Best way to spend $250.00?

[DavidMowsAlot]

I am 19yo, and just starting out with limited capital. I have spent my money on:

2 magnetic advertising signs for my truck
1 trailer to haul my mower
mower
weed eater
chainsaw (needed for storm cleanup)
business cards
3 advertising signs

I am down to $250.00 left, and I need to get the word out. How can I best spend my money to advertise. I have considered radio, newspaper, flyers. I just don't know. It is possible to get a small loan. I need jobs to pay the bills, and I really need help.

Dave

[ancjr]

Unless you really have no customers, and $250 is really the only money that you have for the business, I'd put most of that $250 in the bank as seed money for parts/maintenance/upgrades. Best advertisement is to go where your potential customers are and strike up a conversation. Be that the golf course, barber shop or the local McDonalds. Be visible and professional.

[KCfireman]

Unless you really have no customers, and $250 is really the only money that you have for the business, I'd put most of that $250 in the bank as seed money for parts/maintenance/upgrades. Best advertisement is to go where your potential customers are and strike up a conversation. Be that the golf course, barber shop or the local McDonalds. Be visible and professional.Took the words right out of my mouth. Start a maintnance account. Trust me, the customers will come to you.

[DavidMowsAlot]

Thanks. I really don't have any customers. At least not enough to get the bills paid. I am keeping my head above water doing roofing jobs. I have 2 hit and miss customers. That's it.

I just want to make sure my business doesn't go under before it even gets started.

I did purchase shirts that are eye-catching.

ALSO . . . I may have found a niche of an area to market. I have close contact with a businessman I used to work for that has a vegetation cutter for lakes. We have a nearby residential lake. He has assured me that if I can get 6 or 7 jobs lined up, that I can come and get the vegetation cutter to use for a small percentage. My problem is the same. HOW DO I GET THE WORD OUT?! I can't tell someone on the lake, I can do your job if I can line up 6 or 7 jobs, or can I?

I need help. I am good at mowing and maintenance, but I have no clue how to get started.

[topsites]

I'd take that 250 and put it in the bank as was said, then drop a $20 in your car's gas tank and drive around
looking for a job, and from here on out every day you look for a job and do so until you find such a job, and
I don't care where you find work and probably nobody else give will a damn either but no more bs'ing around.

Then, once you have a job you put that money towards a college education, meaning you start taking classes at
some community college up near where you live, and keep working that job and studying until you get a degree.

Once you have a degree, why since that's a few years up the road I'm sure you can take it from there.

But get a college education, best place to spend that $250.

[DavidMowsAlot]

Thanks. I'm actually in college, and I need $$. I'm trying to make $$ on my summer break. When I say I have $250.00 to spend, I mean that it what I have designated for advertising. I should have made that more clear. I have money set aside for maintenance and upkeep. I am trying to run this as business-like as possible.

I have invested my cash in this business, and I really need to get it going.

When you say "drive around", do you mean go door to door with flyers? Get out to be seen? I appreciate all of your help.

Dave

[DavidMowsAlot]

My goal is to be an electrician. I enjoy electronics. I have also always enjoyed lawn maintenance. I thought it would be a good fit for me. I like being outdoors, and I enjoy mowing. I was hoping once I get established in electronics, I could do lawn care on the side.

Last summer, I spent the summer in Syracuse working on a dredge boat. I enjoy hard work. I don't have the dredge job available this summer.

I spent my savings getting my business set up. My mother has helped me do the bookkeeping, since she knows how. What I don't know how to do is advertise. I appreciate your suggestions.

[topsites]

Thanks. I'm actually in college, and I need $$. I'm trying to make $$ on my summer break.

Oh, I see, in that case I would spend it on fliers because you can do most
of the work yourself, pretty much all but the printing part, every other
advertising medium is going to cost you more in that sense.

And...
No offense but $200 is a bit limited, thou for fliers it's more than enough,
if you can design it yourself, bring the original to a printer (shop around),
then pass them out yourself, you'll probably get the best return for the dollar.

[DavidMowsAlot]

If money were no object then what would you suggest doing in order to get the word out? Radio...Newspaper....??

[LushGreenLawn]

Are there any licensing fees in your state? Also what about insurance, $250 will not get you a policy, but add another $200 or so and it would.

[KCfireman]

Are there any licensing fees in your state? Also what about insurance, $250 will not get you a policy, but add another $200 or so and it would.Let's not make this that thread. He's just trying to earn some extra $ for school.

[lawngreen1]

If money were no object then what would you suggest doing in order to get the word out? Radio...Newspaper....??

David, it's Gerry here from Down Under!

I am giving advice to a friend of mine on the same issue as yours.

The advice is as follows:
1. Design and print your own flyers (A5 size, and with 1 ream of 500 sheets you will end up with 1,000 flyers)
2. Black ink on Yellow computer paper (for best readability)
3. I would focus on gardening side of things - as most lawn mowing fellows don't want this hassle (therefore, less competition), and also, most others are just lazy when it comes to fronting up for the quote (and most others don't even return calls) (therefore, even lesser competition)
4. Put out 300 flyers (to start with) in a reasonable neighbourhood (on a weekend) when you are not working

See how you go with this.

[Exmarks.The.Spot]

Fliers or door hangers.

[BJWLAWNCARE]

word of mouth is the best advertisement. Do the jobs to the very best of your ability. You will probably take a beating not having estimating experience, but you will be gaining contacts. Newspaper ad gets the old folks attention. Less than 125 for 5 lines a month here. Good luck!

[lawngreen1]

word of mouth is the best advertisement. Do the jobs to the very best of your ability. You will probably take a beating not having estimating experience, but you will be gaining contacts. Newspaper ad gets the old folks attention. Less than 125 for 5 lines a month here. Good luck!

Word of Mouth or Referrals are very good. Newspaper ads are expensive and short lived.

The Flyers are sit on the fridge or filing cabinet etc and you keep getting a dribble of calls from it! Trust me I know.

[pinto n mwr]

deja vu, minneapolis

[Alpha Property]

take those cards and drive around looking for lots or islands or rental units that look long and shaggy or havn't been cut at all and drop off business cards to them

[LushGreenLawn]

Let's not make this that thread. He's just trying to earn some extra $ for school.

I am also going back to school. Mabye I should start flying under the radar too. For that matter, mabye we all should...

[DavidMowsAlot]

I am fully insured. I plan to build this business and stick with it. There have been those who have told me I can't do all of it, but they are the same ones that told me I wouldn't last spending my summer on the dredge boat. . . by the end of that summer I was driving the boat and the owner left me in charge.

In this lawn care business, I just need to learn how to best get the word out and get the most bang for my buck.

[lawngreen1]

I am fully insured. I plan to build this business and stick with it. There have been those who have told me I can't do all of it, but they are the same ones that told me I wouldn't last spending my summer on the dredge boat. . . by the end of that summer I was driving the boat and the owner left me in charge.

In this lawn care business, I just need to learn how to best get the word out and get the most bang for my buck.

You are always going to be told by some family and friends that you cannot do it - these people are what you call "dream killers".

Best to find a couple of business people you know and trust, and confide in them.

Whatever you do, follow your dreams and instincts!

[golfnpreacher]

I've found that driving around neighborhoods and locating lawns in need of mowing is a great way. But you have to do it around 6 pm. Owners come home after a day at work, they don't want to go mow in this heat.

[seascapes]

Pay up your workers comp, then tell them you hurt your back and cash in! Thats the way to do it.
On a more serious note: put the 250 in the bank for unexpected costs! Then get out there and TALK TO EVERYONE!
If you want to be an electrician you might need to start OJT soon...

[topsites]

If money were no object then what would you suggest doing in order to get the word out? Radio...Newspaper....??

Web site, if money were no object...

I've found that driving around neighborhoods and locating lawns in need of mowing is a great way. But you have to do it around 6 pm. Owners come home after a day at work, they don't want to go mow in this heat.

Could also be due to another service provider's non-payment problems that it got that high.
It's just not the best idea, IMO, they're either too cheap, too lazy, or it's someone else's account, as just some examples.

[George D]

load up your stuff drive around,i'm 1 of the "bad guys" i have my 36" mower and all my gear in my truck(my trailer is in houston) i have insurance and 15 accounts(1-2 new accounts weekly) and when i mow i pass out flyers in the area,i leave flyers on my windshield at the store
i have hats,t-shirts,biz cards/biz card magnets those little fridge magnets with company logo/calenders on them 3 different sized flyers.
my wife sends the customer a hand written thank you card for allowing us the chance to earn your biz after the first cut and they eat it up.

vista print is your friend(look for the free stuff)

i do flowerbeds(yuck!!)
tree trimming/removal and planting
bush trimming
brush removal

anything that will get me 1 step closer to the customer

stay away from the dream killers

good luck