On of our recently completed landscape Job

[legendlawn]

Yeah...bad soil makes it tough, and it can get expensive for the homeowner to get that great yard....I hate developments that don't take the time to put some nice soil down on top of their trash....haha!

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

I do all my designs by hand, I like the artistic (although primative) touch it adds. Some I do in color also. Depends on the client. Do you advise creating the design on the spot with the customer or is this something you should say ' let me design this and get back to you.' How long do your average designs take? I also noticed you had a measuring wheel in one of your photos. I am thinking you would advise everyone to get one of those as well to help with creating the designs?

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[musician/lawnman]

Yeah Steve, I use that measuring wheel alot, definately comes in handy.
Not only for getting the measurements & making a rough drawing of the existing beds on the fly to reference later.

Off Topic:
But sometimes I also use it to measure a property in front of a potential client while doing a lawn care estimate. If a property is bigger than normal or an oversized lot. If I charge X for a typical 80x125' lot to mow it & their lot is 100x130' well that's 30% large & thus 30% more money. It's easeir to justify if you can show them in real numbers after they just watched you walk it off.

Back to our topic:
I complete the designs at home & get back with them, often sending the drafts via email for the clients reveiw & make revisions as needed. Residential designs usually take less than an hour for me to complete.

[Steve]

That is awesome!

Chuck, do you ever show your customers other previous designs you have drawn and then shown the final outcome? Would that help sell more? Would that potentially help you even sell more than they were planning on?

What if you created a design portfolio book that also included a testimonial from each customer after their final install?

Also, have you ever considered helping the customer in a sense finance a project through you? Like say they wanted a bigger project than they could immediately pay for, would you let them pay it off over time? Would that be potentially profitable?

[musician/lawnman]

Steve, yeah I show potential clients recent work, designs & pictures...? Of course man? I don't use a portfolio, I built the website so I don't have to carry one!

I have not "financed" anyones landscaping as of yet. Though looking at my accounts recievable you'd think I was financing serveral clients freakin' lawncare tabs. I'm in a wierd mood tonight & some clients are really starting to get on my nerves.....

I'm done talking about it for now, gotta go!

[Steve]

I have not "financed" anyones landscaping as of yet. Though looking at my accounts recievable you'd think I was financing serveral clients freakin' lawncare tabs.

This brings up another great point! How should lawn care customers be billed for landscape projects?

What advice do you have on this? Should they pay the entire project up front? Maybe pay half down at the beginning and the rest upon completion? What's your advice on this?

[musician/lawnman]

[quote=Steve;42900] Maybe pay half down at the beginning and the rest upon completion? QUOTE]


That is exactly how I handle it.

[Steve]

That is exactly how I handle it.

Is there a down side to this? Do the people tend to put off paying for quite a while even after the job is done?

What would you advise new lawn care business owners to be wary of?