new to all this

[Tony Barnes]

Upon inheriting these customers I used basic customer relations to stay on their minds and fresh during the off season. This method was thank you letters upon completion of last season, Christmas cards and welcome packets of what can be expected of customers returning this year. My belief is that based on my seasonal contracts which base payments on start of season in march until final payments in Feb I can remain fresh on their minds for the start of the prior season, set to begin only a month after their contract completion. Just makes sense to keep me around then in prospective jan. and feb. when usually looking for a contractor I'm already in front of them. My basis of a seasonal bid: First say it's a $70 cut that cut becomes $65 with signature of a yearly contract based on 35 cuts. $65 a cut multiplied by 35 cuts becomes $2275 divide the total equally by 12 months for $189.58 a month payments beginning on first cut month!

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

My belief is that based on my seasonal contracts which base payments on start of season in march until final payments in Feb This is really interesting. I think most contracts I have seen go from beginning of Jan to end of December, why did you choose a March through Feb time line?

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[Tony Barnes]

I went with what I believe worked best for me and my customer. I asked myself If I was looking for lawncare service and a gentleman presented himself to me, stated his service would bill on a yearly contract starting payment in jan though most of his work would not begin until mid to late march. Would I bite?? Couple things 1) Is this desperation he's requesting money prior service 2) Is this guy going to be around in march to even start service "lets admit recession $200 a month could be used elsewhere" 3) What happens come march when I'm completely not happy with the quality though I'm already possibly $600 + invested! Plus lets admit human nature we usually go for what fresh on our mind so when looking for service are my customers going for the guy who dropped a flyer in jan and early feb, or the guy they just wrote a check to two weeks prior and are reminded of every time they open their check book or receive a bank statement. Just works well for me at this point to be fresh on the mind, Yet possibly might not for others you just need to sell it. I mean come on really we are laboring salesmen without it where would the biz come from without selling it.

[Steve]

I also appreciate the fact that i have managed to talk 19 out of 24 of the remaining customers into a 12 month payment structure for 35 weeks worth of cutting to insure my lively hood in the winter next year.

I got a little confused trying to follow all this. Did the above only apply to the customers you inherited or do you apply this to all your customers, new and old?

[Tony Barnes]

This definitely applies to my current inherited customers but is a open and discussed topic with all customers, and really pushed to sell on all new customers but it still becomes their option. I would ideally love to have all my customers on what I refer to them as a even billing program. I offer and place in visual knowledge for customers a 5 dollar a cut discount on yearly even billing program which over 35 cuts is $175. I believe the saving plus the option for even billing is what sells this.

Visual 35 cut for $70 = $2450 to be paid over approx 8 months is $306.25 a month

on even billing

Automatically is $175 off leaving $2275 divided by 12 months = $189.58 a month plus insure my survival in the winter!

I find it alot easier to sell $189 a month vs $306 anyday especially these days.

[Steve]

Do you think it would be possible to not give the discount and call it the 'Budget Billing Option.'

Where the fee is broken down over 12 months instead of 8 months. It would still be cheaper 'per bill' for the client and in the end you would get the same amount of money.

What's your view on that?