Lawn Service?

[Don Phelps]

Anyone out there offering a lawn service, as in the 'Mow, Blow & Go' variety? I'm thinking about buying a truck and trailer and sending others out to do it. The margin isn't as high so I don't personally want to get involved in the day-to-day physical labor when I can be on more profitable roof jobs, etc.

I know Scott Nelson (Mataman) is in the 'green industry.' Anyone else?

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by Don Phelps

Anyone out there offering a lawn service, as in the 'Mow, Blow & Go' variety? I'm thinking about buying a truck and trailer and sending others out to do it. The margin isn't as high so I don't personally want to get involved in the day-to-day physical labor when I can be on more profitable roof jobs, etc.

I know Scott Nelson (Mataman) is in the 'green industry.' Anyone else?

I've considered the same, but it is competitive as heck here, and I imagine it is worse there.

[Don Phelps]

Originally Posted by Mike Williamson

I've considered the same, but it is competitive as heck here, and I imagine it is worse there.

Yeah, it's very competitive. I would think that a very tight geographical service area would be one of the keys to it succeeding.

[dave]

Don,
i'm not sure about your area but down here there are lots of franchises. I have a friend in the business, the secret is definatley very compact rounds as the margins are to low for wasted time in traveling.

[Mike Williamson]

Originally Posted by Don Phelps

Yeah, it's very competitive. I would think that a very tight geographical service area would be one of the keys to it succeeding.

That, and possibly offering a premier service at a premium price, to customers who care about the difference. I see too many lawn guys literally running around the yard trying to get the cut done in 20 minutes because they're only charging $30.00/yard. I'd rather not be that guy, or have to keep up with an employee who really doesn't want to be that guy either.

[newlook]

Don,

We just ended our maintenance program after 2 years of doing it. I found myself being drawn in further and further into this component of our business and the growth was a little to quick for us. With our powerwashing, concrete and landscaping design business we have had our hands full. I just couldn't keep up with it.

So the big question is whether or not you dive into this? Well, I started off believing that I would not need to get involved in the day to day operations of maintenance but I soon found out that I needed to oversee it a tad bit more than what I wanted. This took me away from our other income sources and our customer service went down a notch or two. This was unacceptable to me so I axed the maintenace program.

[Don Phelps]

Carlos,

Thanks for sharing your experience.....Something to think about.

[Mataman]

Originally Posted by Mike Williamson

That, and possibly offering a premier service at a premium price, to customers who care about the difference. I see too many lawn guys literally running around the yard trying to get the cut done in 20 minutes because they're only charging $30.00/yard. I'd rather not be that guy, or have to keep up with an employee who really doesn't want to be that guy either.

$30 in 20mins, if you have three yards together (next door, across the street) doesn't that equal $90 an hour. I've been there and it's not too bad.


Mike,
It's tough to find that niche that will pay that will pay more money because there are always 20 other companies that will do it for less. Everybody wants that cheap top of the line service. A lot of the higher end homes around here are hiring 2-3 different companies for their yard needs.
1st company - mow and blow weekly (the least profitable)
2nd company - trim bushes quarterly (this is what I do, more profitable than mowing)
3rd company - spray yard monthly (these guys make cash, 5-10mins per yard, $35 minimum)
Generally, only your nice commercials and HOAs will pay the $$$ for permium service.

[Mataman]

Originally Posted by Don Phelps

Anyone out there offering a lawn service, as in the 'Mow, Blow & Go' variety? I'm thinking about buying a truck and trailer and sending others out to do it. The margin isn't as high so I don't personally want to get involved in the day-to-day physical labor when I can be on more profitable roof jobs, etc.

I know Scott Nelson (Mataman) is in the 'green industry.' Anyone else?

you can make money in the mow and blow industry if your routes are tight. Stop and do a minimum of two yards, drive a mile or two and repeat. Don't take yards with chain link fences, dogs, and highly manicured lawns. Your target area should be the middle - lower class yards.

I've laid in bed many nights telling myself I need to get out of what I'm currently doing and go back to the easy routes. Find a middle/lower class neighborhood, run flyers "most yards $25". Mow, edge, weedeat, blow and 10-15mins next yard. I know of one neighborhood with around 150 houses and I could make a killing but then the headache of equipment maintenance always brings me back to reality.

[Beth n Rod]

Don't take yards with chain link fences, dogs, and highly manicured lawns. Your target area should be the middle - lower class yards.

Very interesting....cool info! Thank you for your insights.

Beth

[Don Phelps]

What do you think about the Wright Stander? I've read several posts about it, and most seemed positive.

These two sites have been very helpful.

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/

http://www.lawnsite.com/

[Beth n Rod]

Don,
Why not share your knowledge here, and help this forum to "grow"...
Beth

[Don Phelps]

Purely 'exploration' for me at this point. Scott Nelson is the man for all things green.

[Thad]

Originally Posted by Mataman

I could make a killing but then the headache of equipment maintenance always brings me back to reality.

I have a friend with a booming lawn/landscaping business and the equipment costs are outrageous- $10K-$15K per mower and he hopes to get two years of service out of them. After that the number of breakdowns tends to blow huge holes in their schedule so it costs too much to keep them on the trucks.

He has two crews with Isuzu flatbeds that do the basic lawn stuff and he and a couple of helpers do the major landscaping and commercial installations. Most of his guys are on salary year-round and rain days are spent in the shop doing equipment maintenace.

[Mataman]

Originally Posted by Beth n Rod

Very interesting....cool info! Thank you for your insights.

Beth

I guess I should explain myself on this one.

Chainlink fences eat up your whip line and can be just about impossible to get all the grass the grows up in it.
Dogs are never put up and their crap gets all over you and your equipment and is dragged with you all day to the rest of your yards.
Upperend homes can be a bear to maintain. If or should I say when you get a fungus or insect problem you're the 1st to get blamed for it, and most likely you're not licensed to apply chemicals. The yard always has to be perfect and if you missed it due to weather, they're the first to complain.
You middle/lower (working) class homes generally have average yards. Owners are approachable and understand when something breaks down and so forth.