Late Start In the Year.......Jumpstart Help

[breslinnet]

I am new here and looking at starting landscape business for small-scale installs/renovations as well as single service items like planting, shrub trimming, leaf removal. I have experience in all this but I am sure not like the members of this forum and not as an established business in this field...so I have several questions/issues: 1) I know I am way late in the year but am ready to make a go of it...designing flyers as I write. Is it possible to get a solid start this late?? What**if any**is the best, sure thing kind of service offer for this time of the year?? I do not want to do lawn maintenance as far as mowing/edging(not this year anyway) I am thinking leaf removal and fall/winter prep?? 2) Best way/place/avenue for securing via flyer delivery- residential and commercial?? I have read MANY of the marketing posts and viewed the flyers/hangers. My question is the nuts and bolts of success. Is it better to bag the flyer and hang and go OR knock and try to convers with potential client at delivery?? What about commercial?? Just in and leave flyer or try to speak with owner/manager?? 3) The area I am in is full of what for us is upper middle class neighborhoods at 250-$400K considering our cost of living. As a result, there are many providers and many of them large. What edge beyond the obvious of superior service and excellant prices can be gained/used by a small operator to gain clients over the big guys...any ideas?? Thanks

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Welcome to our forum 1) I know I am way late in the year but am ready to make a go of it...designing flyers as I write. Is it possible to get a solid start this late?? What**if any**is the best, sure thing kind of service offer for this time of the year?? I do not want to do lawn maintenance as far as mowing/edging(not this year anyway) I am thinking leaf removal and fall/winter prep?? I would say why not experiment now and get a jump on next year. There are a bunch of free flyers you can use. One of them is the 'make the switch' flyer and around this time, people will be fed up with their current lawn care provider if they are doing a bad job and won't switch until a better option comes along. So why not offer them a better option? Why not jump in now and start mowing? It's a great way to keep busy until fall when the leaves start coming down. You will then already have the customers to simply provide leaf cleanup for. It's easier to sell more to your current customers than it is to find new customers. You can then also do gutter cleaning and potentially outdoor decorations. 2) Best way/place/avenue for securing via flyer delivery- residential and commercial?? I have read MANY of the marketing posts and viewed the flyers/hangers. My question is the nuts and bolts of success. Is it better to bag the flyer and hang and go OR knock and try to convers with potential client at delivery?? What about commercial?? Just in and leave flyer or try to speak with owner/manager?? I think we have seen here time and time again, it's better to go with quality than quantity when you have the time. The more people you meet and talk to as you hand out flyers, the better your chances of landing jobs. If you simply put the flyer in the door, it will most likely be thrown out without a second thought. If you get a chance to talk to people, you then have the opportunity to make an impression and make a sale. People would rather buy from others they know versus those they don't. Become someone they know and you improve your chances of making a sale. I probably wouldn't even bother with commercial right now until you get some residential jobs under your belt. They have a tendency to be larger and more involved. 3) The area I am in is full of what for us is upper middle class neighborhoods at 250-$400K considering our cost of living. As a result, there are many providers and many of them large. What edge beyond the obvious of superior service and excellant prices can be gained/used by a small operator to gain clients over the big guys...any ideas?? What advantage can you go with? You are small and you can give personalized service. You can put your picture on the flyers and say get personalized lawn care service from me. I'm the owner. Then you sell yourself and that will make you stand out. Let me know what you think of all this.

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$250-$400k thats where I want to be working all day. Here is whats good about this and Steve said it in another post. People may not like the service they are getting now, might have a contract for the season however, you will never know until you try or ask. Offer clean up's-gutter cleaning as a start have some cards made out offering what you do such as snow removal etc..place some ads in the paper or hang them up in the grocery stores and see what hits. Never too late unless of course you come to my area then of course it would be...Let us know which way your going and keep us updated.

I am in the same position. I want to work for myself and I am pretty much targeting the same demographic. I have read quite a few posts on the forum here and it has been great. All of you guys I give thanks for providing fantastic insight on how to be successful in this business.

I was wondering the same thing if it is too late to start or should I just give it a go and undergo some trial and error. I was thinking more along the lines of Aerating and leaf removal to get started and then offer some snow removal.

I also completed the Lawn Care Business course you offered and refer back to it often. THanks for that and Thanks for the post I will keep checking to see what others have to add.

Thanks

Ryan

[Steve]

I was wondering the same thing if it is too late to start or should I just give it a go and undergo some trial and error. I was thinking more along the lines of Aerating and leaf removal to get started and then offer some snow removal.

Hi Ryan,

Welcome to our forum. I would say if you want to do it, go out and do it. You are never too late. And like I say in each of my GopherHaul business videos, 'if you don't start your business this year, you'll be at least a year older when you do, so get started today.'

Keep us posted on what you are doing and how it's turning out.

[breslinnet]

Been out a couple of days but have ready everyones replies to my questions. In response Steve to the lawnmowing- my intent from the beginning was actually to NOT get into that sector. There are literally hundreds of guys here doing it. Not that I wont change my mind or do select client mowing but not original intent.

I have spent several days designing flyers and handing out.

I appreciate the thought on the residential VS commercial and have concentrated on the residential neigborhoods w/just kind of a blanket, "catch-all" type flyer w/a 10% off coupon for services scheduled by 9-15.

Then I placed a Craigslist ad just as a test for other service-related personnel who were interested in swapping referrals for our respective businesses and got a few calls.

Today, I actually generated a 2 part flyer for thes type service people and also business owners who wanted to get paid by giving our flyers to their existing customers.

We'll see how that goes. As well: FALL Combo flyer and Leaf Removal flyers going out tomorrow in 1st neighborhoods.

[Steve]

All of that sounds great! You are on the ball with all of it!

my intent from the beginning was actually to NOT get into that sector.

From what I have seen, it is difficult to start up as an installation/renovations business. The repeat business isnt there as it is with weekly lawn care.

Those I have seen who offer installation/renovations have found a mixture of that with weekly lawn service to be ideal.