commercial accounts

[FLAWLESSLAWN]

I recently started my own bussiness and I can't figure out how to go about getting commercial accounts but residential seems to be going well. Is there certain ways you have to go about it ? Any input would be very helpfull.

[GrassMaster]

Welcome to the Lawn Service Forum Community, FLAWLESSLAWN


How to Get Commercial Accounts!

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3125

Also try doing some searches for Commercial Accounts!

[Lawn Lizards]

Word of Mouth. The connections you make with people (meeting all kinds of people) is the most important thing you can do for business. Figure out how to target management companies, advertise in a local business magazines, builders, real estate agents... That should give you a good start. Oh, and being in the phone book, I found to be extremely helpful. It's expensive, but worth it (spend some cash on a decent sized ad at first and downsize later on).

[hunter]

just got my first commerical account. just started going to local businesses and leaving my card. called gave them an estimate and now have a 9000.00 year contract. starting aug 1.

i'm happy.

[PCM-LC]

Commercial Accounts

My son and I started a part-time Lawn Care company last year. We started with no accounts and would mow any lawn. I made a Sales call on Enterprise Rent-a-Car, left them a flyer and asked to bid on their work. I got the account and word spread to three other location. I did have to show them a cost saving, we agreed on a 10 day mowing cycle. A friend of mine handles multiple rental properties, he gave me a small mobile home park and a duplex to mow on a 2 week cycle. I then picked up a small industrial site.

I dropped all my residental accounts as I did't have time to service them. The commercial accounts are out there, you may have to be creative on how to land them.

Good luck

Paul

[Lawngodfather]

There is 1 kind of account, the commercials are only commercial due to they are not a residence. They are a business. Most still have grass to mow, most still have blowin, and mmost have trimming. I don't see a difference. They all have the same things in common.

I don't treat them any different than a resi account.

Commercial account have much more price shopping and want lower bids than resi, plus there are many more going for them than resi.

Around here a commercial account is bid near $20 a man hour, why would you want to subject yourself to such a low price war?

[mmlawncare]

Man, in my area, and according to some people on the forum, $20 a man hour is "scrub" pay for commercial accounts.

[edger]

First of all I'd like to say thanks to Grassmaster for getting my account fix!!

Second I'd like to say that i was tickled pink when i came across this fourm last night while surffing.

Third and most important. I to am starting my own law service company. I am only wanting to do commerical but will do upper class residential. The mower i am looking at is the Howard Price. I think i am getting it a fair price with the bagger system. Reason for going with the price is kind of simple. I've tried out the Deer, X-mark and then i tried the Price. Friends i can say this much, the price is by far the most stable mower i've sat on.

In short is 12K enough to start and cover over head for the first year? This would cover the cost of the mover, trailer, weedeaters and backpack blower to name a few.

Howard Price I'm going with the Blazer 360Z.

Thanks

[Lawn Lizards]

WOW, $20 per man hour. When you think about it, that is low. Ours comes out to be, depending on the account, between $40 - 50.

Commercial accounts are very tricky when bidding on them. They are all annual accounts, so you must figure in the less labor in the winter. I just average it by 3 cuts per month for the year; half a year every week and half 2x per month.

Annual accounts are key, but landing commercials can be technical sometimes. You must get to the point where the calls come to you, instead of having to go hunting. Residential annuals are cake, just advertise in the correct areas where people want their yard to be taken care of all year round. Basically, people who can afford it and know the importance of annual maintenance.

Annual accounts are key.