Start A Lawn Care Business

Make money with a lawn care and landscaping business.

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RFPs for your LCB

Jan 31

Posted by Lawn Care Business in bidding lawn care, contracts, lawn care business, money, start a lawn care business | No Comments

Hidden in reams of papers, buried deep within a website’s menu hierarchy, or ambiguated by legal jargon in rarely seen publications, RFPs can bring great profits to your lawn care business.

RFP are “Requests For Proposals” that are sometimes less-than-adequately advertised by businesses, public entities (such as libraries or schools), and government agencies.

Requests For Proposals are voluminous toward the beginning of the year and often cover work to be completed during the upcoming year’s mowing season. Many of these RFP are not heavily advertised. Sometimes, an agency is happy with their current lawn care maintenance company and they refuse to advertise more than is required by their charter for bids to upcoming contracts. Other times, a purchasing manager may not have a large enough budget to properly advertise for bids. For whatever reason they are not correctly advertised, you cannot bid on a contract unless you know it exists.

As a lawn care business owner, your duty is to be a sleuth in searching for RFPs. If you are attempting to grow your business by pursuing contracts, uncovering RFPs should be as large a part of your business as all your other advertising efforts combined.

Knowledge on where to look for RFPs and how to chip away at layers of corporate and government bureaucracy will greatly enhance your ability to successfully bid large-scale mowing, lawn care, and landscaping contracts.

Are you ready to start bidding big lawn care contracts this year?

Our lawn care business guidebook, video training, and estimating software will help you search out these hard-to-find contracts and bid them successfully.

We have years of experience bidding these types of contracts and there is a section in our program devoted to bidding larger scale contracts.

If you are interested in growing your lawn care business and making more money than you ever expected, look at our website for more information. We have a special sale price on the program right now.

Visit our website:

http://www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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The Meaning of Being A Consultant.

Jan 7

Posted by Lawn Care Business in lawn business strategies, money, start a lawn care business | 1 Comment

No business runs so smoothly that a consultant can’t screw it up.

We received a funny email the other day from a guy who wants to buy our lawn care business strategy guidebooks and software package. However, he’s a bit skeptical of our “expertise.”

He said:

“What makes you people think you know so much about the lawn care business and why should I pay you $50 for your help?”

HAHA! Well, in spite of it’s negative tone, the email really did make us laugh a little. I suppose I really do understand this guy’s skepticism. I’ve always been skeptical of so-called “EXPERTS” too. I remember working my way through college in the accounting department of a local bank. It seemed that every time our department was running smoothly and doing everything we were supposed to be doing, some new expert would come in, tell us we were doing everything wrong, and implement changes to the point where no one knew what was going on. Then, the expert would move on after upsetting the whole department…happened over and over.

Let’s get back to the guy’s email. First off, we do not claim to be “EXPERTS.” However, we started our lawn care business in 1992 and have been associated with the industry ever since. We have seen lots and lots of new lawn care operators fail at the business and we are tired of seeing so many people make mistakes that are easily avoided.

Our 17+ years’ experience gives us a certain seasoned knowledge about the lawn care business that you can only gain by actually doing this business for a number of years. Knowing how much money to charge, knowing how to negotiate with customers, and knowing how to bid on lawn mowing contracts are only three of the many, many concepts we pass along to you in the strategy guidebooks.

The business manuals, the estimating calculators, the training tutorials, and the business tool-kit are all jam-packed with information to help you operate a successful lawn care business. If only one of these training tools makes your business more profitable, then don’t you think $50 is well worth the cost?

Once again, we’re not experts. We’re simply lawn care business owners who have spent years learning what works in running a lawn care business. We are always open to new ideas and we hope you can gain a better understanding of how to run your lawn care business with our business practices and make more money than you were making before.

If you have questions, you can always reach us through our contact form at the top of this page. We are always happy to help.

Good luck.

If you would like to purchase our lawn care business strategy guidebooks and software package, you can find it through our main webpage: www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com we’re running a special price on it right now so please order quickly.

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More digital cameras for your lawn care company.

Jan 6

Posted by Lawn Care Business in landscaping photography, lawn business strategies, Lawn Care Advertising, money | 2 Comments

After yesterday’s blog posting extolling the virtues of having a high-quality digital SLR camera to take marketing pictures for your lawn care business, I received a number of emails asking if there are less expensive options available that give equivilant results to the Canon T1i.

At current writing, the T1i costs just over $700 through Amazon.com. $700 certainly is a lot of money right now but if you are looking for a dSLR that also takes HD video, the 15 megapixel Canon T1i is one of the best options under $1000.

If you are looking to spend under $500, I have a great option for you. The XS and the XSi are near equivilant models that offer similar professional results. Though the XS and the XSi offer lower resolutions and no video, their feature set includes liveview and full manual controls for $100’s less than the T1i.

Canon XSi

The Canon XSi features 12 megapixel, liveview, complete manual overrides, and an 18mm – 55mm. At its current pricing, it saves you about $160 from the T1i.

Canon XS

If you want to save even more money, take a hard look at the Canon XS. At its current price of $449 it saves you $270 from the T1i’s price. At 10.1 megapixels, this camera is no slouch. I’ve read that the higher megapixel cameras are limited by the lens that comes with the camera body. If you have no intention of buying additional lenses and if you don’t need HD video, I think this camera is the one to buy if you are on a budget.

Additionally, with the $270 you save buying the XS, you can easily buy a fairly decent video camera to make short presentations of your lawn care and landscaping work.

If you own any of these cameras, let us know your reviews. Or, if you have a different high quality camera you want to tell us about, please let us know.

As always, if you are looking to improve your lawn care business, check out our training materials located at our main website: StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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A Lawn Care Owner's Epiphany

Jan 4

Posted by Lawn Care Business in customers, equipment, lawn business strategies, lawn care business, money | 1 Comment

As a new lawn care business owner back in 1992, I remember the day when things started to change for my lawn care business.

My partner and I had been mowing residential lawns for almost 6 months. We were continuously picking up customers and were beginning to make decent money. However, we just weren’t growing the business to the extent I knew we were capable.

An epiphany happened to me that first summer. As I mowed a customer’s lawn, I saw two Navy fighter jets fly overhead. They were practicing for an upcoming air show and were flying low and fast. Even through my hearing protection the noise of their engines made me jump. I stopped my work long enough to watch them make several passes overhead. It was an impressive sight.

For the rest of the day, two words kept going through my mind; performance and efficiency.

Jet fighters scream performance. It is thrilling to watch a jet blaze by at 600 mph 2,000 feet above the ground. This is performance at its utmost. Fighter pilots’ lives depend on their jets.

Fighter pilots also demonstrate the ultimate in efficiency. Every move must be accounted for and no move is wasted. If a pilot needs to steer 15 degrees to the right, he moves his controls only enough to make the turn…no more, no less.

I used these ideas to analyze my lawn care jobs. I quickly discovered that I was being tremendously inefficient in my business. My route planning was inefficient and my mowing patterns on customer’s lawns was inefficient. I was wasting effort at every level of my business and the reasons behind my inability to grow my business became clear to me.

Additionally, I took serious looks at my equipment. It did not scream performance the way a fighter jet screams performance. We started our lawn care business on a shoestring budget. Because of this budget, we purchased inexpensive, slow, non-powerful equipment because it was all we could afford. After taking hard looks at my budget and my equipment, I took swift action of a systematic upgrade of all equipment.

By the end of that first year, I was operating an efficient lawn care business. My routes were well planned. My mowing patterns were designed in such a way that no move was wasted. And, my lawn equipment? Yes, my lawn equipment was hard-core commercial equipment that screamed “PERFORMANCE.”

If you are struggling with your lawn care business because of similar issues that plagued my first year then you should take a look at our Lawn Care Business strategy guidebooks.

We developed this program after 17 years in the business to help newbies and those that need help getting more customers and making more money.

As indicated above, we spend considerable time in the program helping you learn how to be more efficient with your lawn care business. Route planning and mowing patterns are only two of the concepts we discuss.

We also show you which type of equipment to buy. Purchasing the wrong equipment can hobble your business and prevent you from growing as you should. With our guidance, you will be able to purchase mowers that will propel you in your business and scream performance.

The lawn care business strategy guidebook and software program is available from our main website. www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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Tax Software for your Lawn Care Business

Jan 3

Posted by Lawn Care Business in Lawn Care Business Taxes, money, taxes | No Comments

January has only just begun and already we are thinking about taxes for 2010. 

We have to keep in mind that January 15 is quarterly tax payment day for many small business owners.  But, the bigger looming date is April 15 when the 2009 year-end settlement with Uncle Sam is due.  Don’t delay like you did last year.  Start sorting your expense receipt right now and get your taxes done early so you’re not hustling around at the last minute.

I’m listing some small business tax software below that will help you with your tax preparation chores.  Amazon.com has some of the best prices available for this software.  Let us know if you find better deals on tax software and we will pass it along.

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How much money can I make with a lawn care business?

Jan 2

Posted by Lawn Care Business in estimate, lawn care business, money, start a lawn care business | No Comments

We are often asked by new lawn care business owners to give them an idea how much money they can make by mowing lawns.  There are many variables to this answer and our standard disclaimer mentions such things as size of equipment, work ethic,  physical abilities,  know-how and many other factors.

Though everybody’s ability to make money with a lawn care business is different, we have put together an entertaining “earnings potential” calculator to help guesstimate how much money a lawn care business owner might be able to earn doing residential mowing jobs in a perfect world.

This lawn care estimating calculator is just for fun but it calculates that if a lawn care operator can do eight $40 lawns each day and can do this 5 days per week, the earnings could amount to $1600 per week.  That’s alot of cake just for mowing lawns.

Of course, expenses such as supplies, taxes, overhead, etc. and downtime must be accounted for.

Have some fun and check out the “lawn care earnings potential” calculator.

Lawn Care Earnings Potential Calculator

POTENTIAL EARNINGS DISCLAIMER

This calculator is for entertainment purposes only.  There is no promise or representation that you will make a certain amount of money, or any money, or not lose money, as a result of starting a lawn care business and/or using our products and services.

Any earnings, revenue, or income statements are strictly estimates. There is no guarantee that you will make these levels for yourself. As with any business, your results will vary and will be based on your personal abilities, experience, knowledge, capabilities, level of desire, and an infinite number of variables beyond our control, including variables we or you have not anticipated. There are no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience. Each person’s results will vary. 

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Start A Lawn Care Business in 2010

Jan 1

Posted by Lawn Care Business in lawn business strategies, lawn care business, money, start a lawn care business | No Comments

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

2010 promises to be a great year for anyone in the lawn care business.  The credit crises is beginning to thaw, houses are beginning to sell again, and homeowners are opening their wallets to, once again, pay for landscape maintenance.  We have faced 2 challenging years in the industry but if you have ever wanted to start your own lawn care business or if you want to really step up your game in 2010, right now is the time to go for it.

Our lawn care business strategy guidebooks will get you moving in the right direction:  www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

We have set a few goals for 2010 that we want to share with you:

1)  Video tutorials – We are in the process of purchasing a new HD video camera which will allow us to bring you even more great video content in 2010.

2)  New Technologies – The lawn care industry is undergoing rapid change toward new technologies.   If you’re not keeping up with current trends, you’re falling behind your competitors.   In 2010 we will continue our efforts to bring you information on the latest technology trends in the lawn care industry. 

3)  Product Reviews – We are already receiving some new and innovative products from leading lawn care equipment manufacturers.  Our reviews will help you decide if this equipment will be benificial and profitable for your lawn care business.

All-in-all, 2009 was a challenging year for the lawn care industry.  But, great challenges bring great opportunities and 2010 is shaping up to be one of the best years in lawn care in recent memory.

About us:  If you’re struggling with your lawn care business or if you just want to make more money by working smarter, take a look at our lawn care strategy guidebooks and software package.  The entire package is on sale right now through our main website:  StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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