GopherHaul 24 online

Steve · #1 03-30-2008, 07:26 PM

I just posted the latest GopherHaul 24 online.

Please post it on the internet and share it with others where you can.

Code Sample

Hello and welcome to GopherHaul 24 - Lawn Care Marketing Business Show

In this episode we will be talking about

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GopherHaul breaks the 800,000 view mark! Thank you everyone for watching us!

Inspirational Story:

Rob from Apple Lawns, a 15 year old entrepreneur wrote to us with his inspiring story. I think he will inspire others to start their own lawn care business. Rob wrote:

“I decided to start the business when I couldn't find a job that I wanted to do over the summer. I didn't like being an umpire, and caddy at a golf course was just not for me. I called the grocery stores and you have to be 16. So i said "well ill just cut grass and get a real job next year" But now that im making a website and doing marketing and stuff I really like it. And i wouldn't get to do that at a regular job. I'm just starting for the first time and I got my first customer the other day.”

Read his post here and join in on the discussion:

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....ry37376

and here

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....t=7604;

Lawn Care Business Marketing Idea:

In previous episodes of GopherHaul we discussed using telemarketing as a way to reach out and gain new customers. Well if you decide to use telemarketing make sure you don't call people on the do not call list. A lawn care company was fined $45,000 in the state of Missouri. The investigation by the state was started by a complaint from 1 person.

Read more about this post and join the discussion here:

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....642;r=1

Business Question:

A member of our Gopher Lawn Care Business Forum, Michelle asked about buying a lawn care business. How much should she be paying?

In response a member wrote:

“General rule of thumb for buying customers is that they are worth about 1 month revenue. If they are commercial you’ll pay a little more and if there is a signed multi-year agreement in place ( which you said there is ) then this will push the price up too. So it could be worth as much as 2 or 3 months revenue depending on the situation.”

Mike then joined the discussion and talked about how many customers would stay with him after he bought their accounts.

“I did lose a few here and there, but I only paid 2.5 times the mowing price, and usually got at least 3 mows before they quit me.”

“Have you checked some of his accounts to make sure they are priced in accordance with what you would charge?

One of the lawn companies I bought out was considerably higher in pricing than mine, so I ended up raising all my original customers up to that standard.”

Read more or join this post here:

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....ry36897

Should you offer to buy lawn care accounts on craigslist?

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....t=7521;

Fernando joined the discussion and said he posts ads in free online sites in which he offers to buy lawn care customer accounts. Here is the ad he posted in craigslist. Check out the full ad on our forum.

“-Too Tired over the Summer? …or can’t keep up during the hot season?
-Too Hard to work from Sunrise to Sundown?
-Too busy to take care of ALL of your accounts during the “Crunch Time”?
-Customers complaining about not cutting the lawn on time?

I am willing to buy Lawn Accounts“

All this information is great if you are interested in knowing how to buy lawn care accounts but what about selling them? How do you sell lawn care accounts? This poster wants to sell his accounts. How much and how should he do it.

One Gopher Lawn Care Business Forum member made a post about how best to make the transition when you sell lawn care accounts to a new lawn care business. “I bought out 3 lawn companies, and all we did was send a letter to the customers, describing what happened(a new lawn company would be taking care of your yard)

If you want to meet each and everyone of them, then do it.

The new lawn care business owner may want you to sign a non-compete clause so you can't compete to take the customers back.”

Read more about this post and join in on the discussion here:

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....ry37074

Product Promotion

Kenneth LaVoie III wrote a book and starting a lawn care business entitled "How to start a lawn care business a whole NEW way." One of the many fascinating things he discusses in the book is about pruning customers once a year. If there are customers that you find yourself clashing with, he suggests not to raise their price but to simply cancel service for them and replace them with newer clients you do work well with.

Read more about this post here

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....635;r=1

Also Ken was kind enough to offer 50% off his book if you purchase his book from his site http://www.lawnguru.net. When ordering, use coupon code C7815 to receive your discount.

Read more about his book and this great offer here

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....;t=7605

Lawn Care Marketing Idea

Fuel prices have been going up, up and up some more. Now is a great time to pick up new customers by using this free flyer template. If other lawn care businesses are raising their fees because of higher fuel prices and you aren't, this is a great way to stand out and you should promote it.

http://www.gophergraphics.com/forum....;t=4919

Book of the Month:

This month's business book of the month is Kenneth LaVoie's "How to start a lawn care business a whole NEW way."

If our show or forum has helped you, or if you have any business questions, please let us know and send an email or make a post about your experience! I hope all these ideas have helped you expand and grow your business and mind. So until the next time, always remember to Dream it, Build it, Gopher it!

If you are in need of free lawn care marketing material for your lawn care business, please visit our site at http://www.gophersoftware.com. We have hundreds of free lawn care logo, flyer, door hanger and web templates you can download and use for your lawn care business. We also have free lawn care business contracts. Also download our trial version of Gopher Lawn Care Business Software. Gopher will help your lawn care business schedule and invoice more customers in less time, allowing you more time to grow or enjoy your life. If you are on myspace send us a friend request. We are located at http://www.myspace.com/teamgopher.

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