Health Insurance, Equipment Financing, Invoicing/Collection, etc..

[nash_now]

I am working on a business plan for a new organization and/or association that serves the privately-owned lawn service/landscaper. I am looking for feedback from you owners.

1. Would you be interested in purchasing group medical/dental insurance as a group to make it a reasonable expense for you and your employees and their families? The same for business insurance coverage?

2. Would you be interested in a dispatching service if you work in a metropolitan area for new customers (i.e. I would send new accounts in your geographic area to you)?

3. Would you like group purchasing power for new equipment with the top manufacturers?

4. Would you like to outsource your front/back office functions like billing, invoicing, collections, etc.?

There are several other opportunities, and if you know of others, please relate them as well.

As all of you know, this is a VERY fragmented industry with most of the companies having $750,000 or less in annual sales...My idea is to let you remain independent, but pool the collective purchasing power as an association or cooperative to take advantage of volume purchasing for benefits, equipment, and other necessary services.

There would be a modest association fee and a percentage of sales fee to belong, but that would be more than offset by the dollar savings from the benefits, equipment, and new business...

All feedback is welcome.

[Littleriver1]

I don't have any trust in you or the plan. Sounds to me like just another way to seperate me from my money.

[cfclawns]

this is why i own my own buisness so i get the money you say you want an association fee and part of my sales to be given to you to save me money. it will never happen lawn service people work to hard for their money to give part of it to you so we can save a dollar here and there you sound like a bad insurance middle man looking for a sale littleriver1 has it right no trust. you said feedback welcomed

[nash_now]

feeback welcome

You're are correct, in hindsight, I see now that I should have said "intelligent feedback"

[Stephen M.]

What you are offering is all well and good, but....

The prosopal is like my bank. For years now, I have done what everybody says you can't do, I have one bank account. I happen to know what my business takes in cash flow, and I happen to know what percentage of that I can take each month for personal needs. The bankers are always trying to get me to convert to a "business account". I won't do it because it will cost me at least $150+/year, whereas its free because of high balances in the regular "personal account". Never had a problem with the tax man either because of it.

The bankers also try to up sell me on getting my statement e mailed or fax to me; but same day service costs me $5/month. I can do without the convenience and wait a week for my financials like anybody else.

They try to upsell me on all kinds of services. I politely take the literature and applications, but in the end, I say NO. Why? It costs me $$ for convenience.

I will pay for convenience for 2nd day delivery of parts or Express mail to get a payment to a creditor on time. In the long run, that saves me money.

I belong to 4 associations that will do all of what you are proposing to do. I only need the benefits from one of those associations, but the representation of each in the state and national legislatures is what I need most: its called political clout, i.e., "special interest".

If you are another middleman, you are not likely to have my business.

[Littleriver1]

"intelligent feedback" ? 109 views 4 responces. I think the intelligent feedback came from the ones that didn't take the time to respond. I'll move it back to the top just to prove I'm right.

[Maddog]

Not interested there are already small business associations that handle many of the items you talk about and I already get 6-12 months zero percent intrest loans for my equipment. Thanks anyway.

[Woody]

You're are correct, in hindsight, I see now that I should have said "intelligent feedback"

You said "My idea is to let you remain independant". Like I need YOUR permission to do so? When I fell asleep last night, I had no idea that I would awake to a communist country, and YOU would be the one deciding if I could "remain independant".

You want intelligent feedback? Here it is.

You, like so many other people in this world, are looking for a niche to insert yourself into. More power to you. But, you come in here like you have all the answers to all the problems, and you don't. Once again, a case of someone inserting themself into a "management" position in MY company, trying to sell me on all the benefits. Well, let me tell you something..... I didn't get this far in life being stupid, even though your condescending attitude reveals that you think somehow I did.

You obviously have not done your homework, as there are already companies trying to sell the same idea as yourself. Companies much larger that yourself, for sure. They are having very limited success.

I wish you great luck in your endeavour. Personally, I would rather run my company into the ground that enslave it to someone else. No offense, but all these companies that want to help me "manage" my business, usually don't know their ass from a hole in the ground in this industry. Myself, I'll take my chances as I see fit.

Woody