The Grass Doctor

When advertising my lawn mowing/trimming service via flyers should I put prices on there or not?

My friend and I were thinking of charging about $30 per 2,500 square foot lawn for mowing an trimming one per week. Should we put this price right on our flyer or instead tell it to potential customers when they call/email?

Public Comments

1. Don't put the price on there for two reasons... 1) If you ever change the price you can still use the same flyers and not have to print up new ones 2) By putting the price on there you might scare off some potential customers who might think the price is too high when they read it in print, but they might NOT think it's too high when they hear it from you directly, and you "sell" it to them. Good luck!
2. no just put price will be given after seeing the lawn.
3. Not. Since you are just starting, you may find you need to change your prices. You don't want to re-print your flyers, and you don't want to lose business because people looked at your flyer, laughed, and threw it in the trash. If you are priced too high, that's what will happen. On the other hand, if you price too low, you'll get a lot of people calling, and you'll be stuck with honoring your price, even though you are working too hard for too little money. If you don't put a price on there, you can talk to whoever calls, and get their reactions to your prices. If they laugh and hang up, you know you're too high. If they hire you, and you find you're too low, you can adjust for the next caller. Here's a good resource for marketing info: http://www.gmarketing.com/ There's a lot of GREAT free info on that site, and you can probably get their book at the library. I wish you well!
4. NO.... no figures on the flyers and no numbers over the phone... NEVER NEVER NEVER! speaking as one that worked from age nine into college mowing grass, and plowing snow, you NEVER advertise your prices, and any quotes you give are face to face with your customer, after they have met with you in person, and walked over the job they want you to do... In this poor economy, you are hardly the only guy in town mowing grass... the second you put your rates on the flyer they are now out in the open, and anyone in your service area can undercut you on sight, and you'll never know what happened. give free estimates, no job too bigg no job too small we can do it all... We want your business, and will work to earn your trust... to compete with your market, offer the best customer service you can, and be straight with people, and they will beat a path to your door...
5. No. Have them phone or email you for a quote. You have established a base line however, some places may be larger or smaller. If they want extras (you decide from the enquiries you get e.g. rubbish removal, chipping tree branches into mulch - the mulch you can collect and then sell per metre or bagged weight). Add your labor costs per hour and any other materials such as fuel and travel, insurance and charge per hour on top of your base line. Here's another point to maybe remember - If they are not so financial and want to negotiate through bartering e.g. you provide a service, what can they give or do for you? Have a contract ready to be signed and witnessed? Be consistent and polite with your pricing, and replies to their enquiries so the customer understands the pricing structure and what you will and won't do, clearly. Maybe develop a script for anyone who maybe standing-in for you guys, manning your phones or emails.
6. I hate to disagree with everyone on here, but I say Yes! After 8 years of owning a lawn service i've found the return on putting the price on a flyer averages around 1% while the return on no price is around .25%. Not only produces more calls, but the people are calling already willing to pay the price your asking for. Makes for good solid leads and less driving for nothing... However, you do need to state on the flyer, the price is for average size yards. It gives you a chance to adjust the price accordingly or an out at the least. Good Luck!
7. I think it is best to have a "starting" price, so yes. I suggest that you put your base price to mow and trim and then add in the flyer that "additional charges may be added for extensive landscaping". If people aren't willing to pay $30 to have their lawn mowed....you're not interested in working for them. Also, you may find a retired person or a very kind lawn care person to give you advice for your area.