[GarPA]

Every once in awhile, someone starts a thread to share ideas to help us be more efficient and lower our costs. I'm always looking for ways to help the bottom line as we all know we work in a business that is extremely competitive. Lets post some more ideas as I'm sure we can all learn a thing or two:

1. Trash bags... yesterday I stumbled onto some strong, very inexpensive trash bags. Ruffies has a clear bag, only .5 mil but amazingly strong. 170 of them only cost me 12.00. Got them at Lowes...most of the bags we were using for cleanups were about 13 cents per bag..these are 7 cents. Try em...you'll like em.
2. Use email for billing..no paper, no stamps. Some customers still want a paper bill ...but we were able to put 1/2 our accounts on email billing. Also saves on those expensive printer cartridges.
3. Keep a detailed work log in the truck and use it faithfully every day...keep times on every maint or landscape job every day...also note all materials used. At end of year, roll up the production times and evaluate where you are losing money. Also makes monthly billing sooo much easier.

Thats enough for the first post...will add on as I think of more. Lets hear some more ideas.

 

[LawnGuy73]

Here is my advise, first off buy zero-turn mowers. Also remember You Get What You Pay For, if you buy cheap supplies, there going to be cheaply made....

 

[mrbenfer]

Buying office supplies in bulk can save you lots of money. PriceClub or SamsClub are great stores!

 

[Gene $immons]

Pack a lunch.

This saves roughly $30.00 a week

$120 a month

$1440 a year!!

 

[GLAN]

That's true about the lunch.

Also for cold drinks. Take an empty 2 liter soda bottle fill it 3/4 with water put in freezer, that will last a good part of the day.

 

[crawdad]

Sharpen a whole stack of blades while you have the tools set up.

When mowing, or trimming, start and finish at the same spot every time.

Make your mower dealer give you a new hat every year.

Buy beer by the case, not the six-pack.

Crawdad

 

[work_it]

Check the tire pressure, air filter, fuel filter and oil on truck. You can cut fuel consumption considerably.

 

[mx495]

Wear one pair of underware all week, less laundry.

 

[fblandscape]

Igloo coolers, don't go without them. Fill them up with water at your house, get ice at a store for a buck. Put in some form of drink mix for flavor. You can get Gatorade, Iced Tea, etc powders in bulk for a good price.

 

[chuckwk]

Keep up on truck maintenance and license's ..... hold'ups and fines by the DOT add up BIG time, its much cheaper in the long run to take care of things immediately.. Also, unforeseen savings in safety issues.

 

[GraZZmaZter]

Stop eating food .... saves on dishes, water for the dishes, less garbage, and no toilet paper!

Seriously - Fill up the trucks and mowers with gas if you are able to. Or have the forman drop off crew at first job after lunch while he goes to the gas station to top everything off. ( that is the most productive time of day )

Tighten your routes as much as possible, thus shortening your windshield time. (loss)

Have spare parts ( need i say more ??? we've all been there )

 

[KenH]

Save toilet paper, use both sides.

 

[Matt'slawncare]

The biggest time saver is to get all of the lawns by each other, saves lots of time.

 

[thartz]

Time to lean time to clean.Told the guys if your sitting by the truck waiting for someone to finish so you can leave an account;break out the rag and cleaner.Don't just sit there and watch them work.Everthing on the truck can use a good once over.Saved one whole day of cleaning and helped with unneccessary down time due to potential problems being spotted and taken care of early.

 

[1grnlwn]

Buy 3 or 4 trimmer spools and keep them wound on truck. Swap out when empty or take one with you on long distance jobs.

 

[Keith]

I just can't do the "bring lunch" thing I have to eat in a restaurant to get a little break. Bad thing is, it's never fastfood, so it costs. Monday was Golden Corral, Tuesday was Cracker Barrel, same as today. Yesterday was spaghetti at the local pizza shop

I try to save money by doing my own maintenance on everything, right down to building my own engine for the truck last winter...save money for food

 

[Rustic Goat]

Originally posted by fblandscape get ice at a store for a buck.

Some places get $1.79 for a bag of ice around here. Clean, fill with water, and freeze empty plastic milk jugs for ice.

 

[rodfather]

Don't take something to the dealer unless you absolutely have to...do ALL the maintenance work yourself and save money. If you don't know how, then learn.

Don't keep something forever just because it still works. Eventually, it will die and leave you stranded. PM (preventive maintenance) is one of the key points to survival in this business cause time is money. And if you're broken down, you ain't makin money...honey.

 

[GLAN]

Originally posted by KenH
Save toilet paper, use both sides.

OMG.....:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

[locutus]

save even more money on toilet paper. use both sides then peel it in half and use it again.