Craigslist talk

[WeekendWarriorLawn]

i'm starting to bid higher. i approached an old couple kitty-corner from one of my regulars (i wont say client anymore until i can get them contracted - i also reserve any discounts *only* for people who contract up, whether they like it or not) me and ma talked to them and examined their yard. it's a small yard, but over grown. no trees, a small patio in back, and a ramp up front to work around for their wheel chair. out back looks like they tried to seed, because all you see are bare seeds with no water or soil covering them. thick, patchy, clustered up grass. tall, too. i'd say 5 or 6 inches easily. small yard, again. told them 60 for the first full treatment (wack/edge, mow & blow) and 40 after that. they sent me away, but i got to leave them with information. i'll go back on sunday to ask 'em again (i'll be in the neighborhood, regular wanted to bump me up to sunday for the week, he better realize i'm comin back on friday anyway - can't tell if he's trying to swing for an odd number service like 10 days or something, we're not having it though). i got their names last time, in the future i want to start taking names & numbers so i can do call backs (bad idea?) jandrbusiness, thank you for the compliment on our work. we busted our asses on this, especially ma as she is our lawn-mower. the pictures don't do the job much justice. those people were asses. they made me take down the best pictures of the work. http://i48.tinypic.com/21e7o0o.jpg http://i45.tinypic.com/2142p3t.jpg http://i46.tinypic.com/25aon.jpg

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

i got their names last time, in the future i want to start taking names & numbers so i can do call backs Yea that is a great idea. Following up can only help. Keep us posted on how it goes.

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[jandrbusiness]

I been there done that and being that I am in the same business I know just how hard you guys worked.doing work in the yards, the value of the dollar that you will be paid went down.In the past in Missouri average yard was around $50 bucks mabe 2 or 3 years ago but today you will be lucky if you get $40 dollars for it.Its because everybody and there brother is doing lawn care and many have rider mowers and charging $10-$15 for a average house and $40 to $45 to do a large house.

It seems to me that trimming trees,removing giant weeds and pricker bushes,large brush,dead stumps and other over growth is where the money is at.customers figure that the bigger the weeds and bushes are that the more money the job is because they think it will be hard to clear out and doing the lawns is easy because people have riders, but what I found that it is not always true.

4 example I mowed the ladys yard for $40.00 it took 2hrs not bad but I removes a small tree growing on the side of another ladys house she offered to give me $100.00 for the job which I got done in 2 hrs 2 in half times more in the same time.

Mowing the yards is good but I think the big money is in the giant weeds,brush and trees.

Take care and hope everything is well in your business.

JT

[CHEESE2009]

ALRIGHT, time for me to speak my drunketh wisdom.

Some areas you just can't get away with charging much (and this goes for EVERY professional in my area)

For example: there is a 6% chance of being able to charge a client the ideal price. That's about 3 jobs for every 50 you take on.


Because you had just started, I believe you had priced it fairly. You are in no position to charge $800, not yet.

You left the job with more experience and something for the neighbors to view and appreciate.

I can also understand that it's you and the misses taking care of the property, and so long as you both make enough money to pay the bills that you share, I can't see why you'd care about charging per man hours right now - so I understand you, and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

The hard reality of it all, is that newer companies MUST take crap their first year. This is how (and the only real way) you can get noticed by the better clients.

You could mow a lawn for peanuts, and then suddenly four of his neighbors want to hire you - you would charge them the ideal price and increase the price for your original client, or fire him.

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I hope this helped, because a lot of the times people instantly apply their logic to a situation at their current time of success, forgetting about what was required to get where they are today.

Summary: You have no choice but to take crap jobs for peanuts, but it's temporary. We all start the same in this field.

Most new company owners can't afford big advertising or super powered equipment yet. It's not like you started off with $20,000 investment to throw into the company, which would enable you to do such a thing.

I predict in 2-3 years, you'll be charging that $800. There is no rush.