After a sluggish couple years due to the bad economy, many lawn care opertors (LCOs) are feeling the pinch and thinking about getting out of the business altogether. They might be giving up the fight just when the fight is getting good.
With foreclosures at an all-time high, consumer confidence at record lows, and homeowners reeling in their pocketbooks, lawn care and landscaping has been a tough industry lately. As with any industry the last two years, there have been pockets of strength. LCO’s approaching their businesses from a stance of strength have weathered this financial storm. The victims, though, are lawn care companies that burdened themselves with too much debt coupled with dependence on low paying, low yield clients.
We speak often in our Lawn Care Business strategy guidebook about the benefits of starting a business debt-free and approaching the business from a stance of strength. Starting intelligently helps keep you from backing yourself into a corner with unnecessarily expensive lawn care equipment forcing you to accept low paying customers.
As the economy begins to turn and consumer confidence begins to rise, now is a perfect time to start a lawn care business or expand an existing business. 2010 promises to be a banner year for any lawn care business still standing. With many lawn care companies going out of business in 2008 and 2009 there is prime opportunity to acquire the clients that now need a new LCO to take care of their grass.
If you have ever thought about making money with a lawn care business, there is no better a time than right now to get started.
For more information about how to start a lawn care business, visit our website: Start A Lawn Care Business (http://www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com)
#1 by 509 Media on December 16, 2009 - 8:28 pm
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Nice write up. I agree with the article. I would like to add a few things. There are many people coming into the lawn care industry at this time because of getting laid off from other employment. Some think the lawn care industry is easy to walk into. People looking to get into the lawn care industry should educate themselves on other aspects of business as well.
One key thing to consider is how you market your company, and to set your company apart from all the others. I would recommend starting with a professionally designed logo. Not a logo your friend Bobby designed on his computer in 30 minutes. A logo needs to be well thought out and have a large enough footprint for you to grow your services. In other words you do not want a name or logo that will limited your future growth potential.
A logo is the hub or beginning point of your marketing effort. From there your business card can be designed and printed. Then your vehicle graphics can be designed. Your company t-shirts, and/or uniforms will also have the logo. If you decide to put up a website your logo and image will also carry there. The point I am making is it is VERY important to brand yourself correctly from the beginning. If you brand your company correctly people in your local community will begin to notice your brand and associate it with your company. The more professional your image and branding the more professional people will view your services. The more professional you are the easier it becomes to get a premium fee for your services.
See the below links for pictures of a lawn care company truck wrap I recently completed. The graphics on the truck are carried to the website I also built them. I am also designing new business cards and door hangers for them.
Truck Graphics:
http://www.509media.com/wraps/do-it-right-lawn-care-truck-wrap/
Lawn Care company Web Design:
http://www.509media.com/web-design/do-it-right-lawn-care-website/
If I can help market your lawn care company feel free to contact me. If you guys would like me to write a post for this website email me.
Thanks,
Dan DuBose
509 Media