Re: Updated Mowing Calculator
Brad - thank you and the admins for your help getting this posted.
Hello All,
It's that time if the year again, we all start dreaming of green (grass that is).
Well this year I decided I needed a fairly quick, yet detailed way to make up quotes and figure out mowing time. So I took a copy of the previously posted mowing time calculator, and I embellished it a bit. I needed it to be a bit more robust, and take some factors into account.
This new sheet allows you to either simply figure out Mowing Time, or mowing time with a fairly detailed Job Quote for the lawn you need to mow. Bare in mind that everything in the sheet is customizable. Well get into that later.
Features:
I added the ability to calculate mowing time and quote on 2 different sized tractors, and a push mower. This current file has my data in it, to quote using either a 60" , or a 42" , and/or my 21" pushmower. Best of all you can change the size of the mower, the amount of overlap, and the ground speed for all devices. Very customizable.
How to use this feature:
On the first sheet enter the deck size and ground speed of your largest tractor in the first row of tractor info, and your second or smaller in the right. If only 1 tractor, leave the right blank. Put a "1" in the row of the unit (s) you wish to use when quoting.
I also added:
Ability to take into account obstacles (trees, pools, etc) that typically slow you down. This feature adds roughly 2.5% for each obstacle. (wont make a difference for one or two, but once you have to mow around 10-15 trees, it adds up.
How to use this feature:
Simply input the number of major obstacles in the cell (you'll notice a difference only after 5 or so.)
I took into account that mowing also involves turns, etc, and added in a "factor" for that, especially on smaller residential lots. You spend a lot of time turning and backing up. This feature adds roughly 25% to the mow time.
I also added:
Ability to have 2 different employees working on the job at once. This way the mowing time will be less (one drives, while one pushes), but the cost will be more for the job overall. This is fully customizable, and I put in some generic hourly rates.
How to use this feature:
You must first go to the second sheet and input the employees "actual hourly cost", that would include any insurance, etc. Then simply put a "1" in the cell of the employee(s) working on that job. I would suggest placing the must used employee in the first row.
I also added:
A second sheet that allows you to input your expenses for your business (cost to run equipment, etc, office costs, maintenance costs) to the formula used to calculate the quote. (Equipment costs per hour are based on a 4 year rollover of equipment.)This is completely customizable as well. If you dont need all that, simply clear the cells.
How to use this feature:
Its pretty straight forward. Put the cost of your equipment in the proper cell, and the hourly rate is calculated (based on the rest of the info below).
If you dont have some of these expenses, simply clear the cells.
The cells on the bottom (weeks worked, and hours per week) are used to caluclate your "return on investment". The more hours you used the equipment, the less it costs to run it per hour.
The "profit" cells are simply calculation that allow to to add a factor for company profit (to put back in to equipment) and personal profit (how much will go in your pocket after all expenses).
Background Info:
I moved the mowing speed and area information to a third sheet just to keep it tidy.
I did lock the sheets so that only the customizable cells can be modified, the calculated cells can not.
I think it is pretty straight forward.
If anyone has any questions or requests, post them here or PM me. :fing32:
I am willing to help out folks if they want personalisation of the sheet to meet thier needs, or if you want to change the sheet yourself, I can PM you the password to unlock it.
I am going to be working on a version that will run on my smartphone, that will be much smaller.I really dont want to haul around my laptop. I'll keep you "posted" (did I really have to use that pun) when I finish it.
I hope we have a great lawn season this year. Good luck to all who cut green to make green. (or in Canada -blue, red, green, purple).
