commercial bidding

[jay albers]

first year did well in res. now i want to move to commercial.
Ok,do i bid it out as one cut per week until the cutting seasons up?I was also going to weed every week and trim every other in the bids, is that ok?
When I go in and say hey you guys taking new bids and they say yes is that how I bid it . one cut per week and the maintance I talked about?I guess I disguse it with them. But what if they say just put somthing together.Im not sure how that all works.
I like the idea of going after custumers I know are having things done! Sometime resident. is a shot in the dark.
Help me out

[jay albers]

any suggesions?

[CkLandscapingOrlando]

Well the probly have spec sheet that list every thing they require. If not then what do they need done. Do shrubs need trimmed every 6 months or every month. Are you edging beds? Roundup?

Once you got it down to what you need to do and how often, then you need to figure how long it will take each visit. Then how many visits per year. Times your per visit buy 52 weeks (or how ever many cuts) and then devide by 12 months. If you got the time you can run out there and watch the current cotarctor. How many guy's, how long it takes, and what do they do. If they suck then you may have to account for there being slow, or lack of extra detail.

If your just walking in for business and the place looks rough, then walk around. Look at every thing being done wrong. Maybe take a few pics. Then take those pics and your notes to the office. Lay them on the table and say heres 5 reasons, or how ever many, to switch companies

[g21]

Jay,
Just take a similar approach as you do on residentials. After a year in business, you should have a pretty good idea as to what it takes to maintain a yard over the course of a season to keep it at it's best. In your area, if 28 cuts is the minimum to keep the lawn areas manicured at all times, that's what should be in your program. Include the number of trimmings needed, edgings, etc. You should develop your own "Basic Landscape Maintenance Program". When a client doesn't present you with "their" specs, then you present your bid based on "yours". Some commercial properties will require a little more service than your average residential and some will require a little less. There's nothing to be intimidated about. Just have confidence in being able to maintain any piece of landscape the right way and you'll be fine!

Good Luck.
Tommy

[jay albers]

ok thanks for the help.