Grounds ToolkitEstimating and Pricing
What's the Smallest Job That's Still Profitable to Take?
Enter crew size, minimum visit time, and wage. This sets a price floor for any job, regardless of how small the actual work is.
How this is calculated
Crew size times minimum visit time gives crew-hours, priced at the loaded labor rate (see Loaded Labor Rate) plus any other cost per visit. The minimum charge divides that total cost by one minus the target margin, the same relationship Gross Margin and Markup uses.
Worked example
A 2-person crew with a 30-minute minimum visit at a $22 wage (28.60 loaded) costs $28.60 for that half hour, 1 crew-hour. At a 35% target margin, the minimum service charge is $44.00.
Frequently asked questions
What is minimum visit time?
The shortest amount of time a crew would realistically spend on any job, including setup and a minimum truck roll, even if the actual work is small. It sets a floor under this calculation.
Why would I need a minimum charge if I already price by job?
Small jobs (a quick trim, a single gate repair) can slip under your normal pricing process and get quoted too low. A minimum service charge is a floor, not a replacement for job-specific pricing.
Does this replace Minimum Profitable Job Price?
No, that calculator prices a specific job's actual size. This one answers a different question, the smallest charge that is ever worth showing up for, regardless of job size.
What should I include in other cost per visit?
Anything beyond labor tied to just showing up, like a minimum fuel or travel allowance. Leave it blank to see labor cost alone.