Head Start Program:

[Steve]

Kustom Kare Landscape Service, Inc. profile. My name is Jeff Koper , the name of my company is Kustom Kare Landscape Service, Inc. I am 25 yrs old and this year will be my first full year fulltime. I already have all of the equipment needed and truck. I have 8/12 years experience in the field working for a large company and decided it was time to go out on my own. Something like this could realy help me out as far as advertising. Review other Head Start Projects here.

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Business plan questions can be found here. Business Description - Kustom Kare Landscape Service, Inc. is a family owned and operated company . We currently have 15 signed contracts in commercial and residential . The company will stand out as a quality company and not quantity. - Where is your business located? *St. Peters/ St. Louis , Missouri - What services does your business offer? * Lawn Maint. * Mulch/ Bed edging * Minor Tree work * Design Install * Retaining Walls * Aerate/overseed * Spring/ Fall clean-ups * Planting * Fertilization * Snow management - What value does it add to the marketplace? * Provides a one stop for all of your lawn and landscaping needs. Convenient monthly billing pay as you go or 12 month. Family owned and operated. Management Abilities - What are your qualifications? * I have worked in this field for 10 yrs. I have worked in all the areas of this field. - How will your experience contribute to the success of your business?* While working for a few companies i have learned what to do and what not to do . I have also learned how to work smarter and more efficient. Business Strategy - What are the key strategic opportunities you have identified in your marketplace? * The area i live right by is one of the fastest growing areas in the US. Not having any Hispanics working for the company. that way there is always good communication between us and the costumers. - How will your business take advantage of these strategic opportunities more effectively than your competition? * Provide the costumers with a programs tailored to their needs. - How do you intend to maintain your competitive edge? Also have the latest technology in all of my equipment, to be more productive and efficient. Also to prompt and professional looking. - Describe the key challenges you face and how will you overcome them?* To have a enough work to keep us busy 5 -6 days a week. By advertising and bid aggressively. Legal Structure - Will your business operate as a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation or an LLC?* corporation - How will your legal structure decrease your business's exposure to risk? Financial - How much will you personally invest in your business? 0 - How much money are you seeking from banks? 0 - How much money are you seeking from private investors? 0 - How long until you plan to break even? By May 2005 - How long until you plan on making a profit? May 2005 - What will your start-up costs be? Be specific, describe each and the cost. * Everything is already started. - What is your sales forecast for each month of the entire year? List each month's goal.$8,000.00 - What will be your operating expenses? Be specific, describe each and the cost. * gas $ 800 * maint. $500 - What will your fixed costs be? Be specific, describe each and the cost. * insurance $2,500 * salaries $4,000 per month * phone $200 per month * taxes * advertising $2,000 yellow pages and internet Mission Statement - What is your business? Lawn and Landscape Service - How will your business succeed? * By offering clients programs and quality services that fit their needs. - What values are important to your business? * Costumers Professionalism - How does your business improve the lives of your customers' and employees'? * Providing leisure for clients and providing employees with great pay . Marketing Slogan - What is your marketing slogan? * Big enough to get you you business... small enough to keep it Market Analysis - What are the positive NATIONAL trends that will affect your business?* More people buying homes today than ever before. - What are the negative NATIONAL trends that will affect your business?* more and more people are losing their jobs to over seas. - How will you take advantage of the positive trends and deal with the negative trends? * By targeting advertising in new developments. - What are the positive REGIONAL trends that will affect your business?* more and more people acquiring ownership of homes. - What are the negative REGIONAL trends that will affect your business?* people losing their jobs - How will you take advantage of the positive trends and deal with the negative trends? * advertise and offer an affordable but not cheap service. - What are the positive LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY trends that will affect your business? * More and more people are hiring lawn care professionals. - What are the negative LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY trends that will affect your business?* the prices of equipment and steel are on the rise . the emissions of 2 cycle equipment. the insurance costs going up every year. - How will you take advantage of the positive trends and deal with the negative trends? * build up my clientele to compensate for the rising prices of doing business. Customer Analysis - Who are your target customers? (age range, education level, occupations, average home value)* 30 + , some college and up , i really doesn't matter on occupation , $150,000 + - What zip codes do they live in?63005 63006 63017 63031 63033 63043 63045 63088 63099 63073 63105 63131 63141 63301 63302 63304 63338 63376 63366 63385 63124 63011 63021 63022 63024 63025 63038 63069 - What do your customers want? Competition Analysis - Who are your competitors? * lawn care companies with 1 - 2 crews - How many employees do they have? 2 - 4 - What is their estimated sales volume? $150,000 - What services do they offer? mowing,fert, mulch , and lawn maint. hat is the quality of their product? * not the best - What is the price range of their product? * $40- 60 - Who are there customers?* i don't know - What are their strengths? * size - What are their weaknesses?* no commitment to quality or on time services - Are they a direct or indirect competitor? * direct Labor - How many employees will you start with? Full or p/t? 2 full time ( including myself.) - What will the hourly labor wage paid to employees be? $10 - What will your total annual labor hours be? 1500 Equipment - What equipment will be needed? none i have all of it * 2000 GMC Sierra 4x4 * 60" Exmark Turf Tracer 23 kaw ecs * 52" Exmark Turf Tracer * 32" Emark Metro * 2 Redmax weed eaters * 1 Redmax straight shaft stick edger * 1 Stihl Br320 / 1 Stihl Br340 bp * 6.5 x 16 open trailer - How much will it cost to obtain this equipment? - Where will you store the equipment?* my garage - How much will it cost to store the equipment? Advertising / Promotion - How will you advertise or promote your business? * yellow pages , internet , business card . post cards , fliers , doorhangers - How much will you spend doing each per year? $3,000

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[Kustom Kare]

ok now what?

[Steve]

Hi Kustom Kare,

Great work! Let us create a marketing plan and set some goals. Your current client base is 15?

I would like to see. Three projections:

1. A total number of new customers you feel you can easily attract this season.

2. A total number of new customers you feel will be moderately difficult to attract this season.

3. A total number of new customers you feel will be extremely tough to attract this season.

4. What date do you want these total customers by?

When we set up your projections in a chart, you can then post weekly how many new customers you were able to get that week. This should help inspire and motivate you to reach your goals.

Expenses: How much would you ideally like to pay yourself per hour? Pre-Tax and after taxes?

What does it cost you per hour for your employee, Pre-Tax and after taxes?

[Kustom Kare]

1. A total number of new customers you feel you can easily attract this season 20
2. A total number of new customers you feel will be moderately difficult to attract this season 30
3. A total number of new customers you feel will be extremely tough to attract this season 50
i hope to have this many new costumers by sep. 12

i have a set slary at $500 per week and my employee is at $300

[Steve]

Hi Kustom Kare,

How many billable hours do you plan on working each month of this year?

Jan total billable hours =
Feb =
Mar =
Apr =
May =
Jun =
Jul =
Aug =
Sept =
Oct =
Nov =
Dec =

Yearly total billable hours =

What would you like to make after taxes per hour? And for your employee?

[Kustom Kare]

Jan total billable hours = 20
Feb =30
Mar = 240
Apr =320
May = 320
Jun = 320
Jul = 320
Aug = 320
Sept = 320
Oct = 320
Nov = 200
Dec = 150

Yearly total billable hours = 3080

[Kustom Kare]

you still out there team gopher

[Steve]

Hi Kustom Kare,

Here is our customer goal chart for this year ending in August to help motivate you. Now that we have these goals, we will be able to chart your progress throughout the season.

Each month you should report back here and let us know your latest customer count to see where you are at in your goal. You might want to print out this chart and put it somewhere where you will see it each day to inspire you.

[Steve]

Jan 20
Feb 30
Mar 240
Apr 320
May 320
Jun 320
July 320
Aug 320
Sept 320
Oct 320
Nov 200
December 150

Total 2880

There is a difference in your total hours of 3080. Also what do you want to bill per hour for your labor?