Adding More Services

[kdexpd]

Hey guys! Just wanted to check back in and crawl out from underneath my rock that I hide under over winter. I've added more services, well actually I've started up a whole new business along with my lawn service. It's called CLC Nuisance Wildlife Control (CLC=Cedar Lawn Care) and business has been booming. Just wanted to let some of you guys know who are wanting some more cash flow with a low investment cost. I did research all winter and came up with the idea because I can tie the services in with my lawn care business. I offer services for removing wildlife by live trapping and also excluding bats. My main focus right now is moles. This goes hand in hand with lawn service and is super simple to accomplish. Traps are cheap and there is no investment in baits, because you don't need any. Why give money away to someone else when you can do it yourself for next to nothing? The only thing is, you have to check your traps everyday, usually in the mornings. This might be something to think about and if anybody wants more info, just let me know! Kendrick

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

That is very interesting! What kinds of animals have you had to deal with so far besides the moles? How are you promoting this?

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[kdexpd]

Hey Steve great to visit again!
Some of the animals I've had to deal with so far are skunks, groundhogs, moles, squirrels, snakes and bats. I thought of it one day while I was worrying about making enough money during the off season of mowing. I did some research and talked to the local conservation agent and found out all the details. Luckily, here in Missouri, we aren't required to purchase a certification or a license to do ADC (Animal Damage Control) work. The agent was thrilled to have me get started, as we don't have anyone around here locally who does this, and she gets calls all the time from people expecting her to come out and do it. I can see her point of view on it, as it's not her job to come get wildlife out of peoples attics and porches. So I joined an internet forum that has a dedicated thread to guys who do ADC work. I learned a TON of info in a short time, most of it I already knew having grown up hunting and spending much of my time outdoors.
The investment in the actual wildlife control business requires a little more investment, however most of it is rentals, which is added into the cost to the customer. I have purchased several live traps and made my own snare poles to get started with. Next, I made flyers and posted them everywhere in town. I spoke with some of the large churches that are old and have large steeples and bell towers and found out they have bats. Bats are the best part of this business, as a bat exclusion normally averages between $900 and $2000, with some upwards of $5000 to $9000. Bats take quite a bit more knowledge and equipment, however it sure is worth every penny. With bats you have to "exclude" them, which boils down to using a one-way door device that allows the bats to exit the area, but not return. Bats are a protected species and have to be treated with the utmost care, and exclusion work can only be performed during the early spring and late fall, due to them having pups which could be trapped inside and starve. Did you know that a female bat only has one pup a year, and that while she spends most of her life hanging upside down, she gives birth to her pup right side up? No wonder they're on the endangered list. Another avenue with bats is you can make bat houses and make money off them as well and help keep the insect population down for the customers. Just one mature bat can eat an average of 1000 mosquitos an hour. Here's something else thats cool: A single *****y of 150 big brown bats can protect local farmers from up to 33 million or more rootworms each summer. Once you tell a customer that, they tend to change their view towards them and want to learn how to accommodate them. I could go on and one, but just wanted to pass along the idea because I think it ties in quite well with my lawn care business. Business has been really picking up and I'm getting ready to start my second round of radio advertising. If things pick up much more, I'll have to hire a technician to keep up.

Kendrick Daniels
Cedar Lawn Care Services &
CLC Nuisance Wildlife Control

[Steve]

Very very interesting!

What was your thoughts on your first radio advertising experience? Also, why did you choose radio advertising? Do you promote both services on there or just the animal services?

[kdexpd]

I was a little apprehensive about it all at first. They shot me a quote of $562.00 for 5 weeks of ads. The ads aired between 6am and 8pm, three times a day, Mon-Fri. They didn't charge a fee for making the ads, and of course, I had them do the voice over...I wanted business! HA! So I had the ads run in February and only advertised the nuisance wildlife control business. I'm trying to work a deal with the radio station right now with trading services..their advertising for my lawn care services and mole trapping. This is what I shot them:

28 weeks of lawn service @ $65 per service $1820.00

4 Weed and Feed applications on front only @ $88.97 each $355.88

1 month mole treatment on front only @ $50 each week $200.00

3 liquid weed treatments on front only @ $175 each $375.00

Totaling $2750.88

I asked for a trade..my services, for $2750.88 in radio adds for my business. This would equal about 5 months advertising, three times a day, Mon-Fri, between the hours of 6am and 8pm. Unfortunately, the guy's kind of a jerk, so I wasn't able to speak face to face with him today when I dropped it off, however I was sure to include in the requirements that he has until this Friday at noon before the "Informal Bid" is null and void. We'll see what happens.

[Steve]

I never hear a single good story about working with radio stations or any positive results from radio ads.

Do you find that the level of competition differs much from lawn care to animal control?

Also, have you thought about putting business cards at vet shops? Or contacting them to work with them? Would that work? I am thinking that people must have problems with animals in their area and call their local vet for advice. Maybe the vets could throw you business and maybe you could throw some back to them?