Starting new lawn mowing business

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AppleJackXD

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#127448 10-Aug-2013 15:22

Im gonna start up a lawn mowing business late next year in Christchurch called "Just Lawns" I was wondering if anyone else has done a lawn mowing business before and how did you promote your business and get new clients.

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6434 posts

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#875104 10-Aug-2013 15:34

Probably using a picture of an American house not the best idea....

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insane

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#875107 10-Aug-2013 15:41

My friend had a Jim's mowing franchise and got most of his clients from word of mouth. Obviously he inherited his first bunch of clients with the franchise so he didn't exactly need to 'start up'. But the general business pattern was:

Have a base of ~60 clients
Push to get a few more clients, but no more than 120
Push prices up,
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up

And rinse and repeat the cycle until you have 60-80 high paying clients.

He got quite a few jobs through the local Church and schools I believe

AppleJackXD

150 posts

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#875108 10-Aug-2013 15:44

NonprayingMantis: Probably using a picture of an American house not the best idea....

That was just a random picture i found i will be getting my flyers professionally done or i will get photoshop and do my own.

AppleJackXD

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#875109 10-Aug-2013 15:45

insane: My friend had a Jim's mowing franchise and got most of his clients from word of mouth. Obviously he inherited his first bunch of clients with the franchise so he didn't exactly need to 'start up'. But the general business pattern was:

Have a base of ~60 clients
Push to get a few more clients, but no more than 120
Push prices up,
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up

And rinse and repeat the cycle until you have 60-80 high paying clients.

He got quite a few jobs through the local Church and schools I believe

Hmm i see ,Did he do it by himself because i will be doing it on my own and my dad will do the odd lawns for me when he retires so my dad will be there to help occasionally.120 clients wouldn't be to overwhelming for 1 person would it though ?

Lazarui

136 posts

Master Geek

#875113 10-Aug-2013 16:03

AppleJackXD:
insane: My friend had a Jim's mowing franchise and got most of his clients from word of mouth. Obviously he inherited his first bunch of clients with the franchise so he didn't exactly need to 'start up'. But the general business pattern was:

Have a base of ~60 clients
Push to get a few more clients, but no more than 120
Push prices up,
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up

And rinse and repeat the cycle until you have 60-80 high paying clients.

He got quite a few jobs through the local Church and schools I believe

Hmm i see ,Did he do it by himself because i will be doing it on my own and my dad will do the odd lawns for me when he retires so my dad will be there to help occasionally.120 clients wouldn't be to overwhelming for 1 person would it though ?

As long as your smart about times/days and areas you are doing, no If you're doing 10 lawns in one street its not bad, if you're doing 2 lawns in one street, then having to drive accross half the city to do your next lawn it is.

Some of what you do need to watch to maximize profits is the logistics side of it.

mattwnz

20045 posts

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#875114 10-Aug-2013 16:06

AppleJackXD:
insane: My friend had a Jim's mowing franchise and got most of his clients from word of mouth. Obviously he inherited his first bunch of clients with the franchise so he didn't exactly need to 'start up'. But the general business pattern was:

Have a base of ~60 clients
Push to get a few more clients, but no more than 120
Push prices up,
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up
Wait for price continuous clients to leave
Gain a few more clients
Push prices up

And rinse and repeat the cycle until you have 60-80 high paying clients.

He got quite a few jobs through the local Church and schools I believe

Hmm i see ,Did he do it by himself because i will be doing it on my own and my dad will do the odd lawns for me when he retires so my dad will be there to help occasionally.120 clients wouldn't be to overwhelming for 1 person would it though ?

I can't see how that is sustainable as that high value base would eventually decrease and they would need new clients. But if it was already priced higher than the competitors they aren't going to get new clients signing up. Also they couldn't really charge less to new clients other wise their existing clients would want to know why.

jonherries

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#875125 10-Aug-2013 16:59

You need a competitive advantage.

Strikes me that most people who want someone to mow their lawns, would probably appreciate someone who could recommend grass types, weed spraying, fertiliser and general lawn care type work as well.

HTH,

Jon

insane

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#875126 10-Aug-2013 17:06

AppleJackXD:
Hmm i see ,Did he do it by himself because i will be doing it on my own and my dad will do the odd lawns for me when he retires so my dad will be there to help occasionally.120 clients wouldn't be to overwhelming for 1 person would it though ?

Mostly by himself, and sometimes with the occasional help of another friend who is an Arborist for when trees etc needed cutting. He did mention that while the lawns kept things ticking over, the real money was in landscaping and commercial contracts.

For what it's worth he was working the Gulf Harbour region in Auckland, so his clients weren't exactly hard up.

Inphinity

2780 posts

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#875205 10-Aug-2013 20:37

Be aware that if you're using imagery like that in promotion, don't be surprised when some clients expect similar style 'artistic' lawn mowing.

BinaryLimited

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#875220 10-Aug-2013 21:09

Congrats on your new business.
With Hard work and Determination, one can achieve anything in life!

Keep us updated on your success please, always good to see new companies grow.

Binary Limited - Safe. Secure. Simple. ™
www.binarylimited.co.nz

AppleJackXD

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#875226 10-Aug-2013 21:28

Inphinity: Be aware that if you're using imagery like that in promotion, don't be surprised when some clients expect similar style 'artistic' lawn mowing.

Thats just a random picture i chose for the thread lol Obviously my flyer will not have the picture i used for this thread .

AppleJackXD

150 posts

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Inactive user

#875228 10-Aug-2013 21:29

BinaryLimited: Congrats on your new business.
With Hard work and Determination, one can achieve anything in life!

Keep us updated on your success please, always good to see new companies grow.

Thanks friend i wont be started up until next year... I will definitely keep you informed : )

pctek

807 posts

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#875301 11-Aug-2013 11:35

I'd like to know how they make money.

Neighbour up front - his fee is $10. Small lawn....
Mums lawn - $20 but it's fortnightly, he does garden as well, a bit of a tidy up.

Friend $20 - his is 1/4 acre of kikuyu.

Another friend, he dad did this for years - but it supplemented his pension....

So that's an awful lot of lawns, and remember that fee is turnover, not net profit.

tdgeek

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#875308 11-Aug-2013 11:55

What assets will you expect to provide to the new business?

Ute
Trailer that has a ramp/space for the mower
Mower, and a spare mower
Blade sharpening tools, you will do that often
Weed whacker
Chainsaw

Costs?
Fuel for the ute, R+M, Rego, WOF, Insurance
Fuel for the mower
Regular oil changes for the mower
Repairs to the equipment
Dumping fees
Mobile phone fees

Allow For
Rain
Winter

jonherries

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#875327 11-Aug-2013 12:30

You might be able to make compost from your clippings, which could be a revenue source...

Jon

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