Horticulture: Extension & Outreach: Educational Programs and Resources

Cost Estimating and Job Bidding Workshops
for Landscape Professionals

When?/Where?

November 23 and 24, 2009
Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Cost estimating and job bidding are among the most perplexing and time-consuming tasks in a landscape business. This workshop, held in a computer lab, will give you hands-on experience with two cost estimating software programs developed by faculty at The University of Georgia. Day one will focus on landscape installation cost estimating, and day two will focus on landscape maintenance cost estimating. You may choose to attend one day or both days. No prior computer experience with spreadsheets is required to participate in this workshop. Due to space limitations in the labs, attendance each day is limited, so early registration is encouraged to assure a space in the class.

Who Should Attend:

Landscape installers, landscape managers, or anyone involved in cost estimating for commercial, municipal or recreational landscapes.

About the Program:

The software programs to be demonstrated in this workshop provide a simple straight-forward approach to estimating overhead, labor, and equipment costs. Then, using industry average data, the user prepares a bid price on a job. The program also provides contract information for presenting to the client. The software does not do payroll, cost accounting, or other types of business management operations.

Presenters:

Dr. Gary Wade, Department of Horticulture, and Dr. Cesar Escalante, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, The University of Georgia.

Location/Lodging Options:

Room 202 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, South Campus. For directions to Athens and campus maps showing building locations, see http://www.uga.edu/visit/directions.html

The Georgia Center for Continuing Education has a hotel and is within walking distance of the workshop, Phone: 1-888-295-8894 or 706-548-1311 For other lodging options in the Athens area, see http://hotel-guides.us/georgia/athens-ga-hotels.html

Workshop Cost:

100/day or $150 for both days. The workshop fee includes refreshment breaks, lunch on both days, handouts, and take-home copies of the software demonstrated on the day(s) you attend. (Hort Management and Hort Scape normally sell for $100 each.) You must attend both days to receive both software programs. Participants should park in a campus parking deck. The parking decks adjacent to the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and the Coliseum on south campus are closest to the workshop site. Parking in other areas on campus is subject to ticketing. A parking pass for deck parking will be given to you at the workshop.

What to Bring?

Participants in the Day 2 workshop should bring a measuring wheel, if you have one.

Registration/Substitutions/Cancellations:

Registration is limited, so early registration is encouraged to assure a space in the class. Your space will not be reserved until payment is received. If you need to cancel, please notify the Tifton Conference Office at least one week prior to the workshop. You will receive a refund less $20/person service charge. You can have someone substitute for you, but you must call the conference office and let them know who that person is.

Online Registration: To register on-line, go to the following web site and click on "Register On-line": http://www.caes.uga.edu/external/tccc/calendar.html
(Visa, Master Card, Discover, or American Express accepted).

Mail or Fax: You may print the PDF form and mail or fax it with a check or credit card information to:

Mail: Conference Office, Attn: Cost Estimating Workshop
P.O. Box 1209
Tifton, GA 31793

FAX: 229/386-3822

Before mailing your registration, call the conference office first to make certain there is space still available. Phone: 229/386-3416.

Program Questions?

For questions relative to the program format, etc. phone: 706-542-2861

Participant Comments from 2007 Workshops:

"After 26 years in the business finally someone made sense out of the bidding madness. This program was professionally presented and will help me give my best to my customers".

"The software is simple, very useful and easy to understand. The class instructors were excellent".

"These have been two of the most rewarding days I’ve had in many years. You are to be commended for your time, effort and exemplary attention to detail in your presentations. The software will be a valuable addition to my business".

"The program was great and worth the time and money".

Agendas:

Day 1:

Installation Cost Estimating: Using Hort Scape Cost Estimating Software

8:30 am

Registration