Starting Part-time

[CD]

I have been reading the posts for a month or so and the majority of them have been very helpful.

I have decided to start part-time in the spring and would like any suggestions that you might have.

I currently have:
Truck
Trailer
42" Lawn Tractor
Trimmer
Edger
Hand held blower

One question that I have is what is the best way to determine what others are charging in my area. Do I have them come out and give me a quote on my place believing that I am a potential customer? Or do I tell them I want to be their competition and see if they give me estimates on what they charge?

[qualitylandscaping]

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Welcome to the community CD!![]

If you have a friend that lives near by, have a lawn care company quote your friend's house. If not, call and ask for a quote for your own lawn, but don't tell them you are starting in the biz or they probably won't help you.

Good Luck!

[GrassMaster]

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Hello Everybody:

I would try to find out what others are paying to have their lawn serviced. I would not have a lawn company come & bid mine. Later on if they find out you are in the business, this will be the first company that dislikes you.

You have Choices with Your Competition, You can be their friends, you can be another Company Riding by or you can be their Enenmies. I prefer to be their Friends!

Meet everyone you can, talk to them, if need be tell them you are looking for good deals on Equipment or looking for work. Swap business cards with them? Why?

When I first started I did exactly what I said above. If work came in I couldn't handle (Big Jobs), that I didn't have the Manpower or Equipment for, I gave the Guys I met in the Business Very High Recomendations... What Happened?...

After a while they started sending me jobs, that were small & they didn't want to fool with & More. I had one that would even let me go in with him on Quantites of Pine Straw & it saved me a Dollar a Bale. I was also getting good deals on Equipment from them.

A Guy that I had met one time, I Loaned him a Mower to finish an account that I wanted, a Year later gave me that Account & over 30 others for Free on a Silver Platter. I Kept over 25 of the accounts. It pays off to be on Good Terms & Help Others. If nothing else the Big Guy approves of it upstairs!

It's ok to learn the Hard way, Experience is the Best Teacher. You have unlimited resources here, do searchs & read all you can.

Look at your own lawn, figure out how big it is. Then do it, Time how long it takes you to do each task. If need be do a few others, relatives, friends & neighbors. When you go to do them first figure how long it will take you, when finished. Look at what it took you to get the job done compared to what you figured. Go from there?

Remember it's one thing for relatives, friends & neighbors to know you cut grass, It's another when you go & do it for them. Even if it's free for them, they will tell others. Word of Mouth is the Key to Your Survival in this business. Learn it Now or Learn it Later, it's Your Choice.

Then you must decide on what you want to make an hour. No matter where you are, figuring around $25 to $35 dollars an hour start minimum is a safe Starting Zone.

When I first started I worked for less money, I didn't have much of a choice. I needed work & I had to get my name out there... As time went by I learned how to bid my jobs...

As more & more work came in I slowly raised my prices. When I had more work than I could do & I felt Confident in My services, I Raised my prices even more...$$$$$

After a while most of my work was very high priced & I got paid for what I did. I reassured folks I was the Highest Priced & Best Lawn Service in Town, before I ever visited the Property. Yes, I pre qualified them over the phone. There's no use in me wasting my Time with price shoppers.

I did Quality Work & I got paid for it. The Town I was in Had very many people cutting grass & it took me 3 years to reach the Point of getting what I wanted to get paid for my services. But My work did not come home with me because I bidded it too Low!

<b>When you get to that point, You charge as much as the Market can bare & then More. Ca Ching$$$$$

You can get a .99 Hamburger & you can get a Burger for $5.99, Both places are in business & doing Good...

What Kind of Burgers do You want to Sell your Customers?</b>

[CD]

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Thanks Steve & GrassMaster.
Those are good ideas for getting an estimate on what I should try to make. Glad that I asked because I didn't really care for the idea of trying to get them out for an estimate under the assumption that I might be a potential customer. GrassMaster are you in Columbus GA? If you are then I'm in your neck of the woods, Tifton,GA.

Thanks again for the ideas.

[qualitylandscaping]

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CD,

Grassmaster does live in Columbus, GA.. You can find out more information about a member by clicking on their name..

Happy Holidays!

[CCLS]

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Get estimates from the competion on your property or your friend like quality said. Alls fair in love and war. Everything is so cut throat around here that the bigger guys try to crush all the little guys. They keep getting bigger by buying out little guys. I don't know about that whole buddy system. I've seen a couple cases around here where it comes back to bite you in the butt. I am friends with several lawn companys in my town, I was friends before I started my biz and they helped me get started. My point is watch your back when it comes to business, the more money your business is making, is less money the competition is making.