Pricing trim jobs

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
What are some things you consider when pricing smaller trimming jobs?

I guess it depends too on how valuable these smaller type jobs are for your business. What your market is.
 
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Depends on how small the project is, we have minimum charges for projects depending on whether we can do it all from the ground or do we have to climb the tree? How long will it take to prune the tree, clean it all up, and then halfway prune it again if the homeowner seems like someone who will be a nuisance that way? And of course our travel time has to be factored in, although small jobs nearly always get tacked on the beginning or end of something larger nearby.
 
First, call it pruning instead of trimming. Educate yourself on pruning to the ANSI standard at minimum. Once you know what's up, the pruning sells itself.

One matter of dissonance is that more wood on the ground equates to better work and higher charges. That is usually false unless you're removing. Once that is decoupled in your mind and in the client's mind, you can get on with selling good work.
 
I heard Mark Chisolm use the phrase "pruning by the pound" a few years ago, it's stuck with me ever since.
Prune to expert specifications, not homeowner specifications. A lot of folks are hard to please this way as they don't care about to the trees as much as the deal they are getting.
 
Pick a minimum charge and an hourly charge. Never tell the customer what the hourly is. Estimate time, bid for the time. Unless its really difficult, then add 50% or so. Never go less than the minimum even if its a 20 minute job. Unless maybe you are already setup next door or something. If you have a lift and you can save time by using it, bid as if you were climbing.
 
I could give 2 fucks if it is 20 mins. I do not move my truck for less than 300US dollars ( Barbados is 166 sq miles ). From there it is a steep incline up my valcano of pricing......cheap work is just that cheap. This ain't no low risk grass jockey outfit.....
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
What are some things you consider when pricing smaller trimming jobs?

I guess it depends too on how valuable these smaller type jobs are for your business. What your market is.
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One of my principals for doing proposals for pruning is to meet with the customer. That way I can use my communication skills and knowledge instead of just leaving/ sending a proposal. I can present why they should hire me. I know I cant do as many proposals this way and scheduling can be a hassle, I feel this way I get the quality customers and don't get call backs because I educate my customers on what I am going to do. Also I want 1/2 the work at good money not most of the work at not so good money. Finally I try not to be a salesman, my approach is to give honest info based on whats best for the tree and property and then give them a fair price.
 
Pruning is one of my strengths and I work at high specs. So I convey this and educate. Those who listen and allow me to do my thing become my customers. Most of my customers tell me go do my thing and bill them. Have never had a problem. They gladly pay. Our culture hates baby sitting. They just want me to deal with things. I like it this way. When I hear I need 3 quotes I go high and walk. They are not my client base. I am not the cheap guy they are wanting....fuck em.
 
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