The problem isn't getting the business. The problem is KEEPING the business.
Been there. Done that.
And I have been there.
@Johnny boy, I know the biz, and I know the 'systems'. And I know your market.
My lawn care business ranged from University Place, Lakewood, Puyallup, and Tacoma.
I ran it for years. I ended up selling it, for several reasons.
First and foremost was labor. It is tough to keep good or great help. Anyone that learns enough to figure out how to mow a lawn(and believe me, it is an art) will try to do it themselves as it is so easy to get customers (keeping them is another thing). Anyone, that has smarts will realize that a mower, a blower, weedeater and edger is all it takes to 'mow and blow'
Heck, I started out in a Honda Civic with an electric hedge trimmer in Tacoma and from there built a small landscaping/lawn maintenance business in 2 years. It paid the bills.
But I didn't get rich either.
Why?
Low barrier of entry and weather. Mowing in the wet sucks.
Big time.
Labor hates it. Slows the work down to a snails pace. No one likes the rain. And the help are no different.
Again, no problem getting the jobs.
But the jobs are not the business.
The help (labor) is.
And of course, as you scale, the weather in your neck of the woods affects everything.
I know on paper it 'works'.
I know on a bright, beautiful August day running a mower around a house on Lake Steilacoom, with the Cascades in the distance or Ranier is awesome, and great.
Been there.
If you want to make this work, it has got to work for everyone.
Otherwise, you will constantly be fighting a revolving door of employees. Good help is hard to keep.
Show how you will be able to 'man' the job rather than get the job could make all the difference.
Not trying to throw a wrench in your fire, but if it was as easy as it sounded, there wouldn't be a need to ask for investors.
They would be finding you.
Make it extraordinarily good for your employees, and you will most likely have a winner.
Think about McD'ds, Burger King, and most of your franchises have in common?
Processes.
Ok. no problem. So they got the processes down.
Great.
Their biggest problem?
Keeping labor.
Anybody can flip a burger.
Or mow a lawn.
Retaining them is a whole 'nother story....
If you are talking to investors that have an inkling of the biz, they will understand that.
Create a business plan (VISION) that shows WHY the employees want to stay and you just might sell it to those that understand the business enough to invest.
Good luck!
Been there. Done that.
And I have been there.
@Johnny boy, I know the biz, and I know the 'systems'. And I know your market.
My lawn care business ranged from University Place, Lakewood, Puyallup, and Tacoma.
I ran it for years. I ended up selling it, for several reasons.
First and foremost was labor. It is tough to keep good or great help. Anyone that learns enough to figure out how to mow a lawn(and believe me, it is an art) will try to do it themselves as it is so easy to get customers (keeping them is another thing). Anyone, that has smarts will realize that a mower, a blower, weedeater and edger is all it takes to 'mow and blow'
Heck, I started out in a Honda Civic with an electric hedge trimmer in Tacoma and from there built a small landscaping/lawn maintenance business in 2 years. It paid the bills.
But I didn't get rich either.
Why?
Low barrier of entry and weather. Mowing in the wet sucks.
Big time.
Labor hates it. Slows the work down to a snails pace. No one likes the rain. And the help are no different.
Again, no problem getting the jobs.
But the jobs are not the business.
The help (labor) is.
And of course, as you scale, the weather in your neck of the woods affects everything.
I know on paper it 'works'.
I know on a bright, beautiful August day running a mower around a house on Lake Steilacoom, with the Cascades in the distance or Ranier is awesome, and great.
Been there.
If you want to make this work, it has got to work for everyone.
Otherwise, you will constantly be fighting a revolving door of employees. Good help is hard to keep.
Show how you will be able to 'man' the job rather than get the job could make all the difference.
Not trying to throw a wrench in your fire, but if it was as easy as it sounded, there wouldn't be a need to ask for investors.
They would be finding you.
Make it extraordinarily good for your employees, and you will most likely have a winner.
Think about McD'ds, Burger King, and most of your franchises have in common?
Processes.
Ok. no problem. So they got the processes down.
Great.
Their biggest problem?
Keeping labor.
Anybody can flip a burger.
Or mow a lawn.
Retaining them is a whole 'nother story....
If you are talking to investors that have an inkling of the biz, they will understand that.
Create a business plan (VISION) that shows WHY the employees want to stay and you just might sell it to those that understand the business enough to invest.
Good luck!