What are some tips for a 13 year olds lawn care business?
Question:i have 4 regular customers, and 3 others, plus i do some pressure washing and stuff. i put out flyers earlier this summer, and evryone i mow for says i do a great job. i mow, edge weedeat and blow. i get paid $30-$50 per yard.
Answers:
when you go get other customers
always dress as nice as you can
be ready for people to call you
{such as myself} "LAWNMOWER MAN!"
As I see things on this subject, the number one biggest thing is when does the mowing season stop. The answer is not when school starts, it IS when the grass stops growing. So many "Early Entrepreneurs" make this mistake and stop mowing when they go back to class. Your customers still want their yards looking good even after the bell starts ringing.
My second tip is, you can charge a customer reasonably many times. You can overcharge him once. (they get someone else after that)
make a good looking flier and go door to door and talk to the home owner. you might try to talk to Realtors and get them to let you mower the yards to there houses they are selling or renting. Have your present customers to write you a reference. Talk to the people and give them your flier.
Also list your prices. you may want to add edging or mow only services. Maybe give a discount to anyone that will schedule you to mow every week or every other week. the most important thing is sell yourself to them. Fliers alone don't work. But talk in person and let them know you are serious. And ask your present customers to refer a friend or ask them to Tell there neighbor and friends.
Hope these help and good luck it is great to see someone your age willing to work hard . I did lawns and farm work at your age till I finish high school.
what would you like to know?
For starters advertise in the local neighboorhood newspaper, your response rate (the number of calls per cost) will increase. Sometimes churches will accept sponsers for their bulletins, so hit up the local churches and see who does this this will generate plently of work for you.
The best advice I could give you would be to start a retirement account now, as soon as you have an earned income. You will be very well off if you do.
Be polite, be reliable, listen to your customer and do what they want, thank them, do a great job and don't be afraid to ask questions. Do what you say and say what you do.
Good luck.
Finish what you start.
Be there when you say you will be there.
If you can't keep up with the workload, hire a friend to help you, but be sure you check his/her work before accepting payment.
If you are going to camp or on vacation with your parents, be sure your customers know you will be gone and offer to find someone else to mow that week.
Take plenty of water with you (and maybe even a snack of some sort), and all the gas, oil, weed eater line, and any other tools you may need to get the job done.
Make sure you and your helpers are polite and do not use any kind of profanity while working in a customers yard. Remember the customer may be standing within earshot, so watch what you talk about on the job.
Good luck and don't forget to have some fun this summer!
I had a cousin that started this several years ago. He had green business cards printed from the computer to save $.
Set up basic $ guidelines for approximate lawn size with weed whacking as part of service. He gave discounts to seniors, package deals for repeat customers, and 1st time customer, discount to customer that referred a new customer & was completed job. Sounds like a $ losing situation; he told them this is the discount, etc... but never mentioned a real price except it would have been higher & grinned. He was extremely busy from referrals & repeat customers. Dress neat, Yes sir/maam, No sir/maam. Plenty of smiles and always on time.
His $ invested in only what really needed including a back up mower & later a trailer behind car when he was a little older.
He made enough money that he paid for his college with a grant & scholarship. Also, he bought car & pickup (2nd hand) without a loan.
He did some winter work but needed the rest by that time.
Good luck. Use your head & common sense.
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