Going full time

[Steve]

That's awesome! Can you show us some pictures of the job?

Did you feel you learned anything from that job? Would you have done anything differently if you could redo it?

Also, what kinds of further marketing do you do with this customer? Do you ask for referrals? Do you give extra business to him for him to hand out or anything else?

[Growing Green]

Originally Posted by MAKLawnCutter

SO, i woke up today to a call from a guy i gave a card to while i was out and about doing stuff for Artie... I gave him a card and he had mentioned he needed work of a "clean-out" in the near future. I gave him my card and he called today at about 830am "Hey Matt, you gave me your card a few weeks ago, can you give me a price on that clean out?"
I went to his job and got a few bits of information on what he wanted done -
Clean out both beds near door front - Broke down into he wants to put in rock and marble... Which would in tale me creating beds from nothing.
I went and took pictures today of the property, did measurements. 102sq.ft on one bed and 112sq.ft. on the other, i needed to dig out atleast 3inches of top soil so it was a flat flush look to his lot (its FLAT), if the house sat up more, i would allow the bed to rise more, but, ITS FLAT!
I came home and got a bid together for 290$ for the beds and all of the trimming needed. I also put an "optional" section for an additional pair of King Palms they had in the landscape that would look really nice with a figure-8 footer. Put it on the bid for 100$...

I took 15% off of the 290$ since the beds were pre-existing and he is a new customer. Came out to 246.50$. I gave him the bid and he said he wanted the Palms done also. Ending price is 346.5$ out the door, i started it late this afternoon before the sun started to drop and the temp followed, i got two hours in and most of the trimming completed. The beds will turn out to be about 10hours total labor and i didnt use any fuel for this job so, it was ALL LABOR intensive. By the end of it, Hourly rate comes out at 346.5 / 11hrs = 31.5$ per hour... I CAN HANDLE THAT!

I also replaced my MIA wheel barrel today, same one at walmart was 30$... DOPE!

Matt


PIcture of my Awesome Tree with a STIHL ORNAMENT!
My awesomely new and cheaper wheel barrel!

Matt,
What do you do with all the extra dirt in the beds? If you do a big job and need to remove about 3 - 5 inches of old mulch and dirt to put in new dirt and new mulch what do you do with all the extra dirt/mulch?
Thanks,
Matt

P.S.
There are a lot of "Matt's" on this forum.

[MAKLawnCutter]

Well, with this job, i am keeping it and using it for a commercial property i have. I have a few (large) holes i need to fill to make sure im not cracking the frame on my mower this spring.
I usually hold onto it either way. I have had a lot of jobs where i end up removing 100+ cu.ft. of top soil, store it somewhere out of the way on a tarp.

ALWAYS LOAD YOU DEBRIS, onto a tarp, doesnt matter what it is, hedge trimming, tree trimming, palm trimming, dirt, mulch. You dont know what is in it and you dont want it killing something you dont want dead. You also dont want it relocating its self... plants have a tenancy to do that!

Matt

P.S. I emailed you, i re did you logo...

[Growing Green]

Originally Posted by MAKLawnCutter

Well, with this job, i am keeping it and using it for a commercial property i have. I have a few (large) holes i need to fill to make sure im not cracking the frame on my mower this spring.
I usually hold onto it either way. I have had a lot of jobs where i end up removing 100+ cu.ft. of top soil, store it somewhere out of the way on a tarp.

ALWAYS LOAD YOU DEBRIS, onto a tarp, doesnt matter what it is, hedge trimming, tree trimming, palm trimming, dirt, mulch. You dont know what is in it and you dont want it killing something you dont want dead. You also dont want it relocating its self... plants have a tenancy to do that!

Matt

P.S. I emailed you, i re did you logo...

Ok thanks for the info. I'm wondering what the heck I'm going to do with old mulch and dirt if I come in and redo their plant beds with organic compost and mulch. I don't have any place to store it. I guess I could take it to land fill and dump it. I'll research more.

I responded to the email earlier. I really appreciate you taking the time to help.

Matt