What do you think!

[mblack14]

Ok here is what I been thinking, Once a Year ill pick a house and do a landscaping job for FREE. Kinda for a showcase house, Put my advertisement up there for the year so people can see what all I can do. Plus I could use it as a tax write off. Do you think this would be a good thing to do? By the way were I live and work it's a big retirement town with conocophillips and apple is talking about moving here.

[wandfsmall]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by mblack14 Ok here is what I been thinking, Once a Year ill pick a house and do a landscaping job for FREE. Kinda for a showcase house, Put my advertisement up there for the year so people can see what all I can do. Plus I could use it as a tax write off. Do you think this would be a good thing to do? By the way were I live and work it's a big retirement town with conocophillips and apple is talking about moving here. If you do that I would recommend a church or someplace where a lot of people will see it.

[CHEESE2009]

You will always regret doing free work.

Maybe offer a lower price, but even then you never know what kind of problems you may run into, especially with landscaping.


I'd like to hear more feedback on this from other users.

[picframer]

Depends on how you define landscaping, our Landscaping jobs run $8,000 to $50,000, most over the $25,000 range so in my case it would be a definite pass.

As Cheese states maybe a flower garden in a community spot, park, church, mall etc.

[Steve]

How much are you figuring it would cost you to do this?

What kind of return on your investment would you estimate you might get from it?

[CHEESE2009]

If a customer hears that you are doing something for free, they will take advantage of you, I'm serious.

They don't care about your gratitude, they care about how much they can squeeze you until they get everything for free.



Example 1 of 1000

Client: Scott can you maybe rip that bush in the backyard out and put it in the front? Just tell me what I owe you later.

- I took this opportunity to do the job for free, it took 5 minutes. (I was hoping this little extra would boost my relationship with the client)

Later that week, I was asked to clean his gutter without compensation. I declined, and no longer am I seen as a friendly company like I wanted to be by doing the first job for free.

^ That's how you get taken advantage of. If you do something kind, it will always be expected until you can't give no more, then they will think less of you!

[shadrach]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

You will always regret doing free work.

Completely agree - stay away from car salesmen too..
You want something in return too - if the other party has something invested in the project its going to work better for you in the long run.
I also like the idea of doing something for a church( ad in a newsletter?)/park/community center better than for an individual.
Maybe a radio station or newspaper office or some other type of place that could promote your business.

[Steve]

Client: Scott can you maybe rip that bush in the backyard out and put it in the front? Just tell me what I owe you later.

- I took this opportunity to do the job for free,

What would you suggest the best way to handle such situations in the future?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

What would you suggest the best way to handle such situations in the future?

Whenever a client asks you to do something, never do it on the same day.

and ALWAYS say, "I have a lot more lawns to get done, I don't have the time right now." even if it's your last lawn of the day!

This will eliminate the guilt the customer would have been able to put on you, in order to get what he/she wanted done. You can then think the project over, and get back to the client with your thoughts.

**

Another idea is to schedule the project date the same day or after they are supposed to make their payment for other work (lawn maintenance), this way you can tell them, "add $x to your next lawn maintenance bill"

This way you get paid ahead, or on the same day of actually doing the work - and you wont have to actually say, "Pay me first" and risk being viewed as an arse!


It's hard to ask for money sometimes, depending on your clients. I'm always thinking of little strategies to avoid breaking my bond with a client. An excuse/lie or just plane 're-wording' is always a good idea.


"I will have to ask you to pay me before I do the work"
- But, I'm good for the money!
- I will have the money ready for you next time.
- etc

vs

"I don't have the time right now, just add $x towards your next lawn maintenance billing date because I will be available the following day"

^ Charging the customer was subtle.

[Steve]

Do you find that you deal with newer customers differently when it comes to this as compared to customers you have had for a while?

Is it easier to tell newer customers that the extras will be an extra cost?