To suggest an increase in prices?

[StarsSand]

Apologies for a post that might make me sound like a privileged arsehole.

We've had a gardener for almost 6 years. He comes when he wants and then invoices us afterwards.

I just realised he hasn't put his prices up at all in six years. I've never employed any other gardener so I have no idea what the going rate is but it's seems cheap to me in terms of the time he saves us.

Would it be weird to suggest to him that he increase his prices? Maybe he's not that business savvy and doesn't realise it most people expect prices to go up over time?

I don't want to sound like I'm telling him how to run his business but when everything else has increased in price I feel a bit like I'm taking advantage of him to keep paying the same rate.

We did that with our dog walker. She never put her prices up as she was worried about losing business, so we said that we thought it was about time.

If you feel the rate is unfair then you could offer to pay more. A general increase could mean another customer has to cancel the service, he may have other customers he knows wouldn't be able to afford it.

I'd do it. We did with our cleaner a few years ago. Now she puts it up a little every year but she just hadn't really thought about it.

You could say something like "are you sure you don't need me to pay more - a lot of prices have gone up since 6 years ago" and then you've put the thought in their head and offered to personally pay more.

This. It could end up losing him customers which would mean he's worse off.
If you can afford it then ask if he wants you to pay more, but not everyone will be able to.

Definitely do it. He doesn't have to charge all his customers the same, it doesn't have to affect any one else. I think it will just make him feel appreciated and valued, can't see any downsides.

How do you pay him? I’d just start paying him more and not mention it. If he asks then you can say something about how long he’s worked for you and you’ve paid the same etc. I wouldn’t directly suggest he put his prices up, I do think that’s an overstep personally.

I upped my old cleaners money. A few of my friends used her but only two of us paid more. She didn't ask we just said we would and did.
I'd just approach him and say you'd like to pay him X. What he does with other clients is up to him.

Yes, there is an excellent trainer who comes to my workplace every year to do some clinical training with us. We each pay him individually and we insisted to him in person this year that we pay him more than planned for the session, and that he raise his prices from now on. He was a bit diffident but we were all embarrassed to be paying less than his valuable time is worth.

I put my cleaner’s wage up recently because I felt it was morally wrong not to suggest it with everything else going up so much. I am struggling a bit to pay it but it seemed fair. I am also due a payrise soon anyway.

Yes you should offer. Just say something like “we realise we haven’t given you a pay rise in 6 years, how about x?”

We have done this a number of times with our cleaner. Very normal thing to do so it may well be that other clients of your gardener have done it already.

Just wanted to add, OP, that a privileged arsehole is the last thing you sound like

i'd have the conversation with him about what you pay and prices increasing in the last six years, you really value his services etc- whether or not that makes him think about increasing his rates to other clients is neither here nor there.

Overpaying and not discussing it sounds weird - it could leave him concerned you've made a mistake and whether to let you know - and why miss the opportunity to tell him he is doing a great job?

@StarsSand I'm sure your gardener will be thrilled at the news. They might have lost clients in the past (especially everyone doing their own gardening during lockdowns) so it's easy to see why people are afraid to raise their prices.

Great thanks so much for the sense check.

I didn't want to offend him but I'm sure his own expenses have increased and it seems only fair. I'll email him and suggest an increase.

I have a massage therapist who comes to me every month. I realised last year that she hadn't put her prices up for ages so I just started to pay her more. It's not that I am particularly well off, but she is worth more than I was paying her so I upped that.

I always ask my hairdresser (she comes to us) as with fuel etc her costs must have rocketed. She did put them up this winter.

I wouldn’t do that because how much he gets won’t match his invoice. This creates a potential problem for him / his accountant down the road.

Dp employs subcontractors.
One yesterday was saying that's the lowest I can do it for. We were talking about it yesterday. He's going to give them all a substantial bonus instead of raising their rates. I think some people think all work is won by being as cheap as possible. Anyone can be a busy fool.
Some small businesses are afraid fees will put customers off. Cost is only one factor.
You could give the gardener a regular bonus as a carrot.

Thanks all, he emailed me back and he's very happy. Wish I'd done it sooner!