I am not tring to lowball, I have little overhead

[Leon]

I started when I was about 14-15 cutting around the way. I stopped, got a "real" job/jobs. I came back into it afew years later, stoped got a "real" job LOL. Then I got hired a A well known univ in DC as a landscape gardener spent some years there left when to a different line of work. I keep finding myself comming back the green indy. So to awnser you question about 19years off and on in the green indy. In business this will be my 1st full season. I started last june and have about 45 clients/friends.

[picframer]

Lawn care business tips

Nice cards and should get the attention of the home owner, my only feedback is I don't know how on earth you can do a lawn for $12.50 and make money at it. I understand they are small and perhaps you will get a pile of them in a row however it would seem based on your numbers you will have to hire someone to help you, my experience is hired help doesn't always do things as fast as you may. Anyhow I assume you know your costs, just seems desperate low to me.

__________________
Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Steve]

Then I got hired a A well known univ in DC as a landscape gardener spent some years there left when to a different line of work.

What kinds of marketing did you find this company did when you worked with them? Were you able to pick up any business lessons from them along the way?

Originally Posted by Leon

I started last june and have about 45 clients/friends.

What kind of marketing did you do to grow so fast? 45 new customer since June, makes me think you could definitely go up on your price. If you win every bid you might be pricing too cheap. I would bump it to at least $15

[cklandscapingorlando]

I like the lawn bucks idea. But you could do the same thing with a referal offer on every invoice and save some money. Plus they will get it every month. If you not bidding on the whole place at once then 12.50 is not enough. I would'nt drop my gate for less than 20. Looks good though

Originally Posted by cklandscapingorlando

I would'nt drop my gate for less than 20.

+1

my minimum is $25 on a single cut, I will do $20 if I have some extra time or it is for and existing customer with an extra property. I try to steer clear of per cuts, I like monthly contracts that way I know what I'm going to be making.

That being said if you can talk to the HOA and get them all at once that would be ideal.

I really enjoyed looking at those cards. Seems to me you really took the time to think this thru? I like the 20 bucks, I really like that because if you do plan on upselling those would come in very handy for you. How many do you plan on putting out?

[Leon]

Marketing, I just make eye catching flyers, postcards. I get a lot of word of mouth also. I work for a big cable company now so I see a lot of home and talk to people every. I install cable so when I get a job most of the people are just moving in so they have no one doing their lawn. i keep alot of postcards in my cable truck. I even have roadside sign so when I go to a area that looks promising I put the signs up. My goal is to get a HOA contract, what better way to get one if you have 20-30 home owners looking out for you.
I hand the lawn buck out personally, I rather do that because, if I send you something in the mail with a bill chances are you will by past the refferal card/note. Now if I hand it to you, you will read it and most likely fill it out right there and hand it back to me. I plan to put about 200 or so.

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