New Business

Hi all i am just starting out in this business in the Toronto Canada area, I am not how ever new to landscaping i have been doing it for other companies for the last 12 years and now have decided to make the jump. My biggest concern is be able to get the work rolling in. I have designed door hangers and fliers that i will be dispersing soon. But i am looking for other ideas that will also be helpful. Anyone got and good ones?

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi patphish123, Welcome to our forum! When you worked for your previous lawn care business, what kinds of marketing did they do? What did you find worked well and what didn't work at all?

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I was not really involved in the marketing aspect of those companies, the only thing i knew that worked was sending out pre-pay discounts for exsisting customers, for pruning, mulching, and mowing. As i don't have a customer base i cannot use this.

[Steve]

Oh that is fascinating! We were just talking about that in another post! What kind of offer did you give to get people to prepay?

we sent out it looked like an invoice but it listed all the services we have done for them in the past with the regular price then a prepay discount of %10 if they signed it and returned a check by a deadline date it was just a good way to bring money into the company earlier to cover the spring costs, it worked very well to big response on it

[Steve]

I think that is a great idea. Are you going to do that this year?

I can't this is my first season coming up and i do not have a customer base to send out this offer, but i certianly will in the years to come when i do get a base built up. i need ideas for getting this base

[Steve]

Oh good point. Pat did you check out our LawnChat.com blog too? It's chock full of marketing ideas. If you go down the right side of the blog, there is a section called categories.

In the categories there are just a ton of different marketing ideas. I would also check out the free flyer and door hanger section at the top of this page and see if anything catches your eye.

Let me know if you would be interested in trying any of those marketing ideas.

i've checked out the door hanger and flyer section its great what a big help i've used some of the templates so i will be printing those and hitting the pavement soon. well as soon as all this #### snow starts to melt. what a crappy winter here in toronto. i will check out lawn chat thanks for your help. i'll keep you posted on my progress

[Steve]

Great! I am looking forwards to your updates.

What's your view of offering snow clearing services now to help build up a customer base? Or are there other winter services you could be offering now?