Just starting

[farmerkev]

Hey everyone, I have been at plowsite for a while, and decided to join here as well. I am only 16, and had a few yards two years ago, they dwindled down to 2 or three, and this year, I really want to get into it with the best case scenario being 10-15 yards,working two days a week, I am still not sure how to advetise, think I will have customers and family spread the word. I have read alot of good info and there is plenty more to read on this site. I would like to know a few things, how do you price most yards, and seeing how I need a new mower, what should I look for for residentials.

[huntlawncare]

you would be better to start with residental then let word of mouth take over to advertise

[farmerkev]

I may have phrased that wrong, but that is my plan, I mow for a few residential properties, they can let other possible costomers know how well I do. One customer was going to see if they could find me more buiseness, never did though. I have a few people I have been told might be interested.

[Fahzu]

Kev, I know there are a lot of members with more experience than me and you're going to get lots of feedback...here's how I started 3 years ago. Make a flyer on the computer that takes up half a page so you can fit 2 on a piece of copy paper. Make copies onto card stock or some thicker paper, put them in a sandwich bag with some rocks and throw them into driveways. I know, that's cheesy and pretty unprofessional to most who will read this, but I got my first accounts that way...sorry. I don't do those anymore but for every 100 I did I would get 3 to 5 calls (better than my phone listing). We're pretty dense here in Southern California and most houses sit on about 1/10 to 1/4 acre lots. 15 - 30 minutes to edge, mow, blow. $25 per hour. 4 visits per month. Then go from there if the customer wants to add services to that. That was just a guideline that got me started. After that I started adding more for the cost of doing business. Don't know what your properties are like in your town but the ones I am talking about are track homes. Hope you can use some of that info. Mower: I'm using a Honda Commercial 21". Pretty heavy but practically bullet proof in my opinion.

[mnickison]

Another thing you can do, is offer referal discounts. Someone might say they will try to find more business for you, but they dont. They are more likely to find more business for you if they bennefit from it. You will have to set rules and limits into place, such as new customer must schedule X amount of mows or sign a season contract. The amount of discount you give is based on how much you are willing to "pay" for a new account. Hope this helps.