Did You Ever Notice..

[MOturkey]

That everyone and their brother seems to be in the mowing business? Maybe there were that many before I got involved, and I just didn't notice, but around here, it seems to me like i see someone different every week pulling a new mower behind their truck.

I mowed for about 8 hours Wednesday. This is a rural area, and the town I was mowing in is perhaps 1,000 in population. I doubt if the population of the whole county is much over 10,000. I decided to keep track of how many different LCO's I saw during the day. I saw NINE different guys! I can't imagine what it must be like in urban areas where there actually is some business!

[DuraCutter]

It's an easy biz to start. Most people are pro's at it...

Usually, it's either a long term business that guys will continue for years or it's a transition business into some other type of business. Le'ts face it, who doesn't know how to mow...

[TURF DOCTOR]

Jeez, Man They Are Like Ants Here They Are Killing My Profit And Biz,

[Raven386]

or its a couple kids doing it for the summer, and then they dissapear when school starts again... theres been a huge increase in our area of "lco's" i dont think they deserve to be called that because they are (im assuming by the looks of em) illegitament businesses. i see more and more guys with a p.o.s truck and a mower and less of Lasko, Paradise, Bennett those guys.. and i know its been discussed a billion times over but... I HATE LOWBALLERS!!! i bid a small lawn: cutting every week.. just the basics, i gave it a lower price than normal because its a family friend and i bid $45 some kid is doing it for $15 bucks. he has an old p.o.s mower looks like a frankenstein creation but the lawn, it looks like complete crap theres clumps everywhere the sidewalks arent blown down... so i guess ill be getting a call soon.

[ACutAbovesiny]

Originally Posted by MOturkey

That everyone and their brother seems to be in the mowing business? Maybe there were that many before I got involved, and I just didn't notice, but around here, it seems to me like i see someone different every week pulling a new mower behind their truck.

I mowed for about 8 hours Wednesday. This is a rural area, and the town I was mowing in is perhaps 1,000 in population. I doubt if the population of the whole county is much over 10,000. I decided to keep track of how many different LCO's I saw during the day. I saw NINE different guys! I can't imagine what it must be like in urban areas where there actually is some business!

Im new to the business and I'd like to say that I see alot of LCOs in my area. I imagine that all the veterans that see me say, "Damn, another one." but I'm not a mow and blow guy. I take things serious and feel that we should all be licensed and insured and that there should be some regulations put in effect to limit the people that wake up one day and say,"hey I should get in the lawn business."

[lordmaximus240]

like was said its fairly cheap to get going. Most of the startups I talk to tell me they did it because they were sick of corporate america. They enjoy being outside, theres no boss chewing on their ass, and they set their own schedule. One guy hit the nail on the head, he said you can write your own paycheck. You can work as much or as little as you want. IMO

[K.Carothers]

Originally Posted by Raven386

or its a couple kids doing it for the summer, and then they dissapear when school starts again... theres been a huge increase in our area of "lco's" i dont think they deserve to be called that because they are (im assuming by the looks of em) illegitament businesses. i see more and more guys with a p.o.s truck and a mower and less of Lasko, Paradise, Bennett those guys.. and i know its been discussed a billion times over but... I HATE LOWBALLERS!!! i bid a small lawn: cutting every week.. just the basics, i gave it a lower price than normal because its a family friend and i bid $45 some kid is doing it for $15 bucks. he has an old p.o.s mower looks like a frankenstein creation but the lawn, it looks like complete crap theres clumps everywhere the sidewalks arent blown down... so i guess ill be getting a call soon.

$45 ??? That will not work around here.

Just because you want to gouge the customer with your high prices, don't get mad at someone that is willing to do it for less and still make money.


kc

[Sandgropher]

I have noticed a lot more in the last month, they must have been around but maybe i missed them, in our paper it covers a fairly large area and most come from a nearby town to mow as most LCOs just put there mobile telephone number down and the local residents dont realise some are coming a long way they probally thinking they are getting a local half the time, i wish they would stay in there town and us in ours and we would all be better off i reckon (less windshield time)

[YardPro]

Originally Posted by K.Carothers

$45 ??? That will not work around here.

Just because you want to gouge the customer with your high prices, don't get mad at someone that is willing to do it for less and still make money.


kc

just becuase you have crap accounts that you cnnot charge the customer those prices don't get mad at someone that can to do it for more and make more money.


we easially get $40.00 FOR OUR LITTLE 450 SQFT LAWNS HERE..
last year we have a $35.00 minimum, this year it is $40.00

focusing on high end customers, charging them appropriately and doing what we say we will in a professional manner is what keeps us doing $60K per month..............


don't knock someone becuase they charge more than you... they ought to be the ones you are friendly with.. Thise are the guys that are helping YOU get more money for your work.....

you need to understand that the basic #1 buisness principal of capitilism is charge what the market will bear... This is a business, not a hobby... for you to succeed over the long run, you need to make as much profit as you can.. or you will be pushing a mower at 70 years old becuase you have no investments, savings, etc....

[WJW Lawn]

Yea Im with Yard Pro...I dont gouge customers...but I sure charge what the market allows...but I always try and remain competetive with other LCOs around here....well I should say LEGIT lco's.