New in Texas

[Shark1611]

Love the lawn care business and I am always looking for new ways of doing things. I have been in lawn care for about 7 months now. Most of my life was spent on a golf course where my father was a golf pro. so I know a great deal about grass, and how to keep it up and looking nice. Never had to bid out a golf course so this is so different for me. In the 7 months I have picked up 14 yards and have to commercial jobs I am bidding on now that look very promising. On the other hand I have lost some jobs due to being so far out of line. I love to play golf when I have the time and camping is another thing that I like to do for fun. If I can play golf and camp then it's even better. Would like to know two things if anyone could share. 1.) Where can I find a form on ideas to set up to hand to my customer on added services. What we do is mow, trim, blow. We have set chages for those but wanted ideas on how anyone has there own hand out so to speak that is kind of like a McDonnalds menu. May sound stupid but I thought it would help my customers look at different packages that I could offer. 2.) Yard work is all over the board here in Texas. Some will do a yard for $20.00 and another guy will do the same size yard for $40.00. Is there any good ideas to stop this madness? Please forgive me if this post is not done the right way. Im 53 years old and not as sharp as I use to be.

[950thomas]

Lawn care business tips

Everybody figures yards different u have to price it at what u can make money at

[kdvandco]

are you at? just curios.

[Growing Green]

Originally Posted by Shark1611

Love the lawn care business and I am always looking for new ways of doing things. I have been in lawn care for about 7 months now. Most of my life was spent on a golf course where my father was a golf pro. so I know a great deal about grass, and how to keep it up and looking nice. Never had to bid out a golf course so this is so different for me. In the 7 months I have picked up 14 yards and have to commercial jobs I am bidding on now that look very promising. On the other hand I have lost some jobs due to being so far out of line.

I love to play golf when I have the time and camping is another thing that I like to do for fun. If I can play golf and camp then it's even better.

Would like to know two things if anyone could share.

1.) Where can I find a form on ideas to set up to hand to my customer on added services. What we do is mow, trim, blow. We have set chages for those but wanted ideas on how anyone has there own hand out so to speak that is kind of like a McDonnalds menu. May sound stupid but I thought it would help my customers look at different packages that I could offer.

2.) Yard work is all over the board here in Texas. Some will do a yard for $20.00 and another guy will do the same size yard for $40.00. Is there any good ideas to stop this madness?

Please forgive me if this post is not done the right way. Im 53 years old and not as sharp as I use to be.

Hi Shark,
You are not to far from me. Love Marble Falls.

Check out my website and click on the "packages" tab and that might give you an idea of different services to offer. I just used excel to create it.

As for the difference in prices...that stuff doesn't bother me one bit. I don't want customers that are just interested in the cheapest price. I do quality work and since I'm organic as well it seems to attract customers who want quality work and not just mow and go.

Matt

[Steve]

1.) Where can I find a form on ideas to set up to hand to my customer on added services. What we do is mow, trim, blow. We have set chages for those but wanted ideas on how anyone has there own hand out so to speak that is kind of like a McDonnalds menu. May sound stupid but I thought it would help my customers look at different packages that I could offer.

Something that many lawn care business owners will do is walk the property with the homeowner and point out issues that you could resolve for them. Or even ask them if they have issues with their property that they would like addressed.

Do you think doing something like that could help you find more upsells?

[Shark1611]

Yes I have done that before and it is most helpful. This form has been a great help.

[Shark1611]

Originally Posted by kdvandco

are you at? just curios.

Marble Falls

[Steve]

As you scale up your business more, whats next on your to do list?

[Shark1611]

I am working on programs for my customers to pick from this year. I have two that are contracts and the other 12 are pay by the month. I want to work on trying to get more income flow during the winter months this next year.

Also I am setting up a plan to check out the sprinkler systems this spring. I am in hopes of being able to share watering times, sprinkler repair, etc. with them.

Some of the property is second homes so I was able this winter to do some winter insulation with them. It went well for my first winter at this new business.

Working a full time job is so hard to build the business. I get up every morning at 5:30 and head out to work my full time job. I get home each night around 6:00 Then I have about 45 minutes to work on little projects for my customers. I have one day off and we are closed on Sundays so I work all day those days. My wife works with me when I am off on Saturdays so that helps me get a head start. I have a feeling that with the new apartment contract that my summer is going to be very full. Thanks for asking....

[Steve]

I have a feeling that with the new apartment contract that my summer is going to be very full.

A lot of newer business owners have troubles landing commercial accounts. Do you have any advice on how to do this? Did you find it easy or difficult to find the contact person at this apartment complex and ultimately land this property as a customer?