What's Going On.....Geeeezzzzzzzzzzz

[Nelson]

Is it because it has not rained here in Florida in twenty something days? Or very competetive.... or this is the way it goes in 1st year of business? Please someone let me know?

I have passed out Flyers, Doorknob Hangers, Talked to relatives, Ask my little bit Of customers I do have for referals?

Add in local papers Then 2 top it all off........

I get a phone call from 1 of my very few customers telling me that he will not need my services no more...I mean I am very punctual with what accounts I do have...I just do not understand?

This customer has a few hedges... That I do not even charge him for.... He tells me w/him being in & out of the Hospital...That it has taken a toll on his money situation... I am like u r still gonna need your grass cut? He always complaments me on my punctuality. Other LCO was always late or just did not show up when promised?

I just need to air out.....But it is getting to me...I am not wanting to go back 2 a full time job in the Industry I was in, cause I hate the thought of working for the man.....

They say it gets worst before it gets better? I hope I am @ the worst part now? Sorry for the long post...Thanks for anybody's info that has gone threw the same situation I am going threw now as far as 1st year at Lawn Service business.... I am trying to keep my chin up though.....
:angry:

[BRIAN GALLO]

Hang in there man, it'll get better. Did you consider possibly doing some ladscaping work until you get some more lawn accounts? Grab anything you can...mulch jobs, shrub pruning, planting etc... You might also want to target some other neighborhoods, even if they are a bit out of your way. Good luck to you! ;)

[Nelson]

Yeah..... Brian I am trying every & anything.

Not trying to sound like a cry baby but.....It gets 2 me.

Thanks..

[TLS]

Seriously though....

Is there a local Chamber of Commerce? I used to belong to one. Relatively cheap dues, published ad in quarterly booklet, member mixers, etc. I just didn't need the $120/yr expense anymore, so I stoped being a member.

You may want to try this. News travels fast in the Chamber.

Good Luck!

[TJLC]

The bad thing down here is it seems that all customers care about is how cheap you will work for them. It's hard to compete with illegal lowballers,but I will not lower my prices to compete with them. Being a legal, legit business (licensed, insured, pay all taxes) really means nothing to potential customers. They want you to do it for what the last guy did it for. Sad but true. Hang in there, when it starts raining you should pick up business. I have never advertised and I have plenty of work. Good luck

[TGCummings]

Hey, I think I'm gonna try that Chamber of Commerce thing...

Anyway, Nelson ... I've been following your tribulations with interest and I sympathize with you. Some weeks, some months, and even some years I just feel like what I'm doing isn't working. Geezzzzz is exactly right.

Until last week I had some problems getting returns on my flyers. Suddenly, a flurry of activity. Some I've closed, some I've turned down, and some have been appalled that I can charge what I do. Doesn't matter, I charge forth.

I'll tell you what the worst part of business is. It's not getting turned down on quotes (if you know what you have to make). It's not losing customers (these things happen -- people run out of money or run out of town). It's not the long hours or the customer complaints (I love complaints because I get to show my knowledge to the uninformed :) ).

It's when the phone doesn't ring. At all. For days. For weeks. I can take anything but no solicitation. At least if I'm getting turned down I'm out quoting (and, hopefully, figuring out what's wrong). But if the phone just won't ring, there's absolutely nothing I can do. I can't will it to happen.

My worst fear was (and still is) that this is one of those years. The wife has joined me in the business, I've crunched numbers to sheer perfection, I'm closing about half my quotes, and my systems are tearing up the countryside.

But it is to no avail if the phone won't ring.

It's been impossibly dry out here. The economy simply isn't booming. The seedy little illegal startup companies are out in force. It might just be one of those years.

Two weeks ago I sat down with the wife. What do I do, what do I do? Relax, she says. If it's one of those years she'll go back to work and handle the phones at night (whilst I bound headlong in the field forevermore) until we hit the boom. She believes in our systems, even when my faith sometimes falls short.

Nelson, I don't have an answer. Sometimes the darn thing won't ring, and sometimes for months at a time. It's frustrating. What you might have to do, if this isn't your year, is work somewhere part time while you build your company. Rome was not built in a day (and neither was, I suspect, Union Turf or Lewis Landscapes ;) ).

Don't surrender. Thousands of companies go under every year. This could be your year to relinquesh a dream, or you can be one of the chosen few who rise to the top through the toughest of challenges, and come out ahead.

Besides, there will be many more tests ahead... :D

[gogetter]

Nelson, not a huge help, but it can't hurt. How about signs on the truck? I don't just mean the small magnetic door signs, but rather large wood signs on the sides of your pick up bed extending the sides up higher.
Or on your trailer sides and back.

Just something to get your name and phone number out there and something for people to see when your in traffic and at a job.
They shouldn't cost too much.

I want to put some on my truck bed, but I don't have stake pockets on the bed. Will probably put one on the trailer rear gate soon.

[Nelson]

TGCummings, TJLC, TLS,

Thanks 2 u guys...I take all info w/ a positive note.....

TGCummings,

Sounds like u have been there & done that....... lol

TLS I will ck w/ the Chamber of Commerce............
sounds like a good idea.....

Thanks again peeps + 2 Lawnsite itself.......

Wow... what did some of u guys do w/out Lawnsite......
when starting your own business?

I am glad I ran into this site...I feel blessed...That is a good thing though.....OK enough already.................:blush:

[ADMowing]

Nelson, it rained today, so maybe we're in luck!

We are in a shortage right now also. Customers are moving and we are not picking up new ones at this time because of the drought. Yards just don't need to be serviced -- so people think. We try to inform people that if they don't take care of their yards now, when the rain starts, the weeds will take over. We've got to keep the weeds cut down. We are mowing yards from 3.5 to 4 inches tall to help shelter the root systems.

This is a bad year to start 'cause things are slow for all of us, I think. But when the rain starts, you'll get the business. If you really have your mind set to be an LCO, then don't let anything get in your way. DO IT! It is a rewarding business when it rains and grass is growing. Don't give up! Best of luck to you!

A&D

[Brickman]

Nelson this is your first year, so that is a big part of the story right now. Hold your chin up, take on what you can reasonably. I had some low payers, PITA customers at first. One piece of advice I will pass on that was given to me several years ago when I was new came from a guy that was in the biz for many years and had the goods to show how successful he was. Nice house, trucks, huge shop. He told me when you are new and don't have that much work you can't be as choosy as you would be and will be when you get a lot more work. He told me $5 was $5 and even tho it was maybe too low, you were getting your name out, and people were seeing you. He felt it was better to work for less and then increase prices when your amount of work got higher.

This is year 7 for me. One thing that I will tell every body that is serious in making this work, the one bit of advertizing that has brought me the most work. GET IN THE YELLOW PAGES ASAP. When I did that, the phone never stopped ringing.
This is the driest year in a long long time around here, I am so busy it isn't funny. I turn work down on a daily basis. Mostly sprinkler repairs and turn ons. Every body I talk to is the same way. Several weeks out on sprinkler repairs, once the lawns start getting water and growing then I expect that I will be turning down lawn mowing as well, since I am full up on that account too.

Good luck, keep your chin up. Feel free to email me if you have other questions.

[AielLandscaping]

the hardest challenge you need to prepare for is going to be surviving the winter months of your first year... for me i was down to 6 accounts by the end of winter and had to live off credit cards (which i'm still paying off) ... i have a few ideas that you could try if you were desperate and don't have too many morals holding you back... if your religous or can atleast pretend to be, go talk to your pastor or visit a church for a week or two, and then talk to the head honcho there and explain your problem to them... these people love to help and i'm sure you could get a lot of business this way... another idea is to keep a lot of business cards on hand and strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone you can.. be as friendly as possible, and make sure they walk away with your card.. lines at stores where you have to be there for a while, like grocery store lines, or the bank... you can't get calls if people don't know your out there, and word of mouth is the best way to get business

[strickdad]

nelson it will be ok , this biz. is full of ups and downs. you just keep being on time and doing a good job for people and you WILL grow, no doubt about it.. right now there is alot of people in this biz because they think its easy money. they go to lowes or wallmart and buy themselfs a mower and "bam" they are the best lco out there.... so you will see around about the middle of june when the sun gets to beating down on you and the humidity gets up around 90% you will start getting calls from people saying can you come mow my yard, my lco has not been here in 2 weeks, hes not answering the phone, dont know what happened to him........ (i know were he is, he found out this is real work and he is at home sitting in the a/c........

[SLS]

Hang in there, Nelson!

If you do good work, are friendly, and are dependable, all it takes is a little time.

This is my 3rd year (solo) and fortunately I've gotten to the point I can be choosy about what customers I service. I am lucky to live in a rather older, heavy populated upper-middle class residential area (lot's of older widows) that is mostly comprised of 1 to 1.5 acre lots and that helps for sure...plus we seem to have gotten everyone else's rain this year (sorry, dry guys). The scrubs are dropping like flies as the ol' Craftsman can't keep up cutting through the 12" tall "spinach soup". Like strickdad says about the heat & humidity knocking 'em out (which is very true!)...so does the monsoon season....and the phone starts ringing.

But my point is:

Work begats work! Almost all of the new clients I score come from referrals from my existing client roster...or their neighbors. Sure, it may take a while to build up a decent client list, and you will have bummers, but after a short while you will weed through them...and learn how to spot them early on so that you don't even accept them at all. And your GOOD clients almost always refer other GOOD clients "Birds of a feather...flock together". Two weeks ago one of my clients told me her son's father-in-law had passed away and his mother-in-law needed a lawn guy...and she referred me. I went and talked to the nice lady and landed TWO lawns she owns for a total of $115 a week. While mowing one of those lawns this week a neighbor walked up and ...well...I got that one to...another $40 a week. I even had one client who moved into a retirement home and met her real estate agent while her house was on the market. Now that realitor frequently calls me to do homes that they have listed-and sometimes they may take months to sell. See how this works??? One job can lead to another...and another...and another......it just takes "time".

You just have to "hang in there...and hang tough!"

PERSERVERANCE PAYS OFF!!!!

So, "chin up, Nelson...and hang in there!"

You will be shedding **** lawns/bad customers and turning down cheapskates and their weed patches before you know it.

Then the real "headaches" begin...mainly, finding (and keeping) GOOD helpers. :rolleyes:

Best of luck to you!

[GarPA]

the last thing you need is for someone to tell you to spend more money...but I will...not alot...you need to sepatate yourself from the 'pack'...start with lettering for your truck...and not some half baked magnetic sign...then go to a tee shirt shop and get your biz name stenciled on your shirts and hats...its only a couple dollars per item. Make sure your biz cards are nice, and where a SMILE AND TALK TO EVERYONE about what services you provide...sometimes your best biz is right under your nose. Sell quality, dependability and professionalism...again separate yourself from the pack...alot of people want price...but I have just this week landed 2 large commercial accounts. I was the highest bidder of all the bids on BOTH, and still got the jobs...why? Both owners told me they checked my references and were impressed with my bid proposal...there ARE people out there for whom price is not their top or only priority. And don't always think like a lawn service provider...also think like a customer...If you owned a 1/2 million dollar home who would you like to see parked outside your house??...a professional looking operator or someone who looks like they just are in this biz becsuse they can;t find anything else to do?? This is my first year and I'm getting to the point where I'm turning down work...and be careful of something else...references will break you or make you...too much work on your plate can be actually worse than not enough if you can't handle it...these long timers on this site have seen many of us come and go...I plan on staying...and you can do the same..good luck

[ProMo]

ive been in biz 10 years and got hit bad over the winter lost almost 1/2 due to home sales sep11 etc etc went to a seminar bill phagan held in my area www.greenindconsulting.com and am getting things turned around.Bill looked familiar to me found out i used to work for him in tampa 15-20 yrs ago he had 40+ guys working for him anyways what i have learned from him is helping and im going to tampa next month to take his class to get ltd spray liscence

[TGCummings]

Bill's a great guy, and sometimes contributor to these boards.

Promo... what do you think the one thing Bill taught that stands out the most as far as being helpful? Obviously, it's not the same as being there, but there might be something there to provide a spark for the newer guys...

[Tim Baden]

Have you thought about pressure washing houses?I know you don't really want to spend more money but this mite help.Hang in there!!

[Dennis E.]

Just hang on! I've been thru this BS for 14 years here. Some years you don't have enough time to get all the work in. Other years you wonder why you decided to get into the biz. The rains will be here soon. All of my accounts are contract so I just do what needs to be done and move on. After the first year I went "contract" or "agreement" with everyone. It's the only way to go. Kind of like a retainer fee I guess. The first year I almost starved. Did not have the same problems the second year!
Like mentioned,see if there are any other "side jobs" you can pick up till the rain starts.
Then hold on to your hat!!
Whe the season does start up full bore keep your eyes open. Watch what is going on around your accounts. Sloppy work by another LMC near one of your customers? Leave a flyer or a card.
Do it regardless. When you have two or three or more in a cluster it works out in your favor. Tell your existing customers you would like some referrals. I give my customers a credit for the amount of one service on their invoice when they refer new business my way and I pick up another yearly. They appreciate it as do I.
Hope things pick up for ya'.
:D

[sheppard]

On the rain that is... Radar says we will get some over night (if it doesn't peter out first).

Sometimes customers are like that. Do not let it get to you. Bottom line in this economy is that the customer rules in almost every circumstance.

The best way I hedge against being dropped is to get to know them very well and always ask them "Could I do any thing better?"

I'm having more success with commercial right now. Rsidential homes are getting too picky and are generally unappreciative of the finished job.

The lean times make us touph!

Cordially,
Sheppard

[HOMER]

All good advice but...............

Please don't go to a Church and pretend to be what you might not be (if your not) to get business!

If your gonna go to Church then talk to the real MAN that can help you.

Good luck, it takes time. Year 6 for me and I can't say I'm where I want to be but after talking with others around here I'm doing OK. Keep your morales.

[Nelson]

It's Raining here Woo Hoo....Been raining for 2 hours.....
It's great............ My name is out there beleive me....
w/all the flyers...doorknob hangers etc.etc. The phone
will start ringing,,(That's my Attitude).

Thanks 2 all u guys & Gals..The Positive response from
u guys have been overwhelming...........

Homer u r correct about the Church thing........
I will never use him as a Crutch...............

Thanks again people....I am just glad that we are having
some good down pour as I speak.......:)

[KDJ]

Getting dark clouds but no rain yet in Central Fl.

Nelson get ready, by mid week you will covered up. $$$

[Dennis E.]

It's getting close though! I can feel it!:blob4:

[Nelson]

Sounds Good KDJ.........

Hope it comes your way.............:cool:

[Pelican]

Diversify!

[Floridalandcare]

Originally posted by TGCummings
Bill's a great guy, and sometimes contributor to these boards.

Promo... what do you think the one thing Bill taught that stands out the most as far as being helpful? Obviously, it's not the same as being there, but there might be something there to provide a spark for the newer guys... Bill Phagan Is a personal friend of mine and my family ,Ive known him and his family since I was about 7 yrs old .He was my football coach as a kid . I started a LCO many years ago and thought everything was going good till I went to Bills classes , I found out just how much I don't know . The one thing Bill said that sticks in my mind is " If you keep doing what your doing , your gonna keep getting what your getting ."

[nelbuts]

Not rained? Down here we are water logged. Three inches last night and about an inch or two every night before. A few weeks ago we had 21" in three days! Sorry it is dry in Jack town

[JHMlandscapes]

Hey guys, keep that chin up, work will come, if you just keep at it, work will come. Before too long, you'll be the top guy in your area and have more work than you can imagine. If you put your mind to it that you WILL be the best, it will happen.

BTW.....send some of that wet stuff to Oklahoma! We haven't had a good amount of rain in a month. The ground is so hard it feels like concrete. :(

Henry

[TROTTMAN]

Hey man I feel your pain. Earlier this season I had very few accounts. I had 2 guys run my business for me, but they lost all my jobs over the winter and did a horrible job of calling the people back. They didn't even show up to do the lawns they were supposed to do on a few last fall (when I left for college).

I only had about 5 or so lawns when I got home this summer. I passed out about 700-800 flyers or so and got only several calls from them. (Its Tyler, TX - a pretty rich town and everyone has a lawn service and its pretty competative!)

The way I got started back up this summer was mostly from putting ads in the paper. I put one ad in the Thrifty Nickel (got around 2-3 from that) and another ad in the Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler paper) - got a few from that as well. If you keep passing the flyers out and put a few ads in the paper you should be fine after a while, but the most important thing is to advertise early in the season right before spring and when the grass just starts to grow. - I can't think of anything that has been more important for getting new lawns for me.

One more thing, DO NOT put ads on telephone poles etc!!! I put up about 100 in Tyler early this summer, only to get a call from some official telling me it was $112 per offense and each sign was a separate offense!!! I, technically, could have been charged $11,200 for the signs if they had found all of them!!! Thankfully the guy was nice and he just told me to take them down (took about 3 hours and missed one or two).

[TROTTMAN]

Also, going door to door and talking to people to see if they need a lawn service and seeing if you can go lower than the other person (if its still a good deal for you) works much better than just leaving flyers places. A ton of people just throw them away. Some will save them for recomendations to other people when they need it. And very few will call. I think for every 150 flyers I pass out I get one job. But my flyers only cost me .7 cents per flyer. Thats right $0.007. Less than a cent. Hehe...

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Floridalandcare
Bill Phagan Is a personal friend of mine and my family ,Ive known him and his family since I was about 7 yrs old .He was my football coach as a kid . I started a LCO many years ago and thought everything was going good till I went to Bills classes , I found out just how much I don't know . The one thing Bill said that sticks in my mind is " If you keep doing what your doing , your gonna keep getting what your getting ."

Although you're talking about Bill, but this thread is over 1 year old.

It started on 05-16-2002 And the last post till you was 05-17-2002.

I think it has rained since then.......

[TROTTMAN]

Why on earth is this thread still on the main page? Shouldn't be in the archives by now.

By the way, has anyone noticed how this forum is set up so poorly. You can't reply to a person, you just reply and I guess everyone gets Emails that have posted? I use Delphi for my Dakota R/T forum and its so much better than this...

[crawdad]

Originally posted by TROTTMAN
Why on earth is this thread still on the main page? Shouldn't be in the archives by now.

By the way, has anyone noticed how this forum is set up so poorly. You can't reply to a person, you just reply and I guess everyone gets Emails that have posted? I use Delphi for my Dakota R/T forum and its so much better than this...

It's on the main page because it's still getting replies. You can make a private reply, using the PM feature. Stick around more than 12 days, you'll get the hang of it.
Crawdad

[GraZZmaZter]

Ive recommended it before and ill do it again ( and pry again )

Search for JimLewis, post title "how to win at the LCO game" the best post ive read to date!

[TLS]

Originally posted by TROTTMAN
Why on earth is this thread still on the main page? Shouldn't be in the archives by now.

By the way, has anyone noticed how this forum is set up so poorly. You can't reply to a person, you just reply and I guess everyone gets Emails that have posted? I use Delphi for my Dakota R/T forum and its so much better than this...

I belong to a number of Fourms, and this one is set up pretty nicely. Haven't come across any that are BETTER, many are the same though.

Don't know much about Delphi, but if all you want to do is privatly post, then use the PM feature.

I've seen this fourm grow since its inception, and there have been MANY improvements over the years.

Don't be so quick to knock something, especially when this forum format is just about the most common you'll come across on the web.

[TROTTMAN]

Well why can't I reply to everyone, but with the E-mail that goes to the post you are responding too. Like to a person, but everyone can read it?

[TLS]

Do you mean email notification of an addition to a post that you already contributed to? If you have that checked in your profile, an email will be sent every time a person posts on a thread. Every person that has this option checked and posted on this thread will get an email that there has been a post.

Not quite sure what else your talking about.