Lessons from Metallica

[mark123]

Yes, I also try to get 1.5 for 14 day cuts. I'm just not at the point yet where I can actively turn away work. I look forward to your PM.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Mark, Keep us posted on how all this helps you. I am sure there are many others reading this that are finding themselves in distress and are looking to see others can pull through.

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[jerreber]

Originally Posted by Steve

I am amazed that you got this going as fast as you did like this! It seems on average the first year is going to beat you bloody and really test your resolve. So the fact you got it to be sustained is an amazing accomplishment!

Last year or the year before, one of our members, Chuck ( I sent him a message to see if he could jump in here too), was in a similar spot. He made the jump to going full time in his own business and when winter rolled around, he had to pick up a (part time job) I think it was at a local lube shop. But he got through and the next year he was able to build upon his momentum from the previous year.

One of the things he later instituted was annual lawn care contracts that paid him all year long. This way, he was getting money coming in during the winter months. That is something that might be helpful for next year.

Have you thought of services you could offer for the Fall and Winter? Have you talked to your customers and asked them what else they might need around the house?

What are your thoughts on this?

I try to get all of my contracts on monthly versus per cut. Our season is based on 26 cuts per year - 30 if irrigated. For business contracts, I roll the snow plowing and salting into a 12 month payment program. Over the last ten years we have averaged 12 plows and 32 saltings per year so I base it off this. It can be a gamble though if you get a bad winter so it helps if you can offer a 3 year contract with a discount so your average is better but you can come out ahead if you do not get much snow. Just make sure you nail down your salt vendors pricing well in advance. I also roll the pruning, spring/fall cleanups, fertlizing and parking lot sweeping into this 12 month equal payment plan. I sell it on the benefit that they can budget better because they always have the same payment per month instead of paying more during certain months when they have more services. businesses like it for accounting reasons and it makes the winters less scary for them. For me it helps because I have constant cash flow and get paid a little ahead of time for one time services. it also helps during dry months or in case we have a bad drought and it doesnt need mowing,,,you still get paid!