Where to start

[goog]

Hi,
I started a lawn company this summer and have been doing mostly mowing, gardening and fall cleaning. Next year I want to start a full service program where I do all mowing, aeration, cleaning as well as fertilizer and weed/pest control. So I have some questions
1. Has anyone tried combining all lawn services into one seasonal fee (I was thinking about $1000 per lawn per season) 2. Should I even attempt trying to fertilizer and spray with 4 months of winter to learn almost everything and 3. If I can gain enough knowledge to do a competent job where should I being to get some information (besides the licenses test).
Doing everything seems like a good way to increase loyalty while pushing up margins- hopefully it can be done.
Anyways thanks:)

[americanlawn]

Congradulations....sounds like you care & plan to offer quality services. Keep in mind that the more services you offer, more equipment is needed. These expenses quickly add up.

As far as charging an annual price.... I don't like it. We prefer to charge per mowing, per application, and XX$ per hour for labor intensive jobs. That way nobody gets burned. Some guys charge a flat fee for snow removal, but you know how that can go....one party will always get burned.

In California, many LCO's offer several services and often charge an annual fee. But they don't deal with so many variables. Food for thought.

As far as chemical app's....I say go for it. It's not rocket science, and your local suppliers can guide you. My 2 cents worth. Good luck buddy, and "hat's off" to you for taking the risks needed to start a business. :usflag:

p.s. Welcome to lawnsite. :waving:

Hi,
I started a lawn company this summer and have been doing mostly mowing, gardening and fall cleaning. Next year I want to start a full service program where I do all mowing, aeration, cleaning as well as fertilizer and weed/pest control. So I have some questions
1. Has anyone tried combining all lawn services into one seasonal fee (I was thinking about $1000 per lawn per season) 2. Should I even attempt trying to fertilizer and spray with 4 months of winter to learn almost everything and 3. If I can gain enough knowledge to do a competent job where should I being to get some information (besides the licenses test).
Doing everything seems like a good way to increase loyalty while pushing up margins- hopefully it can be done.
Anyways thanks:)

[tlg]

Flat fees for the season worries me. It can be done , but you need to specify what that fee includes and that any additional services not covered will be an extra charge. There are a lot of variables to consider. A property needs can change over and over through the season. Lets say a tree falls down on the property you service. Is it covered under a flat fee? I would say no. The customer might say yes if it's not specified. Lets say you included fertilizing the lawn in your flat rate. A major grub outbreak occurs and it needs insecticide. The customer might think it's included in their flat rate charge if you don't specify it. As far as adding the fertilizing part to your business there are options here also. Assuming you can learn fast and have some training doing applications you could do it yourself. If your not sure about your ability to doing the work yourself, subbing out the fert work can save you a lot of aggravation. Good Luck.

[Hoots]

Don't pull a number out of thin air. You say $1000 per season per yard for the package. Do some quick math. $30 per mow x 30 cuts per season=$900.

You will be out of business before you start your truck tomorrow morning.

Go talk to some suppliers to get your product costs and then figure out how much any property will cost you per 1000 square feet. Then come up with your trip costs, other overhead (truck spreader sprayer etc.) and your profit margin goal.

You need to come up with a rough sketch of a contract if you want a flat fee per property. Then take it to an attorney to get the legal language in there. I have several people that like the idea of a 12 month payment plan because the total cost is spread out equally through the year. This is perfect for a budget.

Back up one step now. You say you just completed your first season of mowing and want to go big and do it all. I think you need to spend this winter studying and take some turf classes to understand what and howyou are doing.

There is good money in this profession when done correctly, but if you are not 100% correct on applications of chemicals, you will need to find another profession.

Good luck.

BTW......Look through all the previous posts in this section and then ask some more questions. Some in this group don't like "freeloader" answer seekers.

[turf hokie]

Alot of companies I know will line item what is included in the annual service program, anything not listed is additional upon request. They will then break down those services into a monthly payment 8-10-12 whatever works for you.

So kinda what has been said. It is ok to do that just list what is included and be sure to say that if it is not specifically INcluded then it is EXcluded and would be additional.

[Whitey4]

I offer a monthly set payment plan. I have a sort of "standard program" that I offer, which I did this year, my first as a legit pesticide company. I priced each property differently, but they were all similar in terms of turf area.

Next year, I will customize my "standard apps" program for each property. For instance, those with a (now known) history of crabgrass will get 2 pre-M's next year. Insect and grub control wasn't in my regular programs, but will be on those accounts that had issues with those pests this year.

I also used two broadleaf weed apps, one in the late spring, another for winter weeds. I price out what each app and service will be, and turn that into 10 monthly plan payments. I specifically state what is in the plan, and explain that ANY other services will incurr additional charges.

I like this for a couple reasons. I am still getting checks in January. It boosts my low app months like July and August revenues. One could say I am financing my customers, and in fact, I am to some degree. They pay more in March for less actual service, but are ahead of the game at the end of the year.

I also let people use payment plans for new planting installs.

I had one customer (not on the plan) that got a fert app, a billbug app, a fungicide app, a pruning bill and 4 mows in one bill. He had sticker shock.

As far as getting into apps.... I took a 30 hour course (also took ornamental hort for 2 years a long time ago), and then spent the entire winter reading, researching and asking questions. Look at how many posts I have... I don't post nearly as much now, but I learned a lot right here. Some people didn't like it much... they got over it, I think. I still have much to learn, but I think I am already better than a lot of my local competition.

Good luck.

[ted putnam]

I offer a monthly set payment plan. I have a sort of "standard program" that I offer, which I did this year, my first as a legit pesticide company. I priced each property differently, but they were all similar in terms of turf area.

Next year, I will customize my "standard apps" program for each property. For instance, those with a (now known) history of crabgrass will get 2 pre-M's next year. Insect and grub control wasn't in my regular programs, but will be on those accounts that had issues with those pests this year.

I also used two broadleaf weed apps, one in the late spring, another for winter weeds. I price out what each app and service will be, and turn that into 10 monthly plan payments. I specifically state what is in the plan, and explain that ANY other services will incurr additional charges.

I like this for a couple reasons. I am still getting checks in January. It boosts my low app months like July and August revenues. One could say I am financing my customers, and in fact, I am to some degree. They pay more in March for less actual service, but are ahead of the game at the end of the year.

I also let people use payment plans for new planting installs.

I had one customer (not on the plan) that got a fert app, a billbug app, a fungicide app, a pruning bill and 4 mows in one bill. He had sticker shock.

As far as getting into apps.... I took a 30 hour course (also took ornamental hort for 2 years a long time ago), and then spent the entire winter reading, researching and asking questions. Look at how many posts I have... I don't post nearly as much now, but I learned a lot right here. Some people didn't like it much... they got over it, I think. I still have much to learn, but I think I am already better than a lot of my local competition.

Good luck.

...Yea, I'll have to agree! You were starting to piss me off with all the questions last Winter. I'm glad you finally stopped all that nonsense....:laugh: (kidding)

[goog]

Sorry, should have been more specific for my pricing scheme. The fee would be dependent on the size of property ect. and services explicitly stated before I start anything. I would also break down the rate into monthly installments ie. mow 4 times a month(100-$150)+ fertilizer( No idea what this cost yet) + seasonal work ie aeration( 200ish divided by each moth of the plan). There is about seven months of workable season here so about 1000-1300/7 or about $150-180/month or $100/month for biweekly cuts. Really no one wants to hand over $1300 at the start and I don't want to bill someone for that much anyways; seems to large all at once.

Anyways is their any books, resources ect. that I can use to lean about fertilizers/pesticides and the likes or is it more of a learn as you go thing.

For equipment I was thinking with going with something like this for
http://www.pwmall.com/websit/Fimco_Sprayers_Parts_and_Accessories.aspx

I was also thinking of just doing localized weed control and calling it "organic lawn care"
and maybe a decent broadcast spreader for fertilizer

[goog]

Also I read that the only thing that will kill the grass is lime when applied more the 50lbs per 1000ft- any truth to that? or is every chemical a potential bag of grass killing magic.
Anyways thanks for the responses.
The edit functions a bit weird

[Whitey4]

...Yea, I'll have to agree! You were starting to piss me off with all the questions last Winter. I'm glad you finally stopped all that nonsense....:laugh: (kidding)

Badges? I don't got no badges! I don't need no stinkin badges to kick yer arse! :cool2::laugh:

[Whitey4]

Sorry, should have been more specific for my pricing scheme. The fee would be dependent on the size of property ect. and services explicitly stated before I start anything. I would also break down the rate into monthly installments ie. mow 4 times a month(100-$150)+ fertilizer( No idea what this cost yet) + seasonal work ie aeration( 200ish divided by each moth of the plan). There is about seven months of workable season here so about 1000-1300/7 or about $150-180/month or $100/month for biweekly cuts. Really no one wants to hand over $1300 at the start and I don't want to bill someone for that much anyways; seems to large all at once.

Anyways is their any books, resources ect. that I can use to lean about fertilizers/pesticides and the likes or is it more of a learn as you go thing.

For equipment I was thinking with going with something like this for
http://www.pwmall.com/websit/Fimco_Sprayers_Parts_and_Accessories.aspx

I was also thinking of just doing localized weed control and calling it "organic lawn care"
and maybe a decent broadcast spreader for fertilizer

goog.... you are very much in the dark on this stuff... the question about lime... OK, the only dumb question is the one not asked, but this whole apps thing... it isn't simple or easy to do.... at least to do it right.

I think you need local advice. I joined my local landscaper association. They offered the courses I needed to qualify for the NYS DEC pesticide certification test. I would start there. Also visit and get to know the folks at your local cooperative exchange... for me it's the Cornell Univ. extension. They will have a lot of literature to get you started, and can answer questions for you as well.

"Localized weed control" labeled as "organic"? I think you tread on thin ice there.

BEFORE you worry about how to market apps, you need to do some serious homework... then worry about the marketing plan and sales pitch. Cart before the horse. You really don't seem to have a handle on weed control.... or what is or isn't organic. You need to do more research. Not picking on you... just MHO.

[goog]

I'm fully admitting to knowing nothing about this, just want to see if it's possible to figure it out over a winter, and I really have no idea where to start. I've looked into some course at the local college probably take some of those and try and see what I can gleam from the internet

[RigglePLC]

You are kidding, right? Plenty of books. Check out the books on turf by Dr. Joe Vargas, or Dr. James Beard, or Dr. Trey Rogers. Scotts "Lawns". Ortho, "All about Lawns". More.

Ontario--isn't that in Canada? Pesticide rules are very different, highly restrictive on weed killer. Talk to the professors at Guelph, numerous books and brochures, good website also. Read through the old comments on this site--if you want the real story. Of course, ignore the bull.

[tlg]

Also I read that the only thing that will kill the grass is lime when applied more the 50lbs per 1000ft- any truth to that? or is every chemical a potential bag of grass killing magic.
Anyways thanks for the responses.
The edit functions a bit weird

Don't believe everything you read! You can kill grass with anything if you apply at too high of a rate.