How to compete?

[BelleCityLawn1]

smallstripeslawncare, I only have one route so I am always on the job site to make sure everything is kept up. Next year I am going to have one of my guys take a route (you really have to earn my trust to take a route). Anyways I do flat rate per yard. So if I price it out at $35 a mow and there are 4 weeks in the month I mow on the customer knows it will total $140 before they even get the bill. Yes, some people do get scared of by having to sign a contract. A lot of these people will go to someone who does not require a contract and find out that they are unreliable and come running back to sign one. I would have an optional contract so if customers want they can feel locked in. Just a thought. Hope this helps! Thank you, Tim Oezer Belle City Lawn Care, LLC

[fieroboi]

Lawn care business tips

Notice the ECHO in this thread. I really can't add anything new here. This is something you will see every year. Since I've been in business, there are always three or four new guys out in the area. 90% of the time, by mid season, they are out of business. Stick to your guns and hold your price. Clients that shop are usually not worth the time. Your lowest priced clients will be the ones that are constantly complaining. Have faith in yourself, the service you offer and be willing to do the small little extras that add value to your service. You will stand out among the other guys and will end the year off with your head above water and held high. Lloyd Blue's Yard FX Camrose, AB

[Cashin H&P]

I agree, these guys are not the competitio. Just keep doing wht your doing and you will grow.

[smallstripeslawncare]

Originally Posted by BelleCityLawn1

smallstripeslawncare,

I only have one route so I am always on the job site to make sure everything is kept up. Next year I am going to have one of my guys take a route (you really have to earn my trust to take a route). Anyways I do flat rate per yard. So if I price it out at $35 a mow and there are 4 weeks in the month I mow on the customer knows it will total $140 before they even get the bill. Yes, some people do get scared of by having to sign a contract. A lot of these people will go to someone who does not require a contract and find out that they are unreliable and come running back to sign one. I would have an optional contract so if customers want they can feel locked in. Just a thought. Hope this helps!

Thank you,
Tim Oezer
Belle City Lawn Care, LLC

I'm glad that I'm not the only other lawn care company that offers flat rate pricing. The 16 accounts I currently have all love me for the quality work I do and actually being reliable. I actually had one lady who was referred to me late in the season because her current lawn company was really messing up her lawn. They would always cut way short, edging was about four inches from the grass to the pavement (I personally think if the gap is bigger than size .95 trimmer line it looks bad).

I could easily lower my price to $20 but I just think thats too cheap with the quality of work I do and actually being reliable.

[BelleCityLawn1]

smallstripeslawncare,

One of my friends who is in his 60's who has been in the business for pretty much forever does it by the minute. He is always asking me how I gain so many new customers so fast. People in today's world seem to need to know exactly how much their bill is before they receive it. Flat rate also helps a ton for billing! I just landed an account for the same reason as the lady you described. She is a neighbor of one of my accounts and noticed how her lawn guy (super big company) would come and tear up her lawn and do it extremely fast seeming to not care. She called me because her neighbors lawn never looks that way. Good work will always be rewarded!

Thank you,
Tim Oezer
Belle City Lawn Care, LLC

[stevef1201]

it is my experience that the FBN (Fly By Night) guys out there will take all the crappy lawns, low pay, don't care, etc, and leave the good lawns to us that know what we are doing,and are equipped to do the job right. I love these guys. I get a call for a crappy yard, I bid high (hoping I don't get it) and let the FBN guy do the work. Several Times I have gotten call backs because the FBN guy quit showing up, and then my rate seems good to the customer.

[stevef1201]

Originally Posted by BelleCityLawn1

smallstripeslawncare,

One of my friends who is in his 60's who has been in the business for pretty much forever does it by the minute. He is always asking me how I gain so many new customers so fast. People in today's world seem to need to know exactly how much their bill is before they receive it. Flat rate also helps a ton for billing! I just landed an account for the same reason as the lady you described. She is a neighbor of one of my accounts and noticed how her lawn guy (super big company) would come and tear up her lawn and do it extremely fast seeming to not care. She called me because her neighbors lawn never looks that way. Good work will always be rewarded!

Thank you,
Tim Oezer
Belle City Lawn Care, LLC

I don't even give qoutes by the cut. I give a qoute for the monthly rate, and ask if they want seasonal or year round. Seasonal is 34 cuts March 1 to October 31, and year round is 40 services. Now I do live in central Florida, so lawn care is a 12 month deal. I use a contract, which spells out exactly what the customer can expect and how much it costs. They love it, they know each month what the bill is going to be, and what expectations they should have on look.

[smallstripeslawncare]

I dream of living in Florida so I can cut year round. Plus I'm a surfer at heart so being near the coast would be amazing.

Giving a monthly price is actually a good idea. I invoice at the end of each month and that just seems like a good idea. All my lawns are weekly and I actually do not even take bi-weekly or one time cuts. Some say I'm crazy but I have a friend who does lawn care in my area and he turned me onto the idea. Some people want their lawn cut weekly and the ones that want bi-weekly or once a month just don't care about their lawn anyways. So it works out but does turn a lot of the craigslist jobs away.

[BelleCityLawn1]

I wish I could cut all year! The monthly set price is actually a good idea. The best thing to do with the cheaper jobs is to bid them normally. Make everything looks professional as usual and let the FBN screw themselves over. I have landed several jobs just because I "spelled all my words correctly and showed exactly what services were needed and how much they cost." It can be a funny market out there!

Thank you,
Tim Oezer
Belle City Lawn Care, LLC

[LawnBoy0311]

Steve does cut year round....but go ahead Steve....tell us where you lived before.

Florida would be nice, I have a buddy who's the Gm of trugreen down there. He deals a whole bunch with guys like us.