Two for Two - Woo-Hoo! First Scheduled Mowing Clients

[Grass Doctor]

Originally Posted by LawnBoy0311

I got a real nice bonus today.

"Thanks, but your service is no longer needed..."

When I asked why, I got this...

"Because I can see dirt when you edge the sidewalk"


WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!

Long time problems with her, and CHEAP. No loss for me. I consider it a bonus because I don't have to deal with her anymore. The only reason I didn't dump her before was because I needed the $$.

that was ur late trick or treat candy bag

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by Grass Doctor

that was ur late trick or treat candy bag

HAHAHAHAHAHHA we both got pretty cool trick or treat gifts this year!! Good thing I don't mow around christmas....hopefully you don't either! By the way things have been going, "Santa" would set our trailers on fire!

[Hedgemaster]

This is funny going back and reading these posts.
I really should keep this thread updated more regularly.


I've lost a few accounts this season.
Most were because the kids are old enough to mow the lawn now, or they moved.
One was because I don't offer chemical application. No big deal - I understand the desire to have someone who does it all.

Another was for what I assume is similar reasons. I was mowing a lawn at a fairly nice home with an in-ground pool and quite a bit of beds that needed maintained. They had been neglected, and I honestly didn't have the time, or desire to tackle the project on my own, so they hired a landscaper to do some extensive work on the property. (this was last season)
I contacted them this spring and learned that they were going to use that landscaper now. "He gave us a price to maintain the property that had mowing included."

While it sucked to lose a good client (always paid on time and for a month or two at a time), I can understand that they may want to simply write one check and be done with it. I also suspect that it had something to do with hiring a minority owned business. Whatever the reason, it's their money and they can spend it where they choose.

I did inquire if there was anything I had done, or did not offer, or if it was a matter of price that caused them to go with someone else.
"Oh, no! YOU were great!" she said. They just had the offer from the landscaper and it was how they wanted to do it.

One of the drawbacks of being solo is the limits on time and physical ability to tackle some projects. You win some, you lose some. Fortunately, I've won some more recently. I'll pop back in to post about those later.

[Steve]

One of the drawbacks of being solo is the limits on time and physical ability to tackle some projects. You win some, you lose some.

Do you think this will at all effect the way you handle growth in the future? Or effect your business plan?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Steve

Do you think this will at all effect the way you handle growth in the future? Or effect your business plan?

I think at the end of this season I will be faced with a decision to either hire help (which I don't see happening due to costs/regulations), or rethink my strategy.

I had planned on "growing" - getting a ZTR and mowing larger properties, but I don't know that this is feasible without a helper. It's hard enough working "medium-sized" properties alone. I keep seeing the benefit of mowing a bunch of tiny, city lawns instead. $25/$30 for a 10-15 minute job is a lot better than $35/$40 for a 30/45/50/60 minute job. On paper AND on my aching feet.

[brian'slawncare]

I love going back and reading all the old posts in this thread. Almost make me want to cry the years are going by so fast!

Dude. over 35,000 views on this thread Hedge! Congrats to that!

[Hedgemaster]

I stepped in poop today.

I'm ready to drop the client because of it.


The phone keeps ringing. No reason to hang on to clients who can not accommodate a simple request like cleaning up before I arrive.

I just picked up another customer that pays $5 more for a job that's slightly smaller than poop yard guy.
I think I just made my decision.