The commercial mowing market is a competitive industry, and yet, working in the commercial landscaping business remains a lucrative venture. As more homeowners look to save money on their home maintenance, they are turning to professionals for help with their lawns. This has created some stiff competition in the market, but it also means that there are plenty of opportunities out there for new companies and mowers who know how to take advantage of the rising demand.
Achieving success involves a tremendous amount of legwork because success doesn't happen by chance. The following are some tips for commercial landscapers to help you attract more profitable commercial mowing contracts:
Hire the right crew
A successful commercial mowing business requires a dedicated team of employees. Your crew is one of your company's most important assets. Once you’ve found quality employees, you're on your way to commercial mowing success.
It’s also important to make sure you hire the right amount of people. Different commercial mowing jobs require different amounts of workers. Your team should have enough manpower to carry out each job without any problems. At the same time, you also need to monitor your expenses.
Invest in the right equipment and machines
Making sure your company has all of the necessary mowing equipment and machinery will make the commercial landscaping business viable. Ensuring that your company has all of the necessary commercial landscaping tools for you to do more jobs efficiently is of utmost importance.
In addition, it's vital that all employees use their assigned machines properly. Mishandling any tools or equipment can cause damage to both property and people, as well as increase potential downtime, which will affect overall productivity. Investing in quality commercial power equipment is wise because it will help you avoid paying for expensive re-tooling and repair costs down the road. You also need to purchase safety gear such as gloves, goggles, and earplugs, so workers don't go home with injuries or have accidents.
Perform an industry analysis
When you run a landscaping company, it’s vital to perform industry analysis for your region or market area before bidding on jobs. Review all relevant available information about similar existing clients, competitors' bids, and properties that are already under contract. Use all of this information as a guide when putting together your proposal. Be sure not to leave any stone unturned.
Know your client's needs and wants before moving forward with a bid or proposal. If you can't meet the customer's requirements, don't bid at all. Always be sure to read, and reread contracts. This will help ensure that there is no confusion about any job parameters or rates, especially if it pertains to commercial lawn care maintenance agreements. Having solid written documentation will ensure that everyone involved is clear about the expectations from start to finish, which will help ensure that all parties are satisfied in the end. Finish strong by asking for referrals of other potential clients who are looking for commercial landscaping work as well. Word-of-mouth is very powerful, and referrals can go a long way.
Do your research
Before approaching any prospective customers directly with quotes, consider a wide array of marketing avenues, such as internet marketing (organic search engine optimization), and social media advertising campaigns via Facebook Ads, or LinkedIn Ads. There are plenty of ways to get your company’s name out there and generate leads without breaking the bank.
Price commercial mowing jobs accordingly
In any commercial mowing business, be sure that the price of your services is in line with that of other commercial landscaping companies. The best way to do this is by performing industry analysis for your market area or region. Then ask a few commercial lawn maintenance clients how much they pay on average per month for commercial work for their property.
Over-deliver on service quality
Not only should commercial mowing services be performed well and on-time, but the customer experience itself should also be top-notch. This includes how workers interact with clients, their reliability, and arriving at scheduled jobs or meetings in a timely fashion.
Be sure to maintain open and consistent communication between yourself and your customers throughout each job. Don’t wait until the invoice to reach out. Establishing a positive rapport early will make all the difference when it comes to ensuring repeat business from existing customers and obtaining referrals, which can result in more jobs down the road.
There are no shortcuts when it comes to achieving success in the field of commercial mowing. However, when you do it right, your commercial lawn maintenance business can be both highly rewarding and profitable.
At MowMore, we dedicate our efforts to supporting professional landscapers. We strive to be your expert for landscape equipment parts and supplies. We focus on your business needs, and our inventory is optimized with all of the parts and supplies you need.