New company - best way to get customers fast?

[rat_race_engineer]

Hi all,

I am all set up and I'm in the process of marketing my new LC business. Currently, I'm using magnetic truck signs and handing out door hangers in target neighborhoods. Only 2 customers so far and they are family. I know its a percentage thing and I need to hand out a ton of flyers/door hangers to get any king of response. I also plan on placing an add in the "business services" section of the two county papers I'll be targeting.

Any other tips to get a start up base of customers fast? Until I get customers, I'm covering all of the business costs (truck, insurance, CPA, advertising, etc.) out of my own pocket. I figure that only 8 more customers would put me in the cash flow positive range and allow me to take the plunge and purchase/finance the eXmark Turf Tracer 48 (+ trailer) that I need to really expand into larger residential & commercial properties. I know its late in the season, any tips to jump start this puppy?

Thanks,

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[Phil Nilsson]

"Owning" equipment makes you an equipment "owner" ... owning customers makes you a "business" owner. First things first.

[mh1314]

This late in the season, your best bet will be going to residences or businesses which apparently have been negelecting their yards. Introduce yourself and explain that you are taking on new clients and ask if you can assist them. This way you'll get a faster answer yes or no, than waiting on responses from ads. On residential customers if they like your work, offer them a free mowing if they refer a new weekly customer to you. This should get you started for the year. Next year target neighborhoods you wish to work in. Try and stay away from "house poor" neighborhoods. These are new developments, normally two income households, whose budgets are stretched to the hilt with a new house payment, two car payments, couple of young kids in daycare. They want lawn service but can't afford it and you'll see them mowing with a murray push mower.

[Joe Cool]

Another way is, Who do you know? Who do your friends, neighbors and family know? Maybe your employer now? Know anyone who lives in a fancy neighborhood. Those who live in that type of neighborhood usually want their lawns cut and so does their neighbor. Do you already know someone who has their yard cut, maybe you can give him a better deal? Just being 5 dollars cheaper than the going rate, usually does the trick unless they are long time faithfulls to a paticular lawncare company and that is okay too. Oh, and always try and do your lawyers yard if possiable you never know when you will need him.

[rat_race_engineer]

Thanks for the replys and great tips. I will start working these angles immediately. Phil, I totally understand and agree with you regarding the equipment ownership. My plan was to hold off buying the large mower until I obtained enough customers to justify the purchase of it (i.e. my time is 100% booked and I can't expand anymore unless I reduce my time per yard). My original plan was to book up enough customers this year and then expand first thing next spring with the larger mower for the new season.....unless business took a huge boom this year. Thanks again.

Best Regards,

Jason

[Phil Nilsson]

Follow this thread on line marking ... also do a complete search because there are other threads that give the full story ... you should be able to do sales of from $500 to $1,000 a week the rest of the summer ... maybe more. Search words ... parking lot lines line marking ...

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/showthread.php?t=5384&highlight=line+marking

Here's a link to Trusco ... to see what it's all about http://members.atlantic.net/~trusco/

((((( Model # 20 for $585 it's all you need to get started )))))

[rat_race_engineer]

Phil,

Will do. I also bought your Labor Time handbook a couple weeks ago. What a great resource with tons of time & technical data in chart from that an engineer like me loves. I was very pleased when I received it and learned what good info it contained.

Thanks for the advice & Best Regards,

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[Phil Nilsson]

Rat Race? ... I had a line marking "division" if you will ... easy work, easy to find the jobs, fast to price out ... nice fill in work ... leads to contacts for commercial ... also see a thread (search) for Tennant parking lot sweeping machines ... the possibilities are endless ...

I don't know if you're still employed or not ... what is your status ... ?

[rat_race_engineer]

Full-time employee for now. Got your PM and replied this morning. Thanks!

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[Phil Nilsson]

Developing income streams for all 12 months is an issue ... you need money coming in like clock work ... otherwise be back at square one by spring ... or have a "job and a half" for 8 months and hang around all winter.

[RRS]

Jason, keep up the door hangers. As far as direct ads go I've found door hangers to be the best.

Monday I had two guys out doing beds and borders that called around 2:00 PM and said they were finished, and what did they need to do next. I didn't really want to send them to another job, so I told them to grab the door hangers that have been in the back seat of the truck for months and spend about two hours in the neighborhood they were in. As of this morning I've secured 3 new mowing accounts, and 2 $1000+ mulch jobs, plus I just sat down at my computer and I've got two emails. One wanting a list of references, and another wanting to discuss a maintenance contract.

All four of the new maintenance contracts were folks that were using the same guy that sucks, and wanted to change ASAP. I new this would happen because I did the same thing last year in this neighborhood at this time of year, and took 5 of this guys customers.

Cost to RRS:
4 man hours $45
150 door hangers $10

Total sales secured two days later:
$2450 that will be on the books for June.
$3480 in yearly contracts.

The point is not to gloat, but to give you some reassurance that you can find work at this time of year. Instead of 150 door hangers, hand out 15,000.

[rat_race_engineer]

Cool, thanks. I'll keep putting them out. Don't worry, its not gloating...it is good and encouraging to see examples of how succesful one can be in this business. Congratulations!

Best Regards,

Jason

[SCW]

RRS---where do you get your door hangers? What information do you put on them----are they very simple or do you detail alot of info on the hangers?

[RRS]

I got them from www.nebs.com. They are very simple, just listing services with mowing contracts as the first line item, and a tear off business card with the company name, address, number, and email address.

I don't detail a lot of info on them. The first line is always the service I'm trying to sell. In this case it's mowing contracts. PM me your email address, and I'll send you a pictures of one.

[Texsun]

any body i'm in the porsess of purchasing a new z rider what brand is best