bid on fast food rest.

[Connie]

I have the opportunity to bid on 4 Mc. D's restaurants. I haven't done alot of commercial bidding -- Was wondering if I could get some help --- Do you have a minimum charge? Do you charge more since commercial? One of them is only 3,000sf, another is only 7,000sf, 9100sf, and the fourth is around 42,500sf. I have a 48" Exmark walk behind and 48" Exmark ZTR.

[karl klein]

one of these mc d's has 42,500 sqft that sounds like a huge lot for a fast food

[Twotoros]

That last one needs room for Mcspansion.

[proline32]

Before you give this company a bid, you may want to check with the previous LCO (if any) as to thier credit worthyness. I have done work for many of these types of restarants in the past and on many of them getting paid was a fight with the ownership or management , they can and will string you out for months if you arn't carefull. A friend of mine was screwed out of 4 months pay for a chain of burger kings that were franchises, the other issue is dealing with a store manager that will try to get freebee's out of you because they many times are paid on the profitability of the store and any money they pay you comes out of his pocket.

How do I know these things, my wife was a Mcdonalds store manager for years before she went to work for KFC.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Connie,

You need to charge what you feel is going to make you a profit..

[Fantasy Lawns]

I do a couple of these fast food types .... yes 30 days net is true ...charge good as lots of liabilities with people n cars ...

also a Mc D's goona be a nightmare as as far as working when customers are coming n going ....it's not like 6am aint their busy time ...we find that just before 10 am is best or than 2-3 afternoon ....good luck ;->

[MWM]

Of the 300 plus properties my company currently maintains about 25 are McDonalds spread over 3 counties. Getting paid is not an issue with these corporate owned stores. They prepaid, believe it or not, for a contract that includes mowing, lawn fertilization, annuals,weeding, spring cleanup(edging and mulching) and summer touchup. You need to be very aware that curb appeal and customer service are #1 priorities. Send me a private message for specific questions.

[thartz]

Connie; I used to several of these type accounts and can tell you to make sure you add some kind of fee factor for trash and used baby diapers because your going to see more than your fair share of both.Most of the maintenance people for the restaurants will be more than happy to leave the diapers for you.

[Tyner Lawn Service]

Some are good and some are not. I once bid on 15 Burger Kings and got beat out by $25 for the total and later they called to ask me to do them since the cheaper company did not work out. Sorry!!!! I am reasonable but you will really have to sharpen your pencil to get them. I just lost a bid for 12 assorted smaller 6000 to 100,000 sq ft locations. My mow bid was close @2.00 per thousand but my fert bid of 5.00 per thousand was double. They can't be making anything on the fert to speak of. Oh well!!

[thartz]

Tyner; That's how I lost my contracts. One store manager's husband decided he could maintain them cheaper so he found out what my bids were and undercut me. I was pretty reasonable from an lco's profit margin but not for some guy just picking up a few extra bucks.Connie; for your original post I can say I didn't mind having these accounts but; there is no loyalty no matter how good a job you do because they strickly focus on budget so make sure you give yourself a good margin and don't think if you give them a good deal it will become a given they will keep you.Now should I turn him in when I see him spraying weed killer with no license...Hmmm?

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

I do a burger joint and yes they can be slow paying. I bill them monthly and seems like I'm sending them their next bill 2 days after I get a check for the previous month. Was going to raise their price $5/cut this season, but instead talked to the manager about getting a $25 food credit each month instead of the price increase. He was cool with this. Man, they have killer burgers. Yes, I'll mow for burgers!!!!!!!!!

LAWNS AND MOWER

[landscaper3]

Reminders!!! We do banks and shopping malls, you most likely will have to pick up trash! pickup cig butts and misc trash so be sure to add $$$$$ on your contract to do so or it could be a BIG!!!! mistake and cost you $$$$

[thartz]

landscaper3;exactly brother. I didn't account for that part of the service and had to eat about 45 min. at each restaurant x 4.

[AGG Lawn Maintenance]

Tell them you'll do it for some fries and a Big Mac. (LoL's)
Like the other guys said don't forget to charge them for the trash pick up. I will tell you this if you have a plow do all the snow plowing for them too. You can make some good money plowing for them. Just make sure that you are prompt and have insurence.
Travis