Off season

[huntercook33]

Whatd you guys do in the fall and winter, mow once a month or twice a month? I'm looking to start a job with a few clients, but its about offseason, I also live in florida so keep in mind the lowest it gets here in the afternoon is 40 degrees. Do you fertilize every week?

[Team Gopher]

Hi huntercook33,

Are you looking for more services to offer in your winter months? Maybe holiday decorations and lighting? I am sure others will have more ideas.

[huntercook33]

Yes, I've heard alot of lawn companies say that they mow once a month and fertilize every week. But what else could you do?

[jerryrwm]

What the hell are they growing down there that needs fertilizer every week? Sound like someone is selling the "bobbygedd special" - catlitter mixed with a little slow release fertilizer.

The mowing does slow down to once every 2 - 3 wks depending on the weather.

Beer drinking and pool shooting are good past-times.

[Stuttering Stan]

Here in VA I mow every 3-4 weeks, pick up trash, spray weeds, and sleep in every day!!!

[huntercook33]

But do they still pay you the same amount if you charge per month?

[i_plant_art]

if yall are fertilizing the same yards everyweek down there then i have a deal for you
i have a bridge in Arizona id be willing to sell ya cheap......????? most time we do leaf clean up.... xmas lights up/down firewood snow if we have it and some installes of beds..... things like that..... also do alot of sleep... the wife complains but hell i work 12-16 a day during the growing season so shouldnt i be allowed too..... there is always something u can find to do during the "off" months....

[huntercook33]

Whats a bridge?

[JDeere Fan]

But do they still pay you the same amount if you charge per month?


????????????????

[huntercook33]

I'm saying, if you charge $100 a month normally. For 4 cuts a month, egdeing and all that good stuff. Do the clients still pay $100 a month during autumn and winter?

[jerryrwm]

I'm saying, if you charge $100 a month normally. For 4 cuts a month, egdeing and all that good stuff. Do the clients still pay $100 a month during autumn and winter?


Depends on what type of contract they are on.

Seasonal - if the mowing season is 9 mos or 36 trips, then they make 9 payments. If the mowing is $100/mo, total is $900.

Annual - if the mowing season is 9 mos or 36 trips, but you want it spread out over 12 mos, $900 divided by 12 payments is $75/mo. same amount of money just spread out.

Also, you can then calculate the number if trips in the late fall early or spring so you are getting an more accurate number of visits. Instead on giving a flat monthly rate of 4 cuts a month calculate the number of trips. Reason - there are no months that have less than 4 of every day of the week. But there are several that have those 5th Friday or Monday etc. And if you figure 4 wks in a month at 25.00/wk ($100/mo) and you are mowing their yard every Friday, guess what happens... You mow a couple times for free. In 2005 for example, there are 3 - "5th Fridays" between Feb and Oct. If you don't take that into account when pricing the contract, you just gave them a $75.00 discount for the year, and every other Friday customer that is on a straight monthly contract they same way. If you have only 10 Friday customers, that's $750.00 straight out of your pocket.

Jerry R