Start A Lawn Care Business

Make money with a lawn care and landscaping business.

Posts Tagged lawn care business

Commercial lawn mower selection for lawn care business owners.

Mar 5

Posted by Lawn Care Business in lawn equipment | No Comments

As developers of the Start A Lawn Care Business we receive many questions this time of year concerning the purchase of commercial lawn equipment.

It amazes us how many landscaping companies purchase mowing equipment because they think they are getting a “good deal” only to find that a particular mower is the wrong fit for their company.

Retail Lawn Mowers vs Commercial Grass Cutting Equipment:
We understand the need to save money especially when you are starting a lawn care company. However, purchasing consumer lawn equipment as your primary mowing machine is a disservice to you and your customers. Commercial mowers offer far greater quality in deck strength, welds, and transmission.

The right style:
Zero Turn Mowers are the latest “must have” in the lawn care industry. We agree that ZTR’s and other zero radius mower are efficient for a wide range of lawn applications. However (and this is just one example) if you live in a hilly part of the country where your yards are not reasonably flat, there may be a better choice than a zero turn mower your lawn company.

The right size:
It happens every year; a purchase decision is made over a new commercial lawn mower, financing is finalized, paperwork is signed, then when the LCO comes to pick up the mower, he finds his trailer is too small. Or, even worse, he realizes many of his customers have fenced back yards and the new “36 inch” mower’s grass guard adds too much width and the mower won’t fit in the back gate.

Lawn mower equipment purchasing decisions can be easy if you know the proper questions to ask and what to examine on a new mower.

The Start A Lawn Care Business package has a large detailed section showing you how to choose the right lawn mower for your grass cutting business.

Find us on the web at: http://www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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Free local advertising through door knocking and bare knuckle marketing.

Feb 26

Posted by Lawn Care Business in Lawn Care Advertising | 2 Comments

Economic times are hard and sooner or later you are going to realize that Knuckle Marketing is your way out of the economic downturn.  Now, before you rush out and start punching people, Knuckle Marketing is not what it sounds like.

If you have been in the lawn care business any length of time, you’ve probably resorted to passing out flyers, putting up signs, and placing hangers on door knobs.  I believe those passive attempts at marketing will become less effective as the economy continues to slump.

Knuckle Marketing is an active form of advertising your business.  Knuckle Marketing doesn’t rely on the customer to react to a passive stimulus.  Gone are the days when a simple classified ad in the newspaper would bring a flood of customers to your door.  Gone are the days when word-of-mouth advertising would fill your roster for the summer.

Knuckle Marketing is the wave of the future. It’s the here.  It’s the now.

I’m sure you’re asking “what is Knuckle Marketing?”  I’m going to tell you.

But first, I’m going to say that Darwinian Economics is in full effect for small lawn care business entrepreneurs this year.  The weak will not survive.  The lazy will not survive.  The smart and the strong and the tenacious will survive and they will position themselves for explosive future growth.  The smart and the strong and the tenacious know the power of Knuckle Marketing.

Knuckle Marketing is simply using your knuckles to knock on peoples’ doors and speak to them face-to-face.  Knuckle Marketers spend the day knocking on doors and getting 9 out of 10 of them slammed in their face.  

When that 10th door opens and the owner agrees to let them cut the grass, Knuckle Marketers have their mowing equipment on hand ready to work immediately.  Once a price agreement is made the homeowner isn’t given a chance to backout by scheduling the work for a future date.

If you’re spending your time waiting for the phone to ring, look at your knuckles.  Are they bloody from knocking on doors? 
If they’re not, you’re not working hard enough.

Start A Lawn Care Business offers a comprehensive lawn care business program and software for new and existing lawn care business owners.
Visit the website: www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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Lawn Care Business Opportunities for 2009

Feb 25

Posted by Lawn Care Business in Real Estate Clients | No Comments

There is no denying that 2009 will be a challenging year for lawn care business owners. However, never overlook the fact that challenges bring great opportunity.

Within the pages of the Lawn Care Business Program we point out many opportunities you can take advantage of as a LCO to make more money in your lawn care & landscaping business.  In today’s lawn care blog post, we want to focus on one particular aspect of the lawn care business even as other sectors of the economy suffer. 

A recent posting at the Intellectual Capital Report Real Estate Investing Guide emphasizes the importance of ‘curb appeal’ in the eyes of  real estate investors when attempting to sell properties. 

As their number 1 recommendation for increasing curb appeal they suggest mowing and edging the lawn every week:

“Mow the lawn – Mow and edge once a week during the summer and every other week during the winter (depending on climate). Pretend this is your own home (or better).”

Number two on their list is landscaping.  You have read this correctly. Lawn Care and Landscaping are the NUMBER 1 and NUMBER 2 most important considerations to increase curb appeal and ultimately sell houses and property.

This has really struck me as a very important concept for all lawn care professionals to understand.  Real Estate Agents, Investors, Banks, Mortgage Companies, and Individual House Flippers are all desperate to sell homes and property.  In this slumping economy, they are taking desperate and immediate measures.

All lawn care and landscaping business owners have tremendous opportunity this year.  It is time to pick up the phone and start calling banks and real estate investors.  Knock on the doors of mortgage companies and lawyers specializing in foreclosure.  Get your name on the list of your city’s public works department to let them know you are capable of tackling abandoned yards and properties.

In spite of the real estate market crash, 2009 might be the best year ever for your lawn care company.

If you are just starting in lawn care or you hope to increase your business this year, check out our Lawn Care Business program available at:

www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

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Lawn Care Business taxes make Springtime bittersweet.

Feb 25

Posted by Lawn Care Business in Lawn Care Business Taxes | No Comments

As April approaches, mixed emotions fill the minds of many lawn care business owners.

On one hand, the weather warms and grass sprouts in all your customer’s lawns.  Your phone rings with new customers requesting your services and old customers want spring cleanup jobs performed on their lawns.  Nurseries receive their first deliveries of the season and your world is full of color.

On the other hand, April 15 approaches and you hear rumblings from your CPA how much you will have to pay on the dreaded day.

Anyone who has read our Lawn Care Business program for start-up and newer lawn care businesses knows that we believe the services of a CPA are properly recommended for all business people.  A competent CPA will keep you on the right path with proper filing proceedures for your business.

However, we also know that that money (and time) are tight in the world of a lawn care business owner.  Time slips away and sometimes the upfront fees requested by CPAs are too much when money is tight.  Before you know it, April 15 is a few days away, all CPAs are busy with their clients, and you don’t have any money to pay for their services anyway.

If you find yourself in the above situation, Lawn Care Business Tax Software may well be the next best step for you to take in completing your tax filing in a timely, convienient, and cost effective manner.

The link below takes you to an Amazon.com page where you can download the latest tax software directly to your computer.  In many instances you can complete your taxes and electronically file your paperwork in one session at your computer.

Business Tax Software

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