Claming Territory Help

[CHEESE2009]

A company owner & myself would like to avoid conflict of interest with our lawn service businesses. We are going to tell each other to stay out of certain locations, though is this a bad idea if I don't feel the slightest bit threatened & he is? Like what if I don't sign this agreement, I might actually gain a few customers vs not having the chance to even try. Is it good to make this agreement for the futures of my company? Is this a strategy of his to wipe me out & keep me isolated until he's ready?

[The Cleaning Doctor]

Lawn care business tips

Clarify a little more. Do you work for this individual now?

__________________
Pat

Deck Staining Tips
Search Engine Tweaks
Organic Lawn Tips

[Steve]

And also, you included a picture that is no longer showing?

[fieroboi]

Who came up with the idea of marking out territories?

Personally, I don't think this is a good idea for either of you. This puts a customer in an awkward position. For example, say I live in the other companies territory and want you to look after my property, only to be told that you will not do it as I live in his territory. Guess what I would be telling my neighbors after I hired another company????

Lloyd
Blue's YardFX
Camrose, AB

[CHEESE2009]

Yeah I think it's stupid too.

I'd probably give up a customer to this company if the customer is really out of my way. Even then I'd probably take him/her & try to build on the area.

I really wanted to pass this red line, it was where I wanted to start my business.

I'm worried that this guy will be hard to compete with if he gets in my area. He's the type of guy to lowball, & get away with horrible work.

Half of his business is where Justin lives, Ontario I believe.


Anyway, I don't think I'll be signing anything. I have nothing to lose, and if he tries to take my customers... I'll give them a day before I'm re-hired.

I really think I should cross the bridge though, nothing but mansions there & I've only seen 3-4 other companies around there. The top corner where the yellow triangle sorta thing is, this is a beautiful area with nice homes. I only saw ONE company in there. I think I'll focus there the most in spring.

The "C" on my map stand for competition, & these areas have 5+ companies around. I've seen 7 companies off the same street in the SECOND C area.

It's tough, but I have streets with "GTFO" written all over them.




I will be driving a tractor for his company this winter.

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by BREEZE2009

I'm worried that this guy will be hard to compete with if he gets in my area. He's the type of guy to lowball, & get away with horrible work.

Half of his business is where Justin lives, Ontario I believe.

He has half of his business in Ontario ? What's the name of this guy/company.

Maybe i know him

[Steve]

I think it is a bad idea to sign any agreement like that. Work with him doing snow plowing if you must but I would rather see you do work for your business.

But that is just my view.

Let me know what you decide.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by justin_time

He has half of his business in Ontario ? What's the name of this guy/company.

Maybe i know him

Well I can't tell you that

But apparently he's got 200 or so tractors down there for snow removal.

Psycho. Lol.

If my posts about other companies were all deleted LOL, then I'd tell you his company.

I'm always worried a local company will pop up on this site hahaha!

Especially because all of us here want to see each other fail.

I think my biggest advantage has to be my street. I have 7 houses in a row worth about $3150.00, it's pretty satisfying to look out my window & notice that.

And if I add the fact they all hire me for gutters once a season, it totals up to $3395.00/5 1/2 months for just 7 customers side by side.

That's one area alone, I can't wait to build up off my street!!!

Imagine just having to go down the street and a few streets off of it just to make a living? Damn I want spring bad!

[CHEESE2009]

I'm going to tell him there is no agreement & may the best service win. Jks.

I'll tell him I'm not interested, the least I can do is leave his current customers alone & not attempt to steal any of his. Or ruin his efforts in an area he's trying to build up, Vice-Versa.

I also think (Steve)

That I will start my own snow removal next winter.

I'll have to make a serious letter to all my neighbors & kinda sell myself & my word.

"I live so damn close, I'll have no choice but to do good service" lol

If I get 30 customers on my street, that's about $6000.00

I might be able to manage that?

Like I'd have different ideas than other companies & will probably have to shovel each driveway 3 times a snowfall, in order to not let it build up & become impossible to do. I want NO stress, lol.

Lowballing companies charge $175, I'd charge $200.00 for FULL service.

Maybe put down salt if I feel that it's necessary & the customer is alright with it. That's $75.00 worth of salt. Not bad.

I will probably to their walkways for free too, it'll only add a little time to my schedule anyway, but it's FULL good old fashioned service.

Would you hire a company with no tractors?

Evolution of snow removal haha
Shovels
Snowblowers
Trucks with snow plows
Tractors with snow blowers

I'll be the first 2.

[Steve]

Would you hire a company with no tractors?

I think plenty of people would hire you without a tractor. They like you and you are local.

People like to see that they can help others get their business started, especially when the person shows they have a lot of energy and aren't afraid to work.

You can make it happen.