William L. feller
Contrary to popular belief, Winter can be a great time to start a lawn care business. Your marketing efforts during November, December and January may not pay off big until February and beyond (depending on region) but you will have had a whole four or five month head start on everyone else. I am a big proponent of going out and knocking on doors of commercial businesses and property management companies trying to pre-sell services on a monthly contract. When it comes ot commercial properties, you never know when a building came "online" and became occupied. A building could have just as easily been finished in November of one year with a December occupancy and have had a yearly landscape maintenance contract that is renewed every year in December or January.
Never assume that just because the grass is not growing that there are not contracting opportunities to be had. When you walk into a property managers office in December, they are secretly impressed that a lawn care "guy" is out making the rounds in the winter time. Even if you don't pick up a contract right away, your foot is in the door and you may find out exactly when that contracts come up for renewal and bid.
Take the off season to hand out brochures, network, and position for a quick start in the Spring. Join a Networking group such as BNI or find a local BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association)
On the residential side, opportunities are equally available. You would be surprises at how impressed a homeowner is with a professional Lawn Care Business Owner canvasing during the winter. Remember, the early bird catches the worm, or in this case the contract. Always be prospecting, ALWAYS!
For additional help, there is a free lawn care business newsletter available that offers valuable tips at http://www.MowingForMoney.com
William Feller is a noted entrepreneur, author and public speaker. As owner of http://www.MowingForMoney.com William helps people start their own Lawn Care Business. For public speaking engagements, he may be contacted at wfeller@aol.com
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