Met with potential customer today - subcontracting

[rat_race_engineer]

Hello,

I met with a customer today to quote the usual mow, edge, trim job. In addition, the homeowner described the lawn as a "problem lawn" with 1/2 of the back yard completely covered with weeds. Others have told me the only remedy would be a total round-up type kill of the weeds followed by an aeration/seeding in the fall. Customer also inquired about chemical treatment plans available. My problem is that I am not yet a licensed pesticide applicator so I would need to subcontract the work out. I've done the research and plan on pursuing my training & certification this winter so I can be fully licensed for next season. I will not apply any chemicals myself until becoming licensed to do so. Any tips on how to handle subcontracting this pesticide work and how to package/sell it to the customer that way instead of them just going with someone else?

I gave the quote on the weekly lawn maintenance and it would have been a good (but big job) with lots of extras (mulching, hedge trimming, fertilizer apps, etc.). I'm waiting to hear back but I am worried my inability to jump on the weed problem myself right away may have cost me the job.

Thanks!

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[MortNuke]

Let me commend you on not performing applications without a license. Smart move.

It would be fine to contact a treatment service (or another LCO you trust not to steal your customer) and build a relationship to have them do your treatments until you get licensed and trained. Simply having a license does not prepare you for lawn treatments. There's certainly a learning curve. See if they will let you go with them and learn in the field, too.

Find out their prices so you can provide quotes to your customers on the spot.

"I have a guy that I send out for treatments..." is all you really need to say to the customer.

Mort

[Aproct]

rat race engineer,

If you are interested, we can build a relationship. I am licensed with my pesticide license and depending on your location, I can assist you in the application. PM me when you get a chance.

[RRS]

I've subbed out apps for three years now. I have a great relationship with a guy that does lawns, shrubs, and trees up to 15' only, no mowing or landscaping. He passes along maintenance and install work to me, and I give him all of my apps. My customers get a bill from me so they still keep one point of contact. I bet that most of them don't even know that someone else does it. Also, I don't mark up his costs at all, I just pass them through to the customer. The referrals that he has given me over the past several years are more than worth it, as mine are to him. Currently he does about 50 lawns for me. Plus, twice a season he sprays crack weeds, and beds on many of my properties.

This situation has worked great for me because when I started up I didn't have the capital to purchase a spray rig, and a mowing/landscape rig, but I knew that I must be able to offer apps to stay in business. BTW, I've taken all of the classes that I need to get my lawn and ornamentals license. I just need to sit for the test and get my pesticide business license.

[BCSteel]

Plus, twice a season he sprays crack weeds, and beds on many of my properties.

Well I've heard of crack heads and crack *****s but man, you've got it tough if you have crack weeds over there.

[RRS]

Come on, crack weed, that's the two for one special downtown man!

[rat_race_engineer]

Thanks, guys! I will definitely be doing that as it looks like a win-win situation for all. Aprcot, I sent you a PM and will get in touch with you.

I did some research & called the potential customer back - left him a pretty detailed voicemail of 2 options for reparing the weed infested area. One involved a long term approach involving preemergents, aerating, seeding, etc. and the other more drastic option was a lawn renovation involving a roundup kill & scalp of the affected areas followed by power rake/aeration & seeding in the fall - then preemergent in the spring.

Offered it up as free techical advice to show goodwill and try to land the job. I figure he's probably going to get a few other estimates as well prior to commiting.

Best Regards,

Jason

[Phil Nilsson]

Rat Race ... if you grab the lawn measurements yourself at the site ... most of the lawn app subs can quote you a price (on the phone) based on that for the "normal" work ... non reno stuff ... or special case stuff ... this keeps them "off" the clients property. Bill the customer directly yourself ... bargain for a discount ... from the app guy. Do the same with irrigation install and repair service and for any arborist tree work too.

[rat_race_engineer]

Great tips, Phil.....I do have all the measurments. I'll be following up with the gentleman shortly. Even if I don't land the job, I will try to get his feedback as to why so I can improve for the next one. Thanks again for all the help!

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[Phil Nilsson]

Rat Race ... you're an accomplished Engineer with "numbers skills", executive background, and "Corporate America know-how" ... consider the idea that by bidding various jobs (no matter how big) ... you can make money on them ... without lifting a finger to do any work, or investing beyond the bidding process. If you need clarification beyond what we discussed give me another call.

[rat_race_engineer]

Thanks, Phil. I hear what you're saying. I am starting to get more and more leads about jobs beyond my original planned scope. I will be reviewing all of these potential jobs with customers at every opportunity and if the work is more than a 1-man task, I will attempt to sell my services as a "job manager" so they don't have to be bothered with all of the details. Also, I've decided to expand into the neighboring state which is extremely close and has a huge affluent market within minutes of my home territory. Your advice, coupled with some potential referrals in the area have opened my eyes to a huge opportunity.

Thanks again for all of your great advice!

Best Regards,

Jason
rat_race_engineer

[Phil Nilsson]

Rat Race ... from what I'm seeing more and more even the residential customers are receptive to a one stop shop ... deal with one trusted outfit to handle their "bundle" of work ... one "go to guy or gal" ... you can build an entire company from that ... you don't have to own equipment, have a huge pile of dough, employees or any of it ... if you own the work (own the work) you are "golden" ... because everybody is chasing customers to own the work. You have what everybody wants ... the work.

If you owned a $100,000 contract what would a contractor pay you for it? Or ... would you encounter problems finding "new starts" subs ... several of them ... hungry for work ... to do the work?

One half the world is looking for the other half ... "connect the dots".

Guys are looking for girls ... girls are looking for guys! ... arrange them to meet ... that's what I'm saying ... NO not a dating service ... a contracting company ...