Side jobs?

Steve · #1 10-07-2008, 10:30 PM

What side jobs have you done or asked to do?

Tonight I got this great email from a lawn care business owner who was telling me how he keeps himself busy all year because he is known as mr. fix it in his area. The other day he had an interior paint job. Then he replaced a sink faucet for another neighbor. He installed a section of fence.

He is looking to buy a sewer snake to take care of sewer problems because that is another request which seems to arise more often.

What's your view?

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cklandscapingorlando · #2 10-08-2008, 04:55 PM

Lawn care business tips

I think that if you want to be viewed as a professional you should be one.If your friend is running a handyman business then great.If he is looking to be viewed as the mr. landscaper then he should focus on landscaping.

Little's · #3 10-08-2008, 09:49 PM

Hey Steve. When it comes to making money, I will do just about anything legal! I have done side jobs such as tearing down old porches, fixing rotted wood inside a bathroom, reattaching crown molding inside a whole house, painting, drying and selling oak (goes hand in hand with my tree business), burning brush piles during burn season, fix broken down cars, buying and fixing and selling small engine tools, and the list goes on and on.

My dad was a jack of all trades, and owned a construction company my whole life growing up, and I started working for him when I was like 12. So I have lots of experience doing all sorts of things.

Im not too proud to do these sorts of things. When it comes to making money, I will do it all!

Steve · #4 10-08-2008, 10:12 PM

That is really interesting to hear. Can you tell me this because I am sure others are wondering. How do you get the word out that you are able to do all those sorts of services?

Little's · #5 10-08-2008, 11:44 PM

You spend time talking to your customers, and you learn that they have things around their house that need taking care of. Or I will keep my eyes open and point out that I can fix this and that. Usually they just say "go ahead..."

#6 10-09-2008, 12:00 AM

I agree, with the way the economy is, in order to survive you have to diversify, i started doing home maintenance and repairs for the first 2 years of business, this year it slowed to the point i started mowing lawns and snow removal, i am flexible and will still be able to pay the bills, my plan is to hire a crew to strictly do lawn maintenance as i do home maintenance and repairs. just have to hire the right people and have good management skills, and you can be successful.

Rob

Steve · #7 10-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Rob,

For others that are wondering, how did you land those side jobs? Did you market them or did the customers just come up and ask you?

cklandscapingorlando · #8 10-09-2008, 05:05 PM

When I first started out I would do what ever to make a doller.I dont need to do that now.I have a good rep as a very good landscaper and that was the qoal.If you can show me just one landscape company that brings in 5 mill a year thats willing to do just any thing then I might change my mind.They may have subsideraries but tru green dont do sidding.If you can run a maintanance crew and then do what you do thats great.I just like to specialize in my trade not every ones trade.

Steve · #9 10-09-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

When I first started out I would do what ever to make a doller.I dont need to do that now.I have a good rep as a very good landscaper and that was the qoal.If you can show me just one landscape company that brings in 5 mill a year thats willing to do just any thing then I might change my mind.They may have subsideraries but tru green dont do sidding.If you can run a maintanance crew and then do what you do thats great.I just like to specialize in my trade not every ones trade.

Do you have suggestions for what newer lawn care business owners should do when the year slows down? What should they be doing when money is tight?

#10 10-09-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Rob,

For others that are wondering, how did you land those side jobs? Did you market them or did the customers just come up and ask you?

I did direct marketing to Realtor, some is from word of mouth, also i deal with Service Magic (60% success rate) also partnered up with a friend that owns a paint company then he sells my company to the home owner and i do the same for his company, then if the home owner uses both companies we offer a special pricing.

Side jobs?

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