[dmk395]

For those who have been in this business for a while....how is this business when the economy isnt so good?

 

[yardsmith]

last year I would have gone bankrupt if I had gone full time. I would have to go back to the factory.
This year has been exceptional; God has been good to us green guys, esp. this year. When the economy is good, people get off their $$ a little easier. I'm still trying to find work that is less dependant on Mother Nature & the economy.

 

[eggy]

Hey i understand that, buisness has been great but I think I might go back to work full time, for more security, and hire a few guys to mow for me....It is crazy the number of calls i get in a week asking if i need help, right now its me and one helper, but i think he would make a good leader....and let him be kinda the leader of this end.

 

[Keith]

I have been doing this for quite a while and it sucked when the economy sucked. People were a lot tighter with their dollar. Now there are alot of middle class people that will pay a premium for premium service. In the 80's at least in this area the 'well off' (at least around here) were your primary targets and even they demand a better price (in fact, they are worse). And if you need work, I don't care what you say, you will work for less.

If you think it is a cut throat business now, imagine when people are out of work. Even more get the idea of loading up the mower to make a few bucks. I guess this is why the commercial market is the way to go. But even then, there will be less commercial accounts and every big residential business will be after that work.

I guess it all depends on how bad the economy is.

 

[jaclawn]

I remember the day when only the "rich" got their grass cut.
Those were the days that you got nervous when you saw a "new" lawn service in a neighborhood you were working in.

 

[machine]

Although the Labor is extremely tight and oil is at a all-time high. We in the Service Sector are Resistant to any Recession.

 

[Scraper]

The way I see it is the people who are making the big bucks (lawyers, doctors, dentists) aren't going to make any less if we go into a recession. And the engineers, accountants and such aren't going to have a pay cut either. I'm not too worried. Although if they get laid off then that's a whole different ballgame. Still, I'm not too concerned.

 

[Lawnmasters]

The last time that I worked for someone else was 1981. Since then it has been "get out of bed, go to work, or starve". The economy wasn't so great in the early 80's compared to recent times, but we done fine. I am a firm believer in a positive attitude and making a commitment to either make your business work, or get out of it. If anyone is worried about tough times, slow economy, etc. they will bail at the first sight of inflation, ecomony slowdown,etc. More work for those of us that have been here and will be here. As far as your customer's go, take care of them and they have no reason to switch to another service, you should be able to sell your service over their price. As someone in a post above said,"the Doctors, Lawyers, Business people, etc who are good customers are still going to have the work done.

Think Positive,
What the mind of man can concieve and believe, it can achieve.

Happy Days are here again.

Greg Pierce, CTP

 

[Twotoros]

Democrat or Republican, recession or not.Carter,Reagan,Bush or Klin(ton).
In Yakima Wa nothing changes . Good economy or not. Low wages since the begining. Low to the end.We are an island of little change.

 

[HOMER]

I don't think the economy would hurt me. My customers are either too old to do it, rich and ain't gonna do it, or retired and having fun before they get too old and can't do it. I have very few young customers capable of doing the work, besides, if you have a "service" then you somebody!

Homer

 

[Nathan]

It seems like there are a lot of people out there complaining about our industry. I have been in grounds maintenance and landscaping for over ten years and have made a good living working for someone else. Now I do it for myself and make even a better living. Good economy or not there is always someone out there with money who doesn'twant to do something for themselves and if you are good enough for your price they will use you. I think what most of you landscapers need to do is ask yourselves if you are enjoying what you are doing, if not leave the industry. life is too short to be unhappy.
For those of you that are happy but sometimes think what if I went somewhere else, I say Don't! I am a college graduate and have had "Desk" jobs, I can tell you that working in the rain and slop 8 months of the year all pays off when you have that nice summer tan from getting the privilege to work outside doing something you love. Overall Be happy and the money will follow.

 

[landscaper3]

With our clientell being 60%commercial and new businesses being built daily, We have hardly any problem with the ups and downs in the economy. Dont get me wrong we do get affected but keeping commercial accounts helps us STABLEIZE to the economy.

 

[eslawns]

The economy is good now, but no matter what biz you are in, you won't survive if you overextend (is that a word?) on credit or run a sloppy business. I've noticed a lot of clients from my first season have had to tighten up and do it themselves. If you are full time, this is the time to diversify and find a niche. Anyone with a mower can cut grass.