Learning Experience

[Infinite]

This is my 1st year in business in lawn care. Anyways the grass is growing slow and dying out in Ohio because of the extreme heat conditions and my customers are calling and telling me not to come for two weeks or even longer. This has to stop, I am losing money. Anyways what do you guys do about this(set up some sort of contract mowing every week or every ten days no matter what)?

[Mo Green]

Find other things to do for your customers........mulch, weeding beds, trimming shrubs, clean-ups, etc.........

[LawnBrother]

I sneak out at night and water their grass while they are sleeping :sleeping:

[griffy77]

Hello from West Virginia.

We have been suffering the same here too. I had a feeling this was going to be a hot season so I staggered my customers over a 10 day mowing cycle, however I have a few that need it every week. At first it seems a little crazy keeping up but once the heat hits and every thing slows down we have enough work to keep busy. Also I line up enough mulch jobs that pay more than mowing and that helps out. We did several mulch jobs last week when it was so dry that made us more money than mowing. If you bid it right there is big money to be made in mulch. Also get some Sahara and charge to spray their fence lines. Its a win win deal, you get paid for the treatment and then you dont have to weed eat, just mow and go$$$. We have had alot of rain from these hurricanes blowing through so things should start to green up. Dont get discouraged. Next year stagger your accounts out over a 10 day cycle.

[topsites]

I had this problem my first year in virginia doing lawncare (2001). It was dry and I'm going to be real blunt:
- If it doesn't rain, then the grass doesn't grow.
- If the grass doesn't grow, then it doesn't need cutting.

We're getting regular rain here now but as of a week ago, it had not rained for a month and most my accounts went on 2-4 week schedules.
This is normal.

Far as a learning experience, this is what I learned:
Learn how to save your money.

Hell we just went through a Grand spring where I grossed a Record 15 thousand dollars in 3 months, so what's the problem, right?

In my case, I worked for years delivering pizza and washing dishes at a restaurant while I saved 5 thousand dollars. This money helped me get started but the skill I learned also is an invaluable tool in not only lawncare but any business: Dry spells / slow business is normal and can and will happen to you. If you can survive 4-6 months with almost no income, that is good, but 12-24 months is even better. The longer you can tough out the hard times, the less your chances of being part of the herd that thins out.

Learn to reduce your cost of living.
Good luck.

[Bgaz]

We are located in Cincinnat and have cut some of our lawns once every 3 weeks for the past 9 weeks. Nothing you can do about it. Find other work to do for the customers and do the daily rain dance :blob3:

Finally got some rain, over 2" at my place, so now we will be mowing weekly for at least the next few weeks.

[Billz]

Try signing up all new customers for a seasonal price...then if it doesn't need to be mowed, great...same money, but less work. I have had alot of success this year doing this.

[C&KLawnCare]

I grossed a Record 15 thousand dollars in 3 months

15 grand in 3 mnths boy you are so ate up its not funny

Edited: watch your language. jodi

[lawnandplow42]

Find other things to do for your customers........mulch, weeding beds, trimming shrubs, clean-ups, etc.........

yup, this is what i was going to say

[mad_wrestler]

That is not a far fetched number... Do ya'll not like this guy? This is my first year and that just doesn't seem out of reach for us next year. We are doing a minimum of 4 a month.

[65hoss]

[QUOTE=C&KLawnCare 15 grand in 3 mnths boy you are so ate up its not funny[/QUOTE]


How about BS to you. Sure you can gross $15k in 3 months. Actually, that really isn't very hard if you are full time for more than 1 season. Like yourself. I've done more than $15k in 3 months this year. Actually, the longer you are in this business the easier that becomes and you actually better be doing at least $5k per month.
$2000 per week(ain't real hard even solo after a few yrs) X 4 weeks=$8000
$8000 X 3 months= $24,000
Remember that is gross, not net.

[marionlandscape]

this is our first year and we passed that number up right out of the gates we just opened in mid march why is it so hard to believe?

[jimslawns]

I will say that 15K in 3 months isn't that great for gross, net might be okay though.

PT I'm doing just fine :waving:

[Green-Pro]

65hoss

How about BS to you. Sure you can gross $15k in 3 months. Actually, that really isn't very hard if you are full time for more than 1 season. Like yourself. I've done more than $15k in 3 months this year. Actually, the longer you are in this business the easier that becomes and you actually better be doing at least $5k per month.
$2000 per week(ain't real hard even solo after a few yrs) X 4 weeks=$8000
$8000 X 3 months= $24,000
Remember that is gross, not net.

jimslawns I will say that 15K in 3 months isn't that great for gross, net might be okay though.

I'd have to go with these thoughts/inputs also. This is my first year, solo, fulltime and I think 15k is easily attainable in three months, especially as gross. In fact as 65Hoss & Jim pointed out would be actually low IMO.

-Geoff

[C&KLawnCare]

How about BS to you. Sure you can gross $15k in 3 months. Actually, that really isn't very hard if you are full time for more than 1 season. Like yourself. I've done more than $15k in 3 months this year. Actually, the longer you are in this business the easier that becomes and you actually better be doing at least $5k per month.

I was not meaning no one could make that amount , I was directing it to Mr Million dollar yard's that has more bare spots than a cat thats been fightiing with raccon's , Mr talks Big time operator but never has ever produced a company name, So the fellows could see , Mr hot shots big time yellow page ad, I judt do not buy anything topsites has to say , He admits to never using contracts , Hates buisness card's ,Hates truck sign's . And every damn pic of a mowing job is from the same damn yard , Now wouldnt you think that a man that can gross 15K in 3 mnths could cough up more lawn job pic's than just one yard.

Sure 15 grand is possiable but not by Topsites their has been many of post i read where others said his figures never added up.

[griffy77]

I dont understand this slamming each other. This site is for pros, that do this kind of work for a living not charity. 15grand grossed in 3 months isnt much. This is my first year and we gross hell of alot more than that in 3 months!! If you bid your jobs right there is no reason one cant bring in on average 2000 a week just in residential. We are planning on going full commercial and its nothing to make a 1000 dollars a cut!!

Screw those $25 yards. Thats for kids. If you plan on doing this for a living and are licensed and insured you shouldnt stop your truck for less than $50 if you do you are losing.

[65hoss]

I was not meaning no one could make that amount , I was directing it to Mr Million dollar yard's that has more bare spots than a cat thats been fightiing with raccon's , Mr talks Big time operator but never has ever produced a company name, So the fellows could see , Mr hot shots big time yellow page ad, I judt do not buy anything topsites has to say , He admits to never using contracts , Hates buisness card's ,Hates truck sign's . And every damn pic of a mowing job is from the same damn yard , Now wouldnt you think that a man that can gross 15K in 3 mnths could cough up more lawn job pic's than just one yard.

Sure 15 grand is possiable but not by Topsites their has been many of post i read where others said his figures never added up.
Ok, you have been paying attention to something else about this guy to make that statement. Sorry I jumped you. I thought you were saying it isn't possible.

[ALarsh]

Screw those $25 yards. Thats for kids. If you plan on doing this for a living and are licensed and insured you shouldnt stop your truck for less than $50 if you do you are losing.

:dizzy: http://cclawnservice.com/Personal/Funny/bsflag.gif

[daveintoledo]

:dizzy: http://cclawnservice.com/Personal/Funny/bsflag.gif


when you getto know topsites, you will understand.....

[ALarsh]

Look at who I quoted..........

[C&KLawnCare]

Screw those $25 yards. Thats for kids. If you plan on doing this for a living and are licensed and insured you shouldnt stop your truck for less than $50 if you do you are losing.

Good thinking if all area's could and would bare that amount , I have a few $35-$70.00 range yard's 1-$500.00 Job . bidding on a $725.00 Grave yard job for next season . In alot of places you cannot pass up under $50.00 yard's or your equipment will be sitting and so will you .

Ok, you have been paying attention to something else about this guy to make that statement. Sorry I jumped you. I thought you were saying it isn't possible.

Apology accepted , Yes i have been paying attention to a few squirrel feed people on here lol Not to mention names but their initials are TS and FW , LOL :)