Bought accounts this year.. think I'm getting screwed

[Steve]

I have one page as a request a quote page, that has been golden for me.

It seems so often that new customers are impatient. If they call and don't get their call answered, they tend to move on to another company to call. With that in mind, how do you explain a quote page working so well? Do you think potential customers are more able to wait for a response when they fill one out or maybe they fill them out on off hours and don't expect to talk to someone at such times?

[SNethercutt]

Well he took you to the cleaners. One thing I would do if I was you, always have a lawyer write up all of your contracts to protect you 100%. A lawyer can include things in the contract that me and you wouldn't understand but would bind the seller to certain obligations in this event. Next time you might want to pay it out over 6 months to ensure said customers remain with you and if they don't you renogotiate on price. And it says you will do everything to ensure customer satisfaction....that includes snow removal. Lol.

I now for a big time lawyer, I trade my services with her to read and ensure accountability of all of my contract applied to certain situations.

[Steve]

I now for a big time lawyer, I trade my services with her to read and ensure accountability of all of my contract applied to certain situations.

Are there any specific circumstances where she helped you with something you didn't realize could be a potential problem?

[SNethercutt]

One that comes to mind here recently is I had a contract I wrote out, it said that all complaints must be emailed to (insert email here) and that you couldn't drop us without filing a formal complaint.

Customers will give NMC 15 days to correct problem.

Problems must be document to terminate contract without penalties.

She pointed out to me that anybody can email me and say this or that and complain. Instead it stated that dropping for problems with services outlined in Scope of Work will be sent certified mail to me. We have 15 days to correct the problems and investigate the issue and come to agreement with customer.customer may terminate contract with nmc after two formal complaints have been filed.

Something along those lines.

[SNethercutt]

She helps me out, but mostly I reuse the same contract just change things where needed, depending on what's being done.

[Steve]

Well those seem to be very useful tips! I am glad you have her as a resource like that.

[rockymtnnut]

Originally Posted by greenscaper123

This is my first year in business. In May, I paid $8k for 23 accounts that gross $3k a month for lawn cutting and $12k for spring/fall clean ups. He originally wanted $12k for everything so it seemed like a good deal at the time. Well, over the course of the next couple months 8 people quit. Now another person just quit cause I don't do snow plowing. He told me he would take care of the snow plowing the first year but he hasn't answered his phone for me or any of the customers the last 3 months. So I basically paid $8k for 14 accounts.

When we made this deal he ASSURED me nobody would quit. 9 quit so far. He ASSURED me that he would stay on with me the first year to answer phone calls and such. Never answers one. He ASSURED me that he would do the snow plowing the first year so that nobody would quit. Well now it appears he won't be doing that either so it looks like I'll probably lose even more. I've worked this entire year to pay off what I dished out and by the time next year comes around I'll probably only end up with 10 accounts. How badly am I getting screwed here and is there anything I can do about this?

now it's time for damage control take your time in your energy going to the 10 you still have talk to him make sure they're still happy and saturated your business with those 10 accounts your next door neighbors everybody on your street should have some type of proposals from you. unfortunately he has no integrity unfortunately there isn't much you can do about it. In this business is like a leaking boat you never stop bailing and doing damage control. make it a point to never do this again and never do this to someone else. there will be a time when you see him and what you do to him is up to you.