owner operator commercial mowing

[PVHIII]

What do I mean, well when I read your post and you say People look in there garage and realize ooh I have a mower, a weed wacker,and blower I could go make money commercially my thoughts say you mite want to take a good look in the mirror.

Thanks for that comment Ric:laughing:

 

[BHLC]

I started with 5 years experience working for a quality freak. I bought my equipment specifically for working. I worked on the side for my family and when my old boss went nuts I quit. I now have 6 years maintenance experience read countless books and have a successful year running by my self I've had a few companys come to my customers promise to under bid and do a better job but I have yet to lose a customer experience and quality count and every tom Dick and harry pulling the old now equipment out of their garage is getting irritating they do a crap job and encourage people to just do it them selves. I realize I just started on my own but I started with actual commercial experience that most people lack.... That is what I am saying one needs experience to get the quality he's talking about.

They underbid you? Darn lowballers! I think I remember a thread like this...

 

[PVHIII]

started with 2500 dollar investment 9 years ago.....craftsman everything.....lot more equipment now and all commercial grade......have about a 60---40 split between residential and commercial customers....i dont want to be completely either one......however commercial contracts i have are drought proof...cut every 2 weeks regardless....one thing i always try to do---pay attention to detail...i want the customer to look at their yard and say '' wow that really looks nice '' when i get through....sometimes that means weedeating a hard to get to place or going back over a spot the mower missed but that is what it takes

That's right along my train of thought... go the extra mile....just like my business you'll more often than not get better service from the smaller operations than the large ones..when the owner of the operation is the one doing the work...he's the one that has more to loose and the quality of his work reflects directly back on him...no one to blame but himself if he looses an account.. I take alot of pride in my work and there's not too many large operations that can match my quality

 

[PVHIII]

They underbid you? Darn lowballers! I think I remember a thread like this...

I'm not gonna be a "low baller" why should I do it cheaper if I'm doing better work?

 

[PVHIII]

started with 2500 dollar investment 9 years ago.....craftsman everything.....lot more equipment now and all commercial grade......have about a 60---40 split between residential and commercial customers....i dont want to be completely either one......however commercial contracts i have are drought proof...cut every 2 weeks regardless....one thing i always try to do---pay attention to detail...i want the customer to look at their yard and say '' wow that really looks nice '' when i get through....sometimes that means weedeating a hard to get to place or going back over a spot the mower missed but that is what it takes

Congrats to you on your success... I love to hear stories like that...makes me proud to be an American::thumbsup:

 

[BHLC]

I'm not gonna be a "low baller" why should I do it cheaper if I'm doing better work?

Wasn't talking about you.

 

[PVHIII]

Well I'm glad we inspired you, but in reality inspiration doesn't get the job done. Most people who want to get into the Lawn Care business try to break into it with a minimal investment, I mean everybody has to start somewhere right. The only problem with that theory is the the greatest percentage of those guys for one reason or another end up leaving because they find out it's not as easy as it seems and they can't compete with the business across the street that's prepared for any job the client can throw at them and do it at a price they can afford and are willing to cut your throat in a heartbeat to get your account. ( I'm experienced in that...) The days of the mow and go guys are basically gone unless you like doing foreclosures. If you're considering getting into the lawn business you better consider a sizable investment in equipment to do the job people want to have done.

You say you have spent some time diving around looking at the quality of work some of these large operations are doing and to say the very least your not impressed, have you every pwondered why there like that? There like that because the outfit that's doing the job probably under bid the job to get it and in order to make any money at all there cutting every corner than can and in doing so they end up with a crappy job.

Talking about bidding on some commercial accounts, well don't put the cart before the horse because a lot of those account that are being offered require your business to have a ton of insurance to even bid. If I were you I'd stay with Residential, your chances of getting work are better and if a commercial account comes along if you want to take it fine.

Well you must remember that I've ran my own business for 15 yrs and my bank account may be as large if not larger than most LCO'S so cutting my throat on price may not be so easy..I've got a $200,000 home sitting on 30 acres on top of a mountain with gorgeous view overlooking the Ozark mountains.. never had to cut anyone's throat to get it either...I did it with hard work..attention to detail..being courteous things of that nature..and I occasionally under bid a job as well but I don't make up for it by cutting corners...I still do the same quality I always do and I LEARN FROM IT..my customers never pay for my mistake I DO...that's how it should be..but when the large operations operate in such a manner it leaves the door wide open for me and as far as being able to land commercial accounts being hard for me...that shouldn't be a problem either.J know a lot of people in this county from doing business here for so long..I just need help placing bids and BTW...what's a "plow bid"? lol

 

[PVHIII]

Wasn't talking about you.

Yeah I see that... didn't mean any disrespect.. just thought I'd throw that in there

 

[PVHIII]

PVHIII, You are right. It takes hard work, dedication, the ability and commitment to do good work. Lawn care doesn't have to be your life but you have to spend a good amount of your time to be successful. I believe with the equipment you have and the passion you have shown on this thread that you will be successful. Just try to offer as many services as you can and you will stay busy throughout the year. As the saying goes " let your haters be your motivators." And they will fuel the fire to make work harder and be as successful as you can. As far as being a individual going up against the larger companies you can be competitive. Just remember those big companies started off solo just like you.

Thank you for your advice and most of all thank you for being supportive.

 

[PVHIII]

I started with a commercial ztr, backpack blower and a trimmer. $8500 investment. Only 6 accts, after the season was done I asked myself wtf are you doing? Now I have 3 ztrs, 6 trimmers, 3 backpack blowers and a ton of other stuff! We maintain 65 accts with some having as many as 18 different properties. Just this year we are going after a lot of commercial. We mow about 8 commercial now and currently have plow bids out to about 10! I say go for it and yes you can compete as an owner operator against big guys

Thanks for the info and may a I ask what's a "plow bid"?