How was your First Year ??

[Ducke]

I am just starting out this year on my own.
I was wondering how some of you guy that have been doing this for a while did on your first year?
I have been out pounding the concrete everyday, I have put out 500 fliers and have 500 more coming this weekend.
I have done 7 quotes so far and have one more as of tonight.
out of the 7 quotes I have landed 3 jobs.
I have put my cards up at all the local businesses that would let me do so.
I have a web site a facebook site I'm even on Twitter and I have a Blog on Blogspot.
I feel as if I am not doing enough to get things going.
Is it just me ? is this normal?
I would like to here some of your stories if you would be so kind.

Graham

[White Gardens]

I am just starting out this year on my own.
I was wondering how some of you guy that have been doing this for a while did on your first year?
I have been out pounding the concrete everyday, I have put out 500 fliers and have 500 more coming this weekend.
I have done 7 quotes so far and have one more as of tonight.
out of the 7 quotes I have landed 3 jobs.
I have put my cards up at all the local businesses that would let me do so.
I have a web site a facebook site I'm even on Twitter and I have a Blog on Blogspot.
I feel as if I am not doing enough to get things going.
Is it just me ? is this normal?
I would like to here some of your stories if you would be so kind.

Graham

Normal.

90% of businesses fail in the first 5 years.

Out of those who are left, 90% of those fail in the next 4.

It's a race where the tortoise wins.....

[Kelly's Landscaping]

Only you know what you figured you need to make this first year in order to be on the path to a successful business. Or at least you better know if its 30k 50 k 75 k what ever work out your expected monthly income off your accounts in hand to figure out how your rough numbers for the season. If your on target great if you feel your still short then double your efforts your future is no longer in a bosses hands its in yours.

[Ducke]

Only you know what you figured you need to make this first year in order to be on the path to a successful business. Or at least you better know if its 30k 50 k 75 k what ever work out your expected monthly income off your accounts in hand to figure out how your rough numbers for the season. If your on target great if you feel your still short then double your efforts your future is no longer in a bosses hands its in yours.

I realize all the above and yes I do have a business Plan,
I was just wondering if it was like this for others when they first started out. I am dam and determined to make it work,
I have a lot on the line I have put my whole winter off into the forming of my Company and it was go go go all winter Now Spring has sprung and I want to go go go but everything seems to have s l o w e d d o w n and its a little frustrating.
I am out there everyday :walking:door to door Street after street.
Ads in the local paper on the local internet bulletin boards Corner Store's Pizza Places, Dinners, Barber shops. and as I stated above all the social Media. Maybe I am expecting to much to fast.
I don't know because I have never started up a company before.
I can't really say exactly how I feel, Nervous Kind of like being 16 again and at my first Boy/Girl party without any parents. :o

[FDJ]

That is actually good numbers, you probably will have about 30 to 50 customers on your first year if you keep it up.
7 calls out of 500 that is 1.4% call back and 42.5% approval.
Which is exactly in line.
It is a numbers game. the more flyers the more customers (~1% call back).
Out of those 30-50 customers about 15-20 will ask for lawn mowing, if you are offering "landscaping services" aswell...

At least that is the norm.
Good luck and don't get frustrated and disappointed. You are getting on par with the average numbers.

[White Gardens]

The way you market and label your business is probably the key.

Personally, even marketing my business the way I do which is primarily landscape install and landscape maintenance services, I'm still surprised I haven't gotten more mowing accounts than I have. Ultimately I haven't had more than 8 each season

Ultimately, with my landscape maintenance clients 95% of them enjoy mowing their own lawns and just want help with everything else. I can foresee some of these people either traveling more, or just get to a point they don't want to do it anymore, and then I can see me picking up triple the number of mowing accounts.

But each season I add on a 1/3 more customers looking for knowledgeable landscaping installs, and landscape/lawn maintenance. So right there shows me the way I wanted to market my niche is paying off the way I wanted it to. I let all the other companies fight over mowing accounts and try to stay away from high volume mowing and focus on the details.


.....

[Ducke]

The way you market and label your business is probably the key......

This is s good point to investigate , "Marketing Your Brand".
What is in a name or product that you can point out to the market place that makes you and/or your company better then the guy next in line at the supply shop?

I did some considerable thinking in regards to my company name and Logo. Before I finally registered them.
I went after the ecology minded Nature loving all natural lawn care market which I see as the future of this business. The Duck in the mash logo is directly related to this whole movement. So now I have a fast growing market to cash in on.
With a little thought I can carve myself a niche market.

[Fine Gardens Landscaping]

Building up maintenance accounts is a long process. Not that many people are going to call you for strictly maintenance work in the first place. Then out of the one's that do, only a small percentage of them are going to be willing to pay you properly for it.

I think White Gardens has a good suggestion. If I was you I'd be learning about installs/ repairs and then bid those kind of jobs as well. You're already going to be putting flyers out, it is to your benefit to be able to offer a wider variety of services for your marketing $.

You can eventually make a decent living in this biz, but it will probability take a few years. In the mean time keep up what you're doing and work on improving your knowledge so that you'll be more in demand. Also, keep in mind that if you get properly licensed more marketing opportunities will be available to you.

[Ducke]

Building up maintenance accounts is a long process. Not that many people are going to call you for strictly maintenance work in the first place. Then out of the one's that do, only a small percentage of them are going to be willing to pay you properly for it.

I agree with you here. This market is nickle and dime to death, There is plenty of work out there but most don't want to pay the price .

I think White Gardens has a good suggestion. If I was you I'd be learning about installs/ repairs and then bid those kind of jobs as well. You're already going to be putting flyers out, it is to your benefit to be able to offer a wider variety of services for your marketing $.

What other services would you suggest ??

You can eventually make a decent living in this biz, but it will probability take a few years. In the mean time keep up what you're doing and work on improving your knowledge so that you'll be more in demand. Also, keep in mind that if you get properly licensed more marketing opportunities will be available to you.

I am always improving on my knowledge, I am a big book work and already have several books ready to read over the winter, I also subscribe to several trade magazines. I am about to join our local Horticultural Trades Association..Are there any other suggestions ???

I am very interested in any input to improve my knowledge. I really want to make a go of this its a long up hill battle but I am ready to take it on and make my company successful.

[Fine Gardens Landscaping]

I had a pretty nice landscape maintenance business before but I sold it. It took me 5 years to get a full time route for 2 guys ($12,000 a month gross). Now I decided to get back into the biz (realized it was a pretty good gig I had and regretted selling my biz).

I started another landscaping business about a year ago and only have 2 maintenance accounts but have done around 15k in projects. That's why I was suggesting doing projects. It'll be more in demand. Plus you may be able to convert some project customers to maintenance. I do basic design, landscape renovation, sod install, irrigation install/renovation/repair, and tree pruning. I do that stuff because I know how to do it. You'll have to do stuff you know how to do, or projects a little above your level and learn as you go.

The stuff you're doing is good! I've been checking off some things on the to-do list as well. I got my landscape contractors license about a month ago. I'm taking horticulture classes at a local community college. Working towards getting a certificate in horticulture so that I can distinguish myself from the mow and blow guys. I'm want to be the maintenance guy who does the weekly service as well as improvement projects that make a property stand out. I don't want to work for customers that don't have a commitment to there landscape. That's just what I'm personally working on, and what I think will be a strong business model.