Fertilization

[Grasskickin]

How much of a profit is there in going all out and getting my fertilization license with my lawn care bussines? thanks Grass Kickin'

[mark123]

Lawn care business tips

Probably 10 or maybe 16.

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Boughter's Lawn Care Services Mowing and Fertilizing in New Castle, PA

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

15% for granular and closer to 20-25% for liquid depends on area probably

[Steve]

How do you feel the % profit on fert applications compares/contrasts with mowing or other services?

[mark123]

Originally Posted by Steve

How do you feel the % profit on fert applications compares/contrasts with mowing or other services?

The most you can do mowing is around $300/day per person and that's a rough day. You can do a $1000 day working from 7am to 1pm taking it easy.
Rough estimates with everything else (insurance, truck fuel) being equal:
Mowing $300 - $30 mower gas - $10 maintenance = $260
Fertilizing $1000 - $280 fertilizer - $20 weed control = $700 (priced for granular fertilizer)

Of course unless you have 600 customers you're not going to get full days of fertilizing every day.

[MountainViewGreenskeeper]

Originally Posted by mark123

Of course unless you have 600 customers you're not going to get full days of fertilizing every day.

Wouldnt that be nice...

[mark123]

Originally Posted by MountainViewGreenskeeper

Wouldnt that be nice...

I used to work for a local guy that has about 800 customers. Nearly every week offered overtime. Some day I'd like to get to around 300 customers and I'll probably be happy.

[Steve]

What is your view on how they got so many customers?

How many times a season can you apply a fertilization product per customer? Are there any upsells you suggest going with to extend the amount of times you can visit a fertilization customer?

[mark123]

Originally Posted by Steve

What is your view on how they got so many customers?

I think he stole some lawns from his previous employer and beyond that slow and deliberate customer base building. He started off mowing solo, got a few guys, moved to landscaping while scaling back on the mowing and then phased out the landscaping when the fertilizing customer base grew big enough. I worked for him for 9 years through all of those steps.

Originally Posted by Steve

How many times a season can you apply a fertilization product per customer?

Anywhere from 1 to 5 with 4 being the normal package. Spring, early summer, late summer and autumn. The fifth is a winterizer.

Originally Posted by Steve

Are there any upsells you suggest going with to extend the amount of times you can visit a fertilization customer?

Upsells: insect preventative/curative, core aeration, overseeding, soil analysis. If you're using synthetic fertilizer you will be messing up the pH of the soil so you'll be able to sell lime.

[jymie]

How did you get involved in being able to do fertilization? I guess I am asking about lisesing etc, is it needed?