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Replies
Pictures are always helpful!
Firstly, don't email back with anything derogatory regarding the ‘well known lawn franchise’ - or any other contractor come to that! It could be that the ‘potential customer’ is just looking to pick your brains for ammunition to help her cancel the contract and you could be dragged into an awkward situation.
Send her a written estimate, briefly outlining what you would do and not what in your opinion, the others should be doing. When you say you couldn’t compete on price, I am wondering why not, a franchise should have higher overheads than you.
I take it that you have lawns in better shape in the area that you could use as an example of your work. If so, then use these to justify the higher cost of your operation.
I feel you can compete on price and still be better off than a company that is a franchise
You are applying the service not a member of staff /wage saving
You are not VAT registered after claim back you are still approximation 11% better off
Do not have to pay a royalty as a % of job price about 9%
Do not have to pay a advertising cost on sales about 2%
Do not have to use a van on HP/lease hire that is the latest company brand van 5% saving
On the above you are looking at being 30% left in your pocket than a Franchised outfit
The prices the lawn treatment franchises near me charge are unbelievable. Their franchise costs must make the earnings pretty low for the turnover, so no-one wins.
Hollow-tining, without top-dressing, and leaving the plugs so smear over the lawn? Double what I'd charge if I had to hire a machine, but I couldn't leave it that way. Scarifying the same, and they leave the waste for the customer to take to the tip.
From that pic the lawn isn't too bad, considering we've had poor conditions for a long time. Is it so much worse than other neighbours?
I've had about three such enquiries this year alone. Clients are not happy with the services they get from these franchises but when I put in my price they say it's too much. Well, you pays your money and make your choice. Continue paying a cheap price for a service your not happy with, or pay a proper price for a proper job.
My advice is don't even think about competing on price. Be honest with the client and what ever happens your honor is intact.