Just started!! WOW!!

[blairville]

Hi everyone. My husband decided to start a lawn maintenance business. He has 4 accounts so far and in debt for about $11,000 for the first time in his life!! We started the marketing in our area, Jacksonville, Florida. * It is everything he expected it to be so there are no surprises yet... Thanks to Gopher for the templates and the forum ideas are great. Love Your Lawn is the name

Lawn care business tips

good luck with everything

[Steve]

Hi blairville,

Can you tell us more about the debt? What did you spend money on?

What kind of marketing are you doing?

[lawncareinnovations]

Good luck im in the same boat without the debt!

[Steve]

Hi lawncareinnovations,

Welcome to our forum! What got you started in the lawn care business?

[phouse65]

Hi,
I have recently started my lawn care business and everything is going along nicely. I started in the fall and had great success with cleanup and now it is time to get customers for mowing. All the calls I receive are for spring cleanups, any suggestions on getting mowing customers for the summer?

[Steve]

any suggestions on getting mowing customers for the summer?

Welcome to our forum!

What kind of marketing have you been doing so far?

[xpertlawnman]

Originally Posted by phouse65

Hi,
I have recently started my lawn care business and everything is going along nicely. I started in the fall and had great success with cleanup and now it is time to get customers for mowing. All the calls I receive are for spring cleanups, any suggestions on getting mowing customers for the summer?

What I noticed more in the last couple of years, is that I seem to pick up most of my new customers from simply being out on the job and referals from current customers. Flyers and postcards do not have the impact like they used to. In neighborhoods where have I multiple yards, these houses get bombarded with flyers every spring, but I am the one getting the new clients. Why? Because I am already there, they have seen my truck parked on their street the same time and day of the week. They see that I am reliable and provide good service from the work I do at their neighbor's house. They figure why go through the hassle of calling other LCOs and setting up times for estimates, when they can wave me down, get an estmate and have have their yard mowed that day in most cases. I am not saying not to advertise, because when you start out you have to get your name out there by any means possible. But as you pick up more business, you will get alot of business through referals. It takes time to build a tight and profitable route.

[Steve]

I seem to pick up most of my new customers from simply being out on the job and referals from current customers.

That is fantastic! Do you have your truck and trailer lettered? Do you wear any kind of uniform when you are out working?

Do you have any other advice on how best to attract neighbors to talk to you when you are out there working on properties?

[Liberty Landscaping LLC]

Hey
I took a contract from here as well as from a few other internet sites. I made a slamming contract (my age is showing sorry). You mentioned your getting calls for spring clean ups. Offer a discount if they sign a lawn maintenance contract. That's what I do and that's what I put in all my ads. I never advertised. This is my first year. I redid my site that my ex made and am advertising this year. It does cost a lot but I hope it pays off in the end. I always did word of mouth and it kept me busy I only do it one day a week. I work full time and do this part time. I want to build my company and hire a crew. I will work with them in my leasure and my days off. I am going to retire at 51 and am an active person. I like the idea of making my own hours and still having an income if I don't work. I have been out of work for the past month do to a work injury so I used the time to set up ads and work on my site. Take a look I hope it helps you. www.libertylndscpng.com Keeping a good reputation is KEY!!! Strive to make your customers happy they will return even if it's just clean-ups and they will refer friends. Get lawn signs made up. My guy charges me $16 a sign they are well worth it. Esp if your customer is on a main road. Good luck