Just starting out

Lots of good luck,

I did the same for few years in the past, moved to design for few years and than to trading online.

Same if you do anything that not sure , will be happy to assist.

Yes , it is not the easiest job, but for the time being it is the best thing you can do, well done.

few tips that I can say:

do not start at low prices as it is hard to raise it.

if possible you can ask to charge every month same- so you are sorted for the winter.

when visit a customer first time. walk with them in the garden show your knowledge.

take a clipboard and print to yourself ( that is top tip) a page with all the jobs that you can do.

with boxes to tick

for ex: __ cutting the lawn

__ cutting the lawn edge

-- blowing leaves

-- weeding

-- feeding the lawn

__ planting

than sit with the customer at same meeting or another day, tick all the boxes ( add few empty lines for extra jobs) , write your price.

If the customer will ask for less, say that you just cant but as a good will will do 5% not more.

or if wish can reduce one of the tasks.

+ do not be afraid to offer your customers ideas / other jobs and so ( they may like it a lot)

you will look professional too.

Lots of good luck

Ofer

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Comments

RICHARD BICKLER August 7, 2011 at 7:02pm

Ian, just post any questions and I am sure the great folks of LJN will be more than happy to offer advice..
Ofer El-hashahar August 7, 2011 at 8:43pm

Lots of good luck,

I did the same for few years in the past, moved to design for few years and than to trading online.

Same if you do anything that not sure , will be happy to assist.

Yes , it is not the easiest job, but for the time being it is the best thing you can do, well done.

few tips that I can say:

do not start at low prices as it is hard to raise it.

if possible you can ask to charge every month same- so you are sorted for the winter.

when visit a customer first time. walk with them in the garden show your knowledge.

take a clipboard and print to yourself ( that is top tip) a page with all the jobs that you can do.

with boxes to tick

for ex: __ cutting the lawn

__ cutting the lawn edge

-- blowing leaves

-- weeding

-- feeding the lawn

__ planting

than sit with the customer at same meeting or another day, tick all the boxes ( add few empty lines for extra jobs) , write your price.

If the customer will ask for less, say that you just cant but as a good will will do 5% not more.

or if wish can reduce one of the tasks.

+ do not be afraid to offer your customers ideas / other jobs and so ( they may like it a lot)

you will look professional too.

Lots of good luck

Ofer
Ian Hartmann August 8, 2011 at 7:10pm

Thats brilliant Ofer, thanks _ will make a mental note of all those point. I particulalry like the tick list idea. I am a list peson, can't think why I hadn't thought of that before.

Thanks very much
Mark & Yasmin Roworth August 10, 2011 at 8:40am

Hi Good luck Ian. Im sure once you get going you won't look back. Get your name out there as much as you can in your local areas. Yasmin