Have lots of work but very depressed please help don't want suicied by mower.

[David Hartzog]

I have mostly commercail accounts Shoneys,bestwestern,jameson inn,days inn,an office park,comfort suite,townterrace,waffle house and 2 resdinual.

My problem is i owned a lawn service 4 years ago wil all
nice equiment Scag 60" hydro 16' trailer Grasshopper 52"
3 weedeaters 2 blower and a parking lot blower with 108 accounts i had it all.I went in bankrupcey. Now 4 year later I'm just getting back into lawn care same town but NOW i run out of a ford escort hatch back no trailer. I have a used honda 21" that i bought for $100.00 i take apart just to get it in the car every thing is cramped i hate it.Qustion am i a scub and should i ask my father for help(money)i have large places and can only do 2 max a day
i feel like i could do more jobs and make more money if i just had a truck trailer 48" scar walk behind. What to do ps sorry for long letter i'm frustated and tired i did a clean up for 100.00 and i am on job for trird day aroud 9 or so hours plus i steped in a yellow jackets nest owwwww

[BUSHMASTER]

Hey dude .... its happens hey i have a 52" hydro i'll sell you for $675.00 its needs some tinkering but good start up mower...i also have my first trailer i brought I also needs a little tlc but its definitly a scrub trailer but it works you can have it for $175.00 its 4x12 nothing fancy,and last but not least 76 dodge 1ton walk through van very scure.might not even need a trailer just some ramps.I'll let you have it for $2800. let me know i am not far from you Col.ga as far as your question iy depends how much faith your father still has in your abbilities after all
the worst he could say is no. good luck.

[Edited by BUSHMASTER on 09-13-2000 at 02:37 AM]

[Cutter1]

Dave....Suck up your pride and ask for help. Everyone hear has had some kind of help somewhere along the line. To get back into the game, you need more than a escort and a push mower. How can you get all these commercial places with a push mower and a escort?? I have to fight people for commercial accounts!!

[little green guy]

Guys I think that was a joke.

[bucktail]

come on man those accounts with an escort and a 21 mower
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[David Hartzog]

no joke i just do a nice job a very good job plus they know me from before i'm not lying this is a small town too.the only joke is the suiside by mower.

[Edited by David Hartzog on 09-13-2000 at 03:04 AM]

[Turf Kutter]

If this is true david sell your computer and get the money for it.:rolleyes:

[David Hartzog]

the funny thing is when i had my service before there were only 5 or so people cutting grass now theres 20+ pepple cutting i must be doing something right or just to cheap my income is by contracts only 12 month here i'll show you this is my flyer what do you think. i copyed off my hard drive i don't know how it will show up NEXT IS A CONTRACT

Eufaula’s Finest Lawn Service
616-7380
E-mail at Jhar303424@aol.com

Complete Lawn Maintenance for the discriminating home and business owner.

All Phases of lawn service Residential
Professional mowing Rental property
Detailed Edging and trim Industrial
Thorough Clean-up Churches
Plant trimming Apartment
Weekly Visits Hotels/Motels
One time cuts Hospitals
Touring Properties
Banks
Restaurants

Basic service starts at $15.00 (visit)
All cuts include,
Cut-Front, back, sides (maintaining a height of 1.5” to 3.0” giving better weed and drought control leaving lawn lush green and thick.

Edge-Drive, Walkways, Curbside, Plant Beds, Next to building Ect (Every cut)
Trim-Curbside, around trees, next to Building Ect (every cut)
Blow off-Driveway, Sidewalk, Porches, Curbside Ect (every cut)
Pick up trash Sticks Pinecones Ect (every cut)

*Premium service starts at $50.00 per month* (Add with basic service)
*Full ground maintenance
*Trim shrub’s
*Fertilize lawn, shrubs
*Round upâ (where needed)
*Leaf removal
*Ant control- (as needed)
*Aeration- (2x per year)
*Dethaching- (1x per year)
*Weedcontrol lawn and flower beds
*Check irrigation (if available)
*Spread annual ryegrass seed in fall when grass goes dormant to have green turf in winter
(Dies off in spring will not harm lawn)
*Bahiagrass and Broadleaf weed control. I can stop Bahiagrass dead in its tracks without harming Centipede or St. Augustine lawns.

Also available
· Flower bed planting
· Pressure washing
· Storm cleanups
· Cypress mulch, pine straw
· Planting
· Smaller tree removal
· Fire wood
· NEW SERVICE Parking lot blowing (have huge blower 9hp Honda 200 + mph 2,500 cfm air volume all lose gravel sand removed guaranteed).
If you do not see it, just ask. I can usually do it.

Free yourself from the hassles and responsibilities of maintaining your lawn. Take a nap, spend time with the kids, or take your spouse out to dinner. now the contract






Page 1 of 2

“Our Quality Creates Demand”

Eufaula’s Finest Lawn service
P.O. Box 983, Eufaula, Al. 36027
334-616-7380

E-mail Jhar303424@aol.com

Bid on grounds maintenance at _________________________, Eufaula, AL 36027
Description of work:
1. Visit site weekly
2. Pick up all trash on grounds (Trash, cans, paper, limbs, pinecones sticks Ect)
3. Cut grass as needed maintaining height of 2 to 2.5 inch giving better weed and drought control leaving lawn lush green and thick (warm climate grasses need to be cut at 2 to3 inch)
4. Bag turf if asked (Clipping are good for soil; and reduces thatch as long as mowed regularly)
5. Trim and edge around all landscape beds, existing trees, driveways, curbs, and sidewalks next to building (every cut)
6. Blow off all walkways and sidewalks, curbs (every cut)
7. Blow off all parking areas, removing trash, sand, rocks, etc. (as needed)
8. Keep weeds and brush out of plant beds, parking lot cracks, and next to building
9. Keep all shrubs, plants and bushes trimmed (as needed)
10. Put out ant control where needed (outside only)
11. Fertilize every three months – September, December, March, June, useing16-4-8 per application 4.68 lbs per1000sq. Ft (Total needed per year for centipede grass 18.75 lbs at 1000 sq.ft) Used empty fertilizer bag will be left at site upon owner request
12. Fertilize plants at time of grass using 10-10-10.
13. Spray weed control 48 hours after first cut, 1x per year on turf removing all unwanted Bahiagrass, weeds, Sedge grass, Broadleaf weeds for lawn only will not harm lawn)
14. Aerate 2x a year (March & October)
15. Dethach 1x a year (Febuary)
16. Provide pine straw or cypress mulch twice a year if needed - October & April
17. Spread annual ryegrass seed in fall when grass goes dormant to have green turf in winter (dies off in spring, will not harm lawn)
18. Check irrigation if available


Conditions, Limitations, and Exclusions:
This contract when accepted is effective____/____/____and is a binding 12-month contract that stays in effect until ____/____/____. Cancellation of this contract will only be granted if there is no remedy for unsatisfactory service after issuing two written warnings. If for any reason the contract is broken before the expiration date by either the customer or Eufaula’s finest lawn service, full money will be due for labor of that month and materials. Amount will be due 10 days upon release. Material will be totaled up, if any, from receipts for each product which is / was purchased.
Does site need spring cleaning Yes___ No___ Price $_______
Price: $_______Per month. Price includes all material and labor in lines 1-18


Page 2 of 2

Payment schedule: Balance due by the 10th monthly

Contact: For more information, please call or e-mail David R. Hartzog, Owner,
(334)-616-7380 or Jhar303424@aol.com.

Thank you for allowing us to provide you with a proposal. Please get in touch if you have any questions. We are looking forward to working with you!

Respectfully submitted,


David R. Hartzog (owner)___________________________Date: _____________________



Accepted by________________Title__________________ Date: _____________________

Print name_____________________________



Comments: ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

[landscaper3]

If you are gonna use this for residential accounts I would think twice to long youl loose the intrest of your customer or even scare them away. If for commercial not too bad but dont use on residential accounts.

[legend]

I think you should go residential with the equipment you have now and earn your way back to the big accounts. You have no overhead now. If you can't save enough money to buy better equipment then you are living beyond your means. Is that why you bankrupted?

[BUSHMASTER]

hi again if your that inexpenive and do a a number one job
i could sub you out and make some cheeze....i think your toooooooooooocheeeaaapppp,but its your bottom line.

[65hoss]

I agree! Your way to cheap. Two yards at 15 each. For 30 a day, I would have died of a heart attack seeing my bottom line.

If you already have the commercial accounts, then you have steady income from them. Worse case, go to the small engine shop and see if they will finance a used or new walkbehind. Get a cheap used trailer out of the paper (100-200 bucks).
Lastly, take the prices off the flyer. Everyone who gets your flyer will think that you work very cheap and they will expect the 15 dollar amount. If you do good work, you can charge a premium. Make yourself a starting price for mow,edge,and trim, but don't tell the customers. Let everything else be add-ons. When you short change yourself, its not only you that gets hurt. Every other person (people just like all of us) get hurt also. It lowers the standard that all of us are judged on. As the cost of living always increases, we can't afford to do the opposite.

[Charles]

WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T GET A TYPING JOB. AND STOP PUTTING THAT DAMN CONTRACT CRAP ON HERE. LOL :)

[David Hartzog]

Cheap!! first of all my resditual are not contracted and if they were i would be cutting minimum 35.00 the price for 15.00 is for a very small area like 5 passes with the mower i based it on a small size lot subway then i tell folks subways sizes runs 15.00 a cut or 50 full service as compareson.the sevices here are all together and we have are prices up. so one will give the same as the other. ps the reason i went in bankruptsy is from partying to much and when i did work i had as much as 5000+ month now with these few accounts i have 1563.00 a month year round income i just got a lot of bill from wifes school and my creit cards.

[Firebrand]

Are you the guy I see mowing the vacant lot behind my house with tears streaming down his face?

[GrassMaster]

Hello David:

These are just my thoughts & mine only!

Your close to end of season, I would wait until beginning of season next year, before making any purchases. It sounds like you are doing the best you can. That's what counts!

Consider taking your prices off all together, no need to have to explain why they are different from what you have in print. Maybe make one flier for residential & one for commercial. Shorten them as much as possible. You do not need to go into detail about every little phase of what services you provide. Most folks just figure that you do it all anyway. Folks these days don't read much if very long, then the problem is they then jump to conclusions.

Sounds like Bushmaster has a good deal on a trailer, I'm also in Columbus, Ga., I have a trailer that I let go for $200 it's needs work. I'm at Jordan Bicycle & Lawnmower, you can call me at 706-561-2946. I will keep my eye open for some used Equipment.

Hey Bushmaster I would like to meet ya sometime!

Since it's end of season you might try harder on residential accounts, considering you have small equipment. I would consider getting a trailer first, then as time permits larger cutter & then truck. Might try trading car for truck also.

As far as being a scrub, I wouldn't worry much about that, let God do the judging. What others say is unimportant. Sounds like you need to figure your work more closely, maybe just figure a small area at time & add up total time. It's not that hard to do, just don't cut it so close as far as how long it takes to do something.

I wouldn't worry much about competition, there is always room for one more. People will give you work because they like you. It's left up to you as far as asking for help, if you have family & they are suffering yes ask for help for them. In business at one time or another you will suffer. It's called being self employed.

The lawn service business is one of the easiest business's out there to get into, it just takes a little time. If you can't make it in the lawn service business consider working for someone else. Because there is not any other business out there that is any simpler. You don't believe me just watch them roll by, if was very hard everybody & his brother would not be getting into it.

If you are kidding us about this then you is what you is. LOL

Hey I know a guy that does window washing & makes good money. He doesn't even get off the ground. LOL, he doesn't even carry windex or paper towels. He's at our shop about 30 minutes & makes $15, that's pretty good for a man with empty bucket & wore out squeegee. He does us once a month & been doing us for over 5 years. He says we are average account or a little less. He has 200 monthly accounts some weekly, bimonthly & monthly. Hey it would work into yo business.

If I can be of any help to ya, just call me or drop by. I'm at work, LOL some afternoons.

Sorry for misspelling, grammar & punctuation, I'm from JawJa & uneducate.

[Scraper]

Low blow Firebrand. More useful input is appreciated around here. Especially from a person who has such few posts, like yourself. Remember...you never know when your turn will come.

[GrassMaster]

Hello:

Originally posted by Scraper
Low blow Firebrand. More useful input is appreciated around here. Especially from a person who has such few posts, like yourself. Remember...you never know when your turn will come.

Thank you Scraper, very well said.

Hard times comes to us all at one time or another. We do not have a choice because if we did, LOL we would never choose to have hard times.

It's OK to help others & if you can't say anything good then don't say anything at all! I had some hard times myself when I was in the business.

LOL, I'm having the worst time I've ever had now. Between the Y2K crap last year & the drought here this year. I could have made just about as much money if I would have shut the doors to my business. This year have not broke even but I'm hanging in there.

When I see someone having hard times, I re-live my hard times with them. I want everybody to do good not just me. Yes, as hard as my times are now, If I can help the man I'll do it. I will give it all I got & then some.

I did my part, how about the others.

David will make through this, at least he is trying & I bet if it was just the opposite & he was near someone that needed help. He would be there offering a helping hand, that's what this is all about.

Like I've said many times before, They say:

The Boy with the most toys Wins! I don't think so!

The Man with the most friends at his funeral WINS!

That's all I know & That's all I want!

[BUSHMASTER]

That it GrassMaster keep everyone in check there was no Thanksgiving until the pilgrams worked together.

[bob]

I wouldn't advertise that lawns start at $15. Then everyone will think they have a $15 lawn. Raise it to at least $20-22.

[Getmow]

Not to be too personal but - how did you go bankrupt? Was it from personal debt or poor business practices. If it was from bad personal debt go to your father for the money to get back on your feet. If you thought you were making money in the lawn maint business then woke up - don't make the same mistakes twice. Price according to costs plus profit. Make sure you make enough to pay yourself!!

[The Lawn Genie]

Not to sound just like everyone else that has posted a reply, but I would also have to say that I think it is a bad idea to advertise your prices on your flyers. Also, I won't take my mower off the trailer for less than $25... no offense, but with low ball prices it is no wonder you have so many commercial accounts, their gonna go with whoever is the cheapest. Raise your prices a little bit, you can make the same profit and cut less grass. After all, it's all about the bottom line.

[stick]

Your cutting St. Augustine at 1.5 to 3.0? WOW!!
Thats too low, way too low, St.Augustine should be at the min. at 3.5 Cut it at 4.0

[slingshot]

i would love to see how many leaves or firewood you can fit in that escort.. just kidding keep up the hard work your day will come

[Runner]

Everyone else is right. You're way too low! If you are doing a "premium service " for as little as 50 bucks a month, you're PROBABLY wasting your time. Remember - you have to drive there and drive away after. Also, I would give your flyer a good once over. It just doesn't make sense the way it's all ran together, and also, the abbrev. for etcetera is etc., not ect. Also, if you're advertising that yourapplying pest control, and herbicides, make sure you have all your ducks in a row. The state dept. of agriculture is always lurking around the corner. Good luck with it, and I wish you the best!