Landscaping advice for a new guy?

[racerx520]

I recently began attempting to expand my landscaping service, i have a 36" Bunton (for those of you who are old enough to remember them), a weed wacker, redmax blower, and a push mower along with a trailer to acomodate all. I have been mowing lawns for about 10 years atleast, but its been just the same 3, this year i want to try to expand to atleast 10 (i do it solo, and i have a 40+ hour a week job and another job on top). I'd most likely drop the second job if i can pick up a bit more lawns, but whenever i try to expand to more lawns, i just cant seem to get anywhere.....anyone have any good tips for picking up a few more? i tried asking my customers to reccomend me to their friends/family, but they all have their own service going.

 

any advice is helpful!

[lhjanzen]

I did this in middle school plus a little highschool. Put up some posters around the area and post on Kijiji (I agree though.. Word of mouth is the best advert.). Try and find a company yard to tend (I.E a gas station? or some sort of business?) cause they want the yard to look crisp and clean ALL THE TIME so you can cut and tend there 2x as much, and you should generally get paid better from a business. A company in my town makes heaps of cash every spring fertilizing lawns and treating with anti-dandilion chemical (Trillion is safe to use. Curtail M works best but will kill a tree ((look into local laws))). Great money maker cause the average person does not know/ want to deal with chemical.

[RyanbabZ71]

Look into subdivisions. Home owner associations usually hire landscapers to take care of common areas and foreclosed homes.

 

 

Ryan

 

 

 

Look into aerating services too. Sprin and fall you should be able to stay busy

 

 

Ryan

 

 

[txab]

Knock on doors or leave flyers at neighbors of your current customers. The more you get in one area the lower your costs are. I know of a guy who has every house for several blocks, that doesn't mow their own. He was able to offer a little cheaper price to get the new customers

[racerx520]

thanks guys....i'll probably do flyers in the neighborhoods i work in for now. I am not looking for a huge load of lawns for now, I cant quite afford too much time at this point with the other jobs lol. i appreciate the advice!

[KMGZ400]

advertise.. post flyers, knock on doors, etc

[mattymax]

I too work full time, 84 hours every two weeks and I just started doing some lawns on the side. (2012 season)Just from word of mouth I have about 12 accounts. I never cut more than 5 hours on my day off and 10 of the accounts are within 4 miles of my house. Great side money and its amazing how good word of mouth has been for me.

 

As far as equipment goes. 36 Scag walk behind, 10x6 open trailer, redmax backpack blower and weedwacker. You don't need much when your a one man show

 

Matt

 

[85Silverado03]

I have my own lawn care biz for about 27 yrs now and still do my 40+ hrs at the plant.I have about 30 customers and planning on getting more in about 3 yrs when i retire.I had over 40 at one time.You can stay as busy as you want you just have to be committed.

[sab316]

We've been in operation since 1992. My old man and I started it. Started working when I was 10, and I'm 23 now. We have around 400 clients and 15 employees.

 

Best advice I can give is, do it right the first time. Make it absolutely perfect. If it means you don't get to everything in a day, so be it. We stay on our guys constantly about doing the best job they can do. Happy customer, means happy reviews. We have never advertised any way other than word of mouth. We've been lucky and have gotten in with a bunch of management companies that own shopping centers, subdivisions etc.

 

We also have Wal-Marts, Krogers, churches, car dealerships, cemeteries, city halls, baseball fields, shopping centers, apartments. Name it and we probably cut it. Go ask to talk to a store manager / property manager. Let them know that you would like to bid on providing the service next time it comes up for bid and give them a card. Most places take bids starting in January / February.

 

We provide just about everything except for chemicals (we sub it out to a good friend), we do landscaping, retaining walls, hardscapes, landscaping, etc. etc. etc.

 

If a customer needs it cut by Wednesday, and you don't have time. Find time, we find ways to meet our customers needs everytime even if it puts us in a bind.

 

I've worked more 100+ hour weeks that I care to count. I've worked from 3:30 AM (sweeping parking lots) to 9:45 a night cutting a bank by street lights.

 

You just have to go get it. Its a tough industry to break into, everyone and their mother has a truck and trailer. Most fizzle out, you just have to be one of the ones willing to work harder / better than the next guy. Get your foot in the door, get your name out there and do quality work.

[nashguy207]

I have owned my own landscape company for 5 years. We are a full service company. we do it all. Mowing,Fertilizing,Landscaping, Irrigation, Lighting and a little more. First off if all you are mowing you are NOT a landscaping company.you are a LAWN service company big difference. I suggest you put signs on your truck. Also put out lots of flyers now is

a great time to put flyers out and i mean lots of them. At least a 1000 to 1500. Just keep beating the pavement. If you do quality work and beat the pavement you will get more customers.

[marksoldtowne]

my opinion about landscape construction is sustainable landscaping helps us to minimize the inputs like money,water,time,fertilizer & chemicals.make note available condition about location,moisture available,air movement,soil type. healthy soil helps to minimze soil erosion ,minimize evaporation and weed growth.