I was just reading some threads on a message board about some different ways to market our business. Everyone knows about yellow pages, door hangers, direct mail , etc. But how can we stand out from the competition or show up in ways the others don’t know how. It takes a creative mind to do things out of the box so if you can’t think of many good ideas talk to people who are creative. Or read message boards like lawnsite.com. I have tried all the normal ad types and a few abnormal. Yellow pages have done ok while classified ads got me the most work early in my business life. Direct mail has been a complete bust for me. They say repetition is the key, but I’d go broke waiting on it to kick in. Too much money for very little return. Flyers have are cheap and I have got a few good accounts from them. Word of mouth has been the best for me as I’m sure it is for many established businesses. But a new business can hardly rely on just word of mouth.
Some different type of marketing I have tried: ad space on a local map ($250 wasted), business cards dropped on driveways inside a bag with a rock to hold bag in place (unprofessional looking I admit & no return on doing it), referral program (ok… most will refer just because they like my work). Some ideas I have not tried & don’t think they would work : ads on backs of store receipts, ads on benches, service magic type services (they send leads for $xx per lead… works for some but I don’t see it in my area.
Leave your comments as to what ideas you have to do some unique marketing. Some ideas I am going to try: contest driving potential clients to my website, this blog (mainly to sell landscape products), volunteer at charity charity, biz card dropped off with a Frisbee or other small gift.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Fatigue
Ever get tired? Dumb question right. Ever feel tired for a full week and not want to move from in front of the tv after getting home? After trimming hedges all week that is how I felt…. Feel that is. Hedge trimming is one of the most labor intensive services I offer. And I have really felt it this week. Shoulder pain sux! There are a few things I do to hold off weariness. I start very early so the heat is not on me all day long. Most days I start at 6:30 and finish by 2 or 3 pm. I try to do the hardest or biggest properties first thing if possible. Also having a helper do the weed trimming is the best thing. I could ride a mower for 12 hours a day if I never had to touch a trimmer or blower.
Some days I think, “there has got to be an easier way to make a living. And I am always trying to expand into different areas and try new businesses. If you can run one business it is likely you can run many if you have the knowledge in that field. Any job business that involves me staying at home in the air conditioning is a plus. I have also thought about a delivery service where I could basically ride in the air conditioned truck a lot. Fatigue has really got me to thinking. Not that I am going anywhere. I will probably always run a lawn service whether I am working in it or not. It has allowed me to quit my full time job and given me a flexible schedule so I doubt I could just drop it all together. What are some physically easier businesses you have thought about doing?
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
Some days I think, “there has got to be an easier way to make a living. And I am always trying to expand into different areas and try new businesses. If you can run one business it is likely you can run many if you have the knowledge in that field. Any job business that involves me staying at home in the air conditioning is a plus. I have also thought about a delivery service where I could basically ride in the air conditioned truck a lot. Fatigue has really got me to thinking. Not that I am going anywhere. I will probably always run a lawn service whether I am working in it or not. It has allowed me to quit my full time job and given me a flexible schedule so I doubt I could just drop it all together. What are some physically easier businesses you have thought about doing?
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Customer Loyalty.
How to create customer loyalty.
This is a challenge for any business. I assure you that it costs a lot more to get a new client than it does to sell to an existing one. So you best keep your clients happy! Is it possible to never lose a client? No, of course not. There are too many other options for them and many will only think of cost and drop you as soon as a cheaper competitor comes along. All we can do is provide dependable quality service and try to find the clients that fit our particular business model. Getting referrals from current clients breeds loyalty…. Make sure you ask for referrals or even start a referral program that gives incentives for getting you more work. Lawn care is a business that most anyone can do so the new competition starting up each year is tremendous. This makes it a buyers market in most parts of the country. Many new start ups don’t last long but the next season finds new eager start ups every time.
I have some customers who never even ask a price on extra work they want me to do. They know I will be fair and they are not price shoppersThey are loyal. But a good percentage of people are price shoppers. Why do you think Wal mart has lines backed up all the time at the register despite their poor customer service, lack of cashiers, etc? Low Prices Everyday is tough to beat. I sell weed killer (check the ebay link) at a great price and mentioned it to one of my best customers last year and he did not even ask a price because he got his from a store he had dealt with for a few years. He could have saved quite a bit but he was loyal to his original supplier. On the flip side, I have had a couple of ladies drop my services because I went up $2 per cut for a fuel surcharge after the Hurricane Katrina a few years back. $2….. I couldn’t believe it. I have one client who will not ever run his sprinkler system, fertilize his lawn, put out any mulch or pine straw for his $400 property in a subdivision. He just chooses not to spend his $$$ that way.
One thing I have had trouble with in the last 2 years is losing clients due to the fact that they have a family member who wants to service the lawn. As more and more LCOs (Lawn Care Operations) start up this gets worse. It is hard to compete against, a grandmother letting her grandson cut the grass. Leave your comments as to how we can promote loyalty. Thanks
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
This is a challenge for any business. I assure you that it costs a lot more to get a new client than it does to sell to an existing one. So you best keep your clients happy! Is it possible to never lose a client? No, of course not. There are too many other options for them and many will only think of cost and drop you as soon as a cheaper competitor comes along. All we can do is provide dependable quality service and try to find the clients that fit our particular business model. Getting referrals from current clients breeds loyalty…. Make sure you ask for referrals or even start a referral program that gives incentives for getting you more work. Lawn care is a business that most anyone can do so the new competition starting up each year is tremendous. This makes it a buyers market in most parts of the country. Many new start ups don’t last long but the next season finds new eager start ups every time.
I have some customers who never even ask a price on extra work they want me to do. They know I will be fair and they are not price shoppersThey are loyal. But a good percentage of people are price shoppers. Why do you think Wal mart has lines backed up all the time at the register despite their poor customer service, lack of cashiers, etc? Low Prices Everyday is tough to beat. I sell weed killer (check the ebay link) at a great price and mentioned it to one of my best customers last year and he did not even ask a price because he got his from a store he had dealt with for a few years. He could have saved quite a bit but he was loyal to his original supplier. On the flip side, I have had a couple of ladies drop my services because I went up $2 per cut for a fuel surcharge after the Hurricane Katrina a few years back. $2….. I couldn’t believe it. I have one client who will not ever run his sprinkler system, fertilize his lawn, put out any mulch or pine straw for his $400 property in a subdivision. He just chooses not to spend his $$$ that way.
One thing I have had trouble with in the last 2 years is losing clients due to the fact that they have a family member who wants to service the lawn. As more and more LCOs (Lawn Care Operations) start up this gets worse. It is hard to compete against, a grandmother letting her grandson cut the grass. Leave your comments as to how we can promote loyalty. Thanks
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Zero Turn Mowers vs. Walk Behinds.
Zero Turn Mowers vs. Walk Behinds.
I see the debate all the time on message boards (lawnsite.com). … Which one is better, a walk behind or a zero turn rider. Obviously it depends on your need. A part timer with only a few small yards can get away with only a walk behind. They are cheaper and easier to work on generally. If you are full time and have several huge lawns I’d say a zero turn is a must. They are faster and much easier on your body. They are more expensive but it is well worth it. I have 2 Ztrs(zero turn radius) and one walk behind. I mainly use the WB (walk behind) as a back up and use the riders daily. The WB leaves a great cut and is about as fast on a small lawn that is landscaped correctly so you do not have to back up (not fun with a WB unless you have a hydro drive). But the riders will easily outpace them on a big property. Two years ago My main rider was in the shop & I used the Toro WB for 3 days and my body felt it too. I’m sure I would have gotten used to it and not been sore after using it regularly but I did not want to try it.
On the flip side of all this is a push mower or most likely a self propelled push mower. Most people don’t use them especially a business. But there is an opportunity, as some homeowners do not want a heavy duty mower used. So you could find a niche to service. The benefit would be low cost and easy maintenance and easy training if you had a crew. Before you laugh, I have read about a guy in Texas with over 2000 accounts using nothing but Self Propelled push mowers. It seems to be working for him.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
starting a lawn care business, starting a lawn service business, lawn care, lawns, grass cutting, grass mowing, weed killer, lawn care tools, chaps for weed trimming,
I see the debate all the time on message boards (lawnsite.com). … Which one is better, a walk behind or a zero turn rider. Obviously it depends on your need. A part timer with only a few small yards can get away with only a walk behind. They are cheaper and easier to work on generally. If you are full time and have several huge lawns I’d say a zero turn is a must. They are faster and much easier on your body. They are more expensive but it is well worth it. I have 2 Ztrs(zero turn radius) and one walk behind. I mainly use the WB (walk behind) as a back up and use the riders daily. The WB leaves a great cut and is about as fast on a small lawn that is landscaped correctly so you do not have to back up (not fun with a WB unless you have a hydro drive). But the riders will easily outpace them on a big property. Two years ago My main rider was in the shop & I used the Toro WB for 3 days and my body felt it too. I’m sure I would have gotten used to it and not been sore after using it regularly but I did not want to try it.
On the flip side of all this is a push mower or most likely a self propelled push mower. Most people don’t use them especially a business. But there is an opportunity, as some homeowners do not want a heavy duty mower used. So you could find a niche to service. The benefit would be low cost and easy maintenance and easy training if you had a crew. Before you laugh, I have read about a guy in Texas with over 2000 accounts using nothing but Self Propelled push mowers. It seems to be working for him.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
Lawn Store
starting a lawn care business, starting a lawn service business, lawn care, lawns, grass cutting, grass mowing, weed killer, lawn care tools, chaps for weed trimming,
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Networking (meeting people)
I think a lot about networking or meeting new people. The obvious purpose business-wise is to get more business. Now, just going to ball games and church and spewing an advertising campaign will not work and that crap makes people sick. One lady that was an acquaintance of my wife was awful about that stuff with whatever MLM “business” she was in on that given day. It seems to me the most successful people in small businesses are the ones who have lasted for a while and over the years just met a lot of people and of course did good work. Bad quality work will get you nowhere even if you are friends with 10 million people. Also people who are just friendly and outgoing seem to do well in business because they are generally good salesmen.
I am not that outgoing so I don’t really meet too many new people. So I rely on advertising more than networking. My wife can talk to anyone about anything so she would be a great salesman for me or anyone. She has started a small photography biz and I know she will do very well because she will not hesitate to tell people, “Hey I am in business, buy from me”. I am way too subtle for my own good, but it is just the way I am. We all have things we are good at and things we suck at, so we need to find those things out and get help when possible for areas in which we need the most help. The more people you know the more you can grow.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
My ebay stuff
I am not that outgoing so I don’t really meet too many new people. So I rely on advertising more than networking. My wife can talk to anyone about anything so she would be a great salesman for me or anyone. She has started a small photography biz and I know she will do very well because she will not hesitate to tell people, “Hey I am in business, buy from me”. I am way too subtle for my own good, but it is just the way I am. We all have things we are good at and things we suck at, so we need to find those things out and get help when possible for areas in which we need the most help. The more people you know the more you can grow.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
My ebay stuff
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Making Mistakes
Mistakes happen right? Right. Nothing can be done about it right? Wrong. We can be careful and pay attention to detail to minimize mistakes. Also the biggest thing we can do is be honest when we do make a mistake and try to rectify it then. I recently had a client who was unhappy with a couple of things about their lawn. One of the problems I was aware of and doing my best to correct it each visit. The other was just an oversight on my part. Some grass clippings were left in the pine straw bed. Now of course there should not have been thrown in that direction in the first place (helper was mowing), but it was my fault for not blowing it out good enough. When my customer emailed me about the problem I was mad at myself of course because I do take pride in what I do. I offered a credit for that mow and apologized for the error. The client understood and refused the credit. Now everyone is not that understanding, believe me! But all we can do is be honest and fix what we may screw up.
I’ve been fortunate to not have too many complaints over the years. The one that sticks out is a lady about 9 years ago. There was some kind of wildflower popping up right in the middle of the lawn. Everyone who has ever had them told me to just cut them. Well she had other ideas. She called up on the following Saturday and said she had planned to put them on her grandson’s Birthday cake!!!! Craziest thing I have ever heard. That was the end of that relationship.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
My ebay stuff
I’ve been fortunate to not have too many complaints over the years. The one that sticks out is a lady about 9 years ago. There was some kind of wildflower popping up right in the middle of the lawn. Everyone who has ever had them told me to just cut them. Well she had other ideas. She called up on the following Saturday and said she had planned to put them on her grandson’s Birthday cake!!!! Craziest thing I have ever heard. That was the end of that relationship.
Late,
Shane
Georgialawncare.com
My ebay stuff
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Lawn Guy Vacation / kinda
Going on vacation in the summer, which is the busy season for lawn care providers, can be rough. I have to catch everything up so I can go, then I’m gripping on the way home about all the work ahead. We just got back from a 3 night trip to Tampa for my youngest daughter’s gymnastics meet. It was a National event and a pretty big deal. She ended up getting 3 first place medals so we were very proud. We spent the last couple days there at the beach (nice) and at Busch Gardens (nice but Theme parks are not for me anymore!). The kids had fun but got tired like me of walking around in the heat all day. The animals were neat to watch also. The beach was surprisingly good and not crowded at all.
Anyway back to the point. Vacation is possible in the summer but you need careful planning and a lot of luck. I’d like to just plan vacation for the winter when I am slow anyway, but the beach is too appealing right now. It’s nice if you can just let your lead man take over until you get back, but if you don’t have that you have to be creative. I have done some accounts a couple days early and then a couple 2 days late. As long as you let you clients know what is going on there should be no problem. That’s all for now, gotta rest from “vacation” BTW, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa and it was super nice.
Late,
Shane McLendon
Georgialawncare.com
Anyway back to the point. Vacation is possible in the summer but you need careful planning and a lot of luck. I’d like to just plan vacation for the winter when I am slow anyway, but the beach is too appealing right now. It’s nice if you can just let your lead man take over until you get back, but if you don’t have that you have to be creative. I have done some accounts a couple days early and then a couple 2 days late. As long as you let you clients know what is going on there should be no problem. That’s all for now, gotta rest from “vacation” BTW, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa and it was super nice.
Late,
Shane McLendon
Georgialawncare.com
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Introduction
Well, this is the first post I'm making on this subject, and there will be many more to follow. For now twice a week will be my schedule. I will determine the days of release very soon. I know consistent dependable posts are the life blood of blogging. If you readers cannot depend on me adding new content regularly you will not be back. The object of this blog is to inform, educate, help, entertain, and maybe even amuse you. The target reader is anyone involved or interested in the lawn care business. I 'll be discussing and posting links to articles that interest me and hopefully you.
I have run a small lawn service for about 12 years. The first seven were part time and the last five have been full time. It is what puts food on our family's table :) . I don't run a fleet of trucks with a crew of 40 men. I have a couple of part timers helping me and a box truck carrying 2 Dixie Chopper Zero Turn Mowers. I like my work and feel like I make a good living doing it. I worked in a couple of manufacturing plants before I went full time and they were pretty good jobs, but I don't miss them. I don't miss staring at the same walls and people everyday or punching a time clock. Most of the people I have worked with over the years were good people, which I liked, but listening to the same thoughts and ideas and stories everyday got old for me. I feel more free now because I can listen to the music / podcasts I choose at work. I can make my own schedule. I am off 99% of weekends. I still have a boss....... a lot of them.... they are called my customers :) . If my kids have a ball game, I can leave early to get there, even if i have to start the day earlier. Do I work harder now than at my "jobs"? I sure do , but don't mind it at all, because I am building something for myself & my family. I feel more in control of my income & job security. If I want a raise I just attempt to get more accounts or add more services. I don't have to worry about plant managers screwing things up and costing jobs in the form of layoffs. If screw up & lose an account then I only have myself to blame. There are many things that I don't like about lawn service (dust, heat, machine problems, sharpening blades, fuel prices). But the good (all the things previously mentioned and meeting new people) far outweighs the bad for me.
There is one website that has been very helpful to me since I have went full time and that is http://www.lawnsite.com. It is a community of lawn service providers sharing thoughts ideas, etc on a giant message board. I get no kick back from them by the way. Any links I post that I do receive some compensation, I will be sure to mention. That is all for this post. The next one will be out on Sunday Night. There will be 2 posts a week Sunday nights & Wednesday mornings. Wow I decided on the days in the time it took to type this out. Have a great week. Happy Independence Day!
Late
I have run a small lawn service for about 12 years. The first seven were part time and the last five have been full time. It is what puts food on our family's table :) . I don't run a fleet of trucks with a crew of 40 men. I have a couple of part timers helping me and a box truck carrying 2 Dixie Chopper Zero Turn Mowers. I like my work and feel like I make a good living doing it. I worked in a couple of manufacturing plants before I went full time and they were pretty good jobs, but I don't miss them. I don't miss staring at the same walls and people everyday or punching a time clock. Most of the people I have worked with over the years were good people, which I liked, but listening to the same thoughts and ideas and stories everyday got old for me. I feel more free now because I can listen to the music / podcasts I choose at work. I can make my own schedule. I am off 99% of weekends. I still have a boss....... a lot of them.... they are called my customers :) . If my kids have a ball game, I can leave early to get there, even if i have to start the day earlier. Do I work harder now than at my "jobs"? I sure do , but don't mind it at all, because I am building something for myself & my family. I feel more in control of my income & job security. If I want a raise I just attempt to get more accounts or add more services. I don't have to worry about plant managers screwing things up and costing jobs in the form of layoffs. If screw up & lose an account then I only have myself to blame. There are many things that I don't like about lawn service (dust, heat, machine problems, sharpening blades, fuel prices). But the good (all the things previously mentioned and meeting new people) far outweighs the bad for me.
There is one website that has been very helpful to me since I have went full time and that is http://www.lawnsite.com. It is a community of lawn service providers sharing thoughts ideas, etc on a giant message board. I get no kick back from them by the way. Any links I post that I do receive some compensation, I will be sure to mention. That is all for this post. The next one will be out on Sunday Night. There will be 2 posts a week Sunday nights & Wednesday mornings. Wow I decided on the days in the time it took to type this out. Have a great week. Happy Independence Day!
Late
Dry weather / Scheduling 2007
Here in Georgia, 2007 has been a dry year thus far, but the past 2 weeks has seen a good bit of rain (thankfully! & raining right now!). This is by far the driest season I have seen since I went full time into the lawn service business. We have been blessed with above average rainfall in 2003-2005 and 2006 was a little dry but average overall I'd say. I do mainly maintenance (mowing) on residential accounts with no contract. That is standard for my area, you like us , we like you. It would be nice to have a contract but I do not see it in my area. There are too many options (service providers), and many are part timers who can be very flexible in pricing and scheduling. So homeowners have the advantage of picking and choosing the options they want, which is good for them. Were I doing a business, a contract would be necessary to make sure all the basis were covered, especially if I were doing a year round service deal.
Of course different regions will require different schedules for maintenance. I have 3 different options.... weekly, every 10 days, every 2 weeks. The 2 week schedule is for "country yard" that get no fertilizing or sprinkler watering. The 10 day is a good "in between schedule" for lawns that get some watering and some fertilizing but not from a regular fertilizing company. The weekly schedule obviously works best for me since it is easier to maintain and produces more income. Any lawn that gets regular fertilizing needs weekly service in my opinion. A lawn with a lot of rain and fertilizer on a 2 week plan can make you have a long day!
When it is raining regularly I have had no problem getting new customers and keeping old ones. This season has been different, a few dropping off and not nearly as many new clients calling. Homeowners who want a super nice landscape will stay with the service, but some that see us (LCO - lawn care operations) as a necessary evil. And when that necessity runs out in the form of a drought they might drop you. They just want their grass cut and when it is not growing as much they don't see paying someone to cut what little growth they have. However that is a double edged sword. When it rains 2 or 3 time weekly and you have to double cut some of the grass to spread out the clippings, you can't charge extra can you? I can't. So I see it as a trade off. I will skip a weekly client's lawn if it is too dry and move back a 10 day plan to 2 weeks when needed. But a lawn on a 2 week plan has to be REALLY DRY to skip it. It is vital to explain this to the client when you first get them on board, especially if you don't have a contract. So at least when you have to drop habitual skippers from your schedule they will have been told the deal from the start. In short let them know that you are the decision maker when it comes to skipping because of dry weather not them. If it were left to some people they would let it get 3 ft tall then just call you up on Saturday and say , " the grass needs cutting now". Most people I deal with are great, really good people but you will run into people (& I have :) )who will take advantage of you. Without customers we are nothing, but there has to be guidelines or your business will fail.
Late,
Shane
http://www.georgialawncare.com
Of course different regions will require different schedules for maintenance. I have 3 different options.... weekly, every 10 days, every 2 weeks. The 2 week schedule is for "country yard" that get no fertilizing or sprinkler watering. The 10 day is a good "in between schedule" for lawns that get some watering and some fertilizing but not from a regular fertilizing company. The weekly schedule obviously works best for me since it is easier to maintain and produces more income. Any lawn that gets regular fertilizing needs weekly service in my opinion. A lawn with a lot of rain and fertilizer on a 2 week plan can make you have a long day!
When it is raining regularly I have had no problem getting new customers and keeping old ones. This season has been different, a few dropping off and not nearly as many new clients calling. Homeowners who want a super nice landscape will stay with the service, but some that see us (LCO - lawn care operations) as a necessary evil. And when that necessity runs out in the form of a drought they might drop you. They just want their grass cut and when it is not growing as much they don't see paying someone to cut what little growth they have. However that is a double edged sword. When it rains 2 or 3 time weekly and you have to double cut some of the grass to spread out the clippings, you can't charge extra can you? I can't. So I see it as a trade off. I will skip a weekly client's lawn if it is too dry and move back a 10 day plan to 2 weeks when needed. But a lawn on a 2 week plan has to be REALLY DRY to skip it. It is vital to explain this to the client when you first get them on board, especially if you don't have a contract. So at least when you have to drop habitual skippers from your schedule they will have been told the deal from the start. In short let them know that you are the decision maker when it comes to skipping because of dry weather not them. If it were left to some people they would let it get 3 ft tall then just call you up on Saturday and say , " the grass needs cutting now". Most people I deal with are great, really good people but you will run into people (& I have :) )who will take advantage of you. Without customers we are nothing, but there has to be guidelines or your business will fail.
Late,
Shane
http://www.georgialawncare.com
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