moral support

[lucentshadow]

Hey everyone. I'm new to this site, and to the lawncare business. A freidn of mine presented the idea to me about a week ago. since then I've been working tirelessly trying to get everything in order. I've only passed out 250 flyer so far, but it seems like my partner is already starting to get discouraged because there have been no calls yet. In his defense, he's paid for all the flyers so far, but 250 flyers aren't all that expensive. I'll be passing out another 300 today. anyway, I was wondering if you guys might have any words of encouragement I could pass on to him, or maybe any advice on jumpstarting the business a little. Thanks in advance for your help

[twins_lawn_care]

Don't give up!
Every single person on this forum started with 0 customers!
the first one you get will pick you back up. Hang in there, stay professional, don't underbid, and keep your head up.
Research as much as you can on products, services, regulations, taxes, etc. while you have more free time without anyone to mow. Also, keep on passing out flyers, and look into other advertisements.
Maybe talk to some pizza places, and see if they'll staple some flyers to their pizzas as they send them out. they are usually small owned businesses themselves, and lend a hand.
Be creative, and keep at it. The work will start to come, maybe slow this time of year, but keep at it. Plan ahead, and try to market for aerating in the fall if you can. leaf cleanups, trimming bushes, things like that. anything to get your foot in the door.

hope things work out for you guys, and I'll say it before everyone else does, be careful with a partnership, they usually don't work out.

[lucentshadow]

hey thank twins. I have another question too. I've been sticking flyers in the flags of people's mailboxes. I've heard some people say this is illegal, and other's say it isn't..so I'm still a little unclear on that. I heard it's more effective to attach them to people's doors, but I feel funny about going on peoples property to do this.

[Green Pastures]

Expect 1% - 2% call back rate on passing out fliers.

Keep at it and never give up.

[lawnman_scott]

It is illegal to attach to anything on the box including the pole. With that said, they will warn you before they give you a ticket.

[lucentshadow]

how long does it usually take after passing them out to get a response?

[twins_lawn_care]

Sometimes they'll call that same night, other times they'll save your flyer until they need a job done. You just never know. They'll usually call when you least expect it though.

Maybe try passing out flyers on car windows at the supermarket in town, this way you can cover a lot of people, in a short time (cuts out the walking house to house) saturday mornings you can usually catch most people shopping at the store.

Also, do you have signs for your truck? people need to start seeing your name, so they can start to associate it with Lawn Care, and think about giving you a call. the more they see it, the better chance they will call.

[lucentshadow]

haha, well, unfortunately we don't exactly have a truck yet. we have a friend who will let us borrow one once we start getting calls, and once I actually have money I'll probably buy a truck myself... at that point a truck sign will be pretty high on my to do list. tomorrow we're gonna try to stuff the mower (a standard walk behind) into my taurus and just go up to the houses that need it, and offer to mow then and there for $30 or $35

[Team Gopher]

Hi lucentshadow,

Remember, if it was easy to start, everyone would do it. Keep pushing forwards. You can do anything you want if you set your mind to do it.

[lucentshadow]

500 flyers now and no response

[lucentshadow]

somebody finally called us! hurray!

[allstar]

Like someone previously said,the response rate on flyers is generally quite low.You'll probably have to pass out thousands before seeing any significant results...and maybe not even then.Patience and persistence.Good luck.

[Green Dreams]

You need to be good at being rejected. I look for a 1% response and to sell 50% of those that do respond. I have always heard you start out wondering what to do for customers then in 6 months you wonder what how you are gonna get it all done.

Be polite, professional, honest and ALWAYS take the high road. It will work out in the end....

Drew

[LIBERTY LAWNCARE 2]

Post your flyer so we can have a look at it. It the flyer doesn't get attention - then it's time to re do it.

My personal rule of thumb for any advertising is this; Unless your info jumps off the page & bites them on the nose - it's no good.

So it has to look good.

[Jackman]

Fliers were the worst form of advertising for me, I paid 475 dollars to the Money Mailer they in turn sent out 11,300 fliers by US mail and I got 7 calls and 2 of them lasted just 1 month.
The local newspaper and bullitin board in the post office worked well also the Yellow pages is awsome I ve been in two books for 10 years now they get results on a regular basis I would recomend them to anyone wanting customers....
Good Luck

[DFW Area Landscaper]

Between May 10 and May 24, my employee and I distributed 2,964 full color, glossy, one sided door hangers. I got 10 calls from that. Response rate is 0.33%.

Good luck.

Later,
DFW Area Landscaper

[KenH]

Can you post your flier???

[Kelly's Landscaping]

Damm DFW is that even worth the effort I know the door hanger cost isn't that bad but the time in putting them out had to be outragous for a mere 10 calls

[NCStripeKing]

I knocked on Doors to get my first 5 or 6 yards. After that it was word of mouth. People will come stop me while Im mowing to get a card. Just look sharp, and you wont look like the majority.

[twins_lawn_care]

Very true NCStripeking,

I get a lot of people stopping me while I am working for a card. I think of it as a "test drive" for people. They wait to see what kind of work you do on someone elses yard, how you look, how you act, and then if they like it, they'll stop by. Otherwise, if they don't see what you can do, they are just taking a chance.
So always try to look presentable, and act appropriate, and business will come to you.

I started with door hangers, which I got a good response from in the fall and spring, and calls just started coming in from people by word of mouth.

I also have a referral program which I promote with my customers which makes them eager to help me spread the word!

Good luck with it, and stick to it is right!

Even though people may not call you the first time they see your flyers, they will see your name. After seeing your name enough, they will start to remember it, and think about it.

Look at the Golden Arches...see I didn't even mention the name of the business, and you are getting hungry for a cheeseburger:waving:

[greenedge]

I personally don't do too well with flyers. I have to use business cards, I tape them to door handles.
The cards are simple but list most of my services.
-Mow,Edge,Blow
-Mulching
-Flowerbed cleaning
-Tree/Bush trimming

I average 1 to 2 calls for evey 200 or so put out, the nice thing is that often times I will get calls when I least expect it. Sometimes months down the road. Just think, many people do their own or already have a lawn service. But some of them will become unhappy and want a new lawn service or may become too busy to do their own lawn. Then they will call you !
So my advice is to keep trying.

[gramps]

Most of mine come from referals or people see my work. The majority of the routes are a three or four block areas, 40 to fifty clients. You need to start somewhere to grow.