Annual Contracts

[Totally Green]

I live in the South so snow removal is not an option for off-season work. I need some service ideas which will help me get some annual contracts. We can clean gutters, remove leaves, etc., but we're looking for more so customers feel like their getting a deal.

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Totally Green Lawn Care, LLC
http://www.totallygreenlc.com

[Landscape Warriors]

Lawn care business tips

how do i sell a annual contract??

[Totally Green]

I guess that's my question. I think I would be close if I could offer my client a basic service which includes lawn maintenance and storm cleanup in the spring and summer and leaf removal, gutter cleaning and storm cleanup in the fall. Winter is tricky. We don't have snow, but we do occasionally have ice and wind damage. An additional incentive is that you could offer lower, fixed monthly payments. I'm just not sure that would be enough to convince them. People around here are hesitant to sign contracts.

This may not be helpful, but in the winter I try to market handyman work interior painting, small repairs and floor maintenance ( buffing and stripping)
winter time isn't long here but it sure gets rough that time of year, especially with the hollidays.

[Totally Green]

Thanks Blaine. I know what you mean. I'm outside of Shreveport. I wish I could do the interior work but I cringe when I think of painting, plumbing or flooring. By the way, how are things going down there? An electrician friend is working down there and says a lot of it is still a mess.

It is a mess, did you hear about the oil spill, or the levees still leaking?
Idono... sometimes Iwish I could just leave here And start up somewere else.
I'll leave it at that before it turns to a rant.

[Steve]

An additional incentive is that you could offer lower, fixed monthly payments.

I think you hit on a good incentive. You can sell them on budget pricing. Where they pay each month all year long with an automatic renew at the end of each year and it ends up being the same in total as the way they paid before but it's cheaper monthly because they pay all 12 months.

Also, have you considered selling them on a prepay for the entire year on a contract. Maybe give them 5 or 10% off if they pay in advance.

Could you also offer seasonal outdoor holiday decoration displays?

[Landscape Warriors]

Is there a good contract out there that doesn’t sound so bad like 125 cancelation fee I thought I seen one on here before but I looked at all the contracts on the website and couldn’t find anything I liked I guess I could try one but I would hate to lose a sale over a contract.

I have some painting lined up for the winter and plan on bringing in a lot for gutters this year but I am still just part time and cant decide on how to go full time.

[Totally Green]

We hear a little about the problems in N.O. up here, but not much. Hey, if you want to move North, I may be looking for a partner next season. LOL

I hadn't thought about the pay-in-advance option. It's something to think about. I'm not sure about the decorations. I havn't done any yet so I'm not real sure of the overhead and time involved. I'll put that on my list of possibilities for next year.

I've attached a General Service Agreement we use (Word format). It's not really a contract, but it may have some info you can tweak.

LAWN CARE CONTRACT SAMPLE

[Steve]

Gary,

What type of effect have you had with your customers when you present them with that agreement? Have they been receptive to it? Or did they seem turned off because a contract was being used?

And thank you for sharing what you use with us.