to do what you have to do with price increases.

I had two customers one telling me how much they are going to pay me and mucking me around with times and one that always wants cheap and extended duration proud to say they are gone.

They disagree with price of cheese going up double in 3 years

Spot on words again rob! Forget those unwilling to pay properly snd those saying you're too high. The only gardeners i know on less than 'us', are either semi-retired and just need something to do, are fiddling the system, or aren't 100% dependent on the business for earnings..glad to say I'm finally in a postion now to ditch the costly customers and pack out a new lawn timetable next month that will actually pay the bills! (Heavily inspired by you I'll add). Cheers!

Put your prices up yearly unless the gap you are bridging becomes to big and you get left behind

Well done for putting your prices up I know it’s not an easy thing to discuss with most customers but the genuine ones understand 👍 only thing I’d say is never ever talk about the time it takes do do any job! Some days you’ll get it done in an hour another day half an hour maybe less! I think £40 for an hour for cutting is cheep you can do a lot in an hour!! I have a minimum of £30 per cut nowadays, and that’s In and out 30 minutes maximum! it’s not worth getting out of the van for less. Keep it up mate 👍

Great vid. Can you do a video on what you do through winter from a business pov.

Hi Rob, customers do not give a dam about the price of your equipment, van and fuel costs etc, they want a great job for the least cost. Good for you for charging what you are worth. There are many rogue gardeners out there that charge "drink money prices" .. Im not a gardener, but I own a small delivery business with 2 vans and can relate to your comments about price increases. I am constantly negotiating (arguing) with customers who always want the lowest price, but I stick to my guns and charge my prices not there's ... Good luck ...

Rod in the long run mate it will work it slef out . Don't worry about how much you put it up by good luck for the year 😊

Hi Rob, I work for a local independent garden centre, but I’m planning to start my own business as a gardener in my local area. Unfortunately I’m not currently in the position to just pack up my full time job, or fork out on expensive equipment. I just wondered if you had any advice, or thoughts on the best way to get started? My plan is to start working on my days off, doing some grass cutting for neighbours in my local area and try to grow from there, as I have access to a petrol mower and have a good selection of hand tools. I’d really appreciate any tips or advice!

What did you increase %Rob, I run a grass cutting business mostly small front and back, £20 gardens since covid, I would like to increase to £25 but I'm afraid of loosing them in the cost of living crisis. I've had some trying to stretch me to every 3 weeks etc. Any new customers it's easy to quote the higher rates compared to three years ago. When we start out we're a little nieve. Another thing a lot get lazy paying regularly after a year or two. How do you treat clients who haven't paid after a couple of cuts, do you try to get customers to set up standing orders etc,

I've gave this a lot of thought over the last few weeks as I'm in the same boat. .most customers will never think of our expenses .there's always someone cutting grass dirt cheap. .grass cutting anyone can do .Well always lose customers when increasing prices. On a different note, we need to be happy with what we're charging and to continue getting the best equipment we need to keep upping prices. Overall I think I will up the prices every few year as u have done and class it as a purge 😂.

I totally get you chap. I charge an hourly rate, but sometimes I do a job within my hours, that would individually cost at least twice my daily rate! Nobody wants to outprice themselves, but we all need to make a profit! As I always say, people employ you because they either can't do the job, or can't be bothered! Think us gardeners as very underrated in general! Clients soon notice if you miss a visit!!!

Correct Rob- business expenses have rocketed..

At the end of the day most will drop you if they have an alternative. I'm 35 and this year I've messaged all my customers to inform them I've got a lung tumor and my right lung is being removed (been done and sitting in hospital recovering just now). alot of customers said when you're back on your feet we'll take you back which was nice to hear but I'm unlikely to be back physically fit enough to keep up with the job. Others would give condolences about my situation and in the same message asked if I knew anyone that done gardens 🤣 just found that a bit cold tbh 🤣🤣 wasn't looking for sympathy just showed me what matters to you, doesn't matter to them. Charge what you need to folks.

Hi Rob. Well done on the rise. One way I think of it is this. The client is not paying for OUR time they pay for THEIR time. So the question is this. How much is a client's time worth to them? 15,20? No way. Push on man. I enjoy the videos.

Think that’s a result rob. We’ve just put prices up by 7.5% minimum and removed any large hedge trimming from their maintenance visits. We’ve given them a separate price for hedge work. Any ladder work warrants a higher price (and time ) than just a normal maintenance visit price. Sent out 300 x A4 x 8 page colour newsletter this week informing them of the changes 2 days ago. Had one cancellation so far ( expecting more after the weekend ) but stay firm. None of us can go to Tesco and demand them to put their prices back down so why should we ! Let’s all take a look in say 2months and see where we all are after the initial spring rush has finished. 🙏🙏

You are so right. People need to realise that what they are paying for is to buy back their own time. Giving you £35 in order to buy back 3 hours of their own time to spend on more pleasurable pursuits.

10% loss of clients is pretty good. That probably means you've maintained your overall earnings but now have room to take on more higher payers. Should work out fine. I reckon you could stretch that 34 week cutting season to 37 or 38 now, we did't stop cutting till mid November and started again last week. Get some Autumn/Winter fertiliser down, that helps too!

I can never understand other business owners coming out with comments like "you're too expensive" etc. To be in business and STAY in business, you need to provide high value, a top quality service and charge as much as you can get.

It's funny how some people think that because you are cutting the grass for an hour, that's it. They don't think that you should charge for the "extra's , Cost of getting there, machines, Tax' etc. But when they ask for a pay rise they think that their employer makes a fortune, when in fact the "boss is probably working a 80hour week just to keep going . with lots of stress. and worry.

Big Tip on price increase EVERY year (April), follow the NHS Prescription % increase, it works as long as the starting price is correct. Drop customers who don't value your hard work. Lose 1 gain 2 was my motto.

Quick question how many villages/towns do you actually cover as I'm starting to have a look at the area I'm going to cover but I don't want to end up having more customers than I can manage. Many Thanks

I’m going to increase more , I need to everything is so expensive!

So with your prices going up and losing the 6jobs. Reckon you are either about the same money wise or slightly better off. Plus you got some spare time to have or fill if you want. Fair play rob. Wish i was as good with the pricing side of business

Hey Rob, Iv always increased prices by 7% per year 👍

Hi Max, how did you manage that uncertainty where the phone is not ringing as much as you expected when starting out

No one is getting younger Rob so having quality over quantity is the way to go, there maybe other reasons why customers let you go. Like you say, cost of living has gone up for everyone so tough choices and savings need to be made for some people. Putting prices up was the right thing, you are not a charity.

Excellent Rob. Maybe increasing prices less but yearly is the better option? Also dare I say some customers may be more amenable to an increase than others if you get my drift 😉 not saying rip them off but its nice to have some cream on your scones 😂

It's a tricky one, if you work for a company, they don't pay you to get to work, that's up to you, this is why customers begrudge paying a large increase, i think a yearly quid or so is less impact, with a much less loss of customers. 👍

Hi Max. Thank you for your video. I have one question. What do you think how much is your business worth? I mean let's say your going to retire one day. (not now of course) 😅Can you sell your business as it is, with your clients ect....Or that's not very common in the UK. Thank you

I,ve just put my min garden cut up to £13.which is about 15 mins work,yes im probebly cheap but im happy with that amount,i paid my mortgage off in june so dont need to worry about money quite as much .

You should put up your prices every year.

I just put my prices up about 5% every yr, they don't know it until they get the invoice! Never had a single complaint and it's generally the same customers every yr minus the odd property through sale or death.

If you don’t put your prices up then each year you don’t, you move backwards as a business. If you’ve put your prices up but you loose a couple then at the very minimum you’ll earn the same money for doing less work. We work hard enough in this trade! Don’t be a busy fool 👍🏻

6 isn't bad you will easy get those back Rob. i had my IZY mower and Stihl blower serviced last week it was £260! safe to say i think i will service them myself in future.

I would have given price rises to the customers I did not want to keep and if they paid and stayed it would have made the job a little more satisfying. I would have just put up prices on those I wanted to keep by a smaller amount. Really its just trying to keep jobs you enjoy doing.

Take good care of yourselves won't you Rob and as I always say to you it's your business it's your decisions to make

What petrol do you use in the 537 ? Is it Aspen or super unleaded? Any stabiliser ? Thanks

People will go back to doing it themselves

Hi, my son is on his second year of building his business and has been offered a job cutting 2 football pitches for the local social club. It's about 5 Acres. Can anyone advise how much should he charge. Thanks in advance for your help.