How much should I charge as a gardener?
How to work out a fair hourly rate and job prices as a self-employed gardener, from your costs, time and travel, plus regular maintenance.
RoughFigure3 min read
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“How much should I charge as a gardener?” is one of the most common questions from people starting a gardening business, and from experienced gardeners who feel they’re working hard for too little. The honest answer is that it depends on your costs, your area and the kind of work you do. But there’s a simple way to work out a rate that actually pays.
Why “the going rate” isn’t enough
It’s tempting to look up what other gardeners charge and pick something similar. The trouble is you don’t know their costs. A gardener working from home with basic tools in a cheaper area has very different costs from one running a van, ride-on mower and insurance in a busy town. Start from your own numbers, then check you’re in a sensible range for your area.
Step 1: what do you need to earn?
Decide what you want to pay yourself in a year. Then add:
- Holiday and sick days. You won’t work 52 weeks a year.
- Weather. Some days you simply can’t work.
- Non-paid time. Quoting, travelling, invoicing, buying supplies, maintaining tools.
Many self-employed gardeners find they can only charge for a share of the hours they work. If you need $39,000 a year and can bill around 1,000 hours, you need about $39 an hour just for your own pay, before any costs. Those figures are only to show the sum: use your own.
Step 2: add your costs
- Van or car costs, fuel and insurance.
- Equipment: mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, blowers, and their servicing and replacement.
- Public liability insurance.
- Green waste disposal or tip fees.
- Phone, software, advertising and accountant.
Add up a year of these and divide by your billable hours. That’s what each hour needs to cover on top of your pay. Our free pricing calculator does the sums.
Step 3: hourly rate or job price?
Hourly rates suit regular maintenance and work that’s hard to predict. Job prices suit one-off jobs like garden clearances, hedge cutting or turfing, and customers often prefer them because they know the total. You can work a job price out from your hourly rate and an estimate of the time. Our guide on how to price a job explains how.
Pricing regular maintenance
For weekly or fortnightly visits, many gardeners charge per visit with a minimum time. Things to think about:
- a minimum visit length, so travel is worth it;
- whether green waste removal is included;
- a different rate for seasonal extras, like hedge cutting or autumn clear-ups;
- reviewing prices every year, with notice to customers.
Minimum charges
Short jobs still cost you travel and setup. A minimum charge, such as one or two hours, makes small jobs worthwhile. See call-out charges and minimum charges.
Show customers a rough price
Many homeowners don’t know whether a garden tidy-up costs $105 or $1,050. Giving a range on your website or by phone brings in better enquiries. An instant estimator for gardeners asks customers what they need and shows a ballpark price. Read how to give a ballpark price.
Questions
Should I charge more for hedge cutting?
Many gardeners do, because it needs specialist kit and creates more waste. Price it by the size of the hedge and whether the waste is taken away.
Do gardeners charge VAT or sales tax?
Only if they’re registered for it and it applies to their work. Most small gardening businesses are below the registration threshold. See should prices include tax?
How often should I put my prices up?
Review them every year. Your costs rise every year, and small regular increases are easier for customers than big jumps.
