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Martin, yes will try, we're 90% commercial and have been for a long time. All our commercial work is on 12 month service contracts with 12 equal monthly payments which is standard, bear in mind most clients will expect you to do everything which will include shrub and hedge cutting although we do use a sub contractor with a tractor mounted flail for long runs. It's not easy to pick commercial work up as obviously a company or business park etc will already have a contractor in place unless it's a new site so you have to give them a reason to change, this could be service level, quality of work or price. You'll find that the sites that look a mess are generally because they don't care. But always worth a try. The other issue is getting to speak to the right person and getting past reception staff, if you can't speak by phone which we've found the most successful try to get an email address and then follow up with a phone call, drop a business card in sometimes works. Use your contacts!
Parish councils are another option, we used to do a lot of churches but lot of work for little money as they haven't got any. Try estate agents and property management companies are a good source of regular work. Try to be confident and professional, make out you're in a bigger way of business than you are as it gives them confidence that you aren't going to disappear on holiday or go off sick, remember they expect total reliability. Hope that helps, anything else please ask, do my best to help. Good luck !!
Hi, thanks for the reply. Useful advice. I have one contract with a property management company who pay me in 12 equal monthly payments even though I do more work during the summer, handy to keep some money coming in during the winter months. I have been mowing one churchyard for many years, doesn't pay fantastically well but it's a nice job and I can do it when I choose so long as it's kept tidy. But as you rightly say it's not easy to pick others up as they don't have the money and often some retired guy from the village will do it for excersise and beer money! I will have to find the right sites and contacts and sell myself. I don't tend to have holidays much now, more hassle than it's worth when you have regular jobs to attend to.
Firstly, hedge cutting. I always mention this piece of gear because it is a game changer. If you want to cut hedges without any muscle pain or strain then you need an Easy Lift Harness. I have had mine for about ten years. It makes your hedge cutter [or long reach hedge cutter] totally weightless. You just have to ‘steer’ the machine, not bear the weight of it, at all.
I mainly do commercial mowing. There’s no substitute for going and talking to people face to face. It’s much easier to make a good impression and even to strike up a rapport. You will gain work this way.
Who to talk to? As mentioned, Parish Councils, Schools, PCCs [parochial Church Councils], local businesses [mainly trading estates – that’s where the premises have significant grounds], Church of England and the local Country Estate[s]. I work for all of the above, so here in Derbyshire that includes Chatsworth Estate, the Diocese of Derby and local Churchyards [parochial Church Councils]. Also working for Schools effectively means you are working for the County Council.
I mow about eight acres on six sites for one particular Parish Council. I got this work six years ago by being tipped off by company I know that the Parish Council were looking for a new contractor. I went to see them and here we are. I was though recommended to them by the local undertaker of all people. He does have influence in this case and told them that they really needed me. So personal recommendations carry huge weight.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. I have something going on in the bottom of my back or hip, every so often it just spasms and seizes up, hurts like hell. So If it doesn't improve I'll have to move away from the big hedge jobs and laddering work. Might be worth a look at the harness though. Sound like you have some good contracts, I'm not that that far from you ( just north of Nottingham) . I'll have to start knocking on doors and see what I can do!
Hi mjc, I get similar problem's with my back and hips, turns out it was tight glutes which i now strech regularly. Hope it's an easy fix for you!
Had a really painfully bad back last couple of weeks. Waking me up in the night etc.
Done some glute stretches and has cleared of after a few days. Lovely
Sweet
FIrst off - get a Physio appointment - they may give you a way to continue... or at least improve things.
Our happy hunting ground for commercial work was new industrial parks - wait till companies move in and the basic landscaping is there - they have either got it sorted with a national chain, or they are desperate - some want the grass to be a real showpiece, others just want it hacked to a decent length. The negative is it often comes with litter picking duty.
I always found councils and churches to e a bit of a dead end - there is normally someone whose got the job and often is under charging ..... so even if you manage to get the job you can't charge top rate.
The other one is become Ground Control operator https://www.ground-control.co.uk/ - I was very tempted by their offers, but never had the capacity to take their stuff on.
All that said.... I prefered domestic work - it was more varied
I've seen a ground control guy mowing etc at my local filling station. Didn't realise it was a national enterprise. I'll have a read of their website when I have time but in all honesty I would find it almost impossible to pack up and become employed after 19 yrs of self employment! Yes I will have to see a physio to try and get fixed up. I too like the domestic work, I wouldn't want to be entirely domestic or commercial, a mix would be ideal.
I also had a look.
Looking at the website (thanks Adam) they take on subbies, so still self employed. Looks interesting i do like the idea of less hassle finding new jobs. I may tap them up in the future. Had experience being a subie enjoyed the work and the companies working methods, the main contractor was just very bad at paying. No experience with ground control. Website often talk companies up, In realality talk a load of bullocks.
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