Am I "THAT GUY"?

[Tony317]

reading through these wonderful threads ive been realizing that the new competition every year is usually the guys that sell on price and use push mowers and low ball and don't last very long...is that me? I know this might sound stupid..but after reading all of it..it sounds alot like me im just starting, push mower, SUV with a small trailer, using fliers, no big commercial mowers, and im targeting the smaller neighborhoods am i that guy? If so...i would realllly like some help on how to not become like all of those guys that people talk about, i want to be able to successful and not go down mid season

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

use what ever mower you want. It just saves time to get a bigger mower. With few clients time isnt a issue. I would be on the lookout for a cheap used walk behind. Theres not really money in small lawns and you dont want to do big ones with a small mower. You already know not to compete on price. Find a minimum charge and stick to it. Its not easy finding good customers. Theres a lot of wanting something for nothing. Then theres people that try to burn every man with a mower. The only thing that can stop you from closing up shop is lack or work or lack of profits. You can only do so much to drum up work. Your in full control of your prices.

__________________
South Eastern Connecticut Landscaping /Lawn Care /Pressure Washing /Snow Removal /Gutter Cleaning
52" Brutus/52" Super Surfer/44" Pro Line/60" ZMaster
EB630/EB802/EBZ7150/EBZ8000/BR400/Billy Goat 8Hp
FS55&90/FC95/km110/L322&326/TR2350S
HC150/HC155/CHTZ2460
CS440/MS290
Case 1816 Skid

[doug1980]

It takes money to make money. Simple as that. Need money for the right equipment, marketing, etc. Some people can make a nice living staying very small, to be big takes time and money. Just depends on how big you want to be.

[Grass Doctor]

dude, just keep it going u will learn how to bid etc. dont compare with any other business around ur area be original, ur self if this is what u choose to do. strive, work hard.

i still run around with a 21 inch mower in the back of my pick up truck im using a toro weed eater cause im afraid some stuped will stile my 460.00 weed eater again. yes i have a zero turn(toro 4200) it works awesome for my needs, but who cares i loaded up in my pick up too.

i don't own no bank, or no one or anybody just be you baby ask other landscapers and go down or go up in your prices how ever works for you.

this is my 3rd year in business still same guy with more customers quality lawns i can even say the best lawns of where i drive around i have upscale customers, hard working, rich class people, middle class people my price is flat as steal baby.

i charge 40.00 for cutting 2.000sq or 6,000sqf or i charge 100.00 for (20,000sqf or to do an acre(45, 000 and something)) if i want to lower my price to aerate to do a seasonal promotion(50.00) i will and who can tell me in lowballin my aerator its screaming money . just be ur self men thats all i can say

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by Tony317

reading through these wonderful threads ive been realizing that the new competition every year is usually the guys that sell on price and use push mowers and low ball and don't last very long...is that me?

I know this might sound stupid..but after reading all of it..it sounds alot like me

im just starting, push mower, SUV with a small trailer, using fliers, no big commercial mowers, and im targeting the smaller neighborhoods

am i that guy?

If so...i would realllly like some help on how to not become like all of those guys that people talk about, i want to be able to successful and not go down mid season

You may or may not be. I spent a while researching justmowit.com and how his business works. Its a father/son team using only push mowers and about 17 crews. Gross revenue for them is in the millions. All they do is mow....nothing more. For them, their business plan works well. It won't work for everyone though. Research him and see what you can come up with. His name is TJ Justice.

Mowing with a small push mower and smaller properties can do very well. Providing you get a few in the same complex/street. I had a few I did last year that I did well on.

Work your way up from there, or do what makes you money.

I look at lowballing a few different ways, as do others. When 5 companies quote a lawn for $40 a cut, and you have 1 guy quoting $25 per cut, thats lowballing. Flyers saying "All lawns $20!" thats lowballing. But if you quote $30 while a few others quote $35, I wouldn't consider that lowballing. On the other hand, you should know your costs before you quote to make sure its profitable.

Keep it up and stick to your plan!

[Steve]

reading through these wonderful threads ive been realizing that the new competition every year is usually the guys that sell on price and use push mowers and low ball and don't last very long...is that me?

I know this might sound stupid..but after reading all of it..it sounds alot like me

As you read through these responses, what thoughts go through your head? How are you going to take this information and be different?

[Hedgemaster]

Listen, this is easy...


Just post the following on every lawn care forum you can find:

"I won't drop MY ramp for less than $60!"


You are now a professional in the eyes of the world.

[Grass Doctor]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Listen, this is easy...


Just post the following on every lawn care forum you can find:

"I won't drop MY ramp for less than $60!"


You are now a professional in the eyes of the world.

what worl hedge

[Tony317]

Originally Posted by Steve

As you read through these responses, what thoughts go through your head? How are you going to take this information and be different?

yeah i will

[wandfsmall]

What I think is funny is almost EVERYONE was THAT GUY at some point. You do have a few that worked with another service such as dpld that helped them get started in the business, or maybe some grew up where a parent did this business and learned from them but to be honest almost every business starts out now knowing how to work. Personally I hate seeing small backyard repair shops that are not authorized to work on anything nor even have access to repair manuals, however my father did that years ago. The problem is once you have things figured out you learn how bad of a job you were doing before, and you try to tell customers to avoid that kind of work. You will be the same if you get threw starting a business as well. Such is the circle of life.