Susanjoyce
Bronze Member
I can't much, except that I worked several years in the summer for a lawn guy. Three things I did learn:
1.) Have nice tee-shirts or golf shirts made up with your company name. Always wear the same color shorts/slacks with them. Always look professional. Carry business cards/ flyers; if you look professional and are doing a good job, neighbors will frequently stop to "chat" and want quotes.
2). The price of gas and the weather are the two main variables, more so than competition.
3.). This is my own: think outside the box when hiring help. As a middle-aged woman, I was repeatedly turned down by larger companies. Dave gave me a chance once day, and later repeatedly told me that I outworked any of his teen-age hires, and I was more heat tolerant. Plus people found it a lot easier to approach me to chat and ask "my husband" for an estimate.
4.). Okay, four. As a vet, you're probably well aware to this, but preventive maintenance and carrying spare everything. Down time is lost income.
5.). Jeez, five. Concentrate on high-income areas and commercial accounts.
I learned so much from Dave! There were all sort of little details, too, about getting a good finish on a lawn, trimming, blowing, doing little extras--that resulted in not just an average home-owner type look, but a good professional finish. I think that's why he was turning down jobs while his competitors fell.
(How are the chickens doing? Everyone laying now?)
I learned so much from Dave.
1.) Have nice tee-shirts or golf shirts made up with your company name. Always wear the same color shorts/slacks with them. Always look professional. Carry business cards/ flyers; if you look professional and are doing a good job, neighbors will frequently stop to "chat" and want quotes.
2). The price of gas and the weather are the two main variables, more so than competition.
3.). This is my own: think outside the box when hiring help. As a middle-aged woman, I was repeatedly turned down by larger companies. Dave gave me a chance once day, and later repeatedly told me that I outworked any of his teen-age hires, and I was more heat tolerant. Plus people found it a lot easier to approach me to chat and ask "my husband" for an estimate.
4.). Okay, four. As a vet, you're probably well aware to this, but preventive maintenance and carrying spare everything. Down time is lost income.
5.). Jeez, five. Concentrate on high-income areas and commercial accounts.
I learned so much from Dave! There were all sort of little details, too, about getting a good finish on a lawn, trimming, blowing, doing little extras--that resulted in not just an average home-owner type look, but a good professional finish. I think that's why he was turning down jobs while his competitors fell.
(How are the chickens doing? Everyone laying now?)
I learned so much from Dave.
