HOA's

[dpld]

Originally Posted by Steve For the start up lawn care business interested in joining such organizations, how can they utilize them and benefit from them? Would they get a list of other members so they could market to the members in their area? Or what's your suggestions on how to best utilize being a member of such groups? you are gonna need to be somewhat established first because you are dealing with management companies and institutions that are accustomed to dealing with companies up and running that have the equipment and man power to take on what they need. you really are not gonna get a mailing list or list of names but you will get access to other members. plus the whole point is to build relationships with these people and it takes time and just because you pay the fee and become a member it does not automatically mean you will have work rolling your way. you also need to have all your ducks in a row like equipment, insurance and employees and it is not something that a new guy with 20 lawns a pick up truck and a couple push mowers is gonna have any real chance to get with. you have to realize with most management co's when they hire someone they are not gonna even remotely take a chance on someone that is starting out because if you fail they fail and someone will most likely lose their job if you fail to deliver. i would strongly suggest that anyone who cares to move into it that they be very prepared to handle what might come their way and have the muscle to back themselves up and in the beginning just like anything else you need to pay your dues and build relationships first before you even start trying to promote your business. we have had many guys come and go and most of the members want to see you hang around a while and prove you are truly interested in the organization and contribute to it. i have seen guys join up and spend a couple thousand dollars to be a member and they show up for a couple meetings and just because people are too receptive of them they stop going to the meetings before it even gets going for them. it is something you do for the long haul and there is no quick way to by-pass the way they operate and my first 4 months going to meetings no one gave me the time of day and then when they got to know me and seen i was in it for the long haul they started being a little more friendly and it started getting easier and easier. when you are dealing with work on a large scale it can take 6 months to a year before any leeds you get materialize into anything but if you stick it out and present yourself in a highly professional manner it will pan out for you. it will also show you without asking anyone what you need to do to attract these types of clients if you just stand back and pay attention. a lot of the subject matter in these meetings is what they feel is a good going rate for large scale jobs and what they look for in hiring a company and what to avoid. you will mostly be dealing with the people who hire landscapers and you really will not have anything to do with a fellow tradesman. most of the members are management co's and you have to approach it as such and the best way to go about it in the beginning is stay silent and observe and only speak when spoken to until you have built up these relationships because after a while you will see who the regulars are and who the ones that take it lightly are. the easiest and best way to describe it is it is like a boys club and you got to first fit in earn your keep and in the beginning it is best to listen and learn and only speak when spoken to and after a while it will pay off big time.

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Last edited by dpld; 10-15-2012 at 12:13 PM.