Ahhh the best feeling

[CHEESE2009]

Creating flyers & preparing them, the most stressful part of the business. Handing out the flyers, the second most stressful part of business. Waiting for calls, panic attack! Getting flooded with phone calls the next day, ... the best part of business. New customer, "I don't like the other companies, they don't have a good attitude when they talk to me, it's really annoying" It's so true. I have called every company around before, & they all answer the phones like A'holes. ANYWAY I'm in a great mood. Though I didn't go to sleep last night, stayed up organizing, my bad I have a ton of customers RIGHT beside my home. It's PERFECT! This year is going to be amazing. I just thought I'd make yet another post, lol. The majority of my customers take less than 5 minutes to get to, whichever day(s) I do their lawns, I don't even need to bring the truck! Now I'm at the point where I have to jot down my customers & create routes, booyah! I'm going to listen to some classical music & pretend I'm a millionaire for a few minutes... Then I gotta go check out some guys lawn, apparently he had a tree removed & his lawn may need to be redone... Something I really don't wanna do... I'll take pics. I'm sure he just needs fert/overseed after a bit of dethatching. Got him on a garden schedule too! I'm all smiles right now.

[jessechaveriat]

Lawn care business tips

Thats awesome man, good job. i love close to home jobs. Ive got to see one of these magical flyers of yours, and find out what your secret is!

[CHEESE2009]

I FORGOT TO MENTION

The absolute WORST part of business, is being replaced!

A lady is leaving me, because she'd rather a company that does her snow removal & grass.

This irritates the crap out of me.

I now have a gap in the middle of my route because of her, & I'll probably lose her neighbor as a potential customer...

I'm furious!

I just got off the phone with a few last years clients. Most of them are on board.

A few of them asked me to call them later. B.S.

It's like they aren't ready to hire, & I've got damn routes to make!

It's ok though, this customer I lost was good money, but she was a rat.

I just hate not being able to make my routes. I don't want to do it last minute.

Many people are waiting for me to tell them which day of the week I will be visiting them for the first cut, but I can't figure that out yet until I have the "ok" from the rest of these clowns...

******

As for the guy I just saw about his lawn..

Must of had a grub problem, & a major weed problem.

I told him I could dethatch it & fert/overseed, but he wants to lay down some sod.

I'm not touching this, so I told him I know someone who can do it, my cousin's company.

It's like, I have time, but I really don't. Frustrating.

I love this.... hahahahaha!!!

No stress, no stress, no stress

[Steve]

Scott,

I have called every company around before, & they all answer the phones like A'holes.

What's your view on this and how this effects a business? What should a newer business owner be aware of when answering their phone? How should they ideally be doing it?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

Scott,



What's your view on this and how this effects a business? What should a newer business owner be aware of when answering their phone? How should they ideally be doing it?

You really have to look for an opportunity to bond, or show "affection".

I always start the conversation with,"How are you doing today?" and they respond with the same question & I say, "Well I'm on my third coffee, so I'm feeling like a champion"

Anything to lighten the mood & show that you are human. You really have to get your potential customer to like you before you discuss "business"

I have had big conversations with potential customers before we even discussed my services.

One customer will respond, "Well I'm not to bad, just got back from my vacation."

I'll spend a bit of time going over how his/her vacation went, & I'll come up with, "Do you regret coming back? Hahaha!"

Whatever the customer gives me, I work with it.

I mentioned that I picked up 3 new clients today. I stopped by the lady because i saw her raking.

Scott: "You look like your having fun doing that!"

Customer: "Haha, well someones gotta do it!"

Scott: "I hear ya, we have the nice weather coming in now, it's the perfect time to get out & rake the lawn."

Customer: Do you do lawn service.

Scott: As a matter of fact, I do! Are you currently with a company?

Customer: I hired XXX last year, but they didn't trim well.

Scott: Well you have to excuse me, I've been quite busy the past few days & haven't had the time to shave! Just kidding, yes trimming is something you really have to be careful with, the skill comes with practice.

Customer: It's not only that, we had a major grub problem last year too.

Scott: Ah, don't worry the grubs will be back this year too. You should see the guy's lawn further up the street, what a nightmare that is.

Anyway, this isn't the first time I have seen your place. I always wondered what the backyard looked like, you have a few gardens going on, do you plant anything interesting?

Customer: I plant the usual stuff, I bring my flowers from inside outside when the weather is right.

Scott: Fantastic. Your garden would look great with a brick border, the only problem with that is the cost, but you also don't wanna use that rubber lining that stuff is awful & looks silly.

Customer: Yeah I agree bricks would look really nice. So is it just you running the show or what?

Scott: Well you know how it is, I don't really enjoy relying on someone else to do a good job, the repair bills can really rack up if they were to damage the equipment.

Customer: You just don't want to hire someone who will start their own business & compete with you!

Scott: You've got me figured out! Hahaha! That's just it, you hire someone & you can't really praise them, or else they might start getting ideas.

Customer: I had a business in catering & I ran a cafeteria, it was big money.

Scott: I could imagine! That was something I really wanted to get into, though I soon figured out that I only like to cook for myself!

Anyway.... awhile later bla bla... Got the job.

lmao

Other companies act as if they are machines themselves, it's stupid.

[Steve]

Other companies act as if they are machines themselves, it's stupid.

I agree. It's almost as if they are trying so desperately hard to look bigger by acting non-personal. As if that is the ideal way to go.

Just because you have dealt with a few larger companies that answer the phone rudely or impersonal doesn't mean you should to emulate them.

Focusing on being personable is a great way to make the sale!

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

I agree. It's almost as if they are trying so desperately hard to look bigger by acting non-personal. As if that is the ideal way to go.

Just because you have dealt with a few larger companies that answer the phone rudely or impersonal doesn't mean you should to emulate them.

Focusing on being personable is a great way to make the sale!

A lady can fire the guy who comes & cuts her grass, then bills her.

But she might not fire the same guy if he rings her doorbell every few visits just to see how she's doing, & asks what's new & exciting in her life.

[CHEESE2009]

What a fantastic day.

It's 2:00pm & without moving a finger I have received 5 new clients.

3 are another customers neighbors
1 is a family friend

AND, I left my business cards at my dry cleaners, now the owner & his family want my service.

Now if I could get my mother to stop calling me, (or not) hahaha!
"MOM, maybe you should keep calling me, because every time you do I get another customer on the other line" Hahaha!!!

This is encouraging me to get my face painted during the first week of service.

The crew & myself are going to have blue circles with a white 'B' painted on our cheeks.



I'll let you know how it goes!

[Steve]

3 are another customers neighbors
1 is a family friend

AND, I left my business cards at my dry cleaners, now the owner & his family want my service.

How do you market to your customer's neighbors?

And a family friend? Isn't it amazing how you can spend all this time handing out flyers all over the place and the new customers come from people you already know or customer referrals!!

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

How do you market to your customer's neighbors?

And a family friend? Isn't it amazing how you can spend all this time handing out flyers all over the place and the new customers come from people you already know or customer referrals!!

I didn't have to do anything! Haha!

These sweet older ladies just love to call up their friends & tell them about me.

Yeah family friends are pretty great to have around, Give or take.

I'm sure I'll be expected to lower a price here & there, but soon they'll realize I'm not that type of guy. We'll see what happens.

I know this person wants me to trim a small bush for free every now and then. Might take me 5 minutes a month.. Not gonna charge her for that.