Home Forum Contract & Flyer Templates Blog Software Videos Podcast Calculators / Estimators Store Mower Review Design It Yourself Lawn Business School

Go Back   GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum > Business > Trials & Tribulations - The drama of running a business and of life.

Trials & Tribulations - The drama of running a business and of life. It's not as easy as it looks. Running a business is full of drama. Customers, employees, money, family, time. You name it, it's a problem. Share with us your drama and how you handled it.

I love my customers :)


Trials & Tribulations - The drama of running a business and of life.

It's not as easy as it looks. Running a business is full of drama. Customers, employees, money, family, time. You name it, it's a problem. Share with us your drama and how you handled it.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 07-29-2010, 06:08 PM
MAKLawnCutter MAKLawnCutter is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
MAKLawnCutter is on a distinguished road
Thumbs up I love my customers :)

So. We all have customers that we love, and we hate.

I have 48 contracted (weekly/bi-weekly) accounts that i take care of. I pump them out in 3 days usually, have done it in 2 but, couldnt move afterwards.

Anyways, TODAY!

I dropped the news on my mother, that she is going to be a "grand mother..."
You would assume she was EXTACTIC. Negative! I havent been with my GF for more than 8months, and she is close to 4 months pregnant. She said some VERY mean things, meaner than i expected in my "****tie responce" idea i had in my head. Like, SHE BLEW THE HELL UP! I was at my last lawn today (pumped out 17 today *thumbs up*). I was at my last lawn (18 if you arent keeping up). And my customer saw me on the phone, saw the hand run through the hair and pinch the upper nose. Came out with a pair of cold Zeph bottles of water and told me to sit down. Asked me what the problem was... (is a retired phsycologist) i cracked a joke and he said he wouldnt bill me. I vented and actually cried in front of a customer. Was one of the most difficult days cutting lawns i have had (mentally).
I had billing ready for him, and awesomely enough, he had a check ready for me (and the last three months ive let him slide). He even had a tip on it. He doesnt know it but, im making July fo' free after todays littling issue. He also told me to take the rest of the day off and relax. So, i did, ill cut his lawn on Saturday morning before my clean up job i have scheduled.

The thing i dont know about my Mother is, why she is like she is. She has never really had the ut-most-confidence in me. We had a really bad outting when i was 17 and my father passed away. So, maybe thats the issue, im relentless to forgive her for kicking me out at 17 and she is relentless to accept i make more money that her . LMAO.

ON THE UPPER HAND FOR TODAY! I showed up to a basic service call (BSC) and landed three new contracts . All three paid me up front for two months; 7 months in, i have gone from my original 4, to 48, that is like 12x what i started with. I have never pushed upsells on anyone, i let them come to me. I do the work and leave them be. :P

Enough rambling from me. My customers are awesome, bottles of H20 always make me more happy than a tip
Reply With Quote

Stop guess-timating. Learn how to estimate and make money! $$$
Mow Time Estimator Lawn Care Price Estimator Mulch and Topsoil Calculator Snow Plow Estimate Calculator


  #2  
Old 07-29-2010, 07:28 PM
Jack Rabbit Jack Rabbit is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 120
Rep Power: 4
Jack Rabbit is on a distinguished road
Default

Lawn care business tips
17 yards in a day? Awesome.

I've had customers give me Gatorade, stew, sandwiches, and an antique wooden ladder.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-29-2010, 07:37 PM
picframer's Avatar
picframer picframer is offline
Andy
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,885
Rep Power: 8
picframer will become famous soon enough
Default

Well for what it's worth Congradulations to you and your better half and I wish you the very best!
__________________
Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-29-2010, 08:11 PM
The Cleaning Doctor's Avatar
The Cleaning Doctor The Cleaning Doctor is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 928
Rep Power: 4
The Cleaning Doctor is on a distinguished road
Default

Congratulations. That little one will definitely bring a joy to your life that nothing else can.

As for your mom, mine left when I was 6 and I did not see her again until I was 18. She will eventually come around. Just give it some time. Keep your head up as you have something to be proud of. A new family and a successfully growing business.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-29-2010, 10:49 PM
DillonB92's Avatar
DillonB92 DillonB92 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 197
Rep Power: 3
DillonB92 is on a distinguished road
Default

hey man i am only 17 now. Lets just say my nephew had is first birthday party this past weekend. Man when my sister told my mom she was pregnant she blew up like the grand finale at disney world. She was Explicit and madder than heck. She slowly started being ok with it. When the baby was born it was like pissssssed offff................baby's birthday....... HAPPIER THAN EVER. It was a complete 180 degree switch. Now she spends every second she can with the baby. Shoot i'm lucky to even get too hold him for 5 min. Your mom will come around trust me. I work at baskin robbins part time and i have my regular customers that come in and talk to me as i am serving up their 5 quarts of ice cream. It takes about 10 min to pack a quart because you know they have to pick the hardest ice cream.But one woman had same thing happen to her. Then i met her mother. After a while she quit coming in and then came in last week. I asked how her daughter was and the baby and she like I wasn't excitied at all at first but now i can't freaking wait. Don't worry about your mom man. She'll come around. Its deff just because you make more than her. lol
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-30-2010, 09:07 AM
MAKLawnCutter MAKLawnCutter is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
MAKLawnCutter is on a distinguished road
Default THanks guys

Yeah, i am totally excited about becoming a dad. She has a 3yr old that calls me dad. And i love her daughter like no other. *coughwithallthegirlsivehadunprotectedwithyoudimag ineidhaveonebeforenowandthisgirlieveplayeditsafewi th*

And Dillion. Being 17, working two jobs... dont burn your self out bro.

i work two jobs, i cut lawns 3 - 4days a week
i manage a pizza shop 2 -3 days a week. Exhausting.

I have sundays off to keep my sanity which has seemed to fail lately, im still a nervous break. I hope FL sees a hurricane so i can sit in a hotel room with my two special ladies for a few days as it passes. Be a short vacation.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-30-2010, 02:18 PM
robgee05 robgee05 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: newfield nj
Posts: 95
Rep Power: 4
robgee05 is on a distinguished road
Default

@ 26 Mak you sure cant worry about what Mom thinks. My daughter attended my college graduation when I was 22. I have worked 2-3-4 jobs. It will all work out in the end, if you work at it. You seem to be doing well for yourself. My daughters 13 now her brother 10 and Ive been married 12 LOL. But my wife and I worked hard, have good jobs and a small business. And life is good. Im not gonna bad mouth my mother or mother in law. But the best advice I can give you is this. Turn off the negative and nay sayers and only take advice from those doing better than you. Good luck and congrats.

Rob
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-30-2010, 04:16 PM
Steve's Avatar
Steve Steve is online now
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: East Coast
Posts: 33,701
Rep Power: 10
Steve has disabled reputation
Default

Everyone has ideals for YOU. Mom, dad, sister, cousin, nephew, neighbor. When you don't walk the path they envisioned you walking, they get mad. What can you do though? Try to conform to anyone's ideal and you will make yourself unhappy doing it.

All you can ever do is follow your path and take your own journey in life. Some may approve and that is great. Some may not approve and that's ok too.

Congratulations on being a future dad and keep us posted on how it is all going. For every one person on here who talks about an issue, there are hundreds more who are dealing with it and afraid to bring it up.
__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-30-2010, 05:32 PM
DillonB92's Avatar
DillonB92 DillonB92 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 197
Rep Power: 3
DillonB92 is on a distinguished road
Default

haha heard that about the Hurricane. I think this past week was the first it has rained here since may. The grass was drying up and stoped growing.
Shoot man i know its hard! since this is my first year i can't even begin to think how much free time i am going to have once school starts back in two weeks. I mean really i got burnt out on baskin robbins a while back. It is just crazy. I guess there is only so much ice cream you can scoop and only so much of rude customers having a bad day you can take while Scooping their stuff too. When i turn 18 and finally get my truck paid off I am probably going to switch to bass pro or lowes. I would like to work just mowing yards but once winter hits i don't know what i would do. I am trying to move out when i graduate but thats going to take a lot of money.

Man hang in there! Good luck!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-31-2010, 02:42 AM
MAKLawnCutter MAKLawnCutter is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Central FL
Age: 28
Posts: 249
Rep Power: 4
MAKLawnCutter is on a distinguished road
Default

im stoked .

I saw a guy out today doing a commercial job with his little son, probably 6 or 7. i dont think ill be doing the same but, i can envision the "daddy, i wanna go to work with you"

And 17lawns in a day, alone is not fun ride. 7am to 8pm, with a 20min lunch, 3 gallons of water and SPF100. Makes the entire day awesome . When i started i could barely do 4 in 7 hours, now im pumping out a lot more. I love this industry.

matt
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Love the View picframer General Talk 5 05-25-2010 04:49 PM
Gotta love it justin_time General Talk 5 04-06-2010 04:54 AM
I love old ladies. CHEESE2009 General Talk 1 05-06-2009 06:07 AM
Doing what you love Steve General Business Discussions 0 11-26-2006 01:39 AM
I love yours site General Business Discussions 0 05-09-2006 08:55 PM

» Recent Threads
  RatingTitle, Username, & Date Last Post Replies Views
36" Bunton Walk Behind...
LawnCareProfessional
Yesterday 04:36 PM
Today 07:40 PM
by willshome
4 130
Need some advice!
berryjam
Today 07:37 PM
Today 07:37 PM
by berryjam
0 1
30 in toro time master...
LawnCareProfessional
Today 04:29 PM
Today 07:21 PM
by LawnCareProfessional
5 52
lol, 2012 video I never...
CHEESE2009
05-21-2013 02:23 PM
Today 07:07 PM
by Matther777
7 178
How to move a small tree...
huebneroutdoor
Yesterday 05:29 PM
Today 06:51 PM
by Matther777
4 28
Selling Truck, Aerator,...
ConvLawncare
Today 02:47 PM
Today 06:43 PM
by Matther777
1 34
Yeah, but where the...
Hedgemaster
04-16-2012 09:35 PM
Today 05:41 PM
by myblacktruck
26 3,782
Description and Benefits...
precisiongreens1
04-15-2013 05:07 PM
Today 05:36 PM
by precisiongreens1
5 920
Help with my Stihl Line...
cutnuplawnservice
05-20-2013 07:23 PM
Today 03:59 PM
by CHEESE2009
9 247
Starting out new
Marcus23
Today 09:25 AM
Today 01:33 PM
by Steve
1 65
New business owner
Hall36
Today 06:53 AM
Today 01:27 PM
by Steve
1 64
Ethanol free gas
jymie
Yesterday 11:17 PM
Today 01:09 PM
by Steve
1 71
Brush Mower
SECTLANDSCAPING
05-13-2013 06:04 PM
Today 01:02 PM
by Steve
12 649
Radio advertising
CDLAWNCARE
05-04-2013 06:26 PM
Today 12:48 PM
by Steve
8 772
Whats wrong with it
jasonw
03-02-2013 06:02 PM
Today 12:46 PM
by Steve
6 762
What Oil??
brian'slawncare
05-21-2013 10:11 PM
Today 12:41 PM
by Steve
4 143
Charlie's Lawn Service
charlie383
05-20-2013 12:28 PM
Today 11:16 AM
by charlie383
6 247
Paypal
JRB6250
Yesterday 08:21 PM
Today 08:51 AM
by googus
8 128
How would you handle...
LawnBoy0311
Yesterday 06:57 AM
Today 08:01 AM
by LawnBoy0311
9 224
In need of help bidding...
Landscape Lady
05-21-2013 03:09 PM
Today 06:56 AM
by charlie383
4 186
Shindaiwa T231 Trimmer!
LawnCareProfessional
Yesterday 04:31 PM
Yesterday 11:20 PM
by LawnCareProfessional
7 135
payment prossessing
kslawn
05-21-2013 04:18 PM
Yesterday 11:12 PM
by jymie
4 177
Uhm, yeahhh...
djm2013
03-26-2013 11:07 PM
Yesterday 04:33 PM
by brian'slawncare
17 1,252
So Fortunate
Fireman Gus
05-21-2013 01:56 PM
Yesterday 12:30 PM
by Steve
3 166
crossroads
djm2013
03-17-2013 08:43 AM
Yesterday 12:26 PM
by Steve
51 4,255
Very overwhelmed
xandrew245x
05-19-2013 09:31 AM
Yesterday 12:18 PM
by Steve
14 490
Teenager wanting to mow...
clutchcarrot
05-20-2013 09:17 PM
Yesterday 12:12 PM
by Steve
5 283
ethics
t-10yrs2retire
05-19-2013 01:47 PM
Yesterday 12:06 PM
by Steve
9 337
At Last!
Matther777
05-02-2013 05:51 PM
Yesterday 12:02 PM
by Steve
19 1,365
The customer is ALWAYS...
cutnuplawnservice
05-18-2013 08:28 AM
05-21-2013 05:57 AM
by stevef1201
5 374
It's FRIDAY!!!
CHEESE2009
05-17-2013 05:18 AM
05-20-2013 11:53 PM
by Hedgemaster
4 381
Bad boy MX series or...
cpenn481
10-15-2012 02:04 PM
05-20-2013 07:40 PM
by jrayb39667
21 2,392
Moss in grass in the...
tk4454
05-16-2013 11:19 PM
05-20-2013 05:44 PM
by precisiongreens1
3 335
Video, includes a little...
CHEESE2009
05-19-2013 11:21 PM
05-20-2013 04:55 PM
by Martywdx
3 241
no-compete agreement
CDLAWNCARE
05-18-2013 12:45 AM
05-20-2013 01:38 PM
by Steve
6 345
Hello to all!
frankygarza
05-19-2013 08:59 AM
05-20-2013 01:32 PM
by Steve
1 219
trailer leaf vac.
t-10yrs2retire
05-17-2013 10:44 AM
05-20-2013 11:57 AM
by Steve
3 344
Bi-weekly question
schnide
05-15-2013 10:58 AM
05-20-2013 06:30 AM
by Billy Goat
19 783
New to Gopher
NOLS GA
04-28-2013 10:42 PM
05-19-2013 09:05 PM
by NOLS GA
7 1,051
Truck trimmer racks
SECTLANDSCAPING
06-16-2012 05:56 PM
05-19-2013 04:40 PM
by Hedgemaster
21 3,330
Trimmer Line
Shark1611
05-16-2013 07:56 PM
05-19-2013 09:04 AM
by stevef1201
9 467
New Toro Super Recycler...
Hedgemaster
03-20-2011 12:55 AM
05-18-2013 11:20 PM
by Grass Doctor
134 25,934
Yesterday, I had a...
LawnBoy0311
04-25-2013 05:30 AM
05-18-2013 08:45 PM
by SECTLANDSCAPING
10 1,001
When to mow, collect,...
cuttingedgeron
04-05-2013 01:06 PM
05-18-2013 08:33 PM
by Hedgemaster
8 823
Missing small amount of...
xandrew245x
05-13-2013 04:30 PM
05-18-2013 07:57 PM
by MBLC
17 776
New Beginner here...
LawnCareProfessional
05-14-2013 12:05 AM
05-17-2013 12:00 PM
by Steve
8 707
Flower bed cultivation...
Emar
05-15-2013 04:41 PM
05-17-2013 11:42 AM
by Steve
5 431
Code violations
Greg'slawnandlandscape
05-16-2013 12:11 PM
05-17-2013 11:39 AM
by Steve
8 478
problem #2..springs in...
t-10yrs2retire
05-11-2013 09:03 AM
05-17-2013 11:34 AM
by Steve
8 753
Installing grass seed
thom
05-05-2013 06:35 PM
05-17-2013 11:29 AM
by Steve
7 900
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.1.0

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 PM.


(C) 2011 Riggs Publications - Terms of use & Privacy Policy

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 PM.

(C) 2011 Riggs Publications - Terms of use & Privacy Policy