So i'm trying to start up a lawn care/landscaping business
18-Apr-2007, 09:45 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Etobicoke
Posts: 148
So i'm trying to start up a lawn care/landscaping business
Well, don't get me wrong, i'm not saying i want to start my own stuff because i'm lazy to go work, because this won't be any easier. I just see more potential of growth in this than getting a minimum wage job.
I'm studying chemical compounds of fertilizers, the machines/procedures involved in lawn care... etc
Anyways, here's my plan, i started calling already existing landscaping companies, asking them for quotes and how stuff is done just to find out some stuff. I know that i can beat those rates, but their quote range is sooo broad and i just want to find out what people that are getting their lawn cleaned weekly/bi weekly are actually paying.. A friend of mine has a truck and all the lawn care equipments we need.
We're planning on offering %15 off for seniors... and offer other general services, pretty much anything that they need help with. Until we can get ourself constantly busy anyways.
Promotion will be done through flyers mostly...
There's a lot more to study than i thought (coming from a person who lives in an appartment and only has cut grass 2~3 times at friend's house while he broke his leg lol)
What do you think? realistically, how much would you be willing to pay for a scheduled lawn maintenance which would include... * are options
cutting grass(with the option of diamond cut* watering plants* trimming by sidewalk*), trimming hedges,.. hmm... and any other lawn care that i haven't thought of yet... possibly pruning?
I'm studying chemical compounds of fertilizers, the machines/procedures involved in lawn care... etc
Anyways, here's my plan, i started calling already existing landscaping companies, asking them for quotes and how stuff is done just to find out some stuff. I know that i can beat those rates, but their quote range is sooo broad and i just want to find out what people that are getting their lawn cleaned weekly/bi weekly are actually paying.. A friend of mine has a truck and all the lawn care equipments we need.
We're planning on offering %15 off for seniors... and offer other general services, pretty much anything that they need help with. Until we can get ourself constantly busy anyways.
Promotion will be done through flyers mostly...
There's a lot more to study than i thought (coming from a person who lives in an appartment and only has cut grass 2~3 times at friend's house while he broke his leg lol)
What do you think? realistically, how much would you be willing to pay for a scheduled lawn maintenance which would include... * are options
cutting grass(with the option of diamond cut* watering plants* trimming by sidewalk*), trimming hedges,.. hmm... and any other lawn care that i haven't thought of yet... possibly pruning?
18-Apr-2007, 10:00 AM
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Mississauga
Posts: 13,184
You need to target a different audience than this forum if you want to be successful... you need people that make enough money that it's worth it to them to rather pay for the lawn getting cut rather than spend the hour or so themselves...
most of those people don't drive civics...
That being said make sure you research the industry thoroughly - it's a very saturated market with TONS of competition, you have to come up with something that will differentiate you from all your competition, something that gives the customer more value for their dollar than the other guys..
best of luck.
most of those people don't drive civics...
That being said make sure you research the industry thoroughly - it's a very saturated market with TONS of competition, you have to come up with something that will differentiate you from all your competition, something that gives the customer more value for their dollar than the other guys..
best of luck.
18-Apr-2007, 11:46 AM
#5
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 82
What I would suggest is infiltrating an existing lawncare business. Get hired as a worker, you'll get an idea of how it runs, pricing, techniques, everthing.
Once you're ready, just leave, and start your own.
Research and questions posed to other people are great. But for the full picture I always infiltrate an existing co and stick around for a few days sometimes a few weeks depending on the nature of the business.
Once you're ready, just leave, and start your own.
Research and questions posed to other people are great. But for the full picture I always infiltrate an existing co and stick around for a few days sometimes a few weeks depending on the nature of the business.
18-Apr-2007, 11:49 AM
#6
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 202
Well, I'll try to help, rather than discourage.
I haven't had a professional care for my lawn, but I would expect it to cost roughly $25-$50/mth. I would expect the lawn to be cut, weed free and look nice. Depending on the size of the lawn (I'm thinking downtown Toronto, 10'x15'), monthly fees would be higher. Seeding/fertilizing would be extra, charge based on sq. ft. Use high quality seed and fert. Offer a watering service, but they're responsible to turn the system off when it's done. You don't want to wait around for an hour while the lawn gets wet.
Have a "Revival Package" where you can bring a mess back to life and beauty. SilverSiG is very right, there is a LOT of companies out there. Know your competition, know what they offer, and what they charge and that will put you in a position to kick their @$$ on pricing and service. The MOST important thing is service though. People will be more willing to pay a little extra for service. So if the "other" guy is a bit more, but a helluva better service guy, they'll stick with them.
Oh yeah, offer a startup package, give the first month at a discounted price. If you are going to have contracts, offer 1 month "free" if they sign for x months.
Will you be doing winter maintenance as well? Throwing salt and clearing walkways?
I haven't had a professional care for my lawn, but I would expect it to cost roughly $25-$50/mth. I would expect the lawn to be cut, weed free and look nice. Depending on the size of the lawn (I'm thinking downtown Toronto, 10'x15'), monthly fees would be higher. Seeding/fertilizing would be extra, charge based on sq. ft. Use high quality seed and fert. Offer a watering service, but they're responsible to turn the system off when it's done. You don't want to wait around for an hour while the lawn gets wet.
Have a "Revival Package" where you can bring a mess back to life and beauty. SilverSiG is very right, there is a LOT of companies out there. Know your competition, know what they offer, and what they charge and that will put you in a position to kick their @$$ on pricing and service. The MOST important thing is service though. People will be more willing to pay a little extra for service. So if the "other" guy is a bit more, but a helluva better service guy, they'll stick with them.
Oh yeah, offer a startup package, give the first month at a discounted price. If you are going to have contracts, offer 1 month "free" if they sign for x months.
Will you be doing winter maintenance as well? Throwing salt and clearing walkways?
18-Apr-2007, 11:50 AM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 202
Originally posted by japaneseboy
What I would suggest is infiltrating an existing lawncare business. Get hired as a worker, you'll get an idea of how it runs, pricing, techniques, everthing.
Once you're ready, just leave, and start your own.
Research and questions posed to other people are great. But for the full picture I always infiltrate an existing co and stick around for a few days sometimes a few weeks depending on the nature of the business.
What I would suggest is infiltrating an existing lawncare business. Get hired as a worker, you'll get an idea of how it runs, pricing, techniques, everthing.
Once you're ready, just leave, and start your own.
Research and questions posed to other people are great. But for the full picture I always infiltrate an existing co and stick around for a few days sometimes a few weeks depending on the nature of the business.
18-Apr-2007, 12:00 PM
#8
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 82
Originally posted by username
If you go this route, make sure that they don't make you sign a contract stating that you won't do this!!! If you quit and create your own business and you've signed something, they will sue you and you'll end up worse off!
If you go this route, make sure that they don't make you sign a contract stating that you won't do this!!! If you quit and create your own business and you've signed something, they will sue you and you'll end up worse off!
The last place I checked out gave me that contract to sign.
18-Apr-2007, 03:40 PM
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Etobicoke
Posts: 148
thank you all for taking your time, greatly greatly appreciated.
I like the idea of having the first month free when signed up for x months
I was thinking about winter maintenance too the only problem is, that it is too much of on-call work. I mean i have to be there within a certain amount of time after the snow starts to fall to satisfy the customers.
and i'd be going to school so this one is going to be tough.
thank all you soo much
I like the idea of having the first month free when signed up for x months
I was thinking about winter maintenance too the only problem is, that it is too much of on-call work. I mean i have to be there within a certain amount of time after the snow starts to fall to satisfy the customers.
and i'd be going to school so this one is going to be tough.
thank all you soo much
18-Apr-2007, 03:49 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Mississauga
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I'm def not trying to be discouraging, more realistic than anything...
but good points on infiltrating... it's EVEN better if you know someone who's in the biz and is in a different location than you (so that you're not physically competing with each other for customers) say a different city or whatever, and then asking them for info etc...
but good points on infiltrating... it's EVEN better if you know someone who's in the biz and is in a different location than you (so that you're not physically competing with each other for customers) say a different city or whatever, and then asking them for info etc...
18-Apr-2007, 03:49 PM
#11
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Location: on a race track
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also never talk bad about your compitition ...
I've asked a few people what makes your service better then company X? the answer I get (that kills the companies chance at my business, is Company X is bad and they say bad stuff that may or may not be true of company X... I'd much rather perfer to hear the good stuff that you company offers highlighted in an answer to that question
I've asked a few people what makes your service better then company X? the answer I get (that kills the companies chance at my business, is Company X is bad and they say bad stuff that may or may not be true of company X... I'd much rather perfer to hear the good stuff that you company offers highlighted in an answer to that question
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