What is the best way to get a commercial lawn?

[cuttingmaniac22]

Hey, guys right now I do only residential lawns but want to make some more money and get my name out there more. Could you maybe give me some advice on how to snag a commercial lawn or 2 or 3 or 8! thanks again!

[jgtxusa]

The famous old want to make more and go comm. Go cold call and get in on the bids.

[Metro Lawn]

The simple fact of the matter is that there is more money to be made with residential work. The prices we get for commercial are less per acre than residential. We do them because it comes back with the snow removal. If you really want them, go talk to them in the spring and offer to give them a bid. They will want to see proof of insurance and workmans comp in most cases.

[TClawn]

a lot of people will not like me saying this. but I would bid one at your cost, to get in to the commercial market, then you have a refferal. all commercials managers like to see that you do other commercial property's.

for the next season, bump the property you did at cost up to your regular rate, or drop them.

let the flaming begin. but it has worked for several friends of mine who wanted to get started with commercials.

[justanotherlawnguy]

Be the lowballer.................Commercial is cut throat....

[LB1234]

a lot of people will not like me saying this. but I would bid one at your cost, to get in to the commercial market, then you have a refferal. all commercials managers like to see that you do other commercial property's.

for the next season, bump the property you did at cost up to your regular rate, or drop them.

let the flaming begin. but it has worked for several friends of mine who wanted to get started with commercials.

I'm not going to 'flame' you for this. You provided an opinion. Ain't nothin wrong with that.

[PROCUT1]

Be the lowballer.................Commercial is cut throat....


I second this wise mans statement......

Just take what you think the job goes for, cut that price in half, add in a whole bunch of extras at less money than your cost........Then minus $100 from the whole thing and you may be close to the winning bidder..

[Tyner Lawn Service]

I second this wise mans statement......

Just take what you think the job goes for, cut that price in half, add in a whole bunch of extras at less money than your cost........Then minus $100 from the whole thing and you may be close to the winning bidder.. I second that, with few exceptions in this day and age you do commercial accounts cheap to get them. You need to know someone or be in the right place at the right time to get them. I'm not saying you can't but you give away alot. The only way to make good money on comm. is do volume work and hope that your help stays around.

[Jpocket]

Bid them so you can get the job but also, so you don't lose your shirt. If you keep your overhead low, you can make a little money, I find when I bid commercials I normally over bid a couple aspects of the contract like mowing and mulching, then under bid extras like leaf clean up, fert, and shrub trimming. Then price the Snow competattive as well.

[Tyner Lawn Service]

Bid them so you can get the job but also, so you don't lose your shirt. If you keep your overhead low, you can make a little money, I find when I bid commercials I normally over bid a couple aspects of the contract like mowing and mulching, then under bid extras like leaf clean up, fert, and shrub trimming. Then price the Snow competattive as well.If you get the right property manager that might work but I get the ones who look at each job and want the figures close to each bid. I actually had a manager once tell me my mowing was close but the fertilizer was way too high so I told her I would fert for free which would give me the properties. She said she could not do that because I would loose money or the job would suffer. I ask her what she thought the low bidder doing just a different way. DUH!!!

[MMLawn]

We are 80% commercial and at the bid meetings it is alwasy us, a couple other big local companies and then of course Brickman and Tru Brown. So, since you are only 15 years old I seriously doubt you'll be able to land any true commercial accts.

[daveintoledo]

wait a few years and try again..... do you have proof of insurance, fert and pest licence, workers comp..... cant get most of the things you need until you turn 18

[evergreenedmond]

I agree with Dave you might be a little too young. Enjoy not having the headache of commercials for a few more years.

[PROCUT1]

Just remember, most lawnguys for some reason dont feel like "real landscapers" unless they get these "prestigious" commercial accounts...

So now you have the same guys without a clue that are bringing down the commercial market that brought down the residential market..

[daveintoledo]

Just remember, most lawnguys for some reason dont feel like "real landscapers" unless they get these "prestigious" commercial accounts...

So now you have the same guys without a clue that are bringing down the commercial market that brought down the residential market..


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[rodfather]

So, since you are only 15 years old I seriously doubt you'll be able to land any true commercial accts.

Mike's right. I don't know of any state that allows a 15 year old to sign a legal binding contract.

[lawnsbyrj]

what i find is that you have got to be doing commericals to get to do commercials, so if you know an insider somewhere, like me was an old boss and my moms work is a manufatuering facility

[gman44]

Cold calling is a good method , be prepared to show a copy of your liability insurance when you submit a bid . Here in Ct the state has a website that posts requests for bids on every kind of service including lawn and snow work . The aplication is long , but , all you need to be is the lowest bidder .The contracts are locked in for three years . Those jobs are also great on a referal sheet .

[Total Lawn & Landscape]

Anyone know if Oklahoma has a site like CT, for the commercial bidding of properties?

[TClawn]

Mike's right. I don't know of any state that allows a 15 year old to sign a legal binding contract.

ya, he is correct. the only way you get in to start with under that, is if you mow the HOA president's yard, and he asks you to bid on their common areas.

wait until you are 18. I am in your same position. and it is just waste of time. you will not be able to do the account for much less than another business that is legal. and they will hire the person over 18 every time. they have liability issures with a minor working on a commercial property. not so with someone over 18. just target residentials right now.

[cuttingmaniac22]

Thanks guys for all ur advice, yes me being 15 will have a big roll played into getiing one, but mostley i will only be doing small commercial because i live in a very small town that has a couple restauraunts and a Caseys. I might give it a try just to see but if i don't get them I will not be disappointed. Thanks again and if u have more adivice please share it.