Getting small accounts can be easier than you think

[Steve]

I think what i need to do is sit down and try to figure out my operating costs and what i want to make and go off that. When you sit there and think about it, would you say this is one of the most important things a lawn care business owner must do and know? If it is unknown, how can anyone figure out if they will profit or not on a job? Also, what is your view on why you feel this is something most business owners either don't do or put off doing for a long time?

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[Robc]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Steve When you sit there and think about it, would you say this is one of the most important things a lawn care business owner must do and know? If it is unknown, how can anyone figure out if they will profit or not on a job? Also, what is your view on why you feel this is something most business owners either don't do or put off doing for a long time? It didnt seem like it to me when it was just me with a helper. i could get away with bidding at $60/hr and made good money (i mean using that rate to figure out a total for a bid. not charging by the hour). Now that ive worked with a partner and we had 2 employees i realized the importance. It seemed like every job we were barely making any money. We never did though even though i kept bringing it up. - Part of the reason why i split from him. So yeah you have to know how much you need to make to cover everything. Its important to do probably so you know what your bottom line is when you are bidding so you can stay competitive or not just underbid. I am going to try to work on this. I dont know how exact I will have it but i will at least have a closer figure to work with. I dont know where the post is exactly. but that was extremely helpful because i didnt really know how to figure all costs...

[chevymann03]

robc , you maybe doing more good then harm on the possable underbidding . as if you are doing a better job then the higher priced company's then you will get more work via word of mouth just from the quality of work ! i am tring to do the same " getting lawn care work " i don't have the fancy big$ equipment but i have done the lil extra to make my rider cut better by installing gator blades . i am just getting started and have had more call for used parts then getting any kind of mowing work . i had one last week that e-mailed me wanting a quote via email for mowing , after a few e-mails back and forth i finnaly got them to understand that its impossable to give an estimate via e-mail or even phone , so they asked about a time to come by and give them an estimate so i gave them a time of 2pm the next day , later that night i got a reply that it wasnt going to work for them on the time and they would get back with me when it would be more convienant for them .... ive got flyers out and have several putting the word out but calls are scarse !

[Robc]

Originally Posted by chevymann03

robc , you maybe doing more good then harm on the possable underbidding . as if you are doing a better job then the higher priced company's then you will get more work via word of mouth just from the quality of work ! i am tring to do the same " getting lawn care work " i don't have the fancy big$ equipment but i have done the lil extra to make my rider cut better by installing gator blades . i am just getting started and have had more call for used parts then getting any kind of mowing work . i had one last week that e-mailed me wanting a quote via email for mowing , after a few e-mails back and forth i finnaly got them to understand that its impossable to give an estimate via e-mail or even phone , so they asked about a time to come by and give them an estimate so i gave them a time of 2pm the next day , later that night i got a reply that it wasnt going to work for them on the time and they would get back with me when it would be more convienant for them .... ive got flyers out and have several putting the word out but calls are scarse !

I worked hard my first two years to buy almost everything i need. The beginning of the first year was learning how to bid and under bidding quite a bit. Actually the whole year was this and still do learn now. But i want to figure costs as close as i can so i know where i stand on bids. how close i get it will depend on how hard i work on it. When i underbid now it just frustrates me. I do really good work and i want to work for a profitable rate.
Getting or finding work is really not that hard for me. Now I am going to be going out and getting the work that i want. Or at least try. Im going to start going to every business that i know i am capable of maintaining and seeing when and how i bid on those commercial properties.
hey have you made a nice colorful flyer to put on CL that stands out from the average guy? I would try putting you name of biz in the heading so you stand out from the average guy thats "mowing for cheap" or whatever.

[chevymann03]

yea i have made 2 differnet flyers already this year me n my mom worked together to make the last one since she has the exp with microsoft word , i think is what we used . i made 1 up with tear off numbers on the bottom then made another with just the single phone number to give out to individuals . ive only done 1 quote on mowing and they never would answer their phone when i tried to call them back to give them the quote on the job ... then last week i had one that kept giving me the run around wanting an estimate to do their yard but was wanting it basicaly done blind , with out even looking at the yard or anything and wouldnt even give and address ( all by e-mail ) so since then i have made sure to remove my e-mail from all postings and with craigslist i have it set so they have to call .... and to protect my cell number from unwanted private and ppl just wanting stupid stuff i dont give out my cell number i have a gmail account and use google voice ( internet phone ) thats free and have it fwd to my cell then i can control who calls and if i get one that wants to be rude or what ever i can go back later and block the number from calling thru . i have one ididot that messed up a push mower i sold them and i have gave them 2 chances to bring it so i can look at it and both times they have not called or showed up and then calls a couple days later wanting to set up a time to bring it over again . after the 2nd time of him not showing up and in the mean time him and his neighbor messed with the mower tring to fix it , i finnaly blocked him from getting thru , now all he gets is the number is not in service when he calls . i hated to be that way but he checked the mower out and said he wanted it , had it a week n a half then calls saying its not running now . i told him a couple things to try and then get back with me . 3 days later he calls then states him and the neighbor had messed with it tring to get it started and was wanting me to trade him mowers with another one that ran . i told him no i didnt have any others that ran . and from there on its been nothing but a hassel with this guy ...

[aduttonater]

People who take on commercial accounts should be fully licensed and insured. There is a lot of risk that you take when you deal with a business. I'd rather just stick with residential.

I dump my loads for $10 where as commercial business pay $30. Plus who knows how much their insurance is, something that does not effect my cost.

[Robc]

Originally Posted by aduttonater

People who take on commercial accounts should be fully licensed and insured. There is a lot of risk that you take when you deal with a business. I'd rather just stick with residential.

I dump my loads for $10 where as commercial business pay $30. Plus who knows how much their insurance is, something that does not effect my cost.

My insurance for 1 mil coverage will be about $750 a year. not bad.

[aduttonater]

Originally Posted by Robc

My insurance for 1 mil coverage will be about $750 a year. not bad.

Yea, that isn't bad. What type of damage does insurance like this cover?

[Robc]

Originally Posted by aduttonater

Yea, that isn't bad. What type of damage does insurance like this cover?

Mostly maintenance, above the ground, related work. Not for jobs that would require significant digging.