Are You Charging Enough for Your Lawns?
Because if you’re not, you’re going broke in a hurry.
Introduction: Why Pricing Can Make or Break Your Business
A lawn mowing business seems simple. Show up, mow the lawn, get paid. But the truth is, if your pricing is off, none of the rest matters. You can be flat-out busy and still not making any money. That’s a dangerous place to be.
Let me give you a real-world example.
The Story: A $20 Lawn That Cost Someone Their Business
The other day, I quoted sixty dollars for a regular mow on a medium-sized lawn. The lady at the door tells me I’m way too expensive. Says her old guy only charged twenty.
I said, “Sounds like a good deal—why not stick with him?”
She tells me he’s not mowing anymore. His mower broke down and he couldn’t afford to fix it.
That’s it right there. That’s the whole problem with undercharging.
If your prices don’t leave enough room to maintain your gear, cover your costs, and still make a profit, your business is on a timer. You can be the best mower in town, but if your numbers don’t work, it all falls over.
Why Low Pricing is a Trap
When you charge too little, you don’t just take a hit once. You take a hit every single time you show up.
You’re not working for cheap once—you’re doing it every fortnight, or every week, for the life of that job.
It’s not just about fuel or time. Your mower wears down. Your trailer rattles itself apart. And when it all catches up, you’re the one footing the bill. That’s how people end up with broken-down gear and no way to get back on the road.
Here is a guide to pricing lawns to maximize profit
How Much Should You Be Making Per Day?
Here’s a basic number to aim for at least $400 per day.
That’s the baseline for a solo operator who wants to stay in business and earn a proper income. It allows room for tax, downtime, repairs, and all the other costs people forget to include.
If your average job is $30 and it takes you 45 minutes, including drive time, you’re going to struggle to hit that target.
You either need to raise your prices or increase efficiency. Ideally, both.
Step 1: Track Your Time (It’s Not Just About Mowing)
Start tracking how long each job actually takes. Include everything—travel time, time on site, packing up. Use a spreadsheet or a notepad, whatever works.
Keep it simple:
Customer | Time Taken | Price | Hourly Rate
After a week or two, the pattern will be clear. Some jobs will be solid earners. Others will be dragging your average down. This gives you the data to make smart decisions, not guesses.
Step 2: Know When to Raise Prices
Once you know your numbers, you’ll know which jobs need a price bump. It doesn’t have to happen overnight, but you do need a plan.
You can raise prices in stages. You can drop the ones that no longer make sense. Most good clients will understand, especially if you’ve been reliable. The ones who kick up a fuss usually aren’t worth keeping anyway.
Price reviews should be a regular part of your business—just like sharpening blades or servicing your mower.
Step 3: Use a Simple Rate Audit
Here’s an easy way to see where you stand.
Take a week’s worth of jobs and create a table:
Lawn | Time On-Site | Price | Hourly Rate
Smith | 35 min | $40 | $68/hr
Brown | 50 min | $30 | $36/hr
This kind of breakdown helps you spot the jobs that aren’t working. Once you’ve got that info, you can start improving your schedule and your rates.
Step 4: Build a Ladder, Not a Treadmill
The goal isn’t to stay busy. The goal is to build something that works long-term.
That means replacing lower-paying jobs with better ones as you grow. It means making space for the right customers, not clinging to every single one.
You’re not stuck. You’re building a ladder. Every price increase or smart replacement gets you one rung higher.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
You’ll get people telling you you’re too expensive. That’s normal. But your job isn’t to convince them. It’s to find the people who value what you do and are willing to pay for it.
If someone wants a $20 job, let them find someone willing to work for $20. That’s not your customer.
You don’t need to apologise for charging properly. You’re not being greedy—you’re being realistic.
Final Thought: You’re Not a Charity
You’re in business to make money, support your family, and build something sustainable. Not to wear yourself out for twenty bucks and a thank you.
Charge what the job is worth. Track your time. Raise your prices when needed. And remember—every low-paying job you hang onto is holding you back from something better.
If you want help to get your pricing right and building a real business, not just a busy schedule, come and join the free LawnMowing101 community. That’s what we do.
