What to do about a potential customer 26 miles away?

[tsh1773]

All of my 20 accounts (part timer) are within a 5 mile radius. Got a call today from a guy who lives 26 miles away, wants a quote to do a .5 acre yard. Should I charge him roundtrip mileage (say 50 cents per mile) extra or just tell him it's out of my range.

[sheshovel]

Depends on if you want to do a .5 yard thats a 46 mile round trip for you.This question should answer itself.

[rodfather]

No brainer...move on.

[CutInEdge Lawn Care]

move on!! If you average 10-12mpg it doesnt take much to do the math.

[drsogr]

You could fit in a whole other job in the travel time.

[HOOLIE]

Pass on this one...easily over $10 alone in gas for the trip, plus all the time, plus...just too darn far away.

[topsites]

Only way I go out of my area is for larger projects, he'd need at least 240 dollars worth of work for me to consider it.

[MOW ED]

The only way to make that profitable is to have a contract for full service work. You know spring clean, fert and weed control, mow, landscape maint. fall clean. The best thing then is that a few of this guys neighbors want you to work for them too. Don't completely discount the offer as you may be able to make a few stops in that area and spend a day making money. If it is an untapped market you could do well. But if its just for one .5 acre mow I'd politely explain and then pass. Good Luck.

[StBalor]

It depends, Is there potential to pick up more customers in this community? I have a community that i work in once a week that is 22 miles away. But when i go there, i do 14 lawns. All small yards paying good money. So it is worth it to me.
If you don't have much work, take it. Flood the area with flyers. See if you get any hits. If not, tell the guy you will have to discontinue services.

[MarcSmith]

26 miles each way @ 13 miles per gallon, thats 4 gallons each cut, just driving, @ 25 cuts per year, 100 gallons of gas @ 3.00 per gallon. so right out of the box its gonna cost you $300 bucks to service the account.

[JS Landscaping]

I received a call at the begining of last season for property maintenence about a half hour away from where we are located. When I went down to check it out and found out it was in a nice area, wealthy homes we took it on. The first few weeks it was the only account we serviced in that area, now that area is one of our most profitable places, full of high end residential maintence and design/build work. If I had turned down that lawn at the begining of last year there is no way I would have picked up all this work and accounts. Look at it as if it has potential for growth in the area. Bid accuratly so you dont loose money, but if you get it, advertize yourself well and lock out the area. This tactic has proven itself time and time again for my company....Good luck :usflag:



James
JS Landscaping

[ArkansasLawns]

If there is a chance for more accounts in that area you might consider it.

I had my wife's boss 18 miles away. Now I have two days of high paying accounts in a posh area. No weeds and the grass is always green. I almost never see the home owners, yearly mulch and flower planting. Oh, did I mention that I am making more by driving 18 miles than in the area I live. You just never know.

[K.Carothers]

Depends on if you want to do a .5 yard thats a 46 mile round trip for you.This question should answer itself.

Move on.............



Well She, I can't beleive with agree on 2 in a row.

There must be a God!


kc