winter income "Brainstorming"

[MowJo]

What are some industry related ways to make money in the winter? There is little if any snow removal to be done in this part of the country. I'd like to see some "brainstorming" on legitimate winter services and inexpensive ways to sell them. Are there ways to get customers to pay in advance on contracts, or for pre- season discounts?

[Barkleymut]

MowJo, I see your in Kentucky. It surely gets cold enough there to burn firewood. I assume you have a chainsaw, axe, truck, and trailer. Mulching is always good winter work.

[Cutter1]

My uncle lives in Dallas. He says a lot of the landscapers down there do christmas lights and decorations. Putting them up and of course talking them down. I guess this service is starting to take off down there.

[Richard Martin]

Pressure washing decks and houses.

[davesgs75]

mowjo

i am originaly from around Glasgow ky, and still have family there. a uncle who does lawn service there claims he can make more money doing small engine repair than he can cutting grass. maybe winter time repair, and tune ups. would like to know where in ky you are, just email if you dont won't to post location.

[ronslawncare]

pressure washing is great money but youll freeze to death in the winter.im gona be getting into pressure washing decks and fences next year ....

[MowJo]

Does anybody do any of these things?

clean / detail customers autos in your shops

winter pruning

apply dormant oil

offer "salt only" services per event

is anyone making any "decent" money doing these servcies?

[Greenkeepers]

Mowjo-

Up here in OH we can plow, but I think that you would have a great opportunity if you could spread salt on a per occurance. There is a much better profit margin for salting because the cost is lower and it takes less time than plowing. About your pruning, we prune back in the spring and fall not winter. What is applying dormant oil??

[awm]

Ipressure wash decks but have found that
a couple gallons of clorox and a good rinsing
does it for 90 percent of the jobs.
TM

[awm]

IM going out now and leave my card on
doors along with an estimate to do
whatever i see needs doing at that house.
Iput references on the card or they never
call.Also this works in city, country folk
are weary of strangers.OH well things get
to tight i guess i can sell new trailer
and exmark.be a shame though TM

[TJLC]

In my opinion, this would be more the reason to have monthly contracts that pay the same every month year round.

[Ssouth]

I like to paint so in the next two months I will try to get some interior painting jobs. I've already done one and made $400. ( I painted my way through college). Not being a professional painter I don't make as much but the extra money is nice. Plus all of my contracts are year round so I'm making the same money as in May but only working two days a week.

[JimLewis]

I agree with the above post. It's definitely a good idea to have year-round service agreements with your customers if you can. We have about 140 clients and almost all of them are year-round. We come every week from March - October and every 2 weeks during the other 4 months. In the winter, we mow at least once per month and the other visit is for leaf raking, chemical maintenance, etc. We charge a flat rate, all year. Thus, I receive the same amount from our lawn care business all winter as I do during the summer.

Other than that, one good idea to drum up business is to take advantage of your current clientel. Most businesses do not take full advantage of their existing customers. You should go around to your existing clients and begin making lists of what you see that needs to be done at their house. They may have some needs but haven't thought of calling you or have meant to but never made time to call. Make a list and then call the people at night and say, "Mrs. Jones? Hi, this is ... I was driving by your house today and I noticed that you could use a pruning job. We could do it for you for $175.00 if you'd like. Have you considered having this done? Would you like us to do it? etc......" You'll find that one in 5 or so will take you up on it.

Another good way to drum up business is to send out letters to people who you have done one-time jobs for in the past. We keep records of every client we've ever worked for. Then from time to time we send out a letter in the mail reminding them of our company and that they used us in the past. Often, people liked your service but lost your number, forgot your company's name, etc. This letter drums up business from people who you know already hire landscapers from time to time and who have used you in the past and were [hopefully] happy with your service.

Just a few thoughts.


---
Jim Lewis
Lewis Landscape Services

[TotalCareSolutions]

Some good points here, for those looking to keep it going...

[promower]

My area get a little snow removal in. I am seriously considering going to school in the winter to get a two degree in taxidermy. Something I could do on the side in the winter and something I'm interested in to.

[olderthandirt]

I know a guy from kentucky that does a little woodworking and I do mean a little he makes all the small little coat racks, candle holders, some wooden toys nick nack, stuff. Drives up to ohio and set up at the indoor flea markets and make a killing. These folks up hear think a real mountain man must of done the carvings and whittlings. All I know is he get $50-$75 for some piece of crap that he has about $5 invested And those were his words! I know after a weekend he has between 2-3k in his pocket and its all cash.payup

Mac

[Bond's Lawn Keepers]

Mojo, I have found the best way to get through the winter is paid in advance. I try to paid some of my bills (mower notes, truck notes etc.) in advance. When you work in the summer you have alot of work to do, so you have more money. I live in south mississippi and the only month i don't work alot is Febuary. We go from mowing lawns to bagging straw, leaves and again leaves.
I would'nt know how to get other jobs accept lawn care. If you don't have a bagger then get one, It will help you all through the winter. I am like Jim Lewis, all of my lawns are on contracts where we are there once a week from March thru September and every two weeks for the rest of the year. We don't charge extra for leaves as long we are there every two weeks. :)

[Jusmowin]

Ive always done firewood along with a part time job and year round contracts. This is just what I do in the winter too keep busy and put some extra cash in my pockets.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Jim Lewis is the man! He saved me a lot of typing. Pros are always cultivating their existing client base and markets. They sow seeds in the minds of those they do business with, then reap the profits.

It is true that most do not take full advantage of their situation. The biggest reason is they don't take the time to build a personal business relationship with their customers. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be mowing WAFO all season to make a dollar.

Take a few minutes here and there to get to know your customers and build a relationship on a business level. Offer advise, make suggestions, point things out and always maintain a professional code of conduct when doing so. You'd be surprised how much you can earn by doing this and I'm not just talking money only here.

Mowjo, you have to look at every customer as an open ended opportunity. Especially the lower level maintenance ones, the mow & go's that pay as they go. You also have to remember to take what has been said above and begin to apply it NOW!!

The best time to start building additional winter income was way back at the beginning of the '03 season. But it's too late to dwell on that now. Lots of people need stuff done, so go get paid to do it!

[BravesFan]

Originally posted by ronslawncare
pressure washing is great money but youll freeze to death in the winter.im gona be getting into pressure washing decks and fences next year ....

Aint no doubt about that. I stay away from pressure washing in the winter.

Dennis

[bayfish]

A lot of small convienience stores in my area sell firewood by the bundle for about $3.75. Each bundle is shrink wrapped with about 5 pieces and can be a mix of poplar, maple or oak. Stores in the Assateague Island National Seashore area sell a lot in the summer to campers and surf fishermen. I have a lot of old hardwoods on my property I want to take out; wild cherry, siberian elm mostly. I'm going to make some calls after Jan 1 and try to make some advanced sales and go to work. Cord prices around here run about $125 to $145 delivered although not too many people burn firewood for heat anymore.

[proenterprises]

Pressure washing is a tough biz in the winter, but it will allow some income to be brought in.

Painting is a good side job -if you know what your doing you should be able to make a good buck at it.

Firewood is rough but if the area needs it than fire away.

Cleanups that were not done during the fall.

Odds and ends around the house-junk removal.

If you like computer work-I suggest going to www.ebay.com and search for "wholesale lot". This will allow you to buy product(s) in bulk-and they are shipped to you and in turn you sell for higher price and make proffit.

good luck,

[Eric 1]

I cut fire wood,haul junk,do Christmas stuff,left over clean up,tree removals and most anything thats worth my time.I cant stand sitting around all day.I saw a post were a guy was doing good at concessions?(think spelling is off sorry).I might try it in a year or two depends how money is.But i might get fat and have to buy w.b. to burn off calories lol.So then the added expense of the new mower may not be worth it.