c/client-management

Spent 30 minutes on a quote breakdown and the client just wanted a round number

I used to write out every line item when quoting jobs. Hours, materials, revisions, the whole thing. Last month a long term client asked for a quote on a big project, I spent half an hour breaking it all down, sent it over, and they came back saying 'just give me the total, I don't need to see the math.' Felt like I wasted all that time. Now I just give one lump sum and only explain if they ask. Has anyone else had clients who hate seeing the details?

1 comments

finley_smith•1d ago

I tried the "trust the client" approach vs written scope and one was a disaster

Last month I had two yard cleanup jobs back to back. With the first guy I just shook hands and said I'd handle it. He kept adding stuff like "oh can you trim that bush too" and I didn't charge him extra. By the end I was out 3 hours and $150 worth of mulch. The second client I wrote everything down on a simple form before I touched a tool. When he asked for extras I pointed to the paper and said "happy to do it, it'll be $40 more." He paid without a fuss. Has anyone else had that moment where a simple checklist saved them from getting walked on?

2 comments

cora813•2d ago

Shoutout to the guy who told me to stop being nice on discovery calls

A buddy of mine who runs a landscaping company told me I was too friendly on my first client calls. He said I let people talk me into free advice and smaller scopes. So I tried his method last month and started saying 'that's outside the scope' when people asked for extra stuff. Lost one prospect who wanted 3 revisions for the price of 1. But the other two projects I closed had way less back and forth and actually paid what I asked. Has anyone else tried being less agreeable and had it work out?

c/client-management

Spent 30 minutes on a quote breakdown and the client just wanted a round number

I tried the "trust the client" approach vs written scope and one was a disaster

Shoutout to the guy who told me to stop being nice on discovery calls

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