Counted 25, new "grass cutters" today

[TheBetterDoorhanger]

Originally Posted by BCboy

The same thing happens to me.

I have a saying "First seek to understand, then to be understood".

So I ask questions ( your yard size, location, what are you looking for, ect).
Then I let them know how I can help them and a estimate of the price. I make it clear the estimates are free and I would be happy to come by to give a firm price for the work to be done.

PS I always write the price on the back of my business card and hand it to them and I write it down in my book. Just so they don't say you told me this price, I then say do you still have my card ? It has the price on the back. I've never had a problem when I do this.

...and a great way to get them to keep hold of your card for a long time is to have it made with our awesome attachment Stick-It on the back. With Stick-It they can safely stick your card to their fridge for future use. Our customers love it! We also have Band-It which can turn almost any ad into a door hanger and gives your regular ol' door hangers a WOW factor!
Take a look at our video all about it:
http://www.adeasprinting.com/Door-Hangers

If you call me I'll send any of you a FREE sample pack so you can see how cool it is for yourself!!!! We are family owned & love working with business owner like all of you!


Robin Christopherson
A'DEAS Printing
Home of Band-It & Stick-It® Products
www.AdeasPrinting.com
robin@adeasprinting.com
(316) 269-2494 ext. 204
(866) 251-3181 fax
719 S. St. Francis
Wichita, KS 67211
*

[Andrew & Ben's Lawn Care]

Originally Posted by SDNCLAWNCARE

People are out there trying to make a living one way or another. I see nothing wrong with that. If they are not legit, the system will take care of them. Its just a matter of time. I have 8 accounts and do small clean up jobs also. Part-Time LCO. I'm learning the ropes, this is my 2nd yr in the business. Maybe you guys should cut us PT some slack. I pay insurance, and taxes. Plus work my full-time job at DuPont Chemical Co. I have old equipment thats paid for. My Truck is paid for. As my income rises, I will buy more equipment. So what if there is 40 new companies a day. Only a few survive. This is the American Way

You said it...I started out at the begining of 2008, with a Home Depot John Deere L108 that I used for my own lawn. Bought a used Stihl hand held blower, and a 5 x 8 trailer from Northern Tool. Had a Bolens curved shaft trimmer that only started sometimes. Didn't lowball though; figured if I had to work after my regular job, I'm darn well getting paid for it. I took the equipment I had, and worked extra hard to make up for it's short comings.

Fast forward to this season: Quit my full time job the 14th of this month. Have almost 6 figures in contracts. Following equipment has been paid for in cash:
2011 52" Grandstand,
2011 Ferris IS500ZTR,
BigTex 14x7 with radials and all the racks I want.
Kawasaki backpack blowers and trimmers,
Stihl trimmer, Shindiawa Trimmer, Echo Edger,
2 Stihl handheld blowers
Toro 21" push mower with bagger
48" John Deere Tractor
Extended reach Stihl Hedge Trimmer
The longest Pole Saw Stihl makes
Husqvarna Chainsaw
All the hand tools, ladders, wheelbarrows and what not.

It's the american way bro, let them do their thing and you do yours.

[beachtownlawnservice]

you guys crack me up..paddle your own canoe and provide for your family. who cares about everyone else?

[KeithThompson]

You know some of us arent low ballers, but rather smart students. As a university student with my summer off, I'd much rather cut grass at a discounted rate then flip burgers; I make much more money this way. Because I don't do it for a living i can charge less than you. I also don't see the point in a temporary cutter such as myself tying up intense amounts of cash in commercial equipment. If you can't compete than too bad.

[THIESSENS TLC]

Originally Posted by KeithThompson

You know some of us arent low ballers, but rather smart students. As a university student with my summer off, I'd much rather cut grass at a discounted rate then flip burgers; I make much more money this way. Because I don't do it for a living i can charge less than you. I also don't see the point in a temporary cutter such as myself tying up intense amounts of cash in commercial equipment. If you can't compete than too bad.

hey were you in milton today? im pretty sure i saw your truck by the roundabout in the new area on dymott dr. i may be wrong, but thought it might be you.

[wildstarblazer]

Originally Posted by Andrew & Ben's Lawn Care

You said it...I started out at the begining of 2008, with a Home Depot John Deere L108 that I used for my own lawn. Bought a used Stihl hand held blower, and a 5 x 8 trailer from Northern Tool. Had a Bolens curved shaft trimmer that only started sometimes. Didn't lowball though; figured if I had to work after my regular job, I'm darn well getting paid for it. I took the equipment I had, and worked extra hard to make up for it's short comings.

Fast forward to this season: Quit my full time job the 14th of this month. Have almost 6 figures in contracts. Following equipment has been paid for in cash:
2011 52" Grandstand,
2011 Ferris IS500ZTR,
BigTex 14x7 with radials and all the racks I want.
Kawasaki backpack blowers and trimmers,
Stihl trimmer, Shindiawa Trimmer, Echo Edger,
2 Stihl handheld blowers
Toro 21" push mower with bagger
48" John Deere Tractor
Extended reach Stihl Hedge Trimmer
The longest Pole Saw Stihl makes
Husqvarna Chainsaw
All the hand tools, ladders, wheelbarrows and what not.

It's the american way bro, let them do their thing and you do yours.

I find your post hard to believe. Somethings missing somewhere.

[Andrew & Ben's Lawn Care]

You must be young, and have not achieved any real success in anything yet. My post would only be hard to believe if you haven't made it yet. Anyone on this board, that has achieved their goals, would not see my post as extraordinary, but rather the norm. Search my posts; you'll see the growth along the way. Questions about which mower to buy, pics of equipment and so on. If you have any questions about how I did it, I'll give you the answers; just ask.

P.S. Just bought a Duramax 2500 this weekend. Upgraded from a 95 F150.

[cpllawncare]

Shoot I started out with a 98 ranger and a 5x10 trailer with a MTD 21" and a troy built 42" rider and a ryobi trimmer and a poulan blower, that was in 08 as well, I now have a 05 lariat F-150 with a 6.5 x 12 trailer with all stihl handhelds and Toro grandstand and tons of other stuff, all paid for. but I never lowballed actually started out charging too much and struggled for a bit but I also now have three employees and am pushing for 65 year round accounts by the end of the year, should easily have a hundred next year. Your only limit is yourself, that's the great thing about self employment, as hard as it is, is as good as it is.

[Andrew & Ben's Lawn Care]

Originally Posted by cpllawncare

Shoot I started out with a 98 ranger and a 5x10 trailer with a MTD 21" and a troy built 42" rider and a ryobi trimmer and a poulan blower, that was in 08 as well, I now have a 05 lariat F-150 with a 6.5 x 12 trailer with all stihl handhelds and Toro grandstand and tons of other stuff, all paid for. but I never lowballed actually started out charging too much and struggled for a bit but I also now have three employees and am pushing for 65 year round accounts by the end of the year, should easily have a hundred next year. Your only limit is yourself, that's the great thing about self employment, as hard as it is, is as good as it is.

Now that's what I'm talking about

[orangemower]

Originally Posted by Andrew & Ben's Lawn Care

You must be young, and have not achieved any real success in anything yet. My post would only be hard to believe if you haven't made it yet. Anyone on this board, that has achieved their goals, would not see my post as extraordinary, but rather the norm. Search my posts; you'll see the growth along the way. Questions about which mower to buy, pics of equipment and so on. If you have any questions about how I did it, I'll give you the answers; just ask.

P.S. Just bought a Duramax 2500 this weekend. Upgraded from a 95 F150.

I agree. I started 5 years ago and it's taken that long to get where I'm at. I still owe a mortgage and have a few other bills. As the saying goes, "the more you make, the more you spend" seems to get me all the time. I need to do the opposite and spend less and make more. LOL With that said.....

I'm getting ready to order a Jrco dethatcher for my mower. I have 3 customers already wanting it done and they already know it will cost a few hundred (larger properties) to do the job. Most all my lawns are recycled. After a few years it's good to get rid of some thatch. The rake will pay for it self in a day, maybe two. The rest is all profit after that.