Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
Very sorry to hear of your troubles. Rachel sounds a god send.
Why not suggest to the client that Rachel will undertake the work at a fixed price?
I had in the past a few clients who insisted on not having certain people work on their grounds and on the whole I found it unreasonable and told them that whilst I would try to accomodate their wishes it wouldn't always be possible and never changed the rota.
It sounds as though you have fallen on your feet to find someone like Rachel - she sounds perfect.
It seems to me that (if she is keen) you should start building Rachel into your future plans.
In some respects (reading between the lines) you can take it as a compliment that your client wants only you in her garden. It sounds to me that they look forward to your visit (company?) and having a second person isn't the same.
You are a business and best judge of your own service and if, as you say, you feel you do more now than when you were without help then you need to try and negotiate this through to your client.
If the client remains unreasonable then I would suggest you consider looking for another client contract to fill the gap and keep Rachel as part of your plans.
Just be sure that Rachel is genuinely here to stay before making the jump though.
The job was a good winter job for me which alone could see me through the winter so I had to agree. But on the smaller jobs I do it's a case of like it or lump it, they always stay!
Dxx
i can relate to this - £40 seems a lot per week / but if you can do another client instead (even say £30) its only £10 down - im sure you could make that up somewhere. -
i feel she is Very Very unreasonable and never has one of my clints Not asked me (or my brother/or worker) to leave a job for 3 weeks (they are tight if affording a holiday and control freaks)
i would suggest you can no longer fit them in as you are too busy (it is true) . The garden will be a bit of a mess in 3 weeks - many weeds , so i would not do it !!
- do she have any bigger work/jobs or recommend you ? and cups of tea , free 'things' ? if not just dont go back.......................selfish is the word for her ,you say shes always been over-fussy.
let her do it herself !
i dont mean to sound nasty ,but 8yrs ive learnt a few things about people.business and gardening.
be 'strong in your weakness' you will have a great little business , cherry picking is a must as a one man/woman band - you only have so many hrs available between 'rain' so its up to them.....
i like to be appreciated for my VERY hard work x all the best
I'm really sorry to hear about your mother.
I agree with the others that Rachel sounds wonderful & that now would be a good time to understand her future intentions.
I don't charge by the hour but by the job. Therefore if I had a Rachel my customer would still be getting the same amount of work done at the same cost even if it took Rachel longer. This might be something to think about.
Also, if your client is going on holiday & won't let you into her garden then under my pricing model she would get charged extra upon her return - working on a garden that normally has attention every week but has been left for 3 weeks is, of course, a lot more work & your price should reflect this.
I tend to agree with both Phil & your husband. It is a compliment that she wants only you, but, awkward customers do become troublesome & a peaceful working day is priceless.
Good luck
Donny
Well, if there's one thing I've learnt this year, life is a damn site shorter than expected, so I'm gonna start pleasing ME!!! Will keep you informed of progress.
Once again, thanks muchly for all your advice and support
Dxx
If you ever need a chat then don't hesitate to call me.
Kind regards
Phil