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Just starting
#1
Lohman mows lawns
Lohman mows lawns
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
#2
lawn mower fanatic
For marketing you could ring people's doorbells that haven't shoveled their driveway yet and ask if they would like you to do it for a certain amount of money. Also, you could hand out flyers if you know it is going to snow in a couple days, or just hand out flyers in the beginning of the season. What has worked for me is also having a yard sign advertising my services.
***See your other thread (http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/general-mower-discussion/12914-markiting.html) for more marketing details.
Good luck! :smile:
lawn mower fanatic
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
For marketing you could ring people's doorbells that haven't shoveled their driveway yet and ask if they would like you to do it for a certain amount of money. Also, you could hand out flyers if you know it is going to snow in a couple days, or just hand out flyers in the beginning of the season. What has worked for me is also having a yard sign advertising my services.
***See your other thread (http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/general-mower-discussion/12914-markiting.html) for more marketing details.
Good luck! :smile:
#3
mowerman1999
mowerman1999
You could put a buisness card in your nearest shop window it might cost a little bit but someones going to look at it.
#4
Ric
Tips and tricks, do it right. You are aware that when you talk about starting, advertising and marketing a business that there are certain requirements you need to meet. Like a License, Tax I.D, and or DBA and a few other things. You may want to take a look at this link and a few others before you jump in feet first. Most all states require similar steps.
Pa Lawn Care Business License Requirements Lawn Care
Ric
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
Tips and tricks, do it right. You are aware that when you talk about starting, advertising and marketing a business that there are certain requirements you need to meet. Like a License, Tax I.D, and or DBA and a few other things. You may want to take a look at this link and a few others before you jump in feet first. Most all states require similar steps.
Pa Lawn Care Business License Requirements Lawn Care
#5
W
wjb
W
wjb
Rule 1 Service the customer
Rule 2 Service the customer
Rule 3 Service the customer
These rules are 60% of success
Proper book keeping and money management is 20%
The other 20% is knowing the business inside and out
I don't know if the percentages are correct I can tell you is you don't obey the first 3 rules you wont have to worry about the rest because if you don't have customers you don't have income
Rule 2 Service the customer
Rule 3 Service the customer
These rules are 60% of success
Proper book keeping and money management is 20%
The other 20% is knowing the business inside and out
I don't know if the percentages are correct I can tell you is you don't obey the first 3 rules you wont have to worry about the rest because if you don't have customers you don't have income
#6
lawn mower fanatic
I agree to that 100%. The key is to stay organized. You can manage things better if you are organized.
lawn mower fanatic
Rule 1 Service the customer
Rule 2 Service the customer
Rule 3 Service the customer
These rules are 60% of success
Proper book keeping and money management is 20%
The other 20% is knowing the business inside and out
I don't know if the percentages are correct I can tell you is you don't obey the first 3 rules you wont have to worry about the rest because if you don't have customers you don't have income
I agree to that 100%. The key is to stay organized. You can manage things better if you are organized.
#7
djdicetn
djdicetn
I replied a while back to a thread started by user Lohman mows lawns, mentioning liability insurance. I've never looked into starting a business, but I can sense that the advice given by user Ric should not be taken lightly. It's one thing for a 7th grader to mow a few neighbor's lawns, but if he were my son and he was talking about seriously "starting a lawncare business" my advice would be very simlar to user Ric's(I wouldn't be happy with my son if I had to deal with a client that filed a lawsuit against my son, and my son didn't even have the required licensing, etc.).Tips and tricks, do it right. You are aware that when you talk about starting, advertising and marketing a business that there are certain requirements you need to meet. Like a License, Tax I.D, and or DBA and a few other things. You may want to take a look at this link and a few others before you jump in feet first. Most all states require similar steps.
Pa Lawn Care Business License Requirements Lawn Care
#8
Ric
The thing I look at is I don't mind the kid down the street mowing a lawn to make a little side money. It's when they take it in mind to start a business and don't know or understand the risk involved to them and what the consequences can be. I don't believe they know that if they do damage to someones property it's not them that pays, it's there parents. The kid has no license, no insurance, a lawsuit can cost the parents there home and everything they own.
Ric
I replied a while back to a thread started by user Lohman mows lawns, mentioning liability insurance. I've never looked into starting a business, but I can sense that the advice given by user Ric should not be taken lightly. It's one thing for a 7th grader to mow a few neighbor's lawns, but if he were my son and he was talking about seriously "starting a lawncare business" my advice would be very simlar to user Ric's(I wouldn't be happy with my son if I had to deal with a client that filed a lawsuit against my son, and my son didn't even have the required licensing, etc.).
The thing I look at is I don't mind the kid down the street mowing a lawn to make a little side money. It's when they take it in mind to start a business and don't know or understand the risk involved to them and what the consequences can be. I don't believe they know that if they do damage to someones property it's not them that pays, it's there parents. The kid has no license, no insurance, a lawsuit can cost the parents there home and everything they own.
#9
jekjr
As far as marketing make as many friends as you can on Facebook and post it a couple of times a day. Any kinds of groups that you can become part of post it on their walls as well. That got me a lot of work this past summer. As for as the other stuff listen to the other guys on insurance and licenses.
jekjr
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
As far as marketing make as many friends as you can on Facebook and post it a couple of times a day. Any kinds of groups that you can become part of post it on their walls as well. That got me a lot of work this past summer. As for as the other stuff listen to the other guys on insurance and licenses.
#10
J
jameshobbs
Agree 100 % A kid mowing a few lawns in the hood for summer money ,I am all for it. I did it !
But what hurts / piss's me off is, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks !
The guy has no license, no Tax ID # , no insurance, on nothing !
I can not pay my guys and all the licenses, taxes & insurance, and make money for 20 bucks a pop !
J
jameshobbs
The thing I look at is I don't mind the kid down the street mowing a lawn to make a little side money. It's when they take it in mind to start a business and don't know or understand the risk involved to them and what the consequences can be. I don't believe they know that if they do damage to someones property it's not them that pays, it's there parents. The kid has no license, no insurance, a lawsuit can cost the parents there home and everything they own.
Agree 100 % A kid mowing a few lawns in the hood for summer money ,I am all for it. I did it !
But what hurts / piss's me off is, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks !
The guy has no license, no Tax ID # , no insurance, on nothing !
I can not pay my guys and all the licenses, taxes & insurance, and make money for 20 bucks a pop !
#11
Carscw
And this hurts you how?
Sent from my iPhone using LMF
Carscw
Agree 100 % A kid mowing a few lawns in the hood for summer money ,I am all for it. I did it !
But what hurts / piss's me off is, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks !
The guy has no license, no Tax ID # , no insurance, on nothing !
I can not pay my guys and all the licenses, taxes & insurance, and make money for 20 bucks a pop !
And this hurts you how?
Sent from my iPhone using LMF
#12
Ric
I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing you because I'm not. I can agree with you, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks can be looked at as a PITA, but on the other hand we know he will probably not hurt you because he's not really running a business. He's either trying to keep him and his family a float or he's working for beer money and either way when things change he'll be gone.
What you say about him not having a license, Tax ID # , no insurance on nothing is also probably true but again there are states and county's that required none of that to go out and mow lawns.
The thing is what you're talking about in reality are the terms and the pitfalls you choose for your business. By the sounds you're a bigger outfit and have employees and pay Insurance, workman's comp and all the goody's that go along with it and that's fine but don't blame Johnny redneck if you can't cover your overhead.
Ric
Agree 100 % A kid mowing a few lawns in the hood for summer money ,I am all for it. I did it !
But what hurts / piss's me off is, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks !
The guy has no license, no Tax ID # , no insurance, on nothing !
I can not pay my guys and all the licenses, taxes & insurance, and make money for 20bucks a pop !
I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing you because I'm not. I can agree with you, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks can be looked at as a PITA, but on the other hand we know he will probably not hurt you because he's not really running a business. He's either trying to keep him and his family a float or he's working for beer money and either way when things change he'll be gone.
What you say about him not having a license, Tax ID # , no insurance on nothing is also probably true but again there are states and county's that required none of that to go out and mow lawns.
The thing is what you're talking about in reality are the terms and the pitfalls you choose for your business. By the sounds you're a bigger outfit and have employees and pay Insurance, workman's comp and all the goody's that go along with it and that's fine but don't blame Johnny redneck if you can't cover your overhead.
#13
jekjr
Also Johnny Redneck might be just getting started as well. We all start some where. Laws for all of that stuff many times are put in place by people who are in business, that started that way, and then lobbied officials whether they be local, state, or federal, to keep somebody else from being able to get started and compete.
I know I bid on a job that I could have done by myself and made a decent income from it. Company doing it was doing a crappy job. HOWEVER the job requuired Workman's Comp Ins. As a one man show there is no way I could get the insurance they required and come out. All I would have been doing was working and paying for insurance. The other company got the bid. Job still looks crappy. The company doing the work had many jobs and several employees.
We are all in there trying to make a living. Times are hard and I know of some that cutting grass with what ever they can find to cut grass with because it is the differance between the lights being on and groceries being in the fridge.
There are always two sides to every situation.
jekjr
I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing you because I'm not. I can agree with you, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks can be looked at as a PITA, but on the other hand we know he will probably not hurt you because he's not really running a business. He's either trying to keep him and his family a float or he's working for beer money and either way when things change he'll be gone.
What you say about him not having a license, Tax ID # , no insurance on nothing is also probably true but again there are states and county's that required none of that to go out and mow lawns.
The thing is what you're talking about in reality are the terms and the pitfalls you choose for your business. By the sounds you're a bigger outfit and have employees and pay Insurance, workman's comp and all the goody's that go along with it and that's fine but don't blame Johnny redneck if you can't cover your overhead.
Also Johnny Redneck might be just getting started as well. We all start some where. Laws for all of that stuff many times are put in place by people who are in business, that started that way, and then lobbied officials whether they be local, state, or federal, to keep somebody else from being able to get started and compete.
I know I bid on a job that I could have done by myself and made a decent income from it. Company doing it was doing a crappy job. HOWEVER the job requuired Workman's Comp Ins. As a one man show there is no way I could get the insurance they required and come out. All I would have been doing was working and paying for insurance. The other company got the bid. Job still looks crappy. The company doing the work had many jobs and several employees.
We are all in there trying to make a living. Times are hard and I know of some that cutting grass with what ever they can find to cut grass with because it is the differance between the lights being on and groceries being in the fridge.
There are always two sides to every situation.
#14
J
jameshobbs
Hey Ric , no bashing taken at all ! I see your point ,I forgot to say there are 2 Johnny's running around here that have 50 + lawns each and have been doing them for 3 + years I am told.
Here in Knoxville you are " so post " to have a City & County business licence, state and federal tax ID numbers & liability Ins. and the kicker is the state of TN. passed a law " last year" that ALL workers 1099 or employee must have workers comp. they do not care who pays for it the employer or employee but some one will ! If you get audited and do not have it they back charge you and fine you !
Please do not take this as whining, it is part of the cost of doing business ! I put it into my over head. My point is I am trying to run my business the " right & legal way " and want a level playing field ? Johnny is not a " Johnny come lately " he has had 3 years to make enough money to do it the " right & legal way " and pay for groceries & his beer too ?
J
jameshobbs
I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing you because I'm not. I can agree with you, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks can be looked at as a PITA, but on the other hand we know he will probably not hurt you because he's not really running a business. He's either trying to keep him and his family a float or he's working for beer money and either way when things change he'll be gone.
What you say about him not having a license, Tax ID # , no insurance on nothing is also probably true but again there are states and county's that required none of that to go out and mow lawns.
The thing is what you're talking about in reality are the terms and the pitfalls you choose for your business. By the sounds you're a bigger outfit and have employees and pay Insurance, workman's comp and all the goody's that go along with it and that's fine but don't blame Johnny redneck if you can't cover your overhead.
Hey Ric , no bashing taken at all ! I see your point ,I forgot to say there are 2 Johnny's running around here that have 50 + lawns each and have been doing them for 3 + years I am told.
Here in Knoxville you are " so post " to have a City & County business licence, state and federal tax ID numbers & liability Ins. and the kicker is the state of TN. passed a law " last year" that ALL workers 1099 or employee must have workers comp. they do not care who pays for it the employer or employee but some one will ! If you get audited and do not have it they back charge you and fine you !
Please do not take this as whining, it is part of the cost of doing business ! I put it into my over head. My point is I am trying to run my business the " right & legal way " and want a level playing field ? Johnny is not a " Johnny come lately " he has had 3 years to make enough money to do it the " right & legal way " and pay for groceries & his beer too ?
#15
E
edd
E
edd
did the same thing with my son when he was in 7th grade..........started with 5 yards ......he is 20 now and cuts 30 yards 3 schools and a couple of office buildings.......only job he has ever had.......word of mouth has gotten us more customers than any advertising.......be safe
#16
exotion
I ran for two years with my equipment in the back of my truck yes it isn't as nice as having a trailer but I wanted a nice one. I kinda miss not having a trailer parking at some properties is nearly impossible sometimes and I find myself parking illegally more often no I did not have a riding mower but a toro a weedeater a edger and a blower plus a days worth of grass all fit nicely and its rather convienent. I do have a trailer now
exotion
I don't want this to sound like I'm bashing you because I'm not. I can agree with you, Johnny red neck riding around with his riding lawn mower in the back of his truck and mowing lawns for $ 20.00 bucks can be looked at as a PITA, but on the other hand we know he will probably not hurt you because he's not really running a business. He's either trying to keep him and his family a float or he's working for beer money and either way when things change he'll be gone.
What you say about him not having a license, Tax ID # , no insurance on nothing is also probably true but again there are states and county's that required none of that to go out and mow lawns.
The thing is what you're talking about in reality are the terms and the pitfalls you choose for your business. By the sounds you're a bigger outfit and have employees and pay Insurance, workman's comp and all the goody's that go along with it and that's fine but don't blame Johnny redneck if you can't cover your overhead.
I ran for two years with my equipment in the back of my truck yes it isn't as nice as having a trailer but I wanted a nice one. I kinda miss not having a trailer parking at some properties is nearly impossible sometimes and I find myself parking illegally more often no I did not have a riding mower but a toro a weedeater a edger and a blower plus a days worth of grass all fit nicely and its rather convienent. I do have a trailer now
#17
djdicetn
I kinda sorta feel your pain!! In today's work-force every "occupation" has some type of unfair competition like you describe(a LOT in the masonry/home construction careers). I've been a Mainframe Computer support analyst for over 40 years and for the last decade or so I've had to deal with H1B Visa workers from India that will work for half my salary and have been the victim on several occaissions of the whole IT department being "offshored". My last employer had a solution center in El Paso, TX and hired programmers from across the border that again could work for half my salary and go home "living large" in that economy. Something is very wrong in the good ole USA with all of these scenarios wouldn't you agree. I know this sounds rather heartless(and I'm a devout Christian), but there comes a point where I would agree that maybe in your case "someone" needs to report the "Johnnys" anonymously to some type of authority that could/would initiate an audit/fine/etc. on Johnny to force him to play fair!! If I were having a new home built and my builder was using illegal immigrant workers.......I would "report him promptly" or fire him and hire a different home builder. Yet we all(including our government officials) wonder why unemployment and homelessness is out of control(I'll bet the percentage of homeless people who are illegal immigrants is pretty small). It just aint' right:0(
djdicetn
jameshobbs,Hey Ric , no bashing taken at all ! I see your point ,I forgot to say there are 2 Johnny's running around here that have 50 + lawns each and have been doing them for 3 + years I am told.
Here in Knoxville you are " so post " to have a City & County business licence, state and federal tax ID numbers & liability Ins. and the kicker is the state of TN. passed a law " last year" that ALL workers 1099 or employee must have workers comp. they do not care who pays for it the employer or employee but some one will ! If you get audited and do not have it they back charge you and fine you !
Please do not take this as whining, it is part of the cost of doing business ! I put it into my over head. My point is I am trying to run my business the " right & legal way " and want a level playing field ? Johnny is not a " Johnny come lately " he has had 3 years to make enough money to do it the " right & legal way " and pay for groceries & his beer too ?
I kinda sorta feel your pain!! In today's work-force every "occupation" has some type of unfair competition like you describe(a LOT in the masonry/home construction careers). I've been a Mainframe Computer support analyst for over 40 years and for the last decade or so I've had to deal with H1B Visa workers from India that will work for half my salary and have been the victim on several occaissions of the whole IT department being "offshored". My last employer had a solution center in El Paso, TX and hired programmers from across the border that again could work for half my salary and go home "living large" in that economy. Something is very wrong in the good ole USA with all of these scenarios wouldn't you agree. I know this sounds rather heartless(and I'm a devout Christian), but there comes a point where I would agree that maybe in your case "someone" needs to report the "Johnnys" anonymously to some type of authority that could/would initiate an audit/fine/etc. on Johnny to force him to play fair!! If I were having a new home built and my builder was using illegal immigrant workers.......I would "report him promptly" or fire him and hire a different home builder. Yet we all(including our government officials) wonder why unemployment and homelessness is out of control(I'll bet the percentage of homeless people who are illegal immigrants is pretty small). It just aint' right:0(
#18
S
Steve0853
The other guys are correct about insurance and being organized.
The guy who suggested taking care of your customers has given you the most important advice.
My son and I started from scratch to make a little money part time. We did get insurance and business cards. We did free advertising on an area website and that is all the advertising we did.
If you do a GOOD job and always give your customers MORE than you promise, the money will take care of itself. In your situation, word of mouth recommendations will get you all the business that you can handle. If you do that GOOD job and treat your clients right, you will get that word of mouth business. My son and I took our ad down. We haven't needed it for quite a while now.
One other piece of advice. Don't mess around with deadbeats. If they don't pay, don't mow. If they owe you for one mowing, don't be afraid to ask for the money up front when you go back. No pay, no mow. Better to lose one cutting than 2 or 3.
Keep good records of receipts, expenses, and dates of service.
If you do this business successfully, by the time you get to the twelfth grade, you'll have learned more about making a living than most folks do their whole lives.
Good luck to you.
S
Steve0853
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
The other guys are correct about insurance and being organized.
The guy who suggested taking care of your customers has given you the most important advice.
My son and I started from scratch to make a little money part time. We did get insurance and business cards. We did free advertising on an area website and that is all the advertising we did.
If you do a GOOD job and always give your customers MORE than you promise, the money will take care of itself. In your situation, word of mouth recommendations will get you all the business that you can handle. If you do that GOOD job and treat your clients right, you will get that word of mouth business. My son and I took our ad down. We haven't needed it for quite a while now.
One other piece of advice. Don't mess around with deadbeats. If they don't pay, don't mow. If they owe you for one mowing, don't be afraid to ask for the money up front when you go back. No pay, no mow. Better to lose one cutting than 2 or 3.
Keep good records of receipts, expenses, and dates of service.
If you do this business successfully, by the time you get to the twelfth grade, you'll have learned more about making a living than most folks do their whole lives.
Good luck to you.
#19
djdicetn
steve0853,
That sounds like some very savvy advice for this young man!!! Almost makes me want to start a lawn service business with my new ZTR when I retire at the end of this year:0)
djdicetn
The other guys are correct about insurance and being organized.
The guy who suggested taking care of your customers has given you the most important advice.
My son and I started from scratch to make a little money part time. We did get insurance and business cards. We did free advertising on an area website and that is all the advertising we did.
If you do a GOOD job and always give your customers MORE than you promise, the money will take care of itself. In your situation, word of mouth recommendations will get you all the business that you can handle. If you do that GOOD job and treat your clients right, you will get that word of mouth business. My son and I took our ad down. We haven't needed it for quite a while now.
One other piece of advice. Don't mess around with deadbeats. If they don't pay, don't mow. If they owe you for one mowing, don't be afraid to ask for the money up front when you go back. No pay, no mow. Better to lose one cutting than 2 or 3.
Keep good records of receipts, expenses, and dates of service.
If you do this business successfully, by the time you get to the twelfth grade, you'll have learned more about making a living than most folks do their whole lives.
Good luck to you.
steve0853,
That sounds like some very savvy advice for this young man!!! Almost makes me want to start a lawn service business with my new ZTR when I retire at the end of this year:0)
#20
lawn mower fanatic
You should!! :biggrin:
lawn mower fanatic
Almost makes me want to start a lawn service business with my new ZTR when I retire at the end of this year:0)
You should!! :biggrin:
#21
C
claudedog1234
This guide explains it all from pricing to promotion. Hope this helps you get off to a good start.
How To Start Your Very Own Lawn Care Business On A Shoestring, And Make Huge Profits, While Keeping Your Current Job.
C
claudedog1234
I am in 7th grade and just starting my company any suggestions marketing tips and tricks you vets can tell me
This guide explains it all from pricing to promotion. Hope this helps you get off to a good start.
How To Start Your Very Own Lawn Care Business On A Shoestring, And Make Huge Profits, While Keeping Your Current Job.