people that are broke

[White Gardens]

Originally Posted by ADVANCEDOHIO

If you have gotten ALL but 2 in 4 years... You better evaluate you prices? I HOPE YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE CUT-THROATERS DRIVING DOWN INDUSTRY PRICES AND NOT MAKING ANY MONEY. If you are getting that many of your estimated jobs, it seems like you might be priced a bit low.(CHEAP) If your rep is that good and people want YOU....Congrats!!! Still hard to believe unless your only doing a few jobs a year.

I've averaged about 5 installs a year for the past three, and pick up the random maintenance and mowing accounts every year. I've only bid against one other company on a residential install. I don't even think the HO has decided on what they are doing yet. One other job I lost is because the HO's 401K tanked when the economy did, was bought out of her job and decided to move to CO.

No, my prices aren't cheap. People come to me when the cheaper guys hasn't called back, is flaky, or has done bad work for them previously.

When it comes to maintenance, their previous guy has either not known his plants, installed crappy mulch, or tries to work with a rake and shovel with a cell phone at his ear.

When it comes to mowing, people are getting tired of the bigger mowers, no detailing such as blowing out beds and not being able to communicate with them.

I've missed a few snow accounts but that's no skin off my teeth. I knew they were going to be trouble anyways.

People seek me out for work, 99% of the time I don't bid against anyone else. I also tell people I'm not the cheapest, just one of the best in the area.

With that said, I've got a 100% satisfaction rate.

[ADVANCEDOHIO]

Sounds pretty good. Around here its a bidding war but i dont waste my time anymore bidding against the guy who has a garage sale mower and a pickup truck & wheelbarrow. If you were doing more and getting all yer bids then id say look at the prices. 5 a year??? Small & doing it on the side???

[White Gardens]

Originally Posted by ADVANCEDOHIO

Sounds pretty good. Around here its a bidding war but i dont waste my time anymore bidding against the guy who has a garage sale mower and a pickup truck & wheelbarrow. If you were doing more and getting all yer bids then id say look at the prices. 5 a year??? Small & doing it on the side???

Doing it full time. Small and growing. Between my maintenance accounts, mowing, and installs, I'm doing fairly well for my 4th year of business.

Right now I'm doing a job that equals the total of 5 average installs, so I'm on track for a higher total for the year.

[ADVANCEDOHIO]

Great stuff. Keep finding the good customers and it will grow. I turned down a lot of work this year and still have yet to advertise in 4th year.

[Michael Geist Yard Works]

Originally Posted by White Gardens

People seek me out for work, 99% of the time I don't bid against anyone else. I also tell people I'm not the cheapest, just one of the best in the area.

With that said, I've got a 100% satisfaction rate.

Sounds like even more of a reason to charge a fee for a estimate! I am not suggesting you start charging a large fee, but a simple fee of say $20??? At least that way you could cover gas! I think most people up there would find that reasonable and would be understanding.
In a area like Bloomington/Normal - you are large enough to have a good customer base but small enough that your reputation really means something.

Now here in the land of a million LCO's it would be really hard to because my suburb of Orlando I more than likely have more licensed LCO's than you do total LCO's. Throw in the illegals and I have the population of Bloomington alone fighting for business. And then I have all the ones from Orlando, Winter Springs, Cassleberry, Longwood ,Sanford, Winter Park etc etc etc all of which are within a 20 minute drive. If I tried to charge for estimates I would get laughed at on the phone and never even get to meet clients other than word of mouth. Well except for those that call and are happy I answer my phone by speaking English!

Try it out on a few customers - I think it could be beneficial to you! Just a thought.

[diamondlandscaping]

There is a HUGE difference b/t giving an estimate to someone for maintenance and a LS design or providing horticultural consultations. Should a lawn jockey get $ for driving to someone's house and saying, $40/cut or $125/month? You can try, but good luck getting that. Now, the one poster on here who does soil analysis amongst other things is completely different. There is value in that as most lawn jockey's probably don't know the difference b/t acidic and alkaline soils.

[Michael Geist Yard Works]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

There is a HUGE difference b/t giving an estimate to someone for maintenance and a LS design or providing horticultural consultations. Should a lawn jockey get $ for driving to someone's house and saying, $40/cut or $125/month? You can try, but good luck getting that. Now, the one poster on here who does soil analysis amongst other things is completely different. There is value in that as most lawn jockey's probably don't know the difference b/t acidic and alkaline soils.

Diamond ...do you not do soil analysis? If not PM me..you are missing out on easy money here with our soil conditions...also sets you apart from the Jockey's ...although the it is really simple ...people look at you like you are a rocket scientist when you tell them that you can help their lawn be healthy and not just green

[diamondlandscaping]

No, I don't. I will start to incorporate this into my initial consultation. I do however go over turf conditions and plant conditions when meeting with a potential new customer. How much of a markup do you charge on soil analysis? I have done one before at Lesco and they charge like $16/each. How much do you charge for your "profit?"

[Michael Geist Yard Works]

Originally Posted by diamondlandscaping

No, I don't. I will start to incorporate this into my initial consultation. I do however go over turf conditions and plant conditions when meeting with a potential new customer. How much of a markup do you charge on soil analysis? I have done one before at Lesco and they charge like $16/each. How much do you charge for your "profit?"

I charge $60 for mine - my cost is much higher though $26 - I do not use Lesco - I use a trade secrete lab! I worked with the lab and gave them a list of common fertilizers and micro supplements that are available here through Lesco, Howard Fertilizer and others. The Lab writes a recommendation for me on what products should be put down per 1000sq ft. The recommendation is not to totally correct the issues due to the cost, however is made to allow the customer see a visible in there lawn. Key selling point this season has been with all the fungus we have had. I inform them that lawns lacking Mn, which most of ours here are, and with a low amount of Mg are often more prone to fungus. They might not bite the first time, but after letting truebrown come out and trying to fix the issue and watching their lawn continue to wither and die, or spending multiple $55 dollar applications of Honor Guard, I usually get the call and start the process.
Now the best part of this, they understand I do not apply the fertilizer as this is against the law, so I inform them what chemicals they need after sharing the results with them. I go buy the products - get my discount - and sell to them at least at full retail if not more.
All I did was take a extra few minutes when I was visited their property for visit, pulled sample and send to lab. Total time invested by me - less than 20 minutes.
Payout = 20% or more profit on all correction material.
Tech Mag and Sulpo Mag have been outstanding because of the cost. Tech Mag especially as I have customers who are aware of Lesco and will often check the prices on site to compare to mine. My supplier bought in early this season and retails the bags for $58 and as of yesterday Lesco was at $117. I charge a little less than Lesco and they feel they are getting a good deal from me.
Payout - Test itself - $60- 26 cost =$34 Profit
Total Payout varies by yard due to corrections needed but either way I gain alot of profit for simply gather soil sample when I am there for regular visit.
As I stated I currently am getting around $55 for each 50 lb bag sold here too.

Now here is the best part - because you did a little work with a lab - let them apply the materials - their grass has dramatic change. They are very proud of this - and when a neighbor comments on their lawn - they are VERY VERY VERY vocal about it. So even if the neighbor mows their own yard, I get a call - and the cycle continues. This has opened a lot of doors for me.

Another kicker - people that are using spray company - sell them - they are the best. They will take the bait just because they think their lawn looks decent and must be healthy. 99% of the time they come back being in what the lab has labeled very low or critically low on at least 2 elements. They are amazed - buy the product - see the results - they continue the cycle.