The Grass Doctor

Lawn Mowing?

I'm 14 and want to make a lawn mowing business over the summer. I don't know what to charge. Could you give me some ideas of how much I could charge for each acre or something like that!

Public Comments

1. Good luck getting your summer business going. I would suggest that you ask locally because rates will vary depending on your area, travel, etc.
2. Check your competition, and charge less. Do a two man job; one mowing and the other trimming. Make up flyers and distr in your immed neighborhood. Be professional; use receipts for your clients. It's more businesslike. Network with allied industries like sprinklers, tree workers, deck builders, and stone layers. In this way you can bring work to them, and they will favor you, too.
3. Around here in the suburban Maryland area (Silver Spring) they have yard crews that charge $30 for a 1/4 acre lot (which takes them maybe 20 minutes with their mowers), and that includes trimming. As other posters have mentioned, figure out what the going rate is from the commercial landscapers (around here they hire immigrants for god knows how little money per hour) and they often leave advertisements in mailboxes -- and if they do that in your neighborhood, that would be one way to determine the going price. Do a lot of people in your neighborhood use these sorts of services (and are willing to pay the relatively high price?) If so, you are in good shape. Figure out what the commercial guys charge, and undercut them by 20-30%. If you don't trim, you'll have to reduce your price accordingly. If you live in a neighborhood like where I grew up (small town Ohio) where people cut their own grass, you have to take a guess at how much the guy is willing to pay to get the grass cut on a hot day. In this day and age, I would charge no less than $15 per hour in any event. You may want to ask your parents for some guidance, or a neighbor. Best of luck to you, always good to hear of someone willing to work hard for some extra money.