Ray , you said it best imo when you mentioned being able to trust who you’re doing the contracts with.. that’s the key, I’ve got 4 HOA 12 month contracts that are solid. I started doing a monthly with a customer recently who I TRUST. That’s the key!
You’re right. We did “service agreements”. But we only catered to weekly clients and serviced biweekly through the winter. So there wasn’t much of a discount. But we’re talking about highly detailed yards and people that don’t ever want to see a leaf on the ground. Of the hundreds of clients I can only remember a few that we had to chase money or felt screwed out of a little money. For just the regular home owner that is just wanting the basics I wouldn’t ever offer a contract or agreement.
When we do residential contracts, it’s at the first of the year, so if they fire us, I’m usually ahead.. all about timing and what works for your business. I like pay at time of service, but I do contracts for commercial and a few residential.
I had a new customer this year prefer to pay for all year, I couldn’t turn it down, he just doesn’t want the hassle, and worry free, that’s the only one I have
Hey Ray Ray great video 😊 I dont do yearly contracts 1 thought is when you do a yearly contract is in the winter months and the client supposed to pay you 300 dollars or whatever for doing nothing the client may not like it even though you explained it to them. Just posting my 2 cents take care Ray Ray and God Bless
I got a few contracts but I don't do anything any cheape I actually went up on mine when we went to a yearly contracts to cover fall and spring cleanups. After October we come once a month and clean the yards up. After December all the leafs have fell and we don't do nothing but maybe pick up a few limbs till we get started back in April so I get paid about 4 months there where we ain't really doing much and when it gets dry in the summer and we skip I still get paid the same. I price my contract yards for mowing and leaf cleanups. Hedges and anything else that they want done is extra.
I’ve never done contracts, seems many customers prefer no contracts. I guess my fear is as a single owner op, what if I got hurt and couldn’t fullfill the terms of the contract, ….. if commercial I totally understand, or even any type of non house type property. I’m not against them, I think there’s a solution for each situation. Higher end clients with more detailed work, may want you there even if grass ain’t growing.
great video Ray, with you being older and in business as long as you have been i am sure more customers trust you to still be in business in a few months or next season more than a young guy who just started and has not established a reputation of showing up and no excuses, if any customers starts asking you to skip a mow and you know it really needs mowed then you take caution on letting that customer get behind on paying, Maggs in New York he is about 20 yrs old or so and does really big contracts like $70,000 contracts and i think he has some pay up front, he has several workers and lots of equipment . Dependability is a major key to being successful. I would not do contracts for small stuff because it can hurt you more than the customer if you decide you do not want that customer anymore due to location or other reasons.
Ray , you said it best imo when you mentioned being able to trust who you’re doing the contracts with.. that’s the key, I’ve got 4 HOA 12 month contracts that are solid. I started doing a monthly with a customer recently who I TRUST. That’s the key!
You’re right. We did “service agreements”. But we only catered to weekly clients and serviced biweekly through the winter. So there wasn’t much of a discount. But we’re talking about highly detailed yards and people that don’t ever want to see a leaf on the ground. Of the hundreds of clients I can only remember a few that we had to chase money or felt screwed out of a little money. For just the regular home owner that is just wanting the basics I wouldn’t ever offer a contract or agreement.
Great topic and thank you for the video sir 👍😎🇺🇸
👍👍
👍🏻
Very informative video. Thanks for the insight 👍🏽
When we do residential contracts, it’s at the first of the year, so if they fire us, I’m usually ahead.. all about timing and what works for your business. I like pay at time of service, but I do contracts for commercial and a few residential.
I had a new customer this year prefer to pay for all year, I couldn’t turn it down, he just doesn’t want the hassle, and worry free, that’s the only one I have
Eddie I have a few that want to do that on occasion.. really not a fan of that. Don’t feel like I’d be as motivated to do a as good a job!
Hey Ray Ray great video 😊 I dont do yearly contracts 1 thought is when you do a yearly contract is in the winter months and the client supposed to pay you 300 dollars or whatever for doing nothing the client may not like it even though you explained it to them. Just posting my 2 cents take care Ray Ray and God Bless
I got a few contracts but I don't do anything any cheape I actually went up on mine when we went to a yearly contracts to cover fall and spring cleanups. After October we come once a month and clean the yards up. After December all the leafs have fell and we don't do nothing but maybe pick up a few limbs till we get started back in April so I get paid about 4 months there where we ain't really doing much and when it gets dry in the summer and we skip I still get paid the same. I price my contract yards for mowing and leaf cleanups. Hedges and anything else that they want done is extra.
Great video
I’ve never done contracts, seems many customers prefer no contracts. I guess my fear is as a single owner op, what if I got hurt and couldn’t fullfill the terms of the contract, ….. if commercial I totally understand, or even any type of non house type property. I’m not against them, I think there’s a solution for each situation. Higher end clients with more detailed work, may want you there even if grass ain’t growing.
I have a few that pay by the month however a prefer pay as you go or pay the day I mow.
they can do whatever they want to do ain't that right
great video Ray, with you being older and in business as long as you have been i am sure more customers trust you to still be in business in a few months or next season more than a young guy who just started and has not established a reputation of showing up and no excuses, if any customers starts asking you to skip a mow and you know it really needs mowed then you take caution on letting that customer get behind on paying, Maggs in New York he is about 20 yrs old or so and does really big contracts like $70,000 contracts and i think he has some pay up front, he has several workers and lots of equipment . Dependability is a major key to being successful. I would not do contracts for small stuff because it can hurt you more than the customer if you decide you do not want that customer anymore due to location or other reasons.
That's great insight man! Alot of people don't think like that.