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am trying to start my own lawn care business and get away from working for someone. I have my business license and I am going to get insurance. I just need some tips on how to start lawn care full time and get a lot of clients. I have business cards, post cards, loyalty cards, and magnets to put on my truck. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Sounds like you've a good start already. I'm assuming you've some sort of commercial equipment already. I've heard of some guys getting a large enough client base quickly. It didn't work that way for me it a few years to build and I'm still learning how to operate the business.
Best advice I can give is keep in good standing with the established LCOs ask them if they've any subcontracting work they'd give you. Mostly stay after it and keep knocking on doors.

Don't know about today's market. But back in the 80,s, I had a lot of door hanger ads printed up, and went all around to the
rich neighborhoods and hung one on every door knob. Best thing I ever did. I must repeat "rich neighborhoods".....

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

am trying to start my own lawn care business and get away from working for someone. I have my business license and I am going to get insurance. I just need some tips on how to start lawn care full time and get a lot of clients. I have business cards, post cards, loyalty cards, and magnets to put on my truck. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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To start with how well are you equipped can also make a big difference in gaining clients. Are you prepared to do any job the client request or are you a mow and go. I know that may sound sarcastic but those questions could be the difference in whether you make it or not. The problem anyone faces at the present with a start up business is the lack of finances and competition, it seems like it's at an all time high this year. I've seen at least twenty new start ups this week in the area here.

All your business cards, post cards, loyalty cards, and magnets to put on your truck are great and may give you a little leg up. You may want to advertise with your business cards, leaving them door to door or you may want to post an advertisement on Craigslist for the area you will be mowing in. Getting started can take time. When you get a few clients make sure you do a great job on there yards at a reasonable price, your work and word of mouth will be your best advertisement. What I suggested I did 8 yrs ago and I turned it into a 6 days a week business.

Ric said:

To start with how well are you equipped can also make a big difference in gaining clients. Are you prepared to do any job the client request or are you a mow and go. I know that may sound sarcastic but those questions could be the difference in whether you make it or not. The problem anyone faces at the present with a start up business is the lack of finances and competition, it seems like it's at an all time high this year. I've seen at least twenty new start ups this week in the area here.

All your business cards, post cards, loyalty cards, and magnets to put on your truck are great and may give you a little leg up. You may want to advertise with your business cards, leaving them door to door or you may want to post an advertisement on Craigslist for the area you will be mowing in. Getting started can take time. When you get a few clients make sure you do a great job on there yards at a reasonable price, your work and word of mouth will be your best advertisement. What I suggested I did 8 yrs ago and I turned it into a 6 days a week business.

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I am well equipped and can do anything they ask. I don't have high dollar equipment but I have everything I need. I will upgrade once I am established or am in need of better equipment. I am on Facebook, instagram, and twitter already and I am going to try to get a website. But I'm not gonna waste a lot of money on that stuff. But I will do whatever it takes to get this business going and go out on my own. Anything else you could suggest would be great and I appreciate your help.

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

I am well equipped and can do anything they ask. I don't have high dollar equipment but I have everything I need. I will upgrade once I am established or am in need of better equipment. I am on Facebook, instagram, and twitter already and I am going to try to get a website. But I'm not gonna waste a lot of money on that stuff. But I will do whatever it takes to get this business going and go out on my own. Anything else you could suggest would be great and I appreciate your help.

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Hang the flier/ads on their doorknobs...

Fish said:

Hang the flier/ads on their doorknobs...

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I'm going to do that as soon as my postcards come in.

The post say "one free mow with the purchase of another service"

And the loyalty cards are for every 5 people they refer they get a free mow.

Just trying to be different and get my name out there.

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

I am well equipped and can do anything they ask. I don't have high dollar equipment but I have everything I need. I will upgrade once I am established or am in need of better equipment. I am on Facebook, instagram, and twitter already and I am going to try to get a website. But I'm not gonna waste a lot of money on that stuff. But I will do whatever it takes to get this business going and go out on my own. Anything else you could suggest would be great and I appreciate your help.

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I really don't know what to tell you because anything that worked for me here in Florida may not work for you in your location. I myself work sub-divisions off golf courses and run about 70 clients a week.
What I can tell you is this, keep your client list close together so as to cut down on gas for the truck and drive time. My whole route is within a 4 mile radius, it can help with cutting down your overhead. Also find a dealer and work with him on buying your equipment and supplies, oil, oil filters, edger blades etc get a discount and if you can buy bulk you'll get a better price. Another thing to remember is that in Lawn Care time is money and you can't afford down time, down time not only cost you money but it can also cost you clients so back up your equipment when possible, have two of everything, trimmers,edgers, blowers, push mowers as well as your main mower.

The warning that I can give you is to always remember the Lawn Care business is a cut throat business and there's always some other business ready, willing and wanting to take your clients and they will do it in a heartbeat.

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

I'm going to do that as soon as my postcards come in.

The post say "one free mow with the purchase of another service"

And the loyalty cards are for every 5 people they refer they get a free mow.

Just trying to be different and get my name out there.

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Now that's not cool. Never give anyone a free service or mow. You start giving free service you may as well cut your own throat, you'll be in the red before you get started.

I started in the back of my jeep. Now I have a sucessful business I don't have or need expensive equipment. Flyers and craigslist are my biggest way of getting clients.

If your starting a business customer relations are most important make them happy. Talk to them make sure they know and like you. Treat them like family and when some lowballer comes down the road offering super low prices they will be less likely to take the bid.

Don't slack off and don't rush
"Slow down you'll go faster"

Ric said:

To start with how well are you equipped can also make a big difference in gaining clients. Are you prepared to do any job the client request or are you a mow and go. I know that may sound sarcastic but those questions could be the difference in whether you make it or not. The problem anyone faces at the present with a start up business is the lack of finances and competition, it seems like it's at an all time high this year. I've seen at least twenty new start ups this week in the area here.

All your business cards, post cards, loyalty cards, and magnets to put on your truck are great and may give you a little leg up. You may want to advertise with your business cards, leaving them door to door or you may want to post an advertisement on Craigslist for the area you will be mowing in. Getting started can take time. When you get a few clients make sure you do a great job on there yards at a reasonable price, your work and word of mouth will be your best advertisement. What I suggested I did 8 yrs ago and I turned it into a 6 days a week business.

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Ditto:thumbsup:

Ric said:

Now that's not cool. Never give anyone a free service or mow. You start giving free service you may as well cut your own throat, you'll be in the red before you get started.

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But technically its not free. Its with a purchase of another service. And the other one is they have to refer 5 people. And its a one time thing. So if I do good like I know I can than maybe it will be a permanent thing. I just thought it might work out for the better. I really want my name out there pretty quick but I don't want to be known as a guy that gives out free work. I love lawn care and have been doing odd jobs since high school. I really appreciate the advice.

exotion said:

I started in the back of my jeep. Now I have a sucessful business I don't have or need expensive equipment. Flyers and craigslist are my biggest way of getting clients.

If your starting a business customer relations are most important make them happy. Talk to them make sure they know and like you. Treat them like family and when some lowballer comes down the road offering super low prices they will be less likely to take the bid.

Don't slack off and don't rush
"Slow down you'll go faster"

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Customers are important and I'll do as much as I can to make them happy to a certain extent. I am a hard worker and always have been. And I have bid a couple of jobs but they go to these high school kids and get lower prices but you win some and lose some but its not gonna stop me. I just really wanna learn as much as I can to get this business rolling. Thanks for your advice.

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

But technically its not free. Its with a purchase of another service. And the other one is they have to refer 5 people. And its a one time thing. So if I do good like I know I can than maybe it will be a permanent thing. I just thought it might work out for the better. I really want my name out there pretty quick but I don't want to be known as a guy that gives out free work. I love lawn care and have been doing odd jobs since high school. I really appreciate the advice.

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Ok you want to learn about the Business, fine. You want your name out there pretty quick, again fine all that's good. Just make sure it's the name you want to be known as to your clients and other businesses that have or are already established. I agree customers are important but your business reputation can be more important.

KnoxvilleLawnCare said:

I'm going to do that as soon as my postcards come in. The post say "one free mow with the purchase of another service" And the loyalty cards are for every 5 people they refer they get a free mow. Just trying to be different and get my name out there.

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Never work for free. Period. Your work, your time and your equipment all need to be compensated for.

The name of the game is to make as much money per day as possible and your clients will understand that. They wouldn't go to work and do anything for free nor do they expect you to.

LoCo86 said:

Never work for free. Period. Your work, your time and your equipment all need to be compensated for.

The name of the game is to make as much money per day as possible and your clients will understand that. They wouldn't go to work and do anything for free nor do they expect you to.

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I agree, to do that as i said before just starts you out in the hole before you ever get started and doesn't help your rep at all.

I hear a lot of "how to get clients" question in this forum.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawnmower, but I have helped people in many different industries achieve that.

I am sure I can give you guys few tips which can help you grow your businesses. Recently, I was working with a large wholesaler in Vegas, within the first few months I added about $5k a month business to their bottom-line.

So here's how anyone getting started in Lawn mowing business can get a lot of leads, clients and sales.

I cannot (even if I want to) cover everything in this short reply. But I'll try to add as much value as I can.

Let's say, your target market is everyone in San Diego.

If you are doing Flyers to get leads, I would make sure to add a "Free Consultation" offer in it. "On our expense, our professionals will come to your place, examine and identify what you really need and help you get it for FREE".

Remember you have to get your foot in the door. You have to get calls first to make sales. So this "Free Offer" will make your phone ring more frequently.

Here's one tip for established Lawn Mowers to increase their profits by at least 20% or more Instantly...

Whenever you complete your job... Always (I mean, always) upsell them and make them sign a monthly, semi-quarterly or quarterly audit or continuity service. Not everyone will going to sign it, but out of 100, 25 will.

And if you charge $50 for this upsell, you just added $1250 a month without finding any new clients and without spending any amount on marketing.

Hope this post will help someone.

Shoaib

shoaib said:

I hear a lot of "how to get clients" question in this forum.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawnmower, but I have helped people in many different industries achieve that.
I am sure I can give you guys few tips which can help you grow your businesses. Recently, I was working with a large wholesaler in Vegas, within the first few months I added about $5k a month business to their bottom-line.
So here's how anyone getting started in Lawn mowing business can get a lot of leads, clients and sales.
I cannot (even if I want to) cover everything in this short reply. But I'll try to add as much value as I can.
Let's say, your target market is everyone in San Diego.
If you are doing Flyers to get leads, I would make sure to add a "Free Consultation" offer in it. "On our expense, our professionals will come to your place, examine and identify what you really need and help you get it for FREE".
Remember you have to get your foot in the door. You have to get calls first to make sales. So this "Free Offer" will make your phone ring more frequently.
Here's one tip for established Lawn Mowers to increase their profits by at least 20% or more Instantly...
Whenever you complete your job... Always (I mean, always) upsell them and make them sign a monthly, semi-quarterly or quarterly audit or continuity service. Not everyone will going to sign it, but out of 100, 25 will.
And if you charge $50 for this upsell, you just added $1250 a month without finding any new clients and without spending any amount on marketing.
Hope this post will help someone. Shoaib

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I like your posting and to some areas like Vegas it may work but not for most. Using flyers and business cards along with Facebook or Craigslist are what most of us do or use when getting started. I also understand that using catch phrases with words like Free or On Sale can entice people to take a second look, most businesses like HD, Lowes, Sears, Best Buy, Office Depot all use those to get people into there stores to increase sales on other items in there stores because 90% of the time they only have one or two of those items advertised or that are on sale in the store and by the time you get there those items are gone so you end up buying a more expensive item in its place. It's all just gimmick.

You suggested a tip for established Lawn Mowers to increase their profits by at least 20% or more Instantly...Whenever you complete your job... Always (I mean, always) upsell them and make them sign a monthly, semi-quarterly or quarterly audit or continuity service. Not everyone will going to sign it, but out of 100, 25 will and charge $50 for the upsell, if I were to that I'd be out of business in a month because the greatest percentage individuals I deal with wanting lawn care can't afford that kind of money because there on a fixed income. The other question I have about signing a contract or something like you suggested is how do you enforce it if they decide not to pay? Answer is you can't without going in the hole so it's a waste.

Again if you're dealing with Big business your suggestions make a lot of sense but if you're dealing with individual homeowners what Exotion said makes more sense and that's treat your clients like family, take the time to talk to your people and show them you care about them and what they want for there lawns, you'll get a lot further.