It's all about density.
If u feel u can land a lot of work n a given area then it is not too far to drive.
It takes time and a focused marketing plan to build density especially if u are newer
Our farthest point now is about 40 miles.
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With fuel cost and travel time, I have made it a point to stay in a tight local route over the years. Glad I did with the fuel cost we have today. lol

If you have already built your business up locally, I would stay that way and add to it locally. I'm in a small town too, it can be done.

Guys just starting out take what they can get, often going further than they would like but you gotta do what you can to pay the bills. Once you have built up enough locally, you can start letting go some of those that are further out of the way that don't pay as well. The closer they are, the more $$$ in your own pocket. Not to mention if you get rained out, etc... cost you less to go back.

 

I am from a small community and there is no money n my back yard

I can drive 20-30 miles and there r an unlimited amount of $400,000-$1,000,000 homes that don't bat an eye.

I look at it like this:

There are people that drive 20-40+ miles every day to work and they may make $15-20 an hour.
Why would I not send a truck that far to do lawns and make 4-5 times that. My guys r just driving to work.

If they drive say 80 miles a day and worse case tricks r get n 10 miles per gallon and has goes up $1 a gallon that means it only $8more per day per truck plus time.

No big deal to me in the big scheme of my business.


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With fuel cost and travel time, I have made it a point to stay in a tight local route over the years. Glad I did with the fuel cost we have today. lol

If you have already built your business up locally, I would stay that way and add to it locally. I'm in a small town too, it can be done.

Guys just starting out take what they can get, often going further than they would like but you gotta do what you can to pay the bills. Once you have built up enough locally, you can start letting go some of those that are further out of the way that don't pay as well. The closer they are, the more $$$ in your own pocket. Not to mention if you get rained out, etc... cost you less to go back.

I agree. This has been part of my business model as well. I live in a town of 5,000. 10 minutes away is a town of 65,000 where almost 2/3 of my customers are. Just over 1/3 of my customers are in my hometown. I take care of several hundred properties. My furthest point is a 20 minute drive. I network with landscapers and mow guys begging me to travel to Little Rock which is a 35-40 minute drive and I continue to tell them no. We provide outstanding service to our clients and I feel if I spread us thin, that service will suffer.

 

As far as our lawn & landscape department goes, we have a limit of 30 miles from the office.

 

Up to 30 miles if there is enough work.

 

I think my map if I remember right its 80 miles from tip to tip. I hit different towns on different days. Last summer I made the choice to drive a hr away to take on ann arbor, that's about 500,000 plus people there when you extend to the surrounding towns. I could also charge 5 to 10 bucks more a lawn on the small ones, that alone pays for the fuel and wages for travel. I made that choice in the middle of summer and this year I have a 10 house route in a 5 mile area out there now, not including the other places I do out there. I also have lawns that dot the whole distance out there. In a not so wise move I went the other direction 40 miles from my house and I only do one lawn out there. In time I expect more lawns out that way and its country so they are bigger lawns, but for now I just run out there by myself, so reason for paying a worker for a 2 hr commute.

 

After looking at your map I'd be seriously considering mowing in Indianapolis, thats about the same distance for me driving to ann arbor. Just charge 5 to 10 more for a stamp lot.

 

The longest distance I go is 11 miles away. It is also a town I have 2 rent homes in so it gives me a chance to do a drive by.

 

I recieved a call today from my Craigslist ad from a guy in a town 25 miles away. This town is between two large towns and the way he talks there is no one there locally mowing. I checked out his house by google earth and it is in a subdivsion so it could be a way to market more clients down there. I was going to go Monday and bid thinking it could lead to something more. It would be a 30 min each way drive via interstate. I would hate to take time to drive there with loaded trailer and he reject my bid but he did sound disperate when I talked with him.

 

You cant make money driving to mowing clients. thats a scientific fact. Dont try. Scrap that idea now.
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I drive 25 miles away everyday for all my customers if u can get the work its worth it but I chose to live where I do.
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I drive 30 miles 3 days a week. I have no choice, I live in the sticks. Friday I drove 80 miles round trip and mowed $435.00 worth of lawns by myself, so its worth it to me. If you can get enough lawns to fill a day its worth it.
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You cant make money driving to mowing clients. thats a scientific fact. Dont try. Scrap that idea now.
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Hog wash. To drive 30 miles away you just take the $70 to do it and split it between 5 or 6 properties you do there. Not hard.
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Ok. Ill just keep to myself again. We will let those trying to make it tell those who have no clue. Lawnsite as usual...
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I am from a small community and there is no money n my back yard

I can drive 20-30 miles and there r an unlimited amount of $400,000-$1,000,000 homes that don't bat an eye.

I look at it like this:

There are people that drive 20-40+ miles every day to work and they may make $15-20 an hour.
Why would I not send a truck that far to do lawns and make 4-5 times that. My guys r just driving to work.

If they drive say 80 miles a day and worse case tricks r get n 10 miles per gallon and has goes up $1 a gallon that means it only $8more per day per truck plus time.

No big deal to me in the big scheme of my business.


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Not many people tow 2,500 lbs of equipment plus a trailer to work either
I see your point though. You gotta go where the $$$ are.

 

Ok. Ill just keep to myself again. We will let those trying to make it tell those who have no clue. Lawnsite as usual...
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Why don't you call up true green and ask if they are hiring, I bet you could save them some money, they drive 2 hrs to cover my area. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I make my money by going to area others don't and once people find out your servicing that area it spreads like wildfire.

 

True green lol not a good argument.
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True green lol not a good argument.
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I just thought they could use his skills lol my point is a lot of service compaines travel long distances, you just have to charge acccordingly.
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I just thought they could use his skills lol my point is a lot of service compaines travel long distances, you just have to charge acccordingly.
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First, you need to back off with the attitude.
Next, lay out your gross and net margins for fert vs mowing and from there I will gladly mathematically prove why you can not afford to travel for mowing. We drive up to an hour to fertilize but restrict mowing services to a 10 min drive max from our shop.
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I drive 30 miles 3 days a week. I have no choice, I live in the sticks. Friday I drove 80 miles round trip and mowed $435.00 worth of lawns by myself, so its worth it to me. If you can get enough lawns to fill a day its worth it.
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Do you know what your margin is? You may think you're making money, but a business analysis might show otherwise.
A friend of mine http://www.frankcrandall3.com/Frank_Crandall_Hort/Welcome.html likes to tell the story of an owner/operator mowing company that was charging $25/cut locally but was having trouble making ends meet. When Frank did an analysis & showed him why he was losing money on each cut, the guy responded "Holy Crap, I've got to start selling more $25 accounts to make up the loss!!"

Wrong answer. :hammerhead::hammerhead:

 

Why don't you call up true green and ask if they are hiring, I bet you could save them some money, they drive 2 hrs to cover my area. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I make my money by going to area others don't and once people find out your servicing that area it spreads like wildfire.

FYI, TruGreen is losing money. Their holding company annual report will tell you so.

 

You got to do what you got to do. I mow 2 days close to home 15 min drive to a small town and 3 days I drive 30 miles to first yard. Where I live my closest neighbors are 1 mile away. Everybody doesn't live in or close to a large city. Would I like to have all my yards 10 min away, sure I would. But like someone else said I choose to live where I live.
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Do you know what your margin is? You may think you're making money, but a business analysis might show otherwise.
A friend of mine http://www.frankcrandall3.com/Frank_Crandall_Hort/Welcome.html likes to tell the story of an owner/operator mowing company that was charging $25/cut locally but was having trouble making ends meet. When Frank did an analysis & showed him why he was losing money on each cut, the guy responded "Holy Crap, I've got to start selling more $25 accounts to make up the loss!!"

Wrong answer. :hammerhead::hammerhead:

45% profit margin last year. Been in business since. 2004, all equipment paid for, wife doesn't work, house paid for, so I'm doing ok.
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45% profit margin last year.
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You guys are helpless
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