How to Crush it In Lawn Care & Landscaping Business☆ A Few Helpful Tips From A Pro // Brian's Lawn
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- How to crush it in lawn care & landscaping business. a few helpful tips from a pro Brian's lawn Maintenance.
Brian's Lawn Maintenance
"Creating Insane Route Density ►
How I Did It ► Yardbooks How To On Building Customizable Routes" on RUclips
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Do you mow lawn?🏡 How far do you drive between accounts? 📋Please comment below. 👇👇👇👇👇👇
At first I made a route for that particular day. Most were 10 min apart. Now I'm establishing route density I've let go the non profitable yards. Just this coming season I sign contract on a big appartment complex where we will work 2 days. So I cut 15 yards to free up that time with and make probably 10 times the money . So this and route density I can offer more services to my customers and look to make 30k more this yr than last yr. . Like yall said you have to prune your business to make bloom more profit. Thanks and God bless us all.
I try not to add any new lawns that are more than 8 minutes away
I’ve been putting 3-4 hundred hours a season on my mowers
Good points Brian!
Yeah I have the neighborhood I personally live in and I have more accounts mowing then any other company in my neighborhood
The next street over is about how far I am looking to travel.
Windscreen time. Put the branch in the chipper. Make your own mulch. East side, West side. Stoke on Trent
These two men together are worth watching, I love and watch both Chanel's.
I live on an island just off Auckland in New Zealand and I have about a 5 km radius and this is how it works for me. Monday will the 5 km area, Tuesday will be the 4 kilometre area and then Wednesday will be the 3 km area and so on. Thanks to these videos they have taught me so much. Keen then up please.
I live in a rural area where we have to drive 15-20 miles to get any really good accounts. I just researched it and there are about 180 people/sq. mile where I live. Whereas the town I'm targeting has over 1400 people/sq. mile. One of my associates who has a very successful lawncare/landscaping business has even told me that the majority of his work is that distance away as well. My goal is to gain at least 100 accounts in that town because of it's staggering growth. I don't mind the drive as long as the work is there. Cost of living is wayyyyyyyy cheaper where we live. If my area had that type of growth, I wouldn't even think about going that distance!! Awesome information and video fellas!!! Yall should be dubbed THE GREEN INDUSTRY AVENGERS!!!!😂😂
Man I am approaching my second year in lawn care and honestly I grab everything that comes my way so I can get my business out there. This video you guys provided makes a world of sense and you guys are shortening my learning curve by sharing your experiences. "Dont walk over dollars to pick up dimes"
Thanks
The Lords of LawnCare. Thank you!!! 👍
We cut only once a week and the rest is for landscaping. Adding a monthly maintenance program to our services this year. Brought it up to all our lawn clients and they all want it.
Alameda Landscape Inc. what do you include in your maintenance program
@@sheerlawnmaintenance7872 weeding plant beds, trimming/prunning as necessary. Anything out of the ordinary scope should be brought to the homeowner's attention and its a chance at upselling . We have clients with areas that are too much for them to control and thats where we come in. I'll have to make some videos on that this upcoming season. Some have us come in once a season to weed the plant beds and those same clients are the ones i brought up the idea of a monthly maintenance program. Well, they loved the idea. I almost forgot, (gotta make the kalfas face for this one) ...we use treflan after the first weeding of the season and spray roundup after each weeding there after. Do it right and your 3rd, 4th visit to the property will be a breeze. (End the kalfas face)
Yes me too! Great way to increase profits without getting new clients.
It also lets potential clients see you more often so your company name is in the back of their minds.
Been in business 2 years and and grossing 5-7 hundred per day. Properties are within 10 square miles
Daniel Webre how many days a week?
Is it just you or a helper?
It's fun to watch Keith's mind work while hes listening to Brian give great advise. You're both very entertaining to watch and give great advice and encouragement.
Totally agree. Route density is super important and if you don't have it, you need to price accordingly.
Hahah Brian is funny bro he's so quiet in beginning in the background but he's so anxious to talk lol
Man this video made my day seeing both of you share, thanks 👍🏾This was my first year in lawn care PT.My biggest profits was from mulching, pruning,trimming and cleanups so this year my goal is to get more of these profitable jobs.85% of our lawns is in my subdivision. If I can get 100% of our lawns in my sub that would be awesome. Brian you said it patience is key. I learned so much from both of you guys thanks you so much.In the next 3 years I want to build a tight route density.👍🏾🙏
Also on topic of video.... I started business as K&S (Ken and Sons) landscape back in 1999... I was spread out over 4 towns about a 25 mile square with the center being Otis Air National Guard Base when you could cut through to save time driving around (imagine a pond in the middle of your route and you could use a boat) then they closed it... Business was decent but not excelling... Personal family health issue made me restructure life and I went to work manage another company for about 2 years (2010-2011) then went back into business as KLC with some density knowledge from management of other lawn co and direct marketing tips. I have managed now to do almost same gross, more than double net with half the equipment and bodies. The last 2 years have been great and I now 99.5% of the time stay in my own town. A town in which if there are less than 50 other landscape businesses I would be shocked. That drive time is a business killer in so many forms: #1 risk of accident, #2 employee gets lazy, #3 fuel, #4 hourly wages for employee ticking, #5 losing valuable daylight hours spending instead of making, #6 errors ... give someone 15 min to take their mind off work its destructive to business... ex they start thinking about after work, mentally trying to prepare for shortcuts for rest of day, it takes them at least a couple min to get back into full productive mode. My biggest challenge in business is finding key employees. Business is predictable, level of quality 100% when I am on the job. As soon as I am not its damaging in some way. In 18 years I have had only 2 employees that could do well. I kept them for a couple years and treated them well. Both went into business on their own same as I did when I first worked landscaping.
I work for myself No employees. I have between 40-50 customers that I mow grass for. I stay primarily to only my town. Kenosha, WI But I do have accounts in Illinois and I spend 1 day a week in Illinois. When I go to Illinois I travel in a circle for my travel. For the accounts in my town I go by regions. I mow the yards in 1 area of town then the next day I will do a different section of town. I learned the hard way about route density my first year. But now I am reconsidering some of my accounts.
Take over neighborhoods, thats the best way to make consistent high revenue
I do lawns, tree service, and landscaping installs. Last year was my 2nd year and we did 185k with 1 guy most of year. Now it's 2 guys with me going for 250k.
My Dad and I run a landscape and snow business in Markham ON Canada. He's been in the business 25 years and has done okay. I've come on as a co owner 3 years ago. I'm young (23) and hungry for success. These videos are a great help. I'm establishing new route boundaries as I type this. I'll also be picking up a stop watch! Thanks guys
Holly shit, you guys apart have great advice but put both of you guys together and man... One of the best videos I've ever watched on how to grow.
Such simple but amazing advice! Thank you both for taking the time!!!!
Thanks for the positive words dude. Happy new year!
Just listened to this and as I was listening I took all my clients I mow and calculated distance from my property. Out of about 80 mowing customers. 60% are under 5 miles or less and the other 40% are over, as far as 13 miles away. Not the worst radius but you do question the driving aspect of things. I always like to think if I drive I need to be out of the truck in like 5 minutes between lawns. The ones that are farther than 5 miles there is a section of 8 in the same street so that helps justifying the distance. Such a catch 22 sometimes. As a business owner you want everything you can get but sometimes saying no and sticking to limits is better in the long run. I think this year I will give one of my guys a bunch of these lawns and let him do them weekly and free up my time for more profit making sides jobs. Interesting topic. Good luck in 2019!
What I found to be the #1 problem with lawn care is that it's an entry level business and the $ amount for a lawn never increases along with cost inflation. I started my business in 1993 and we were getting the same amount of $ per lawn back then that we do today !! The cost of trucks,mowers,trimmers are skyrocketing. We still mow but we only do full maintenance commercial properties.
This is why I chucked in my full time job and started cutting grass, it's because of these guys. you are legends
Hi guys, I am in southern Indiana. We service our county which has 4 main towns/cities. We basically cover one or two of them a day. We are 4 years in and have been growing each year. We could get into Evansville for a larger market but that puts us 30-40 minutes away from our shop.
Nice to see the two of you chatting and sharing what you have learned. A lot of valuable information.
looks like brains got it together, imo a well run solo op. can make just as much as a a big operation, I mean the way I look at it is your goal shouldn't be to have the biggest company with tons of flashy equipment it should be to profit as much as possible with the least amount of effort possible.
Adam Milton Green 100% best answer ever
Great answer/comment, roger that.
I'm getting back into the business this year and will be giving most of my mowing estimates over the phone without going to the property. I also have "starting at" prices on my website for the price shoppers. After doing this work for many years, you can't be out wasting your time doing mowing bids when you can just look up their property online and give them an estimate.
Especially if you have mowed 100s of lawns in your time. I do the same for mowing but add a premium so I do not screw myself.
One more thing Keith, you are bringing so much value for my small business. I have already bought your book on auditable and listen to that on a regular basis. Like you said in a previous video. I'd be a pleasure to shake your hand one day.
I agree. Route density is crazy important. I have my guys track there mowing time at each property. When you leave the car & get back in it to leave. The ultimate equation we think for lawn care is. Total time=drive time + machine time. I live by that equation. We try to keep a 12 MI radius but occasionally will go to 15. Here in grand rapids MI
I love watching you guys. The information, the insights and your confidence can only inspire many to go ahead and start their own thing. Great work fellas!
I hate my job. I've decided to start a gardening business. Already making preparations. I'm 49, fit, and I'm so pumped to do something I enjoy. You're videos have given me so much inspiration. Thank you and continue to be abundant!
I deliver pizzas. I left to work in a sister store in the nicest suburb of toledo thinking
" those rich people will tip alot more and there is more territory to go to". Big mistake. Big houses meant big subdivisions and yards and basically it took too long to go from house to house so i didnt get many deliveries finished. Went back to a denser neighborhood and took way more deliveries in a night meaning more tips earned. Just 2 nights ago someone gave me 7$ to deliver literally 5 houses away from the store.
I service an area 30 minutes away from where I live. Town of around 60k people. Takes me an hour to load up and get to first yard. Most properties are in my old neighborhood, which was walking distance until I moved further away. I cut one day a week, part time, and still maintain full time employment and a family of six. The plan is to work on going full time later on.
Great video! Route density is important. I use to drive 30-35 minutes to a single house to mow when all my other houses were within a 3 mile radius. Time on the road your not making money! lol
Brian is a good man! Love doing business with him.
lawn account density is very key to higher profits. But you also have to be in the right neighborhood. Being well-liked by your customers is also important because you have low bidders that'll try to break up you are presence in a certain area.
Reason Brian is killing it, most guys are worried about mowers or trucks, he is focused on a stop watch. Sounds silly but is super smart. I work in consulting and a tool we have used to streamline industries is a time study, really cuts through the BS and gets to the profit.
Id like to know how his helpers deal with a boss that's probably always on their ass to keep moving. Come on guys, stop watch is ticking!
I live in cottage country. Some of my places are 5 minutes away and others are 20 min away. Been trying to drop the further away customers. This year my route was tight, but need to tighten it up more. We were able to cut 27 lawns in one day with 4 of us.
I just Love you guys, my son introduces me to watch you he started mowers not long back in Mebourne, him and the family is moving to England he may starting again. He loves you Keith. Thank you, for sharing your knowledge. I'm dealing with realeastate in rental I'm doing OK with mather's Earth I climbing trees prune them myself climbing on the Roofing cleaning gutters hard works but rewarding , but I wanted my son to be on his own independence, and they both are I'm every proud of my son, and my daughter she doing very well with her family, and my three granddaughters. One belong to my son and his partner.
I'm sending Love, Pray, healthy bodies, and healthy bank accounts, and be safe!!!!
Merry Christmas and happy new year, Cheers from Australia🎄✨🎆🧨💥
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞💯% great works
My two favorite channles in one video !!! About to enjoy this video
Johnny Gamer that’s what I’m saying play boy
You two need to do more videos together! I like the way you both can explain the same thing just in a different way . Sometimes tackling the same subject can have a double outcome with us the audience learning and yourselves also!? Yes no maybe so?
I have one day of week (Thur) that I drive to another town, about 15 miles away, and stay and service lawn accounts all day. The rest of the time I am in my town (population 15,000) servicing lawn accounts. My question for Brian would be, with his extreme density (unload machines and mow all day), how does he work out breaks, and bathroom trips so his helpers aren't ""burnt out" in short order?
I too have thought about this. No one can do more than about 2hours straight of line trimming without a decent break. Keen to hear.
I live in a community of 50,000 people, the entire city is within 10 minutes. I worry more about dollars per day then hours equipment is running. What matters is what you made at the end of the day vs what you paid out.
I'm starting a lawn care and pressure washing business here in Michigan this year. I'm looking for used zero turns. Great video guys.
Gabriel Davis do it. I started last year. Wish I started sooner
Loving it! It’s our hustle year ✅
Not sure why but you seem much more focused when you speak on anothers channel or colab. That means when the pressure is on you step up. Good thing.... Mad jelly bro.... haha I would love to do a lunch/business talk with Keith. I have a friend in the business about an hour away we would get together once or twice a year was good fun networking. Best stories to share business experience with someone else who understands.
great video thanks for this. my second second year in toronto , alot of competition here but like you said if you know what you want and the quality of work is there. You 'll do fine ive managed to stay in 5 mile radius and we are growing, i still struggle with all my pitstops for prep, coffee ,you know how it goes could definitely cut some time and save money there.
Awesome! I love seeing Grant Cardone catch on to so many people, the dude is a boss just like you two. Awesome video, great tips & real powerful knowledge!! Thank you guys! 😎👍💯
I am still just starting my lawn care business, so I will definitely work on implementing rout density early on. Thank you, and this was a very helpful video.
I’m glad Keith reiterated that you CAN drive outside of your town and still build route density. You don’t actually have to have route density in your city that has no customers. It’s ok to drive to a different city and build the route density there. I enjoyed hearing that bc there are not enough customers to survive where I live. I have to drive at least 20 minutes away before you get to where you can make a living.
Thinking of finally breaking out of this factory job I've been at 17 years and going into the lawn business. I'm in the Detroit area also and enjoy the vids bros! Qoutes I feel are abit intimating but I got just go for it.
You got this.
Appreciate the reply brotha! Been on this night shift 13 years... killin me in this place. Outdoor work, landscaping, a job well done looking tight is what I'm trying to call a days work in my future!
Need to get these quotes down asap though. Me and my kid spread 5 yards of river rock and laid down weed barrier for $300 punk ass bucks the other day. Lol live and learn I guess
I'm on the west side. It sucks because no one wants to pay $25 for a yard and when I find someone to pay that they are great customer but they are hard to find.
Great video!
I try not to cut much grass unless it's included in a big job I am doing but your tips still help with my snow removal services, other jobs & aspects of running a successful business. I've only been doing property services for 2yrs or so here in Metro Detroit & still have alot to learn, so please keep the videos coming. LoL.
Also,
Keith, I did a job for one of your old customers in Roseville back in the spring & he had nothing but good things to say about you & your work. Keep up the hard work guys! 💪
You can’t cut grass sitting behind glass!!
I try to have properties close enough to be able to cut Minimum 3 an hour and the furthest l try and drive from the shop is max 30 min but l put my routes in a big circle so l always end up at home!!
We do an average of 25-35 Lawns a day in season on a great day l’ve had 2 crews with 2 guys per crew and got 60 lawn done in 12hrs!!!
You two are the best! I didn’t know that you two know each other because this is the first time seeing you both making video respect for both!
0:41 😂 this guy on the left starts doing the bobblehead to everything he says!!!!😁😁😁😁😷😷😷
He’s an extremely awkward dude, not sure how he’s successful in business, Keith is so professional compared to this other beginner
Broooo! Brian thats crazy. U r killing it im literally everywhere. I know i need to condense my route but i deal with a property management company that gives me year round work so they have me everywhere and i get yards around those.
I love this video it means a lot to me in my Landscaping Business
Us older guys call it "rakin it in". Crushing it? What's that lol
@Jack Buckley So, your butt hurts? Wonder why.
my son and i are thinking about starting a lawn care business this is great info do you have a video on pricing jobs
wally stewart I live in a Texas town with a population of 100,000. My service area is about 6 mile radius. I work by myself. I try to price my lawns by the hour. For smaller lawns I can get $1 per minute, up to about $40, or 40 minutes. For lawns that take up to 1 hour, I cannot really justify charging over $50. For my town, that is about the max I can charge, most people will not pay any more than that. The equipment I own is a Honda HRX217 lightweight residential mower, Echo handheld blower, and an Echo straight shaft weed eater. For leaf clean ups in the fall, I charge $60 an hour. I bag the leaves with the mower, and leave the leaves at the customers house for the trash service to haul off. If they need me to haul off the leaves to the landfill, I charge $50 per hour, round trip. Good luck!
wally stewart drive around and find a company mowing. Tell them you live down the block. Ask them what they are charging the customer they are mowing for. Cal a few companies and have them quote your yard. Ask them how many people would be in their crew to cut your lawn.
Great video! Thank you very helpful
We’re at about 50 accounts in roughly a 3 mile radius also😎💯
Great video. Don't be afraid to say no.
As always great information. I'm doing route density now and only been in this 2 yrs come may
Brilliant video.
Time and motion studies in lawn mowing.
Loved it.
Pat Dundee
Some great advise! I like the focusing on only what’s profitable, and making money! Good job guys 🙏🏻
We cover a 35km radius of 60 customers. great video
Thats awesome Bryan. you should show a video of you cutting them 40 lawns a day. i usually only see that one parking lot lol.
**Brian** sorry for spelling error
I totally understand and get the micromanagement and Logistics part in effort to maximize your margins however I think that if you looked at your lawn care service similar to how a roofer looks at his jobs each Property Serviced can be estimated going off of the amount of square with an equation that should give you a profitable margin. That margin should have a percentage of fluctuation for contingency and you should have a price per square that covers your nut called par. Once you know your par you can set standards for profitability without worrying about micromanaging yourself and your employees into a psychiatric ward before everyone quits on you.
When you're speaking of doing 20 and 30 properties in one neighborhood, that doesn't happen in your first year or even by your third or fourth year in many cases. Those are situations that out of common-sense people understand the value of not only saving time but making more money during that time so there's not a lot of reason to cover that as an important factor when it's so obvious. A more important talking point would be how to obtain 20 to 30 accounts in one neighborhood, how to go about it, how long it takes and what type of investment is encouraged to produce those types of results in realistic terms.
Lastly your par prices should be scalable at 80%. Meaning that 80% of your receivable should cover your margins including forcasted profits so that you can double your business every year. The other 20% is always in collections.
The biggest tip I'll give you and your followers is to remember that there's no reason to hold on to cash and that debt is more valuable for a business then any assets are as long as there is cash flow. Of course the exception to this is if you want to sell your business.
Anyway, another good video overall
Finally!! Kalfas interviews a real person who actually exists.
House Wash Josh careful! I may be an actor 😂🙈
@@BriansLawnMaintenance 🙏👊👍
great video! Brian's advice and tips were good. got both of you on subscribe. Thanks
2 Legends 1 Video!!
I do 15 mile radius from where I'm at In my business name is big trucks landscaping service
Thanks for sharing
Nice
Great video buddy thanks for the great information
Sure Cut Landscaping Inc
Thank you I really like your videos good job
Great video guys!!
Follow both you guys...
Nice video guys.
You need to learn how to make the video pop ups on screen when you guys talk about them. Like when you was talking about Brian’s route density video. That would make this channel a little more professional. 😎
Great advice. Are you talking about the editing.
Or the little "cards" that pop up?
@@keith-kalfas on other videos when they Mention something like his video, his video will pop up in the corner. That way if i was interested i could just click it real quick. Or continue watching your bomb ass videos! Hope that makes sense. I believe its in your editing.
Im big fan of you both , great vid.
Thanks so much man.
I resemble your closing statement..... boonies of TN! I live in Sevier county and drive to Knox county for work 38miles one way
I'm in the Detroit area as well looking to start up a lawn maintenance service as well, currently I'm investing in equipment and seeing how you both are relatively close is there any specific videos that you can refer me to that will go in depth about marketing strategies and landing good contracts? These videos are very helpful
You guys are awesome
What are your thoughts on having to drive 40 mins out but you are making 700-800 ? With only paying one helper?
I drive alot lol I live on the state line of Tennessee and Kentucky. I have tried for 3 yrs to get business in Kentucky where I live now. All my business is in Tennessee and if I cut those ties I would have no business. But excellent advice I try every yr to stay close to home but nothing so far lol
It only works for guys in suburban areas where homes are on top of eachother.
@@lawnman3638 yes and lawns are 25 a cut. I dont do any lawn under 40 a cut weekly
@@Mowandlandscaping1984 Don't let the low prices fool you. I mow 4-5 lawns an hour and yes some of them are $25 lawns but take us 10 mins. I am content with no drive time and making over $100 an hour. My model doesn't work for everyone though. If I were in your boat, I would be doing the same as you. Those $50 lawns would be my saving grace.
@@lawnman3638 yes it wouldn't work for me
It sounds all good and dandy but after your expenses its still a small amount of money. Not only that, unless your out of the field it gets tiring real quick.
Brian with Stihl cap but Echo weedeater lol
Awesome as usual
Great tips!
Love the video!
I live in south jersey my town is approximately 6-7 miles wides with properties in all areas e, w s, and north of home base would you recommend that I focus on one section of town or should I keep it the same. Just starting 1st yr in and I’m finding it hard to get subdivisions with many homes close together. We also have many subdivisions here also so I def want some of that action should I just focus on subdivisions and fill in the cracks with everywhere else in town
What would you say is the quickest way to get those accounts to build the route density?
Ok so I'm wanting to start my on landscape business and how do I get the business if someone has already got another landscape company do the work for them ? I work for a landscape company I do enhancement I remove everything and put all the new in however the customer wants it so should I stick with that or do lawn care also it's just me for right now
You got a chipper yet Keith... Lawnflite gts1300...
I have listened to keith s audio book prob 50 time s or more. Time for a new book sir
In Connecticut the market is saturated with lawn care service. And plenty of low ballers
Brian where on M22 did you get that sweatshirt? I grew up on M22 in Northport
Long story short create a service area and focus all your energy on that area. Because time is money and money is time.
How many lawns do you mow in a week?
YOU'RE WITH TONY HAWK?!
I'm finding out that lawn maintenance has a very low profit margin. $8k machine for a $50 dollar yard just doesn't add up. Pulling weeds, trimming bushes or anything else is better