Hello from Florida

Hello all, My name is Carlos and I am just starting up a small business in Melbourne Florida around my neighborhood as a side job while I go to college. I'm studying mechanical engineering at Florida Tech and figured this would be a very flexible job considering I can make my own hours. I had a small business when I lived Puerto Rico, I would cut military base residents lawns and made some good money as a high school student. Right now I am hopefully just starting up, but I need to submit a formal proposal to the HOA in my neighborhood but I'm not entirely sure how to do that lol. Wish me luck!

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Carlos, Welcome to our forum! Right now I am hopefully just starting up, but I need to submit a formal proposal to the HOA in my neighborhood but I'm not entirely sure how to do that lol. Wish me luck! Well the first thing I would suggest is figuring out what do they want. Do you know the services they are in need of? Have you put together a list for them and calculated how much to charge them?

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[arthur712]

Welcome Calose, I am here in Cocoa. Let me know if I can help gt you some new accounts over there. I have some connection!!!!

Thanx!

Originally Posted by Steve

Hi Carlos,

Welcome to our forum!



Well the first thing I would suggest is figuring out what do they want. Do you know the services they are in need of? Have you put together a list for them and calculated how much to charge them?

I have not asked them yet, I found this out from my sister she is a member of the HOA board. I'd assume they would want grass cutting, edging, and small landscaping.

Again I have to reiterate that this my first time making a business proposal so I am completely new to this lol.

[Steve]

You got a great in with your sister! Can she get a hold of the previous year's bid so you can see exactly what was done and how much they were charging to do it?

Then ask your sister what price range they are looking for.

Keep me posted.

[majoe7]

Originally Posted by Santorican

I have not asked them yet, I found this out from my sister she is a member of the HOA board. I'd assume they would want grass cutting, edging, and small landscaping.

Again I have to reiterate that this my first time making a business proposal so I am completely new to this lol.

Santo,
With your sister being on the board it would be wrong for her to tell you what price they are shooting for. This would be a violation of the convents and bylaws. Now on the other hand, begin that your sister lives in the same neighborhood she receives monthly, quarterly, bi yearly or yearly Balance Sheets or Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual Worksheets. You can visit her as a brother and ask to see those sheets and review them. Look for categories like Landscape Maintenance, Irrigation Repair/Maintenance, Fertilization/Pest/Weed Control, Tree Trimming and Mulch Landscape. This will give you a break down of what the cost were to the association during those times.
Before you go about the proposal first ask and take a tour with the President of the Board to the exact locations of every job that is going to be required of you. If you are behinds houses ask how close they expect you to cut to the owners property lines, if there are ponds or retention ponds are you to cut to the water and do you line trim around the entire water, are you expected to replace dead or damages sod at cost plus labor, in maintenance of the sprinkler system do you run it monthly and fix what needs to be fixed or can you sub it out.(this is costly and a great money maker). Mulch how often and where.(Ie: entrance ways, parks, trees, shrubs, beds, signs ect.), flowers/plants/trees how often to replant, trim trees, remove dead limbs or whole trees, do you plant annuals or perennials,
Fertilization can you sub out, is it part of the proposal.

Just make sure that you are on the same page and fully understand what is expected of you and what you expect from them. Also ask is there is a Management Company that helps with the HOA. Bring a note pad to takes a lot of notes and a camera/ video device to assist you in ensuring that you had it documented. Be organized and look professional. You may not get the job but this will be a great experience for you. Be prepared and don’t bite off more then you can chew.

John