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Lawn Agreements

#1

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

Where's the best web site to get a lawn agreement to go by when making your own.


#2

Ric

Ric

Skydragon750 said:
Where's the best web site to get a lawn agreement to go by when making your own.
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I assume your talking about a Lawn contract/maintenance agreement.


#3

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

Yes


#4

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

Yes tired of these dead beat payers. At least with a agreement there is something to stand on and not just spoken word.


#5

Ric

Ric

Skydragon750 said:
Yes tired of these dead beat payers. At least with a agreement there is something to stand on and not just spoken word.
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Personally I don't think they're any better than a spoken word. Nine times out ten there not enforceable so there not worth the paper there wrote on. If the client doesn't want to pay you there's nothing you can do about it but move on to somebody that will. I've often thought there should be some type of online listings that one could list the dead beat payers so other business would know.


#6

exotion

exotion

Just make one that says people agree to certain service worth so much per month/ week make it so both sign it plus either a witness signiture or have the client give you first payment and use that check number as the witness signiture.

This is enforcable as a small claims judge sees fit. A notory is best though difficult when you need the notory every time you try to get a signature


#7

Ric

Ric

exotion said:
Just make one that says people agree to certain service worth so much per month/ week make it so both sign it plus either a witness signiture or have the client give you first payment and use that check number as the witness signiture.

This is enforcable as a small claims judge sees fit. A notory is best though difficult when you need the notory every time you try to get a signature
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The problem you have is that it will cost you more going to court and going through the whole procedure plus your time loss that you'll send in court than what the person owes you, legal or not. It's not worth doing, that's why I say contracts are a joke. It cost you less money just to chalk it up and move on.


#8

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

So what about for doing a business grounds such as a gas station, car lot or mom and pop store. Looks better having it than none cause I know nobody is doing a commercial yard without a contact / agreement. I do plan on looking for commerical business in 2015.


#9

Ric

Ric

Skydragon750 said:
So what about for doing a business grounds such as a gas station, car lot or mom and pop store. Looks better having it than none cause I know nobody is doing a commercial yard without a contact / agreement. I do plan on looking for commerical business in 2015.
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That's going to depend on the money or bid that commercial account goes out for. My son works for an outfit that does the Harley shop here and they're getting like $5000 a month for it and if your talking about that kind of money sure a contract would be nice and it would be done by a law firm that does that kinda thing. As far residential though I wouldn't waste my time with contracts.


#10

exotion

exotion

Ric said:
The problem you have is that it will cost you more going to court and going through the whole procedure plus your time loss that you'll send in court than what the person owes you, legal or not. It's not worth doing, that's why I say contracts are a joke. It cost you less money just to chalk it up and move on.
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He asked how that's all. I actually work with a local collections agency and they made my contracts for me so if people don't pay I can sell the agency their debt for %25 of the total owed. Works pretty well I just sold one ladys debt of $350 for like $80 ya I lost money but its worth it to make sure she doesn't get away with cheating people


#11

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

Thanks Exotion I will into that. Working on growing my business of 15 customers to 30 in 2015. That's my goal so with an agreement looks more professional.


#12

Ric

Ric

Skydragon750 said:
Thanks Exotion I will into that. Working on growing my business of 15 customers to 30 in 2015. That's my goal so with an agreement looks more professional.
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Where or why would you think having people sign a contract would make you look more professional? Can I ask what type of equipment you are running?


#13

exotion

exotion

Skydragon750 said:
Thanks Exotion I will into that. Working on growing my business of 15 customers to 30 in 2015. That's my goal so with an agreement looks more professional.
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I don't think it makes you look more professional. I use them on customers where I get that feeling like I might be looking at the short end of a stick soon... You all know the type lawn looks junky house looks junky and the person looks junky.

I've only sent about 10 people to the collections in 5 years... So ya and I've let more go and counted my losses gotta just read people well not everyone wants to sign a contract and in fact it will prolly scare more people away than you'll get out of it.


#14

Ric

Ric

exotion said:
I don't think it makes you look more professional. I use them on customers where I get that feeling like I might be looking at the short end of a stick soon... You all know the type lawn looks junky house looks junky and the person looks junky.

I've only sent about 10 people to the collections in 5 years... So ya and I've let more go and counted my losses gotta just read people well not everyone wants to sign a contract and in fact it will prolly scare more people away than you'll get out of it.
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I doesn't make you look more professional, just lazy as one client told me. She said she would never sign another contract because the businesses that use them don't show up half the time to do the job they contracted to do but expect there money anyway. If you want to look professional do a professional job and your client list will grow.


#15

Skydragon750

Skydragon750

We'll I have a Gravely commerical 42 ZTR, shindaiwa t242, husquvarna 150bt backpack blower. The agreement is for a business growth and like I said word of mouth is alright but for some of those dead beats, we'll I will have something to stand on if they don't won't to pay. I don't mind taking them to court. As a business man you have to have a standard, my time cutting your yard is money not free.


#16

exotion

exotion

Skydragon750 said:
We'll I have a Gravely commerical 42 ZTR, shindaiwa t242, husquvarna 150bt backpack blower. The agreement is for a business growth and like I said word of mouth is alright but for some of those dead beats, we'll I will have something to stand on if they don't won't to pay. I don't mind taking them to court. As a business man you have to have a standard, my time cutting your yard is money not free.
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Sometimes taking a loss to make someone pay is worth it...


#17

TaskForceLawnCare

TaskForceLawnCare

Skydragon750 said:
Where's the best web site to get a lawn agreement to go by when making your own.
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i contract everyone and would be happy to email you mine (written by my attorney). its already paid for and I don't mind helping you out.

a contract is more professional it clearly explains what you are going to do and how you're going to do it. it also explains what the customer is responsible for, payments ect.

Ric isn't entirely wrong in saying small claims court may cost you more then its worth, but anything is better then nothing. part of owning a business is managing it, and making decisions. so you have to make the decision on whether or not its enough to sue over.

I've never had anyone not be OK with signing a contract. they will understand you are looking out for the best interest of both parties involved.


#18

exotion

exotion

TaskForceLawnCare said:
i contract everyone and would be happy to email you mine (written by my attorney). its already paid for and I don't mind helping you out.

a contract is more professional it clearly explains what you are going to do and how you're going to do it. it also explains what the customer is responsible for, payments ect.

Ric isn't entirely wrong in saying small claims court may cost you more then its worth, but anything is better then nothing. part of owning a business is managing it, and making decisions. so you have to make the decision on whether or not its enough to sue over.

I've never had anyone not be OK with signing a contract. they will understand you are looking out for the best interest of both parties involved.
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I wouldn't mind a copy of that lol


#19

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

I have contracts also. It does make you look good, because the client KNOWS for what he is paying for. I include the price, the day I will come to cut (weather permitting) and how many times I come (once a week).


#20

Carscw

Carscw

I find people do not want to have a contract.
I do not use them.
I do not take checks cash only paid as soon as I am done.
If they are not going to be home they will leave the cash.

The few commercial accounts I have put the money on my pay pal. The last day of the month.

I am not going to spend $100 because I got a bad $50 check.

I am not sure I even know anyone that still has a check book.


#21

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

I get 50% cash and 50% checks. Both work well for me, but we don't live in the same town neither.
Do you have a company name or do you use your personal name for if ever you have checks?


#22

Carscw

Carscw

Lawnboy18 said:
I get 50% cash and 50% checks. Both work well for me, but we don't live in the same town neither. Do you have a company name or do you use your personal name for if ever you have checks?
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I have 3 company names. Depends on what I am doing and in what state


#23

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Carscw said:
I have 3 company names. Depends on what I am doing and in what state
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I didn't know you were in different states. I guess you like to drive around.


#24

Carscw

Carscw

Lawnboy18 said:
I didn't know you were in different states. I guess you like to drive around.
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15 mins from Tennessee

20 mins from Alabama

I do a lot of yards in Chattanooga Tennessee.


#25

exotion

exotion

90% of my customers pay checks. If someone knowingly hands you a bad check and you can prove it its a felony fraud....


#26

Carscw

Carscw

exotion said:
90% of my customers pay checks. If someone knowingly hands you a bad check and you can prove it its a felony fraud....
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Last bad check I got it took me over a year to get my money.

Cut her yard for 3 years before the bad check.


#27

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

Carscw said:
15 mins from Tennessee

20 mins from Alabama

I do a lot of yards in Chattanooga Tennessee.
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Not bad!


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