Last year my business was a failure, but been milling it around in my head to start up again this year. Its been on my mind and has been keeping me up at night.
I still have most of the equipment to start up again, truck, 48in Scag wb, a kawi trimmer, and access to my original trailer that I started with (sold it to my brother). Would just need a blower, and eventually my own trailer, so start up cost is relatively low.
A few things that I'd change is use a different source of advertising/marketing instead of service magic, better control over money, find another truck to keep one for work the other for personal use (in a pinch as a back up), keep it stupid simple instead of overthinking everything, grow slow and end up getting stuck with its (meaning more control over bidding, physically walking the properties, more in depth with it period). Remember to relax and slow down once in a while.
The good thing is I have probably the best soon to be wife in the world. She already wants to help out, doing invoicing, wants to learn to do the bidding, answering phone calls and helping out in general. She's working as a teachers aide for special need kids and wants to get a teaching position.
My advise, and even to this day I contemplate doing this sometimes, is to start from scratch. Dont worry about a tailer, and 48" mower etc etc. Go get you an good 21 walk behind, 2 string trimmers, stick edger, blower of choice, and some basic hand tools. You would be amazed what you can do with just those few small things. Overhead is super low, and I bet you could knock out 8-10 yards a day.
Start from scratch and see where it leads you.
Me personally, I think about this just because I think it would be a fun challenge to see how low I could get my overhead and how much profit I could make all at the same time...I'm way past that stage in my biz, but I always think it would be cool to have minimal bills and high profits.
Not everybody can use a 21" mower and a few month's back he was trying to sell his 21" mower. and yes get rid of service magic. From what I've heard you get more calls from them then anything. I would figure out why you failed, fix it and move forward. If not go and get a job. And good luck.
Last year my business was a failure, but been milling it around in my head to start up again this year. Its been on my mind and has been keeping me up at night.
I still have most of the equipment to start up again, truck, 48in Scag wb, a kawi trimmer, and access to my original trailer that I started with (sold it to my brother). Would just need a blower, and eventually my own trailer, so start up cost is relatively low.
A few things that I'd change is use a different source of advertising/marketing instead of service magic, better control over money, find another truck to keep one for work the other for personal use (in a pinch as a back up), keep it stupid simple instead of overthinking everything, grow slow and end up getting stuck with its (meaning more control over bidding, physically walking the properties, more in depth with it period). Remember to relax and slow down once in a while.
The good thing is I have probably the best soon to be wife in the world. She already wants to help out, doing invoicing, wants to learn to do the bidding, answering phone calls and helping out in general. She's working as a teachers aide for special need kids and wants to get a teaching position.
verb (used without object)
1.
to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved: The experiment failed because of poor planning.
2.
to receive less than the passing grade or mark in an examination, class, or course of study: He failed in history.
3.
to be or become deficient or lacking; be insufficient or absent; fall short: Our supplies failed.
4.
to dwindle, pass, or die away: The flowers failed for lack of rain.
5.
to lose strength or vigor; become weak: His health failed after the operation.
Pretty much sums up.
Call it a learning expirence, I stuck all my tiny advertising "eggs" into one basket (which half the reason I was lazy and really didn't want to deal with the leg work of it, the other half is service magic gets expensive fast and pretty much ran me broke before I caught on to what was happening). Route planning, it really wasn't a route and more of when was the last time I cut the place.
Sounds like the basics are what you are struggling with. Have you thought about working for someone else then easing into self employment? I hate to say it but knowing how to mow doesn't mean you can work for yourself. There is a ton more "business" stuff to know to make it, mowing is a small part of it. Posted via Mobile Device
Sounds like the basics are what you are struggling with. Have you thought about working for someone else then easing into self employment? I hate to say it but knowing how to mow doesn't mean you can work for yourself. There is a ton more "business" stuff to know to make it, mowing is a small part of it. Posted via Mobile Device
@Sean; giving it a night to think about that pie chart I was more about customers (60%), sales (30%) worring to just close a sale get the job and sort it out later, and money (10%). I really didn't worry about marketing cause I was using service magic, which again was wrong, branding again wasn't a big thing for me cause my customers branded my own company. Also I wasn't watching my own numbers until it was to late.
Personally, I want to be aggresive in this, to charge in with my head down at full speed, and sort it out later. But one thing I got to do is slow down, access the situation, and react. At least thats what my fiance says, she also tells me I have ADHD lol, oh look at the kitty.
I always compare building a business to building a house. Could you imagine if a house builder just went at without a blueprint - without a plan. He just started digging, building, etc.... It's no different here. You need a plan - draw it up - map it out on paper, treat it as a living, breathing document that will always need changed and improved, but as long as the foundation is solid and things are where they are supposed to be, you will build it right.
It must be nice to be so successful that you have free time to troll a hard working, humble, eager individual. Please omnipotent one, please PLEASE share more of your words of wisdom. Schlep.
At OP, only you can answer this. However, If you are looking for some encouraging words, I say 'If you know, you know' and if it is all you can think about day and night... you know. Having been on both sides, I will say that gainful self-employment is the most challenging, rewarding and frustrating thing you will ever do. Watch your money. Covet it. Do not buy anything until you have to. Year one (again) means no vacations and no new toys. Your credit is your lifeline; only use it as an absolute last option. Oh, and one other sentiment, disregard comments from those who try to hold you down. I do not know one single successful person in any industry who spends their time belittling people just starting out.
@Sean yes planning and planning, even worse case everything. One thing being a marine has taught me is that even the best laid plans can fail, adapt and overcome.
@NOVA a business is measured in success but the failures it has. Even though my first go at it was a complete failure, you get back up and get beat down again just to pick yourself up again to repeat that cycle. I was watching the TV show on the History Channel "The men who built America" and honestly I wishing they would get into more of their failures than successes. I'll keep you all posted on what goes on.
Thinking of taking a look into the local chamber of commerece, maybe joining to get some more local marketing ideas and the networking wouldn't hurt.
Thanks for the votes of confidence.
Thinking of taking a look into the local chamber of commerece, maybe joining to get some more local marketing ideas and the networking wouldn't hurt.
Swampy- I completely agree with the approach of joining the local chamber of commerce. Socialize where your customers socialize. Get to know them, have a beer/coffee with them at the Chamber of Commerce or wherever they are. You want them to get to know your face/name. That's a relatively inexpensive exercise.
I'm in the same situation as you are Swampy, I failed last year...well I made money, I just failed at my personal goals and didnt see the growth and prosperity I was expecting.
I'm in the same situation as you are Swampy, I failed last year...well I made money, I just failed at my personal goals and didnt see the growth and prosperity I was expecting.
The thing I learned is that you won't get rich in this business, but "wealth" can be measured in other forms than money. I got into a funk last year, after I found out in actuality the amount I was making a month to how much I was working, I nearly punked and everytime I went out to cut grass it was the same feeling, every minute I'd be servicing equipment. I did feel that "funk" towards the end of the first year but it was at the time pack everything away for the winter.
Thanks rick I'll take that to heart. Face time is always great.
The thing I learned is that you won't get rich in this business, but "wealth" can be measured in other forms than money. I got into a funk last year, after I found out in actuality the amount I was making a month to how much I was working, I nearly punked and everytime I went out to cut grass it was the same feeling, every minute I'd be servicing equipment. I did feel that "funk" towards the end of the first year but it was at the time pack everything away for the winter.
Thanks rick I'll take that to heart. Face time is always great.
There are a lot of very wealthy LCO's on this thread alone. But to go out the first year and expect to be rolling in the dough and living lavishly is part of the reason you got in the funk. These types of businesses are built by busting your a$$ and putting your heart and sole into it. Eventually, years down the road and if it is run correctly, it pays off. The time frame is different for everyone, it's all a matter of making a plan and following it. Also, find out what your overhead is and your cost to operate. That will help you to bid jobs more accurately and they will actually be profitable.
Good luck to you, heres to hoping for a better 2013:drinkup:
I'm going into this year with a different mindset, the last few years I just pay my helper and put the rest in my pocket and when I need something I just buy it out of my pocket....this year I "plan" to pay myself a SET amount weekly and any other I make I'm going to put into my business account to live on through winter and for business expenses. I'm really going to try and run it more like a BUSINESS instead of my side job...being as it is my FULL-TIME JOB!!
I owned a lawn care buisness for some time and got out. Belive it or not there are a lot of landscaping jobs working for someone else that will offer freedom similar to that of owning your own buisness could be working for a mom and pop or large company. Recently a company contacted me about a district landscape supervisor postion they wanted to begin and asked if i was interested. The answer isnt always self employment stay in the industry long enough build a good repution. Good jobs will come after you.......just a thought.
I'm going into this year with a different mindset, the last few years I just pay my helper and put the rest in my pocket and when I need something I just buy it out of my pocket....this year I "plan" to pay myself a SET amount weekly and any other I make I'm going to put into my business account to live on through winter and for business expenses. I'm really going to try and run it more like a BUSINESS instead of my side job...being as it is my FULL-TIME JOB!!
To put more money in your pocket do you really need a helper? I'm solo with about 65-85 yards to maintain and the only reason I have a helper is because he's my son.
I'm going into this year with a different mindset, the last few years I just pay my helper and put the rest in my pocket and when I need something I just buy it out of my pocket....this year I "plan" to pay myself a SET amount weekly and any other I make I'm going to put into my business account to live on through winter and for business expenses. I'm really going to try and run it more like a BUSINESS instead of my side job...being as it is my FULL-TIME JOB!!
Giving yourself a "SET" amount, such as $350/week, would seem to much like a salary position no matter if you work 40hrs one week or 60hrs the next. Eventually your going to wear yourself thin I would believe. The pay per week should be a incentive type mindset, the more hours you work at it in a week the more pay you recieve (like a regauler job). Stay late make more kind of thinking
Do I really need a helper? Probably not...I may try this year to do most of the lawn maintenance myself and only use the help in "HAVE" to situations and landscape jobs...Ive noticed alot of people on here have started out working solo unless a partnership deal or something....Swampy, the more I think about your suggestions on the pay scale, the more it makes since. No matter whether you own your own business or not, you want paid for the time you work!! I really appreciate all the constructive comments, keep them coming...I need all the advice I can get!! Thanks ALOT!!!
I used service magic a few year ago, worst leads ever. I did get a few regulars off them but my money would've been better spent elsewhere. A couple suggestions:
1. Pick some target areas and focus on them. Areas near your house or business place. When I started I had no job or money so I took on anything, I'd spend half the day driving. Now I have one subdivision with over 20 yards, and all have atleast a few. This makes everything so much easier to manage, cuts down on gas, gives you more billable hours, etc.
2. I know this is beat to death on this forum, but as far as advertising goes, good quality door hangers have been the best for me. Again they allow me to focus on specific neighborhoods as opposed to internet leads, yellow pages, truck signs, etc. Not that those arent good, just not as good.
I tried the door hanger deal last year and actually had them designed so that I could write the estimate for that particular yard on the back of it so that people would know up-front the cost of our service...out off about 300-350 that were all personally hand delivered in local subdivsion targeted areas, I recieved "0" ZERO return!! This year Im going to try the EDDM route and sending out 5,000 postcards in groups of 1250-4 times...or 2500-2 times....nobody in my areas are doing that yet and I'm hoping that will gain me an edge on the others??? I'm also looking into a website but i'm not sure the return on that will justify the cost??
Swampy, it sounds like going back in business is what you want. If you do, it's all or nothing. What I mean is that you give it all you've got if you plan on succeeding. Fact is, you're a startup.....again. This means you need to put your nose to the grindstone till it's bloody. And when the "pain and injury" show up, you persevere. Remember: Winners never quit, and quitters never win.
I started up last year doing it part time. I got about 8 accounts just from craigslist. Pretty good advertising and its free. One problem with it is some of the people on there are looking for a deal and don't wanna pay for quality, but that's ok you just have to shrug them off. I learned a lot last year. My biggest problem was underbidding my self I would look and a yard and say, "Oh I can knock this out in about 45 min." Needless to say with a 36" walk behind actually walking 45 turned into about an hour and a half after edging and all. Doing it full time would be awesome I think but I am a long way from that in my opinion. I don't like the idea of going into a bunch of debt and just making ends meet. My advice, unless you have the clientele, is to maybe do it part time until you get the good customers that will pay your bills for you. I am blessed that I work 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. so it works out pretty good for me. But if you have the customer base to do it full time go for it.
Yeah I honesly only tried doing two types of advertising, and those were the worst in the world (AT&T advertising solultions tried it two years before, and Service Magic). I never tried doing door hangers or EDDM, it might be something to consider. I did get stuck in that situation like most bid to just get the job, in fact I was underbidding myself. Alot of those customers where cheap or late payer's, not the greatest customers at all and I should have just came clean with them and say "hey this isn't going to work out, I'm ending our service agreement effective xx/xx/xxxx", or gave them the quality of what they were paying for. But getting rid of those few to focus on the great customers that offer or have the potential to offer more, and that refered me to their friends and family.
Note I won't be leaving my full time job, granted the pay is okay, but the benifets are what really keep me there. Plus there is a enough time around when I'm scheduled for to run this part time for now.
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