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Hi my name is Jeff and i currently own a landscaping/ LC business. At first i was doing fairly well for this is my first year and in my first month of business i made 8500+. But now im getting down to 2-3k a month. Im only 18 and dont have much money of my own. I bought the equipment with loans and paying it off with money made. Also paying for phone line, credit card (for buying pesticides, deck washes etc.)and other bills (insurance etc.). Basically im down to just mowing lawns now. I have about 15 Customers. I do all the work myself and that could be one of my problems because i never have time for advertising. But now that its getting slow i could advertise. There are lots of lawn services around me (Delaware) so i was wondering what would be the most "tunneling" advertising. I.e. the most productive. I own a 48" walk behind, a toro push, blowers, string trimmers, power washers, rakes, shovels, chainsaws, etc. If that helps any. I appriciate any help you can give me. And sorry if im asking an overdone question. If its too tedious just tell me to go away. But thanks for your help and if you live in Delaware and know of some business send em my way. (Advantange Lawn Maintenance LLC. 302-645-4928)
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Umm also i was wondering if i were to move from doing the work to running the business and doing sales... what type of insurance do i need to hire other people? Do i need to have benefits? This is my first business and almost my first job. But i would really like to have someone work for me while i sell i just dont know the legalities. thnx. -
Great article but didnt answer my question. Thanks tho. I was wondering about the most productive advertising. I see a lot of threads talk about door to door, doorknob hangers, fliers, a lot of things i was just wondering if someone had an opinion on what worked best for their area or if they had an insight on what would work good for mine. Also the insurance i would need for employees and if the cost would be worth the time i spent on sales. Bc as the article was saying dont over do urself but without selling u get no customers and without customers you're nothing i dont care how much equipment. employees or w/e without customers you're nothing.Comment
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Do you have signs on yer truck? That is good cheap advertising. Make sure that the customers that you have now know that you are looking for more work. Make sure that you always have a pocket full of business cards too and give them to everyone that you mention your buisness to.Corn FlakeComment
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if you are slow and looking for work try real estate agents and property managers you may have to try 100 of them until you get a good one or two that is what i do when i get slow give them your card and flyer it may takea month or so but when you get a good one you will have some good work. one of mine aloan does about 2500.00 per month. you can charge them more because one it is usually a one time deal per property and it generly doesnt come out of there pocket. i generly charge 60.00 to80.00 per cut and they never complain. do you have any commercial accounts if so add window washing squeegie amonia and water that is all you need.if you cant find new customers fast upsell to the ones you have this is what i do it seems to work for me. fliers on doors work good for me put save 10.00 or 15.00 if you call this week on your fliers and just up the price hope this helps we all know what it is like to have a slow time just dont give up if this is what you want to doComment
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You may wan to make up a flier with some of the other services besides mowing on it and give these to your customers you have already. This has worked for me along with truck signs, networking and the quality of the work being done.Wayne
"If the grass on the other side of the fence appears greener...it must be all the fertilizer they are using!" (Kevin Rodowicz)Comment
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Thanks guys i dont have truck signs so this would help a lot. Something i thought about before but didnt know if the money was worth it. Im about to go out advertising today so ill tell ya how it went when i get back. Im going to go door to door with fliers and business cards. Ive gotten 5 out of the 15 lawns with people saying i did good work i just want like 90 lawns a week hehe. But im gonna see what happens today and thanks for all your help guys. Anyone know about the insurance for employees... workmans comp etc... i dunno about all that stuff.Comment
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Also do you guys advertising on "nasty" days, rainy days. Today is a little gross so imma see how people react. Thanx!Comment
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If you are doing good work, let your customers advertise for you, Send them a personal letter letting them know how appreciative you are of there business and how important they are to you and inturn if they had anybody in mind who might be able to use your services....give them sometype of incentive for their help. I have not advertised (paid type) in several years now, And I think it is just because I am fair to people and try to listen to what they really want.
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Some good ideas for the truck would get magnet signs they're failry cheap and look good. As far as advertising, if you have a local paper for your town, put an ad in there, and advertise in the yellow pages, all could have great potential. Good luckComment
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