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205mx · #11 12-10-2012, 10:11 AM

How many acres was it total mowing? Closer to 40? I'd think 50k would have been a good place to start. Based off what I'm seeing. I hope things work out.
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Herrick · #12 12-10-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 205mx

Well it sounds like some of your lawns were actually costing you money. interested to know how it turns out. good luck to you

I had a cluster of three that I was doing that was about 45 min one way from my house... A HOA detention basin, and two houses on 50x100 lots. After expenses I would have been better off at Mickey D's.....

Herrick · #13 12-10-2012, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 205mx

How many acres was it total mowing? Closer to 40? I'd think 50k would have been a good place to start. Based off what I'm seeing. I hope things work out.
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Total area was 46 acres. I figured up one time it was around 25 acres of grass. Not football fields of lawn type 25 acres.... Like 160 small lots 25 acres.... With crap every 20 feet in the lawn.... Bird feeders, rain gauges, flowers, flags, solar lights.... You name it, they stuck it in the lawn somewhere.

I thought long and hard about upping the price and going after it again, after all, I knew exactly what it was going to take. But my equipment was starting to age... Another year or two of doing this and it would need replaced bad, plus I was wearing myself out, I needed more help. Then my dad has begun to have health problems, so he probably wasn't going to be able to he much longer.... Everything just said it was going to cost more than what I was going to raise the price. Better to walk away while I'm still sane....

jrs.landscaping · #14 12-10-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

God, fate, whatever you want to call it is so funny... might remember the big school I was bidding on and lost cause it was too big for me... well, I landed something even better. Just got word yesterday that I won the bid for a local retirement community... about 40 acres total, but only about 1/2 that is grass. About 70 duplexes and 2 larger facilities... best part it's about 5 minutes from my house. I'm figuring about 25-30 hours time, and won the bid at $30k/yr. This along with my other accounts and some realistic growth will put me well over what I'm making at my current PITA job, and be able to provide so much better for my wife and kids, and hopefully have more time in the cold months to spend with them. Photo of the property is attached. How do you think I made out?

You did in your original post

larryinalabama · #15 12-10-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

Total area was 46 acres. I figured up one time it was around 25 acres of grass. Not football fields of lawn type 25 acres.... Like 160 small lots 25 acres.... With crap every 20 feet in the lawn.... Bird feeders, rain gauges, flowers, flags, solar lights.... You name it, they stuck it in the lawn somewhere.

I thought long and hard about upping the price and going after it again, after all, I knew exactly what it was going to take. But my equipment was starting to age... Another year or two of doing this and it would need replaced bad, plus I was wearing myself out, I needed more help. Then my dad has begun to have health problems, so he probably wasn't going to be able to he much longer.... Everything just said it was going to cost more than what I was going to raise the price. Better to walk away while I'm still sane....

Just curious....Whats your next move? Do you just go solo and do individual houses?
I have alot of days that McDucks would be better lol.

Herrick · #16 12-10-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs.landscaping

You did in your original post

Lol... Original bid was 30k for mowing plus 6k for bushes... I guess I left that out.

Herrick · #17 12-10-2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryinalabama

Just curious....Whats your next move? Do you just go solo and do individual houses?
I have alot of days that McDucks would be better lol.

Trimming the business down to the equipment that I need to run by myself. Chasing work over the winter to hopefully fill up most of my schedule. Also looking to expand services... I've got my pest license, so I can push that, plus I think lawn renovations will be big next spring. Next few months will be the toughest, hopefully well have some snow to fill in the gaps.

larryinalabama · #18 12-10-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

Trimming the business down to the equipment that I need to run by myself. Chasing work over the winter to hopefully fill up most of my schedule. Also looking to expand services... I've got my pest license, so I can push that, plus I think lawn renovations will be big next spring. Next few months will be the toughest, hopefully well have some snow to fill in the gaps.

Thats sounds good, Ive had several oppoturnites to get "big" but turned them down, I enjoy being solo.

4 seasons lawn&land · #19 12-10-2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herrick

I actually was $500 more per year than a large firm from out of town, but was given the opportunity to match them since I was local. Not so much of under bidding, as not being set up to do the work in the first place. If I hadn't had to go out and get more equipment, and was just paying $10/hr kids to do all the work, with plenty of labor to call on when things got busy, it would have been much better. Problem was I couldn't keep five guys busy outside of this account. I couldn't afford to get another truck, trailer, etc.... The business outgrew itself basically and I wasn't ready.

Did they show you the bid?

lawnkingforever · #20 12-10-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryinalabama

Thats sounds good, Ive had several oppoturnites to get "big" but turned them down, I enjoy being solo.

Yep. I have had many opportunites to get larger properties. Every spring through various contacts I get calls wanting me to mow youth centers, common areas, office buildings (owner of wife's company) ect.... I am not set up for these types of accounts nor would I want to be at this time. I see my buddy who does these larger accounts with his multiple crews getting more grey by the year. Let him make pennies on the dollar. Once I seen what these accounts get bid at I knew I was going to stay small or get really big where I could do volume and turn a few bucks.

Bid jobs you are set up to do.
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