Starting In 09'

[walkerlawncare09]

Hey everyone I'm Eric with Walker Lawn Care. Just starting out this year and hope to get my foot in the door with the lawn care biz so anyone who has some good advice to get me going please let me know. Live in Southern Indiana so got about 7 or 8 months to play around with here maybe more if the weather keeps going crazy the way it has been this past year. Have all my equipment ready and have spoken with some realtors to get my name in there for the upcoming year (hopefully that pulls through w/ them). Also plan on tryin lawn painting mainly focused towards the real estate companies, if you have any opinions on that as well feel free to share. But enough of me, good to be here hope to pick up some good words of wisdom from everyone. Oh and how to I edit flyers so I can put my company info on there!?

Lawn care business tips

Welcome to the forums Eric. What made you decide to get into lawn care?

[Steve]

Hi Eric,

Welcome to our forum!

Oh and how to I edit flyers so I can put my company info on there!?

Some flyers you can edit with a graphics program, some you can edit with a word processor. Let me know if you get stuck any further with them.

have spoken with some realtors to get my name in there for the upcoming year (hopefully that pulls through w/ them).

What kind of co-marketing are you planning on doing with them?

[walkerlawncare09]

I'm working with realtors to get there properties that are sitting right now to take care of them and potentially be passed on to the new homeowner when the house is sold. Also for realtors I was planning on lawn painting for early spring and the dry summer months we sometimes have around here, do you have any advice or knowledge of this procedrure, it would be a new concept around this area so I was thinking it could possibly give me a bit of a upper hand until others catch on and follow if they choose!?


Got into the lawn care business because I'm tired of working under someone and this is one business that gives me the enjoyment of being outside and doing something that gives you self satisfaction in what you do. I work 12 hr shifts at my current job so that gives me plenty of days off through the week to start this business as well. But all in all this is just the type of job that I see fits me the best. Hope I get some where with it to eventually do it full time (not gonna happen overnite i realize so I'm gonna be patient)

Originally Posted by walkerlawncare09

Got into the lawn care business because I'm tired of working under someone and this is one business that gives me the enjoyment of being outside and doing something that gives you self satisfaction in what you do. I work 12 hr shifts at my current job so that gives me plenty of days off through the week to start this business as well. But all in all this is just the type of job that I see fits me the best. Hope I get some where with it to eventually do it full time (not gonna happen overnite i realize so I'm gonna be patient)

Man that sounds very familiar. I can relate with what you are saying. I was in the industry for 11 years before I went out on my own.

Well if you need any help with marketing material, websites and such, give me a shout.

[walkerlawncare09]

i could use some help with some flyers that would get my name out there and get me going and methods on distributing to see max results. Any type of help with that would be appreciated!

well first have a look at the flyer section here. Steve from Gopher has a great collection and there are always new one added to the bunch.

There are plenty of ways to send out flyers;

- unaddressed admail
- purchase mailing lists
- pound on doors
- leave them in the door

Myself and others have found that pounding the pavement and leaving flyers in doors has the most benefits. You'll save money on the stamps or post office fees and just by leaving them in the door you save yourself time by not talking to anyone (mind you I talk to as many people as I can). That way you can get more flyers out.

And don't just send them out once. Make sure to do a repeat campaign a month or two later. By doing this you'll force them to remember your company. Researchers say that someone needs to see a logo or company identity up to 7 times before they'll make a connection.

And also by leaving a flyer in their door you force them to put it in their hand and walk it to the trash. Most people will read it before tossing it then. Think of how you treat flyers in your mail, and then think of ways you would hold on to them and read them.

[Steve]

How many of your friends, family and neighbors know you are running a lawn care business now? Are you handing out business cards to everyone you know? Are you involved in any social or community organizations? Are you letting everyone in those groups know you are in business now?

[walkerlawncare09]

Yea all my family and friends are aware of my business. As well as I have given my g/f business cards to set at her station at a local hair salon.And I pass out business cards as often as the opportunity arises (no hits yet). Not currently in any type of community activities that I could share my business with. I am trying to get with the local water company to do the pump houses and water towers as well as there main office..probably a 3 1/2-4 hr job (cutting,edging,trimming,blowing off driveways and sidewalks, and drive time...any advice on how i should estimate.

[Steve]

any advice on how i should estimate.

Have you checked out the free estimating software I put online? That could help you develop your pricing.

Also what services are you offering this winter before spring arrives?