Commercial and/or residential?

[rixtag]

OK, here it goes. I have done both commercial and residential properties. I am in mid decision making about which to go full on with. What I would like to hear from all of you is which do you prefer, commercial or residential and why. I will not search for this because I want new perspectivesand new members to be able to have input. Thanks everyone in advance for your input and i look forward to hearing from you.

THANKS
Rick

[bob]

Ok, I won't say search this! Right now I have 75% commercial. When I started I was 100% residential. IMO commercial accounts are less stressfull than home owers. On a commercial account, if you cut the lawn their happy. On Mrs. Senior Citizen lawn, she'll nit-pick.

[65hoss]

I'm at about 85% residential, and growing everyday. I will say, homeowners are very quick to try to keep you from cutting weekly to save a couple of bucks. They do make stupid request and waste you time.

Commercial is very competitive and you could have a lowballer get it.

This said, I plan to start working more toward commercial soon.

[kutnkru]

We service both and I have to agree that Commercial/Industrial accounts are the way to fly. There is not as much loyalty as with Residentials, but the lack of bickering is well worth the effort in getting them.

I have recently found so far this season that its very simple either their budget can afford you or it cannot. Not, Well we'll have to see what we can afford and that we may not need all these services this year because we want to expand our deck.

Kris

[Evan528]

I will only take a commercial that is not being bid on. I dont waste my time bidding on commercials because the lowest bidder always wins and I know im far from the cheapest! Those type of commercials ussually get new bids every couple years so you can loose them at a drop of a hat... I take accounts that actually care about quality and have loyalty instead of just care about price.

[awm]

i prefer residential. was all set to go after some commercial accts .then got to reading post of how
they switch in a heartbeat, so ill stay with the few i have.

[cajuncutter]

I agree with Evan. The commercial accounts I have are the ones that approached me. They were looking for quaility and someone reliable. They hardly ever bother me. Matter of fact I never got so much as one phone call from one of mine last year. I send the bill and they send a check. I went up on the price this year, sent them a letter explaining the hike due to fuel costs and I never got a call for that. They just mailed the check..no questions asked. I do have to say around here in my area the large commercial accounts do want the cheapiest price and usually the low ballers get these so I just mainly stick with residential. I do not mind granny comming out for a quick chat..just as long as she pays her bill I am happy

[joshua]

personly in my area most commercial accounts want the lowest bid and they take that, so unless its just me bidding on it i will if not the chance of getting it is slim to none, just to many lowballers in my area. when i go to a residential house i make sure they know what i expect from them and what they expect from me , meaning that i can cut it 4 or 5 days in the spring and when needed in the summer. right now i'm about 60% residentail and loving it, all of my customers love to see my truck pull up to the yard, same with the commercials.

i would have to say if youi have the right residentail customers you will love cutitng for them aand they will want you back every year. good luck with what you decide.

[skyphoto]

I have 100% commercial and really like them....They do not watch your every move out the living room window,Dont care what time of day you mow,and instead of 50 stops on a residental route I have 4 Large business accounts the less people I can deal with the better!

Peace!

[thelawnguy]

If you dont mind wondering whether you will retain customers year to year go commercial. If the thought of quoting jobs every spring turns your stomach then stick with residential, I find that, in general, folks dont switch lawn services unless you screw up in a major way.

[rixtag]

Thanks everybody for all of your input and for the rest of you...Show me the posts!!!!

Rick

[Acute Cut]

How can so many of you be losing so many accounts? I guess i dont understand. Sure i have roll over due to family finances and ppl moving, but no one ever underbids me. I NEVER have ppl watching me out windows and stuff. I have about 60 residentials and 3 commercials to date (Cut a bunch of crappy customers from last year) and i know they are pretty loyal. If your customers are price shopping after you have worked for them then you are the problem. Stop blameing them and turn that finger inwards. Honestly guys, do you think every customer just waits to nit pick when you come? NO! You must have done something wrong. I know 1 person on my route like that, and i told her that i had it all under control and would take care of it. She was welcome to call me when ever she had any questions or was unhappy with my service. She calls me alright, wondering if i would bury her cat now, or fix a light in her house. lol.

COmmercials make money, Residentials form a net.
I dont depend on any ONE or TWO of my jobs to carry me through a year. Only get what i can afford. Residentials are nice if i were to actually lose a commercial account. I can fall back on them and still be just fine.

[summitgroundskeeping]

We do strictly residential. Commercial accounts are too hard to get, have to low ball, not worth it. Residentials are quick, they are very appriciative when you do good job (thank you's go a long way), and I like them more because they tend to be more chalanging (not boring).

[Artis Palmer]

One thing we did this year with our residental clients was offer a two year agreement and about 50% the the clients signed up for it. We will offer the same for next year.
We are about 90% residental. The incentive was to hold the price for next. If you did not committ to a two year agreement you can expect a price increase.
We have been in the business about five years and have not raised prices often but should have last year.
More of our clients are great. Some of the ones that were late payers and nic-pickers are no longer. we do tell some of them that we are not provider you are looking to service you. Residentals usually pay on time and are dependable.
An Artis Touch.

[leeslawncare]

how do you guys find out when a comm property is up for bids???

[CSRA Landscaping]

I go for whatever I can get, meaning commercial or residential, not trash. I figure a nice, healthy mix of them will result in some form of security for my biz. If I have three huge commercial accounts and I lose one, it hurts a lot more than if I have 30 res. and lose one or two.
As far as how do I find out, I usually give them a call if it looks like it needs some TLC and they're usually open.

[charrod]

Good question. Is there some kind of service that provides lists of accounts up for bid by state, city, town?

[mowerman90]

Acute Cut

As I am always looking for ways to expand my list of services, I was just wondering, what's the going rate to bury a cat?

[AVRECON]

Cat burying is free unless you inbalm it. LOL! Hell, if you can stand 30 minutes to do it, that'll probably be a customer forever. I have some that are the same way. Last time it snowed, I went to get a half gal. vodka for the lady cause she couldn't get out.

[Acute Cut]

Mowerman:
Depends on the customer. If it is a cute girl my age then it is free. Otherwise it costs a batch of cookies or maybe a loaf of homeade bread. This lady is a "customer for life" as it was so aptly put.

By going the extra yard i am ensureing a good customer return rate. Ya, i spend an extra 5 minutes once a month, but how long will they keep me and put food on my table or a roof over my head. I am never so good that i think that i cannot survive without my customers. Give and ye shall recieve.

AVRECON: funny. lol.

Mowerman, do you drink lattes? Do you tip them after you get a drink? How about a waiter that goes out of his way to make sure that you are having a good meal? Tip better? Why is it then that we think that we can do less and expect more? Do you (meant in general to all) think that you are so good that they cant replace you? Come on. Get real. You mow the damned lawn for goodness sake. A nice mow is NOT what keeps us in business. If you think it is then you are sadly mistaken. (Eric is the exception i am sure, lol) IT is the service providers that are totally aware of thier customers that get and keep the jobs. I know i am NOT the best in town. Far from it. Heck, i am only a step above a scrub but with bigger mowers. I know it is because i remember thier names, thier dogs names, thier kids names, and so forth that keeps me in business. "Hey there mr. jones. How is that leg doing? (reply) Hows the wife? (reply) Hows your son doing in the construction business these days with the economy so haywire?(reply again)"

Then i mow the lawn. he knows that i care. I will ask the same questions (as appropriate) and keep them close. 'Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer' Ever heard that one? The customers are not the enemey exactly, but you get the idea.

Anyone agree or disagree? I would LOVE to hear it.

[WLC]

I'd give 'em a bulk rate discount!!! lol

[thelawnguy]

Originally posted by charrod
Good question. Is there some kind of service that provides lists of accounts up for bid by state, city, town?

Check the legal notices in your local paper.

State of CT dept of corrections put out a bid notice this am for the headquarters in Wethersfield-6 acres, mow mulch shrubs etc if anyone in Central CT is interested email me for specifics or check this am's Hartford Courant.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I try for a 50-50% mix. That takes care of the problem of commercial accts. wanting to be done the first part of the week and the residential wanting to be done at the end.

[rixtag]

Greenquest, could elaborate on that a little? How does that ratio keep from having the customer wanting the lawn done on a particular day?

Rick

[John from OH]

[By going the extra yard i am ensureing a good customer return rate. Ya, i spend an extra 5 minutes once a month, but how long will they keep me and put food on my table or a roof over my head. I am never so good that i think that i cannot survive without my customers. Give and ye shall recieve.



How about a waiter that goes out of his way to make sure that you are having a good meal? Tip better? Why is it then that we think that we can do less and expect more? Do you (meant in general to all) think that you are so good that they cant replace you? Come on. Get real. You mow the damned lawn for goodness sake. A nice mow is NOT what keeps us in business. If you think it is then you are sadly mistaken. (Eric is the exception i am sure, lol) IT is the service providers that are totally aware of thier customers that get and keep the jobs

Amen!

[Avery]

We are currently at 99% commercial 1% residential. Only residential we do are homes of the commercial property managers. Commercial works for us because Scrubs cannot compete in that market. They cannot afford the insurance/labor/equipment it takes to do the job. There are too many retirees here with Craftsman mowers willing to cut home lawns for $10 a pop.

Landscape design/install is our bread and butter but commercial maintenance provides steady year round cash flow.

[rixtag]

Thanks everybody for your input and definitely for the other points of view. Have a good day and happy mowing!!

Rick