Landscaping add on to Powerwashing

[John T 744]

I'm debating on adding landscaping (Cutting grass,plantings etc) to My Powerwashing business. Since I;m getting closer to retirement I want to make sure my 3 guys are garranteed to stay busy all thru-out the season next year. My goal is to not have them working just 6 days a week in the Months of April-June I want them to stay busy 8-9 month a year like that. I can always hire more guys if I need to.

Anyone else do landscaping along with there powerwashing and would you recommend this route?

Thanks

[Don M. 14]

John, we do some light landscaping. We have gotten into the handyman realm once again and we are doing pretty good with that. Its amazing the little things people wont fix or cant.

[dpaull 80]

I'd prefer not to get into doing landscaping or handyman work.

I have a couple guys I know that do landscaping that don't want to pressure wash...they send business my way, and I send business their way.

It works out great that way because instead of maybe adding on landscaping services to an existing customer, I refer them to a professional...then I get leads right out of the blue from folks that need my services...and that's what it's all about anyway. Nothing like getting a customer for free.

[John T 744]

I'd prefer not to get into doing landscaping or handyman work.

I have a couple guys I know that do landscaping that don't want to pressure wash...they send business my way, and I send business their way.

It works out great that way because instead of maybe adding on landscaping services to an existing customer, I refer them to a professional...then I get leads right out of the blue from folks that need my services...and that's what it's all about anyway. Nothing like getting a customer for free.

True....But I have a few opportunities staring me right in the face. There are about 8 estates that I can most likely land if I was to get into this business. Just to give you a quick number one of these estates pay $175/week to get his lawn cut,whacked and blown(Sounds like a strange *** act) Thats for 2+ acres. Another estate is for 7+ acres. Just on these few alone could be at least a guaranteed $1000+ a day every week. IF I do this I;m going to spend around $15,000 to get some good mowers like a "Wright Stander" and sell off one of my trucks to get a dump truck. Have to spend $$$$ to make it. Still am not sure that I want to have my guys locked into cutting grass every week on top of powerwashing.

[PressurePros 249]

John, I looked into buying a landscape compay. The only thing that made it even remotely appealing was the design aspect of the company. The grass cutting was a loss leader. The margins are terrible. If you think there are lowballers in PW'ing you won't believe what goes on in basic lanscape services.

There are better ways to keep your guys busy. Landscaping is not a tie in business. Their season is the same as ours. You may end up overstretched in the peak season and have the same down time you are seeking to eliminate.

[John T 744]

Ken,

That is all true what your saying. I've heard that from some friends here also. The real goal would be to get into the plantings,Top soil etc with some of the accounts. I did hear that people will can you just to get another to cut there grass for a couple of bucks cheaper. The grass cutting end is the ultimate lowballer conflict.

As of right now we added doing houses a solid stain which I stopped doing years ago when I was really a one man operation. I have a house to look at tomorrow that needs to be primed and two coats of a solid stain. And of course I am looking to crack the parking garage cleaning in Manhattan by hopefully attending there convention in the fall.

On top of all this the landscaping is something I need to think alot more about. I want all of my business to be linked and in the service field. Just not sure exactly what businesses to start and link since there are so many out there like Carpet Cleaning, Office Cleaning, Window cleaning etc etc etc

[Tmrrptr 164]

Hello John,

Your question was, do I landscape, and would I recommend it...

I don't, but wish I did, and would highly recommend you get into the field if you can.

Among our clients is a housing tract. We do fixit and repair, PW, etc.

The new homes run about 5-600.000 and come w front lawn & a dozen plants.

I was told the average buyer spends $85k on landscaping after purchase.

I don't have a green thumb. Do you?

Very good money in landscaping.

Oherwise, you were speaking of yard maintenance... that's different.

r

[John T 744]

Yard maintenance is to get my foot in the door. I know cutting grass has a low profit margin but it also keeps my guys and any other guys that I will hire constantly busy and that is the goal in keeping the good quaility guys. From Cutting grass my business plan would also include doing plantings with maybe a little design in them to. If I became successful at this I would hire a person with landscape design as there background.

As of right now I'm just dreaming...along with tracking trucks and Lawnmowers for sale on the net and my local papers. Its not out of my spectrum to buy an established landscaping business but that is my last choice because I rather build up my own thru mass mailings.

[newlook 265]

John,

As you know we are knee deep in landscaping/concrete. We don't do the maintenance.

Yes, your average customer on a new home will spend approximately 45-85k on landscaping. Some of our jobs tilted at 375k....I posted some pics of that job last year on TGS (Tennis court, pool, a ton of concrete, putting greens and etc)

Can landscaping and power washing co-exist? Yes. It needs to be managed. We stepped away from playing in water last year as we focused on building something with our landscaping business but are diving back into the power washing part late '07 or early '08.....

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

The thing that makes me reluctant is the near drought stages we endure here and how much slower the grass grows during these times which can be unpredictable and lengthy.

We went on the diversify tangent a while back and decided our service was becoming diluted to the point of detriment in quality so we backed off and regained our focus and now we are doing much better as a result.

There is some wisdom in being a specialist instead of a jack of all trades mastering none. Not saying it can't work either way, but for some like us, it helps to have a field of specialty. In our case: Wood

Rod!~

[John T 744]

Rod,

I can't argue that point. Specializing is a great way to go in business. What I'm looking for is to add more guys and to remove myself more and more from the physical end and to do this I need continous work and alot of it.

My eventual goal is to have a few services that my business offers besides just powerwashing. Office cleaning and carpet cleaning could be even more add ons down the road.

As for now I just purchased my first dump truck (Yesterday) and soon I will be getting a couple of Wright Stander mowers with the other items needed to maintain acres of lawns and gardens.

When I pick up this truck this week I'll post pictures of it. Its a beaut and its my favorite color--RED

[Big Bill 14]

John,

Since you like buying equipment, this is what you need for landscape maintenance biz

Landscaping Truck, Landscape Truck, Landscape Truck System, Custom Landscape Trucks - Super Lawn Trucks

I definitely see one in my near future

By the way, wanna buy a Bobcat skid steer loader ? 2005, S300 w/ trailer, grapple, bucket, < 250 hours

[newlook 265]

That truck in the link is in the most recent edition of Turf magazine - page A6

You can store about 30 different landscape tools in it along with some blowers and mowers.

Hey Bill....whats the price on the Bobcat?

[PRESSURE PACKED 14]

Landsaping,,,,,how About Dog Crap Removal I Have Seen An Ad For As Much As 329.00 Per Month..can You Say Low Start Up Cost

[PRESSURE PACKED 14]

HERE IS THE SITE

U Lucky Dog Mission Statement

[newlook 265]

Doggy crap clean up is a business. There is a company out here in the Bay Area that does it.....whatever it takes I guess! :)

[John T 744]

"Poop B Gone" Home- Poop B Gone - Pet Waste Removal Service Serving Nassau & Suffolk Counties Long Island, NY. We're number one in cleaning number two. is a big business over here. The company has a bunch of trucks. Talk about a nasty business. Things we do for the almighty buck...

[Big Bill 14]

That truck in the link is in the most recent edition of Turf magazine - page A6

You can store about 30 different landscape tools in it along with some blowers and mowers.

Hey Bill....whats the price on the Bobcat?

Carlos - I have it listed for 40 k right now