How to get commercials?

[CHEESE2009]

I just got home from handing out cards, I feel like It was a waste of time & ... cards. I walked into a few strip malls/plazas & asked to speak to the owner, then I told the owner to have their land lord contact me. It just doesn't feel right. Any suggestions on how to go about getting commercials? Who to talk to, how to contact them, etc... Once I figure this out I wouldn't mind just sticking with commercials, I figure with the recession people will be investing in lawn mowers & cutting their own grass, but not entirely true for commercials..?

[Green_Day]

Lawn care business tips

Hello my friend, I work in internet advertising industry and come across companies that want a video shot and look professional. I have the company for you. They are very good and reasonably priced. Packages are Basic Ad for $850, Standard Ad $1275 and Premium HD AD is $2500. Let me know if you need more info. I can be reached at chrisaldridge68@yahoo.com

[majoe7]

Breeze, Who do you contact for commercial accounts? We have property appraisers here and you can go on the counties web site and it will tell you who owns the building or property. Then research how you can contact them.* I’m not to sure what you call it up there.
Try Mom and Pops single free standing building with some grass to cut, trees to prune and maybe mulching along with flowers. They are smaller to do but easy and manageable.
I also target working professionals (young and busy schedules) along with middle aged folks who don’t want to spend their time taking care of there lawns, they have better things to do. Look geographically at high income earners with disposable income.
With the recent snow fall you all had, I think the clients don’t have lawn care on there minds just yet. IMO Stay after it, and don’t give up. Better yet, you can move down here to Florida and have your pick of the litter with what you want to do in the lawn care business. Steady work year round with great weather.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by BREEZE2009

I just got home from handing out cards, I feel like It was a waste of time & ... cards.

I walked into a few strip malls/plazas & asked to speak to the owner, then I told the owner to have their land lord contact me.

It just doesn't feel right. Any suggestions on how to go about getting commercials?

Who to talk to, how to contact them, etc...

Once I figure this out I wouldn't mind just sticking with commercials, I figure with the recession people will be investing in lawn mowers & cutting their own grass, but not entirely true for commercials..?

I couldn't even get a responce when I talked to commercial accounts until I started carrying My certificate of insurance with me. Now I at least to give a presentation. Have only one commercial account so far. A small Medical Professional complex. Mowing, weeding and prunning a small lawn (about 12' deep around the building weekly - about 3,000 sq ft).

It's a start. Now I can tell others about that account.

There are a lot of such complexes around. Why don't you try them?

Steve

[Steve]

A lot of great advice here already. I'd say get to know people that own businesses. When you go out to eat or order a pizza, get to know the owner. The more people you know the easier it will be to make sales.

I think starting small is a great way to go then scale up.

Does any of the advice given to you so far help? Are you going to be doing anything differently?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

A lot of great advice here already. I'd say get to know people that own businesses. When you go out to eat or order a pizza, get to know the owner. The more people you know the easier it will be to make sales.

I think starting small is a great way to go then scale up.

Does any of the advice given to you so far help? Are you going to be doing anything differently?

Well it's unfortunate that we now have snow coming down, so I guess the next sunny day I'll visit each apartment & old folks homes to advertise. You can just walk in and buzz for the owner most of the time.

Right now I'm just getting emails from craigslist potential customers who are honestly just frustrating me. It clearly states what my service offers but I get emails saying, "I need someone to clean my house, fix my cabinets & paint a few walls" like commmmonnn geez... I also got a call from a guy in a city not close to me at all, my service states that I only do work in A-B-C not D!

Not sure what to do at this point, a few call backs would be nice after handing out several thousand flyers. I'm a little impatient, I wish I would get calls BEFORE May... hmmm

My biggest problem is registering. My price isn't really profitable, at a starting price for residentials I charge $420.00. Once I'm taxed, I don't know if I like that. I want at least one unregistered season to save up some cash, then become registered with a bit of backup cash next time.

[Steve]

My biggest problem is registering. My price isn't really profitable, at a starting price for residentials I charge $420.00. Once I'm taxed, I don't know if I like that. I want at least one unregistered season to save up some cash, then become registered with a bit of backup cash next time.

Can you tell us a little about the costs in Canada to register a business?

[CHEESE2009]

So i just got home from trying to get some commercials...

I passed through tons of buildings

1. $550
2. $1860
3. $700
4. $1555
5. $1820
etc

Then I received a call back from the owner of a sports complex (indoor hockey arenas)

My estimation price was $15642.00 at 145255 feet of lawn
When I agreed to a meeting, I discontinued advertising to other buildings and immediately went to the sports complex. The first thing this douchebag tells me is, "just to be fair, a contract is already signed for this year" I left my card & stormed back home...

If I was to get this customer, I would be able to stop advertising lol.. In a way I'm thankful I didn't. It's full of slopes and isn't really something I'd like to work on for a full day. It's hard not to be discouraged though. It's hard asking for such a high price, even monthly it'd be $2607.00....

[Green_Day]

Originally Posted by BREEZE2009

So i just got home from trying to get some commercials...

I passed through tons of buildings

1. $550
2. $1860
3. $700
4. $1555
5. $1820
etc

Then I received a call back from the owner of a sports complex (indoor hockey arenas)

My estimation price was $15642.00 at 145255 feet of lawn
When I agreed to a meeting, I discontinued advertising to other buildings and immediately went to the sports complex. The first thing this douchebag tells me is, "just to be fair, a contract is already signed for this year" I left my card & stormed back home...

If I was to get this customer, I would be able to stop advertising lol.. In a way I'm thankful I didn't. It's full of slopes and isn't really something I'd like to work on for a full day. It's hard not to be discouraged though. It's hard asking for such a high price, even monthly it'd be $2607.00....

I have an awesome company that I work with with LocalAdlink that has very reasonable prices. Quality and professional. They have a website with examples of their work. Their Basic package is $850 30 second Hi Res and $1275 for a 1 minute Hi Res with a 15 sondensed version. Only half up front and the other half when job is completed. Total time is about 2 weeks. Then couple that with a 10 zip code package from LocalAdLink for $100 amonth. You are looking at serious exposure on the nte. You know that Google's search engines are turning more to video now than any other content.

[Steve]

When I agreed to a meeting, I discontinued advertising to other buildings and immediately went to the sports complex. The first thing this douchebag tells me is, "just to be fair, a contract is already signed for this year" I left my card & stormed back home...

Why do you think he called you in for a meeting to tell you that?