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Any landscapers/grounds maintenance contractors on MC?

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Cal:
It certainly is a worry - seems like hard(er) times ahead... Maybe it's time to just knuckle down and "make do" with the desk job. :evil:

EbonynIvory:
If other people are getting out of the business then that leaves a gap for you to move in to if the demand is still there. Go for the bigger properties - if you can cope with the idea of how small their worlds are. Getting the stripes on the lawn in the correct direction is very important you know!  :shock: If you have good people management skills and the ability to say no in such a way that is acceptable then you'll be fine. The type of client that you are aiming at will either be really good to you or try and get away with every thing for nothing. Set your standards and stick to them. If they want extra jobs/hours doing, they pay for it.

If you have the manpower and equipment the procurement of a contract or two is very good. But usually the bidding is very hard and you really need to know your market costings. Hotels, manor houses and smaller business were good - don't know about now. Try having a look at social, leisure and disposable income trends (internet - statistics etc). This should give you an idea in your area. Have a look at your competition, what prices do they charge - can you undercut them for 6 months and then creep you prices up to match?

Sorry - gone on a bit again! As for me - start my new job on Monday as a Police Community Support Officer......... I know........"Plastic Policeman!"

Cal:

--- Quote ---Sorry - gone on a bit again!
--- End quote ---

Not at all - I really appreciate the advice, thanks. Lots for me to consider - I've kind of been doing my usual of just thinking I can buy some kit and head off out there and make a reasonable living without really researching it. I guess that's where the franchises come in - they at least give you a degree of security and you have your pre-defined patch and help/advice with running the business.

Best of luck in your new job - you wont find any stick from me - anyone out there trying to make a difference gets my support.

carbore:
In addition to the other sound advice. Im not a gardener but have two houses with gardeners (ooo get him) or make that 1.5, gardeners see later.....

Equipment is part of the reason why people go to a gardener and a why then need to keep one. For example if your customer has a small garden and needds to save some cash then a £70 quid plasticflymo and half an hours work and they can get by.  If they have a BIG garden, then even if they want to save cash they are looking at £500+ for a half decent ride on mowver even second hand if not then ages with a big heavy (also expensive) petrol pedestrian mower. Same goes for chainsaws and petrol strimmers/brush cutters.  Becasue of that if you do it then id really focusonthe larger properties (and old ladies who cant do it themselves)

Now my two (1.5) are as follows, one bloke at my Gloucestershire residence turns up whenever he wants, keeps the lawn and builidng plot down and sends me a bill in the post. I therfore dont have to worry about it!

The other bloke at my Cornwall house needs me to phone him up, so im too busy,my garden is a state and im looking to talk to the bloke who does next door on a regular basis. So KEEP ON YOUR REGUALR CLIENTS OR THEY WILL END UP SOMEONE ELSES!

Im not super rich BTW I get havnt been wiht my wife very long so we still have 2 houses and its not the time to be selling.

EbonynIvory:
Carbore sounds like the sort of client you need - the one place you can turn up as and when you want (with in reason) to fit around other clients in the area and send the bill in. The other place is your regular weekly income that slows down a bit Jan or Feb time. This is where your one off jobs - cutting down trees, landscaping and fencing - come into play.

If you have a requirement for a ride on mower, 1 - you'll have some fun! 2 - buy a decent one and it will last. 3 - make sure that you have a secure place to store it, an efficient method of transporting it and plenty of work so that it will pay for it self with in a 2 - 4 years.

If you do decide to do this, let us know how it goes. Oh and keep a diary! Note down exactly what you quote for. My boss quoted for a job for a work mate and I to do while he was away on holiday. He quoted for the removal and disposal of about 2 tonnes of soil, bit of log edging and the laying of about a tonne of gravel.

We dug up - by hand as there was no access for a digger, in the pouring rain - 7 tonnes of clay and then had to shovel it off at the other end equating to 14 tonnes of soil we moved in 2 days. We then had to lay about 7 meters of log edging and 4 tonnes of gravel equating to a further 8 tonnes of gravel! All in 3 days. Be specific in your quotes!


--- Quote from: Cal on October 28, 2008, 12:32:32 ---Best of luck in your new job - you wont find any stick from me - anyone out there trying to make a difference gets my support.

--- End quote ---

Thank you. Getting a bit nervous about it all now. Picking up my uniform tomorrow!  :police:

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