I knew a guy (not lawn care) that doubled his prices overnight. Lost half his customers but the ones that valued his work stayed and he had halved his work load and maintained his income. This freed up time to develop the business and gain more quality customers.
You are absolutely correct, customers call and or text me, and if I don’t text or call back in 30 min, they find someone else. When I finish the job I’m on and call back they say sorry, I found someone else. Like someone already proposed, raise your prices and half will jump ship, the clients remaining value your work and will pay the additional charge. So your workload decreases and your income remains nearly the same!!! Time management will help you manage with less stress. Schedule one day a week to manage paperwork and scheduling ect…
Your rant was so spot on, im literally dying laughing!!! I only deal with maybe half the clientele that you do but i feel your pain. I've been cutting clients the past two weeks. I'll get down to a core group and that's it. This business can be a headache. Im so over the bull 💩💯
This is why I always build personable relationships with my clients and the ones who don’t fit the criteria i usually end up parting ways. It’s your business bro do things your way.
It's gotten worse the last few years, people think their your only client. 99% of mine are great and understand the difficulties, the others get one warning, then their gone. Had a customer text me today, their doing interlock in the back so he said just go ahead and do their front and your cheques in the mailbox, great client. My best advertising is other companies, I love clients calling back after they realize the service they get from others. Every business has their headaches, but the biggest lesson I've learned , concentrate on the customers who treat you well and dump the one's who don't.. One thing though, you have to return phone calls, even to tell them you can't do it. Because so many companies don't, they remember and appreciate the one's who do.
I know how you feel about dealing with people. One thing that I noticed while you were mowing was you blew the grass into the driveway on your first pass. You are wasting gas blowing that off and then another thing I noticed. You don't make your first pass around the property to have somewhere to turn around. You literally started and then ended each stripe with a curve. You should always blow inward with your first pass and go around your mowing border and then when you get done go back around your outline to smooth out your turns. Not being an ass. I'm just trying to help you out. I maintain 108 residential properties & 7 commercial that include 4 apartment complexes, and three gas stations. Speaking of the price with those last two. I wouldn't touch them under 75 a week. That's just me 👍. Those people that didn't tell you about the roof. I would have sent them an invoice for 50% of the price and then skipped the week and then the following week I would have charged them for a double cut. You can't let these people take advantage of you. One thing that irritates me is when someone says that I'm on a fixed income. I reply so am I and my rates don't change, so you can find someone else. I won't unload for any and I mean any property for less than 50 due to the economy. 💯🇺🇸
@@ChadSmith-qk2vn literally wasn't meaning anything bad. I was giving helpful advice. I've been doing this for 20 years. I'm no stranger to this rodeo 💯
I hear you. I have some really good customers. It is rare I have a scheduling issue. Great communication, etc I feel fortunate after seeing this video .....someone asked me when I quoted $75 a cut.....why so much? Simple answer, "MAINTENANCE" and time spent on site. ALot of time goes into keep blades sharp, decks cleaned out, etc. I run solo with 65 yards - sone helps for 2 months during summer before he goes back to school. Having the time of my life
@@briandewolfe22 Hey, you will like this......today I got on site and the dog sitters brought the 75 lb dog outside to dump. Total ignorance......so what did I do? Didnt say anything.....just cut around it so if there is a patch of taller grass, too bad!!!!
If I show up to mow and I can’t do so, they still get charged. 24 hour notice is required if they need to skip for whatever reason. I am likely going to get into all commercial and keep only a couple of my best residential. If I have to constantly remind you, that payment is due, that your yard needs to be free and clear of obstacles, to include dog shit, I’m all set. You get two reminders at best and then we are done doing business.
Hey brother hang in there , we input a service fee if we show up to service a property and they for some unseen reason wanna skip a week or are having maintenance done , we ask for a 24 hour notice. No notice fee is applied .
I just bought a cheap 5x8 trailer, gravely z stance 48 , have all the other gear. Moving to a new town. Did it for years for others now going to try for myself. You’ve got me stressed!!! But in many ways this is how it is with other trades too I suppose. I hope things turn around for you fast!!! It sucks you’re so stressed because it can be such an enjoyable trade. Best of luck!
I was just having a bad day all around and it can be stressful when you start something you have never done before. That’s what got me the most was the paper work and the phone calls it was all just stacking up and I was ignoring it, in the back of my mind I was always thinking about it and that’s what was making me so stressed I felt like I was falling behind.
@@briandewolfe22 I’m up in Western Maryland/Pennsylvania area. Did it for years in Virginia Beach. I see you’re in an oceanfront area as well. Unfortunately “beachy” type people can be wildly oblivious. I saw that with your customer with the roofing crew.
@@cognomenunknown2144 had that client 3 years they were a pain lol she didn’t value my time so I sad enough is enough and moved on oh and that ocean you are referring to is Lake Michigan lol
Im doing almost 80 clients solo currently. Im starting to get in the same boat. Getting overwhelmed. Im really wanting a extra set of hands for phone calls and maybe a extra hand for propertys days i get behind
Hey man I’m so glad what you just said I see a lot of lawn care guys where I live they don’t wear safety glasses and they should but they don’t and I think it is so important to wear safety glasses and when I do Leaf blowing I always wear safety glasses so I don’t get anything in my eyes me and my friend we were safety glasses
My uncle did this professionally for 18 years so he gave me a lot of advice. But the main thing is add up all your bills and overhead it takes to do your job. Then you add profit to that number it very different for a lot of ppl. So of us have more overhead then other. Also some of us have better equipment than others or better route density so we can make money faster. Figure out the overhead and cost to run the business then ask yourself what is a good hourly wage to make you still grow and take care of yourself and your family.
Lol I don't even tell people there canceled anymore they just get removed from the schedule There gona get mad either way so I jus block em an move on to the next lol
I knew a guy (not lawn care) that doubled his prices overnight. Lost half his customers but the ones that valued his work stayed and he had halved his work load and maintained his income. This freed up time to develop the business and gain more quality customers.
That’s the best way to do it!
You are absolutely correct, customers call and or text me, and if I don’t text or call back in 30 min, they find someone else. When I finish the job I’m on and call back they say sorry, I found someone else. Like someone already proposed, raise your prices and half will jump ship, the clients remaining value your work and will pay the additional charge. So your workload decreases and your income remains nearly the same!!! Time management will help you manage with less stress. Schedule one day a week to manage paperwork and scheduling ect…
Your rant was so spot on, im literally dying laughing!!! I only deal with maybe half the clientele that you do but i feel your pain. I've been cutting clients the past two weeks. I'll get down to a core group and that's it. This business can be a headache. Im so over the bull 💩💯
It can be such a pain sometimes! Always when you’re working with the public lol
This is why I always build personable relationships with my clients and the ones who don’t fit the criteria i usually end up parting ways. It’s your business bro do things your way.
exactly why I don't advertise. grow naturally with people you know. Less headaches that way.
It's gotten worse the last few years, people think their your only client. 99% of mine are great and understand the difficulties, the others get one warning, then their gone.
Had a customer text me today, their doing interlock in the back so he said just go ahead and do their front and your cheques in the mailbox, great client.
My best advertising is other companies, I love clients calling back after they realize the service they get from others.
Every business has their headaches, but the biggest lesson I've learned , concentrate on the customers who treat you well and dump the one's who don't..
One thing though, you have to return phone calls, even to tell them you can't do it. Because so many companies don't, they remember and appreciate the one's who do.
I know how you feel about dealing with people. One thing that I noticed while you were mowing was you blew the grass into the driveway on your first pass. You are wasting gas blowing that off and then another thing I noticed. You don't make your first pass around the property to have somewhere to turn around. You literally started and then ended each stripe with a curve. You should always blow inward with your first pass and go around your mowing border and then when you get done go back around your outline to smooth out your turns. Not being an ass. I'm just trying to help you out. I maintain 108 residential properties & 7 commercial that include 4 apartment complexes, and three gas stations. Speaking of the price with those last two. I wouldn't touch them under 75 a week. That's just me 👍. Those people that didn't tell you about the roof. I would have sent them an invoice for 50% of the price and then skipped the week and then the following week I would have charged them for a double cut. You can't let these people take advantage of you. One thing that irritates me is when someone says that I'm on a fixed income. I reply so am I and my rates don't change, so you can find someone else. I won't unload for any and I mean any property for less than 50 due to the economy. 💯🇺🇸
Thank you 🙏
Bro relax, you just literally put him on blast.
@@ChadSmith-qk2vn all good he’s just giving advice
@@ChadSmith-qk2vn literally wasn't meaning anything bad. I was giving helpful advice. I've been doing this for 20 years. I'm no stranger to this rodeo 💯
I hear you. I have some really good customers. It is rare I have a scheduling issue. Great communication, etc I feel fortunate after seeing this video .....someone asked me when I quoted $75 a cut.....why so much? Simple answer, "MAINTENANCE" and time spent on site. ALot of time goes into keep blades sharp, decks cleaned out, etc. I run solo with 65 yards - sone helps for 2 months during summer before he goes back to school. Having the time of my life
Thanks for sharing! I hate explaining my prices to ppl. What other services explain there prices?
@@briandewolfe22 Hey, you will like this......today I got on site and the dog sitters brought the 75 lb dog outside to dump. Total ignorance......so what did I do? Didnt say anything.....just cut around it so if there is a patch of taller grass, too bad!!!!
Been in the lawn care business since 1988. In 2006 we dropped all residential work. Commercial only since. Best decision I made.
Nice my uncle ran a 6 crew business for 8 years had nothing but commercial companies and closed it down cause no one ever wanted to pay. So sad
Went 100% commercial after 2 years. Never looked back.
The last 6 commercial accounts I’ve had never wanted to pay and I let them go. I have bad luck.
First time in my YT feed…couldn’t sub fast enough!! You will do very well.
Thank you!
If I show up to mow and I can’t do so, they still get charged.
24 hour notice is required if they need to skip for whatever reason.
I am likely going to get into all commercial and keep only a couple of my best residential.
If I have to constantly remind you, that payment is due, that your yard needs to be free and clear of obstacles, to include dog shit, I’m all set. You get two reminders at best and then we are done doing business.
Facts
Hey brother hang in there , we input a service fee if we show up to service a property and they for some unseen reason wanna skip a week or are having maintenance done , we ask for a 24 hour notice. No notice fee is applied .
I just bought a cheap 5x8 trailer, gravely z stance 48 , have all the other gear. Moving to a new town. Did it for years for others now going to try for myself. You’ve got me stressed!!! But in many ways this is how it is with other trades too I suppose. I hope things turn around for you fast!!! It sucks you’re so stressed because it can be such an enjoyable trade. Best of luck!
I was just having a bad day all around and it can be stressful when you start something you have never done before. That’s what got me the most was the paper work and the phone calls it was all just stacking up and I was ignoring it, in the back of my mind I was always thinking about it and that’s what was making me so stressed I felt like I was falling behind.
@@briandewolfe22 I’m up in Western Maryland/Pennsylvania area. Did it for years in Virginia Beach. I see you’re in an oceanfront area as well. Unfortunately “beachy” type people can be wildly oblivious. I saw that with your customer with the roofing crew.
@@cognomenunknown2144 had that client 3 years they were a pain lol she didn’t value my time so I sad enough is enough and moved on oh and that ocean you are referring to is Lake Michigan lol
Cool to see the changes! Hard decisions will pay off in the end!
That’s what I think!
Charge them a non serviceable fee
And take pictures when you are there of why it's non serviceable
No cause then they get pissed and leave bad reviews
If they dont value your time, they're wasting your time. Way to stand your ground with those inconsiderate clients.
Thank you!
Im doing almost 80 clients solo currently. Im starting to get in the same boat. Getting overwhelmed. Im really wanting a extra set of hands for phone calls and maybe a extra hand for propertys days i get behind
Keep it up man! It’s definitely the phone calls and new clients that kill me the most. I can handle the mowing lol
Hey man I’m so glad what you just said I see a lot of lawn care guys where I live they don’t wear safety glasses and they should but they don’t and I think it is so important to wear safety glasses and when I do Leaf blowing I always wear safety glasses so I don’t get anything in my eyes me and my friend we were safety glasses
Oh yeah very important!
$120 is not nearly enough.
Can I ask how you charge, like per acre/hourly, and what is a good rate to charge?
My uncle did this professionally for 18 years so he gave me a lot of advice. But the main thing is add up all your bills and overhead it takes to do your job. Then you add profit to that number it very different for a lot of ppl. So of us have more overhead then other. Also some of us have better equipment than others or better route density so we can make money faster. Figure out the overhead and cost to run the business then ask yourself what is a good hourly wage to make you still grow and take care of yourself and your family.
Look more into landscaping, hardscaping,softscape. More money, lawns are okay to begin with but too many cheap competitors and homeowners out there.
I couldn’t agree more! I won’t be doing lawns for too long much longer.
@@briandewolfe22 yup! There are better options out there to make $$.
@@user-pp3zs1px4z I’ve got a few ideas on the books, I’m getting started next year on them! Gonna be big!
This is something I will definitely be impimenting
Take all the weights off that thing if you’re not running the bagger and I bet it helps with traction
Strange the new Wright isn't as good as the older version
Just not a fan of the engine
👍
Lol I don't even tell people there canceled anymore they just get removed from the schedule
There gona get mad either way so I jus block em an move on to the next lol
Hey my brother take a day for yourself to do you and get back in the business
I'm just very hard on myself because I know what I can do and I won't settle for less. I appreciate the kind words though. thank you