Hello From North Carolina

[Economy Landscaping]

Hello everyone, I was over on lawnchat and someone mention this site, so i figured i would check it out. I'm new to the business. I'm learning as I go, so any advice and information would be great. My background is in construction (roofing, siding, seamless gutters, etc). But due to the way the economy went the last few months, i decided to try something else. I have always wanted to do this. So far it seems like fun, guess the fact that i get to ride a 19hp go-kart around all day makes me happy. I only have a few accounts, im looking to get some more so that i can start to see some real money. Anyway, thanks for having me. Dorian Economy Landscaping LLC PS: The gopher vids are awesome!

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Dorian, Welcome to our forum! What kinds of things have you been doing so far to promote and market your lawn care business? With your background in construction, are you promoting any of those services as well to position yourself as a property care taker more so than just cutting lawns?

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[Economy Landscaping]

Originally Posted by Steve

Hi Dorian,

Welcome to our forum!

What kinds of things have you been doing so far to promote and market your lawn care business?

With your background in construction, are you promoting any of those services as well to position yourself as a property care taker more so than just cutting lawns?

Thanks for the warm welcome Steve...

As a matter of fact, i do promote some of my other services as well. Roof Cleaning and Gutter clean are my two biggest money makers so far. In fact they make me more money than the lawn services so far. But I think once i getting more account that may change.

As for what im doing to promote my job. Being that i have tried many different things over the years with my old business. Yellow book, actually i can tell everyone the phone book is a waste of time and money. So far the best marking tool has been BNI. It is a business group that you pay to be a member of. They only take 1 trade of a kind per group and between all the members they spread the word out about your business.

I found out that's the best form of advertisement for my business. I had people that go see their lawyer and in the conversation they ask for if they know a good landscaper and he passes my card around. The same for a power washer guy, painter, carpet cleaner, etc. I can tell new business owners to try that out. I got my money back the first month using them.

But im also ready to try the door hanger thing all over again. But unlike the pass where i just drop them off and never follow back. Im going to start with a smaller area that i want to target, pass them around. then Try to go back 2 weeks later and see if i can catch someone at those locations. Nothing works better than a 1 on 1 talk. Dropping hangers and never checking back is a waste of time and money as people usually put them aside and forget about them even if they do want to call you. Because sometimes they misplace the hanger than they dont have your number anymore. if I can get 1 out of 10 houses that would be awesome even 1 out of 20 would be great still.

[Steve]

That is fantastic!

Are you involved much with your community, in clubs or organizations? Have you been able to market through them at all or through your family and friends?

[Economy Landscaping]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is fantastic!

Are you involved much with your community, in clubs or organizations? Have you been able to market through them at all or through your family and friends?

At this time i am not involved much with the community. But I do plan to improve on that. The last couple of months have been rough (table saw + fingers = ) So Im basically getting back in the game , I know helping the community pays off in the long run. Since people can trust you more as well as see you as someone who cares and is not a drive by contractor.

[Steve]

Fascinating!

What business skills or advantages do you feel you have brought with you to your new business venture from all your previous experiences?

[Economy Landscaping]

Originally Posted by Steve

Fascinating!

What business skills or advantages do you feel you have brought with you to your new business venture from all your previous experiences?

I would have to say knowing how to treat customer. It doesnt matter if you cut grass, install gutters, or bang down shingles. Customer service is very important. You need to know how to treat your customer, not only to keep them happy, but for them to go out there and get you more business and clients.

Sometimes when you start a business for the first time you have a mind set on how you would like things to go. But in real life things change, you need to improvise, think fast, and know that at any time your plans or schedule can change. If you dont know how to treat your customers when things dont go according to plan you could be face with many problems.

Also I like to give my customers more than what they expect to get. In my old business if i was doing a roof repair, i would clean the gutters for free while i was up there. Or if i was cleaning a roof then i would do some small repairs at no extra cost. The respond from doing something that doesnt take much of your time and could make your customers very happy. Not to mention that they are going to tell the world how wonderful you are.

I plan on doing the same in this new business. Someone wants something done... I'll do that plus something else. The fact is, that if is not going to cost me much time or no money, why not? It worked before, it can work again. Now, before someone says "well if you were doing so well in your old business why do this now?" well roofing (which was my biggest side of my construction business) is expensive to get insurance for. I was paying 42k a year. Many of the builders that where keeping me busy when under. Huge projects chance and with the stock market at a record low, many customers who depended on loads to get these expensive renovations done, could no longer get loads or refi their houses to do so. I'm sorry but as happy as i can make customers a new roof is good for 30 years... so in my 3 years in business, i will not have to touch any of those house for another 27 years. And dont forget, it takes way too many small repairs ($75-300) to pay for a 42K insurance policy. So I decided to change my line of work. Most people can afford 35-65 bucks to get their yards cut. But not many of them can afford 7 to 15K for a new roof.

D.