What is the farthest you have drove for one customer?

[musician/lawnman]

I was so busy last summer it was hard to get it all done (that's why I plan to open up a 2nd truck this year) I didn't take anymore clients out of my way. I just wasn't worth it to me. Remember this business is a business of seconds, & pennies. When it comes down to it, It's not what you make per square foot, It's what you invoice per: man, truck, & crew hour. Drive time = fuel, vehicle maintenence & labor with a big ZERO in the dollars invoiced catagory. Right now you need the work bad & I understand that some dollars per hour is better than none so I guess go ahead & take the job. But as you grow you will learn to filter that crap & stay to a home service area where profitability (& as Steve said - exposure) can be maximized.

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

stay to a home service area where profitability (& as Steve said - exposure) can be maximized. Chuck were you telling us in the past how new customers would see you all around town and tell you they see your trucks all around town? Can you tell us how maximizing your exposure like that has helped?

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I totally understand, I actually had one customer ask how many trucks do you have. Plus this person was a referal that wanted me to do some landscaping for them. So when they were checking out some of the nursery in the area they kept on seeing my truck here and there.

But then what comes to mind is how many customer will we be picking up this season? As we all know unemployment is at his high. So I ask myself these questions.
Will I be able to pick up the same amount as last year?
Will I have to increase my radius?
Will I be losing any of last year customers?
Will gas prices double again?

Understand the idea is to keep everything as close as possible. And the less time we all have to drive and lower down my ramp cost us time = money. But we know times has changed and it will affect each and everyone of us in someway or another.

[musician/lawnman]

Originally Posted by Steve

Can you tell us how maximizing your exposure like that has helped?

It's awesome when they call you from an add you have out there & when you pull up to do the estimate the go "Oh hey it's you! Yeah I see you everywhere!" What they just said was "I already feel like I know you, & I feel like you can be trusted". It's a beautiful thing.

[Steve]

It's awesome when they call you from an add you have out there & when you pull up to do the estimate the go "Oh hey it's you! Yeah I see you everywhere!" What they just said was "I already feel like I know you, & I feel like you can be trusted". It's a beautiful thing.

Chuck this is a very good point. I was wondering, since you have done a bunch of marketing with your picture on it, have you ever had potential customers say they have seen you in the ad or are they referring to your truck / trailer / logo ?

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by Steve

Chuck this is a very good point. I was wondering, since you have done a bunch of marketing with your picture on it, have you ever had potential customers say they have seen you in the ad or are they referring to your truck / trailer / logo ?

This is why I want to put logos on my truck and trailer. I plan to get magnets for my truck and finish getting letters on my trailer

[musician/lawnman]

Well they are talking more about name & tuck recognition at that point, Though all my business cards (magnets) have my picture on them. I have had one guy (now a customer) called me. As memory serves he said something like:
"Yeah Chuck I met you in a grocery store 6 months ago & you gave me your card, My old lawn guy pissed me off & I had to fire him last week. Then I sat down & thought damn now I gotta find a new guy. Then I remembered that I had your card & the fridge & I thought well, I been lookin' at your ugly mug everytime I got a glass of milk or a beer for the last 6 months so I figured I'd give ya a try".

[Lukacs Property Maintenance]

Hey guys,

I get the same comments when i go to see a new client. Oh you are them. I see your truck and trailer everywhere. The sign is on the side of the trailer.

[Steve]

I love the trailer picture. Thanks for sharing it! How much did it cost to put that together and how is it working out for you so far? I think you are giving a lot of new lawn care business owners some ideas on what they should do.

[Lukacs Property Maintenance]

The trailer was my grandpa's and he used it to pull behind his motorhome for extra stuff and to haul his kodiac boat with him. When i got it it was a short sided trailer. I bought 4 sheets of think plywood for the sides. I welded a frame for the ramp in the back and attached the ramp to the trailer with heavy duty detatchable hinges. In all it maybe would of cost me150-200 dollars. Just so you know i haven't done any maintenance on the sides since i built it. So it has paid for itself. To start off you don't need a trailer at all. My first job i was working with just my truck alone. It worked to get the job done. I had to load and unload the tools if i had a hauling job but it still got the job done.

Sometimes you have to do what you can with what you have until the ideas are exhausted. Then it gives you the apportunity to show people that you don't need to have the expensive toys to run a profitable bisiness. Also it shows you have determination to suceed with what you are given.

Mike