05/07/2026
With rain in the forecast today, I wanted to take a moment to talk about something that often gets overlooked when it comes to running a business — pricing and what it truly takes to operate.
One of the most common things we hear is, “That’s expensive for that job,” or “Your prices seem high.” I completely understand where those thoughts come from, but I also wanted to offer some perspective from the business owner’s side.
Like many small business owners, this company is my family’s sole source of income. Just like everyone else, we are affected by rising costs in every area of life and business. Fuel, equipment, insurance, maintenance, advertising, taxes, employee costs, and everyday living expenses continue to increase year after year.
To simplify it, let’s break it down with numbers.
If it costs approximately $8,000 per month to cover both business operations and personal living expenses, and there are roughly 160 working hours in a standard 40-hour work month, that means I need to make about $50 per hour just to cover the basics.
But that number doesn’t include:
• Equipment repairs and replacement
• Vehicle maintenance and fuel
• Business insurance and taxes
• Advertising and software
• Employee wages and payroll taxes
• Unexpected expenses
• The countless unpaid hours spent answering calls, scheduling, estimating jobs, invoicing, and handling the day-to-day operations behind the scenes
That’s why I take that base number and build from there. In reality, around $100/hour is what it takes just to sustainably operate, support my family, and continue providing reliable, quality service.
To some, it may look like “just mowing grass” or “just spreading mulch,” but to me, it represents much more than that. It’s food on the table, a roof over my family’s head, sports equipment for the kids, school fundraisers, and the ability to continue serving our community with dependable work.
We truly appreciate every client who chooses to support a small business like ours. Your support means more than you know.