How are commercial mowing rates determined?  How do you, the homeowner, or property owner, know if you are receiving a realistic and fair mowing rate quote?  And if you are just starting out as a commercial mower, how do you know what to charge?

We will attempt to answer those questions in this article.  If you have other questions we invite you to call us. We are Keith’s Tractor Mowing out of Fort Worth, Texas, and we would be happy to help you with any questions you might have about acreage mowing, lot clearing, or any other aspect of commercial tractor mowing services.

The first factor in pricing a mowing job

The primary factor in determining commercial mowing rates is the amount of time it will take to do the job, which is obviously directly related to the size of the job.  This estimate can fluctuate wildly depending on which mowing contractor you work with.  If we are talking about a residential lawn which is 2,000 square feet in size, and one mowing tech working with a power Toro mower, the estimate could be anywhere from $50-$100 per visit . . . or more depending on the market and the experience of the mowing contractor.  It would be possible to hire someone without a business license to do the job for less; it would be possible to find a highly-talented and experienced person who won’t touch it for less that $250 per visit.

But what if you have acreage?

Don’t let the square footage factor frighten you if you are looking for acreage lawn mowing.  Most tractor mowing companies use equipment which can mow approximately fifteen acres in an hour, so we are talking a pretty fast mowing job if they have the right equipment.

Other determining factors in pricing

Travel distance will play a part in pricing.  If your property if fifteen miles from the mowing company, you might pay a bit extra. You might pay a standard rate for equipment depreciation.  There might even be a small fee covering insurance liability hidden in that quote.  Keith’s Tractor Mowing carries $1,000,000 general liability insurance. And then, of course, you add on for other tasks such as edging, fertilizing, and other lawn care tasks.

So what is a good mowing price?

If you are hiring, or if you are in the business, a good mowing rate is whatever the market will bear.  The market will always determine price.  Call around and get quotes for various jobs.  Collect three or four quotes from reliable, trusted mowing services, companies which have been around for quite some time and which have excellent reputations.  They are the market standard!

Bottom line is this:

If you are hiring, what are you willing to pay? What can your budget handle? If you are just starting out in this business, how low will you go?  What is your time worth? How much does depreciation cost?  Gasoline?  Transportation fees?  Liability insurance?  How much are you willing to undercut your bottom line in order to win a bid?

We hope that has given you something to think about.  Again, if you have other questions, feel free to contact Keith’s Tractor Mowing.  We are here to serve!