What am i doing wrong?

[drobin]

This is my 1st year as an applicator and I keep saying to myself I dont feel like I'm making any money. Here is an example, I went out an did 6 lawns today starting at 300 and ending around 830. Here were the prices 60,60,45,125,50, and 90 =$430 I look at that number and im thinking wow thats pretty good. Then i look at my expenses which totalled 110 in granular fert and 96 oz of speedzone ( i blanket sprayed a few lawns) dollar an ounce $96. after expenses that brings me to 224 then I have to pay thetax man, insurance etc. im probably down to 150 = thats 27 dollars an hour, thats diappointing as I transitioned from mowing where I did better than this.(this allow one and their family to eat hotdogs and beans in NY) These lawns were spraed out, do i only do lawns in neighborhoods where i dont have to travell, or do i stick it out waiting for neighbors to join with me or do i just increase prices,,,, All i know is something has to give because im sucking wind after days like this -thanks guys you advice is appreciated

[LawnoftheMonth]

It's a building process, do your treatments and then go leave 300 door hangers in the neighborhoods around where you were treating. i like to stay around where i live and where my customers are so i can monitor their lawns and cultural practices, plus it saves on time and gas.

[mngrassguy]

Your product costs should be in the 25% range averaged over a full year of treatments. Speedzone is some expensive stuff but it works well. You may want to look into a good 3-way instead. You shouldn't have to blanket treat those same lawns again so you costs will be lower on the next round. Get your volume up there and your fert prices will most likely go down.

Prices very by market but you don't say where you are so.....

[n-green]

Don't get discouraged. Keep marketing and build tighter routes. You will get more efficient. I have a couple of streets where I can do 7 and 8 lawns an hour with my PG and never move the truck.

[garydale]

Patience, you will quickly learn to control the direct costs, Every penny saved on dierect cost goes straight to the bottomline.

[LawnTamer]

My first two apps are the most expensive for me, applying weed control, extra fert and pre-em. After round 2 my profit margins soar. How many square feet did you treat? Would I be right in guessing about 2 acres? My best money is in postage stamp lawns, under 6k. People can call me a lowballer because my average lawn is $45, but it is also under 6K, that's nearly $9/k per app. I have worked hard to have good density, I can do 30-40 of these per day, and that is where I make most of my money.

If my guess is right on how much lawn you treated, you are charging about $5/k. You can make a profit off that, but you have to be doing some big volume to make that add up. Charge more, or go after smaller lots.

Once the lawns are nice and green, it doesn't take a lot to keep them green. People say 1# of N/month/k, you know who made that rule up? People selling fert:laugh::laugh: Once my lawns are green .5#N/k does very nicely add a little potassium and some fe here and there and you have a good healthy lawn that won't cost you a fortune in fert.

[jbturf]

Hello Dave,
dont short change yourself when qouting or giving estimates,
it sounds that you are able to provide a quality personal service to
your customers--and people will pay for it

ive found the customers that would hire me based on price are typically the first
to boot me based on price- and not always worth it
i dont really price to be competitive anymore, i price what i need to get to do
a good job-- as some others on here will also tell you it may be best to do cost + time
estimating.
we all run different types of business's on here with different goals, ideas etc..

i recommend you use your situation of being an owner/operator to your advantage

charge what you need, do a superior job, comunicate with your customer
and put a site sign on some of your customers rapidly improving lawns

btw- sorry i missed your call the other day
hope you found the info you need on here
Josh

[xtreem3d]

that's good advice josh

[WalkerMike98]

charge more

[Ric]

Oh Yes I remember now.

"ROME WASN"T BUILD IN A DAY"

Yes there is a nice living to be made in Fert & Squirt but it doesn't happen over night. It is a business that requires REOCCURING INCOME on a regular bases. However it is like everything, It takes WORK.

[mikesturf]

Keep it up, it sounds like in a few years to will be turning away business because you are so busy. Treat the customer well, talk to them, and they will give you lots of referrals. Maybe branch into aerating, then hit those customers for fertilizing. Lots of REPEAT door hangers in areas you want to work in. The more they see your name, the more they will think of you.

[Turfdoctor1]

This is my 1st year as an applicator and I keep saying to myself I dont feel like I'm making any money. Here is an example, I went out an did 6 lawns today starting at 300 and ending around 830. Here were the prices 60,60,45,125,50, and 90 =$430 I look at that number and im thinking wow thats pretty good. Then i look at my expenses which totalled 110 in granular fert and 96 oz of speedzone ( i blanket sprayed a few lawns) dollar an ounce $96. after expenses that brings me to 224 then I have to pay thetax man, insurance etc. im probably down to 150 = thats 27 dollars an hour, thats diappointing as I transitioned from mowing where I did better than this.(this allow one and their family to eat hotdogs and beans in NY) These lawns were spraed out, do i only do lawns in neighborhoods where i dont have to travell, or do i stick it out waiting for neighbors to join with me or do i just increase prices,,,, All i know is something has to give because im sucking wind after days like this -thanks guys you advice is appreciated

I agree with mngrassguy. You have to watch your product costs. If you are spending 50% on product, you are not making much profit. If there are particular weeds for which you need speedzone, communicate that to the customer. Tell them that the cost of this product is more, and therefore the initial treatment is going to be higher. Or, use a good 3-way and communicate to the customer that this is the best measure of control for the price that you quoted.

Also, there is no way that I could make a living doing 6 lawns a day. Say you want to make $40,000 a year and you are working off a 50% profit margin (which you are probably lower than that using products like speedzone). That means you need to gross $80K. If you make $450 gross every day you spray, that is 178 spray days a year.

I will only have ~150 spray days this year with close to 450 accounts, treating each 6 times a year.

You are right to question your business plan. Not trying to be negative, but I see no way of making a living using products that are too expensive for the purpose you are using them for and only having enough work to treat 6 lawns a day.

You obviously want to do a good job. It sounds like you know how to take care of the grass. Get out there and sell yourself. Work your butt off, and it will pay off.

[humble1]

This is my 1st year as an applicator and I keep saying to myself I dont feel like I'm making any money. Here is an example, I went out an did 6 lawns today starting at 300 and ending around 830. Here were the prices 60,60,45,125,50, and 90 =$430 I look at that number and im thinking wow thats pretty good. Then i look at my expenses which totalled 110 in granular fert and 96 oz of speedzone ( i blanket sprayed a few lawns) dollar an ounce $96. after expenses that brings me to 224 then I have to pay thetax man, insurance etc. im probably down to 150 = thats 27 dollars an hour, thats diappointing as I transitioned from mowing where I did better than this.(this allow one and their family to eat hotdogs and beans in NY) These lawns were spraed out, do i only do lawns in neighborhoods where i dont have to travell, or do i stick it out waiting for neighbors to join with me or do i just increase prices,,,, All i know is something has to give because im sucking wind after days like this -thanks guys you advice is appreciated


One thing I would sugest is to pound the benfits of aerating and overseeding into their heads you can make a good margin there. Also other services like lime if needed, tick control if you can do that on your license can be good revenue sources as well.

[Mscotrid]

It would help to know the lawn size pertaining to the cost for app? Obviously routing may be your issue, but without knowing lawn sizes 5 hours to treat 6 lawns seems excessive, but I don't know all the details so trying not too pass judgement. make sure your equipment is calibrated correctly and re-visit your product selection.

[Madddog6993]

[

Once the lawns are nice and green, it doesn't take a lot to keep them green. People say 1# of N/month/k, you know who made that rule up? People selling fert:laugh::laugh: Once my lawns are green .5#N/k does very nicely add a little potassium and some fe here and there and you have a good healthy lawn that won't cost you a fortune in fert.[/QUOTE]


This is excellent advise if you are doing 5 or 6 apps at 5-7 weeks apart .75 or .5#N is plenty in the middle rounds lesco 24-5-11 5%FE 50%SCU takes care of this nicley. Stay hungry and market every day if you are not doing something to grow your business daily start.

[drobin]

thanks for the advice, yesterday was actually my first day of work where I could see clearly why this busines has huge potential to make $$$$$ Thanks for encouraging words, I'll keep tweaking things and seeking wise counsel from you guys with experience. Its nice to know I have a team of experts willing to give free advice.

[Rcgm]

thanks for the advice, yesterday was actually my first day of work where I could see clearly why this busines has huge potential to make $$$$$ Thanks for encouraging words, I'll keep tweaking things and seeking wise counsel from you guys with experience. Its nice to know I have a team of experts willing to give free advice.

Its not free the bill is probally in the mail:laugh:


Brad