Some mistakes you made?

[RJR7110]

What are some mistakes you made or things you forgot to account for when you first started your business? Things like expenses or problems that came up.
Just trying to learn the business.

[mdlwn1]

Your probably looking for detail..but looking back..I would have to say not knowing that I was a sole proprieter and NOT A BUSINESS. Huge fundimental difference.

[ozd12005]

I can go on and on about things I did wrong with pricing and so on but the biggest mistake was purchasing crapsman equiptment then coming to lawnsite and arguing about why in the heck I need commercial equiptment lol.

[Prolawnservice]

not having contracts
not having change orders
buying used equipment
buying too much equipment
not having a strict accounts receivable policy
not firing bad workers fast enough
its all a learning process.:dizzy:

[IN2MOWN]

Not getting an accountant.

[lawnman_scott]

not charging enough. Afraid to raise prices. Doing extra work for free. Not realizing that some people can not be satisfied no matter what you do, and letting these people go.

[RJR7110]

Glad I started this thread. I'm learning a lot.

[HOOLIE]

Charging per cut, rather than a flat monthly fee from the get-go. Like right now for instance, I'm not out working but still getting paid :laugh: Glad I made the switch finally.

[Big C]

Becoming too "friendly" with customers...this gave them the impression that I would understand and would not mind them paying late and that I would do extra services for free...now I am still nice to my customers but...I keep it "business" at the same time.

[Prolawnservice]

Becoming too "friendly" with customers...this gave them the impression that I would understand and would not mind them paying late and that I would do extra services for free...now I am still nice to my customers but...I keep it "business" at the same time.

Friendly is very good but nothing is free, a true friend would understand that, and be embarrassed to pay late, someone that just thinks your a pushover would not.

[THC]

Buying non-commercial mowers (recycler and super recyclers)
Buying a 36 inch toro thinking I could get around with it in the back of my truck :laugh: Nope. Had to go out and buy a trailer... If I knew I was going to have to buy a trailer I might have gotten a rider.
Advertising heavy for spring clean ups and hoping I would get new weekly jobs from that. Nope. Lots of clean ups no weeklies.
Putting out 30,000 flyers instead of my usual 10,000. It turns out I can only do so much work in the spring, 20,000 wasted flyers.

[dwlah]

Not paying attention to the red flags when talking to potential customers

[Two Seasons]

Not paying attention to the red flags when talking to potential customers

Ditto!

Been in business two years. My bs meter is properly calibrated now!

Giving away services in the hopes that it will make a difference to the customer and I'll be able to bump up the price next year.

I did have one customer this year that doubled my invoice on day one, so that was nice.

[mdlwn1]

Ditto!

Been in business two years. My bs meter is properly calibrated now!

Giving away services in the hopes that it will make a difference to the customer and I'll be able to bump up the price next year.

I did have one customer this year that doubled my invoice on day one, so that was nice.

This customer will eventually be a red flag to you............

[Mickhippy]

Putting to many eggs in one basket. Picked up a very large job and dropped some or didnt bother with smaller ones, only to loose large job. Now have very little work.

Not putting money aside for new rider purchases or slow periods.

The list is very long actually but those are 2 that are valid right now!

[Hanau]

Not charging for estimates. You have no idea how many people are lonely and just want someone to talk to. They have no problem with having you drive 45 miles to look at their property, even when they have no intention of ever buying anything from you.

I don't do estimates anymore, I sell Landscape Consultations and it's $75 for the first hour and $50 for every hour after that.

Not charging for design work. Spending hours designing something and then see my design on CL asking for lower bids really chaps my ass.

Now it's $200 for landscape, $275 for non-engineered hardscape, $800 for engineered hardscape, $300 for a deck under 36", $900 for an engineered deck over 36".

Charging for this stuff weeds out the tire kickers. Best thing I've ever done.

If a potential client thinks my time isn't worth anything then that's not someone I want to do work for anyway.

The funniest is after I set the appointment and then ask them if they will be paying for the consult in cash, check or charge. Man, folks come up with all kinds of excuses as to why the date they just set doesn't work for them after all. "I just remembered I have to...".