Start-up looking for some advice

[Precise]

I was wondering if you can list your average response rate for begining of season flyers. I am looking to put out 10,000 strategicly and am trying to figure how many accounts i can plan on getting. I am a new start up company and am trying to build my business in many different ways. But our first marketing step is flyers and maybe some door to door residential sales. Tell me if you have any advice or ideas for me. I live in ohio and there is still snow on the ground so i am a little weary about the flyers till the customer can see green.

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

Normal rate is about 2%. 10,000 x .02 = 200. Now this is a guess on the responses but I hope you can keep up and don't get in over your head.

[Precise]

2% would be nice. i have also been hearing 1% and was just wondering if i can get quite a few different opions and take the mean average that way i can get real accurate number to work with. Just like you said i dont want to be in over my head i want to strategize for the worst hope for the best and plan, plan, plan ahead.

[TXNSLighting]

really 1-2% is the average.

[Precise]

a good question also is how many lawns do you generally get out of your response

[sdelorey494103]

The best way ive done it is by word of mouth. That has worked the best for me

[TXNSLighting]

well im puttin out 1000 door hangers when they get in. if i can get 10-20 customers ill be happy. if you put out 10,000 you will probly get 100-200 calls. but thats not guaranteed.

[TXNSLighting]

word of mouth is also great. and an ad in the paper does pretty good to.

[sdelorey494103]

Can you tell me how much I should charge an hour for my first official year for all landscaping work?

[Precise]

what does that mean all landscaping work?

[sdelorey494103]

Mowing, mulching, Bush trimming, edging, small tree transplant, small tree trimming and cutting down of and any odd job basicaly. I did a little landscaping last year and now im trying to get more clients.

[TXNSLighting]

mine is $55 an hour.

[sdelorey494103]

How long did it take you to establish that price? did you start off small?

[ACutAbovesiny]

I was wondering if you can list your average response rate for begining of season flyers. I am looking to put out 10,000 strategicly and am trying to figure how many accounts i can plan on getting. I am a new start up company and am trying to build my business in many different ways. But our first marketing step is flyers and maybe some door to door residential sales. Tell me if you have any advice or ideas for me. I live in ohio and there is still snow on the ground so i am a little weary about the flyers till the customer can see green.

1-2% is about right for response but you need to close those 100-200 phone calls. Make sure your price is right...if everyone is excepting than there is a problem.

[TXNSLighting]

i started off almost 4 years ago at 40 an hour...that didnt last long. bumped it to 45 a month later. the next year went to 50, now im at 55. yes, definately need to close those calls. it doesnt matter how many of them call you, its how many say yes to your price.

[Mow2nd-2]

i charge $65 an hour, but make sure you give the customer a full price including materials and not tell them your hourly rate. so if you think it will take you 2 hours to do the job i.e. i chagre 65 per hour 65x2=130+material cost= grand total you charge

[sdelorey494103]

Well then like 25-30 is realy cheap. Because i was charging 20 last summer. Im only 18 so i got a lot of time to develope if i stay motivated.

[TXNSLighting]

i was 19 when i started and i was 40 an hour...so you need to bump up.

[Mow2nd-2]

the way i figured my hourly rate was i took how many yards i could cut on average in 1 hour, which for me is 2. then times that by how much i would make on average with the yards, which for me is $60-$70. thats an easy way to figure an hourly rate

[sdelorey494103]

Ya I will do that. How do you handle the customers that u already did work for for 20 an hour?

[echeandia]

How long did it take you to establish that price? did you start off small?

Starting out small does not mean selling your services for minimum wage. Small means a $4000 truck, a used commercial WB mower, an 8 ft trailer. Big means multiple crews with all new equipment. Both of these companies will be charging almost the same price to cut the same lawn.

[sdelorey494103]

Good point Thankyou

[TXNSLighting]

Ya I will do that. How do you handle the customers that u already did work for for 20 an hour?

you bump them up, if they leave, then you dont want them anyways. get more lawns first tho...

[Mow2nd-2]

you have to slowly raise the price on the prior customers if you spike your price all the way up they won't be happy, slowly they won't care so much just explain you have to go up to cover your gas costs because of prices at the pump increasing and most won't say a word.

[sdelorey494103]

I have another quick question....


What type of records do you need to keep for taxes?

[echeandia]

What type of records do you need to keep for taxes?

You need to keep track of dollar you spend and every dollar you take in. If you use a program like QuickBooks you can bring the data to you accountant. Please speak to one.

[Mow2nd-2]

yeah keep track of everything coming in and going out. i use quick books and strongly recommend it

[TXNSLighting]

agree with both. and mileage.

[sdelorey494103]

Alright sounds good