Dang, you won't disclose a state yet you want him to bake you a cake and eat it for you too?
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Free registration at the forum removes this block.I am not sure what the issue is but I happened to make 2 different posts to 2 different members. Fairly I believe I gave OP enough points with me currently working in the industry to help him out, not sure what is OP going to loose with not knowing where I currently reside which I decided to disclose it now.Dang, you won't disclose a state yet you want him to bake you a cake and eat it for you too?
This is part of the "problem" you're solving as an entrepreneur. Look at it this way: Creating a human resources system is really a barrier of Entry. If it were easy, anyone and everyone could do it.
Okay, believe it or not I have some experience in this field. I have been running a relatively successful lawncare business for a while. It is not really a business so to say, it is more of a side job that I operate with a buddy of mine. If you have any questions about the actual work end of the spectrum (i.e. mowing, weeding, mowing in rain, etc.) don't hesitate to ask. I have a few seasons of this under my belt. Shoot away and I'll answer as soon as possible. Like I said though, I can't really help with the business end of it, but perhaps I can help with the amount of work, and what you're looking for in a client etc. Cheers!
Dang, you won't disclose a state yet you want him to bake you a cake and eat it for you too?
OK. First off, the most important thing not to do is weeding. Your employees will hate it, you will hate it (it will take forever to do correctly, more money out of your pocket), and lastly, there's no good way to price it aside from hourly work. It is just a really difficult thing to gauge how much work will be necessary to complete it.
The second things that you want to avoid are those overly crazy people who need their lawn "just so." If you come across someone like this, avoid the headache and just politely decline or something. Also insurance comes into play here, if the property is wealthy be sure not to break anything, it's risky man. Up to you though, some people like working until it looks perfect, if your workers are like that, more power to ya!
In general though, the most lucrative part of the business for us was just mowing. We offer a flat rate price at the beginning of the season specific to each customer's yard. Then we have a pay-as-you-go model, each time we cut, they would pay. The project work (weeding, mulching, etc.) are just not worth the time unless you can find some prices from some more established lawncare companies and see how they are doing it. Mowing is easy, weedwhacking is easy, and you can charge whatever you want. So say you charge $50, your people working the same yard at the same time can cut that yard in 1 hour and you'll be out of there quick and and ready for more lawn. You cannot do that with project work and slamming these huge numbers and project price estimates in their faces is a huge turn off unless you can back up your claims for that price.
Keep in mind, mowing is different from all other aspects of landscaping. Landscaping is to make the place look beautiful as the #1 motivator, mowing's motivator is time. People don't have time to mow so they'll pay you. Keep that in mind. Establish trust in your clients, if they ask something early on and they need it done ASAP, get your people there ASAP. You can slack later but the initial relationship needs that fire, if they think you are looking out for them, they will look out for you. GOOD LUCK WITH THIS!
There was a dude in a facebook group I belong to and he owned a lawn care business.
He split tested yard signs, testing out 'pitches', then he tracked which sign generated the most calls. That became his control. So, he replicated it and then tested different 'offers', tracked results, replicated the winner and then split tested colors.
Anyway, this culminated in him creating the ideal sign based on all of his split tests.
Once he had the winning combination, he made a bunch of signs --replicas of the winning combination -- and placed them around town.
It resulted in 60 new customers in 4 days.
I'm going to try to upload it in this post so you can see the ultimate, kick-a**, winner of several splits tests, amazing, business generating sign....
PS. He said the phrase "dirt cheap" DID NOT attract low-budget callers. In fact, I am pretty sure he quoted his normal prices to caller s....and almost no one realized -- or cared -- that he was charging MORE than his competitors. So, dont be a scaredy cat ...and at least test it out.
PPS. Yes, Dirt cheap is a pun relating to the dirty business of lawn care. That's clever.
PPPS Yes, the black and yellow color scheme speaks to the subconscious mind as being a legit business.....because people will relate it to the yellow pages.
Yes, I like doing all my bids in person too. Hopefully the lawns are no bigger than ours here in Texas for $30.
Do you have competitors? Why not just hire their best employees and pay them more?
That sounds impractical and pointless
Plus I can just hire a young guy or two that wants a summer job for the busy months and keep an older guy around to have a job year round.
Meeting a young guy today to hire on as a worker for $12/hr. He’s got 3 years landscaping/lawn care experience.
Update: hiring people feels like a joke after today. 3 people scheduled and 2 of them completely flaked with no message. The 3rd is having car troubles. Feels like trying to meet up with a tinder date...
Update: a kid replied to my job ad and said “I will not let you down”. He’s kept in touch. I’ll be working all day Thursday and told him I’ve got $100 waiting for him if he can come work. He’s got experience in landscaping and he needs a job.
Awesome thread man!
I do have a question though.
How would you guys go about naming a company like this? It sounds simple like "so and so Lawn care or so and so Landscaping" but what about offering other services down the road? If you end up offering sod installation, gardening, tree trimming, weeding and other services then one of those names can hurt you cant it? But at the same time if you're too vague then I would assume that it could also hurt your business.
What do you guys think?
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