cant get ahead this year

[CHEESE2009]

so today i had 22 customers to do, it rained all week... i didnt get far considering i have moreee customers tomorrow... 15 lawns to do tomorrow in 7 hours.... i HATE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i had a rough day, toppled over a customers stone 'statue'... got maybe 20 percent of my invoices out, payment due date tomorrow ... had a bottle of wine with a customer & stayed for dinner and a movie lol... 4 new customers.... THE HEAT IS AWFUL .. i feel like fainting every day now this sucks.. i need some backup man!!! nothing but tards to hire... lolllllll

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Well it seems you are doing alright with your public relations! Good job! I bet there are more customers on the way!

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[CheapNEasy]

I donno man, but from my recollection of previous posts from you, I just have a couple things to say and questions to ask.

First off how much are you charging these customers? Are you low balling to pick them up... If not the you should be making fair money to pay someone to help you. Pay some one competent enough to understand that they cannot slack off on the job, they have to do good work.... If you pay them well enough, this should not be an issue. Lets say your average yard is $40, takes half an hour with 2 people.... Pay him $10 of the$40, or $10 per $30. So you pay them $10, and you make $20.

Secondly, INVOICES are you top priority! (Along with completing the work, these two go hand and hand) Get your invoices out, and on time! Take the time to do this, skip dinner with the customer, do the job, this is a business... Not a dating show. Priorities have to be in line if you want to succeed.

Thirdly, if you cannot keep up with the current customers you have, STOP ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS! If you continue to take on new clients when you cannot handle the load you already have.... Well, no one will be happy, your work load is increased, you get further and further behind, customers are unhappy, you lose customers you already had, you cannot get too the new customers, they go with someone else.... etc, etc, etc....

Basic overview:

CHARGE a fair amount to be profitable.

PAY someone a fair wage to help you (NO KIDS! Im serious on this one, it just doesn't work, an 11 year old isnt going to have the mentality, strength or stamina to really get the job done.... And frankly, having an 11 year old "working for you" does not look good as a COMPANY)

INVOICE: Send them out ON TIME, EVERY TIME. (Need I go into this again) (Hell you could be preparing your invoices for this or next week RIGHT NOW)

CLIENTS: If you can not handle your current load with time to spare.... DONT ACCEPT NEW CLIENTS.

As far as dealing with the heat.... well its that time of year, bring plenty of cold water and ice. Carry a small hand/dish towel with you, if you get too hot, soak it in the ice water, lightly ring it out, throw over your neck and shoulders.

Well, thats pretty much all the advice I can give you.... Take it or leave it.

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

lol.......

[CHEESE2009]

its not the money that is an issue - its the people out there who say "i can cut grass, hire me" who end up being completely useless. The kid only lasted 2 days until this other person was available.. lasted a day...

so again, money is fine but there is just no one decent enough to keep around.

as for invoices / reminders, customers know they are expected to pay regardless if they receive one or not. The payment due date is the same every month. Many companies send an invoice in order to get paid - i do it only when i can as an act of courtesy, my customers know this. If they fall behind on a payment it is their mistake.

i reserve my time, the rest is up to them. Just like calling a hotel.. pay right away in advance and you'll get a room. Dont show up last minute because ill offer you the closet or nothin at all.

[picframer]

I believe there is a good pool of people looking to work in every town, city etc. you have to find them. You have a large military base there like I do, have you posted job openings there? I did and have three retired military people all under the age of 35. You have school bus drivers like I do, have you gone to a school when they are dropping kids off and handed them a one page writing offering employment? I did and I have four. The rest of my staff is from Universities or friends of employees, once you have a core of good employees and trained, things just roll along. Like anything it's where we look that determines the outcome.

A last case resort would be to take out someone offering this service, I have a fellow at the moment who wants me to buy him out then he will sign a three year employment contract, it's interesting as he has a nice truck and enclosed trailer, his equipment is not commercial grade, has about 60 accounts and one helper, he only does lawn care.