crossroads

[Steve]

I want something to fall back on just in case. its stressfull, family is upset because I lean both ways. Have you figured how how many customers you would need to feel better about your business and be able to run it full time? How long do you feel it would take to get there?

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[djm2013]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Steve Have you figured how how many customers you would need to feel better about your business and be able to run it full time? How long do you feel it would take to get there? I am starting at a 20% Increase in properties for mowing, and at least 30 % in spring clean ups. The spring cleans ups are people who want the hard work done, and then they want to mow there lawns. thats fine. They have monster yards, bordered by forest. they do not have the gear to do the spring clean ups, just a mower, and we charge a premium for this because its a one off. We might up sell to a de thatch or aeration but we wont be pushy in weekly mowing. its a balancing act with those type of customers... The weekly mows are for working couples who just don't have the time to care for there lawn. we do a full package for them and thats all they want. we also cater to people who cant mow there parents lawns anymore. there out there. If the older folks are on a fixed budget, we can work with them on rates I have learned you cant charge a flat rate across the board, that work around here. people earn 20k to 2 million a year in this market. we have to be flexible, we have to let them know we are flexible and understand there budget they have in mind. we also have to know when to say no. I am setting up a display of a lawn , pens, calendar magnets and flower watering pot and some different color mulch on a 6 foot table at my local banks branch, there highlighting local business bank customers in there lobby, free advertising works for me..

[Steve]

I am setting up a display of a lawn , pens, calendar magnets and flower watering pot and some different color mulch on a 6 foot table at my local banks branch, there highlighting local business bank customers in there lobby, free advertising works for me.

This is great! You should take a picture of your set up. I'd love to see it and maybe also send it to the local paper and tell them a little about what was going on at the bank. Who knows, they might print it.

I have learned you cant charge a flat rate across the board, that work around here. people earn 20k to 2 million a year in this market. we have to be flexible, we have to let them know we are flexible and understand there budget they have in mind.

What are some of the ways you feel you can be flexible? What does this entail? I bet a lot of newer business owners are wondering about this too.

[djm2013]

Originally Posted by Steve

This is great! You should take a picture of your set up. I'd love to see it and maybe also send it to the local paper and tell them a little about what was going on at the bank. Who knows, they might print it.



What are some of the ways you feel you can be flexible? What does this entail? I bet a lot of newer business owners are wondering about this too.

When I roll up on a property or use google earth and street view to "size" it up, I can tell the value, income, and amount of money they have spent, or not at all.

I speak to them, and ask what have they spent on the lawn as in Time, other people, themselves or kids or neighbors. I ask if there mower is down, if I am replacing someone who cannot provide service anymore"that covers someone quitting or being fired from the job. Then I ask, what needs to be done ? and what do you not want to happen, what are your goals, and then I ask what is your budget, I stop and listen. if theres an answer I go from there.

If they say I don't know I tell them I will email,fax,mail or hand it to them, what ever they want, a proposal to cover there needs. they can look it all over at there pace and ask any questions they want about the several services we provide.

THATS HOW IT WORKS IT A PERFECT WORLD.

I can look at the house and lawn and shoot them a number, if they bark I say get me a neighbor to sign up as well and you both get 20 percent off.

I can meet a lil old lady on a fixed income, find out what she was paying before and what she getting, tell her I can match the price, and tell her what services that price will get her, and go from there.

I could roll up on a 2-3 million dollar home, charge em by acre ala cart for everything , show up with a contract and service tag to show them all we do on a visit and shoot them a price, give em a card, let them see the truck, uniforms, give a firm handshake and get "bank" on that account.

you simply have to adapt to them, you have to read there body language and talk there talk. never insult there intelligence. its not there first rodeo of wheeling and dealing, there in a million dollar home, they know more then me about something lol.

Never say this is how much it costs, they have no idea what that means

I say, this service will provide you with............and our rate for you is $$$$$

you can add services when your lawn needs it. and that is $$$$$$

we can bill monthly, or per visit and collect when your home, or we can do a seasonal rate, which will save you more in the long run and you can make 3 easy payments for the season and its one last thing you have to worry about.

Giving them options and listening to them is one thing to master, asking for the account is another. But being flexible and giving them a price they can afford and feel like there buying a service and not getting sold a service is nice as well to master. once all these are in place, you can do a lot.

[djm2013]

This is what I show a new customer who wants to know all that we do. It speaks for itself

[Steve]

That is a great form.

So that would be given to a customer who has already signed up and it would be a receipt of the services performed?

Do you have a similar form to show a checked off list of what you suggest? Or maybe could you use the same form and highlight services you suggest that they could potentially approve for next time you are there?

[djm2013]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is a great form.

So that would be given to a customer who has already signed up and it would be a receipt of the services performed?

Do you have a similar form to show a checked off list of what you suggest? Or maybe could you use the same form and highlight services you suggest that they could potentially approve for next time you are there?

Yes its a service tag we give to customer or drop in mail box, or give to manager on site.

its also a sales item to show our professionalism.

it also can be used by the customer to high lite services they want on next visit, or they can call and say hey what is this or that and how much.

it also can be be a business card, on top of the form is the name and number, just leaving that is a card and shows what we do.

it also is for litigation and tracking and billing and routing optimization.

it serves many purposes

[Steve]

I think that is great. This process is well thought out and thorough!

[djm2013]

something simple to hand out in bulk, pic is a little grainy but the cards has a shine to it. I do have other cards I have used in the past that are like a coupon, a magnet, appt card and so on..


OOOHHH
and a new toy at the rental place, a shiny new dingo

[Steve]

I like the business card a lot. The only suggestion I would have is to make your email address as short as possible to make it easier to tell a customer over the phone or in person. Also when they first write it in to email you, the longer it is, the more of a chance of an error. But that is a minor suggestion. It looks great and very professional!

What made you decide on getting a dingo with a trencher?