The coronavirus, COVID-19, has had a significant impact on people and businesses around the world. There are over nine million cases and counting around the world, and companies have had to change the way they operate to keep everyone safe. 

Crewcut is no exception, and franchise owners have been doing everything in their power to offer a safe and contactless service for all customers across the country. 

As New Zealand transitioned through Alert Levels, Crewcut adapted its procedures to suit. Below, you can read more about what your local Crewcut lawn care service provider did (and is doing) to keep you and your loved ones safe. 

Lawn Care Service Preparation

Before your lawn care specialist visited your property, they went through a ‘preparation’ phase. This included cleaning, preparing, and sanitising their tools and machinery. They also wore general PPE and carried hand sanitiser, antibacterial soap, sanitising wipes, or paper towels. In their vehicles, they would also make sure they had a container or rubbish bag to dispose of personal waste.

Before arriving on-site, most customers would have been contacted by their lawn care provider to advise of safe distancing requirements and a request for the removal of toys and garden furniture from the area being tended to. Those who previously paid cash would have also arranged for an alternative payment method. 

Getting Lawn Care Underway

During the Alert Levels, where lawn care operators were allowed to get back to work, several safety protocols were put in place to keep them and their customers safe. Social distancing was the most significant of all, with a two-metre gap required between customers and lawn care crew at all times. 

Sanitising machinery and hands, and keeping vehicles tidy was also paramount, as was communicating with customers digitally and sanitising all forms of eyewear and hearing protection before and after use.

Lawn Care Crew Traceability

During Alert Levels two and three, contact tracing was essential. Even as the country transitioned into Alert Level 1, being able to identify where you had been was of the utmost importance.

Crewcut abided by all contact tracing requirements, which included filling out a daily run sheet. On it, they would detail the client’s address, the time they arrived and left, their stop locations, and any additional relevant information. 

A lovely Crewcut Whangarei customer welcoming the crew back into her property

Work Instruction

Crewcut lawn care operators have always abided by strict work instructions to keep themselves and others safe. They fill out hazard sheets and label all possible dangers and hazards on a scale. COVID-19 became a new addition to that work instruction, which meant new control measures were in place.

If a lawn care service provider had any symptoms of COVID-19, they must self-isolate for the government-recommended period and undertake COVID-19 testing.

Keeping Customers Informed

The coronavirus took the world by surprise, which meant that new rules, regulations, and recommendations had to be rolled out at lightning speed. Crewcut did everything within its power to keep its customers updated with the most relevant and up to date information.

They did this largely through e-newsletters, blog posts, and social media. These platforms had information outlining what lawn care customers could expect at various Alert Levels. In blog posts, customers were also able to access information on the safety procedures that were put in place.

Lawn Care in a Post-COVID World

New Zealand is at Alert Level 1. According to the New Zealand Government, this means the disease has been contained in New Zealand. Schools and workplaces are open and must operate safely, and there are no restrictions on personal movement.

However, the Crewcut team is still making sure they can keep their workers and customers safe. They are maintaining a record of where they have been, and are staying home if they are sick and report flu-like symptoms.

As a valued customer, you can keep our team safe, too. Let us know if anyone in your household is self-isolating, in quarantine, or have flu-like symptoms. Help us to help you.

It can be a complex enough process to buy a lawnmower for your own lawns but spare a thought for lawn care business owners who have to buy them for everyone’s.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to buying the best lawn mower, nor is there any specific brand or model that will suit everyone. However, there are steps you can take to ensure you’re buying the best one to suit you, leading to a far more comfortable and profitable lawn mowing process.

If the time has come to replace your rusty old rotary for some top-notch equipment, read on. Here are some of the many considerations to make.

Push vs. self-propelled vs. ride on

Every lawn care professional has their preference. Some people swear by push mowers for getting the job done, but others love the luxury and easy-care approach of the self-propelled mower. Many lawn mowing business owners also purchase both ride-on and push mowers to ensure they cater for all their clients appropriately.

Ride-on lawnmowers, while a more significant investment, can often tackle lawns in far less time than that of a push mower. However, some business owners with smaller lawns on their books may not see the need for them. The decision to buy a push mower, self-propelled or a ride-on one can often be a personal preference.

Purchase price

The initial outlay can be quite an essential consideration for business owners looking to get into lawn care, or who are upgrading their equipment. Expensive doesn’t always mean better, but cheap doesn’t always mean value. It’s crucial to strike a healthy balance between quality and value.

Read reviews on the best lawn mowers for sale, and even talk to other lawn care experts in your area. You may also find that at certain times of the year, yard care businesses offer great deals on mowers – or can do if you ask nicely. For example, Husqvarna offers discounts for Crewcut operators – something they value immensely.

Maintenance

You would be surprised at how vital maintenance is when it comes to choosing the best lawn mower for your business – or even in any other industry like cleaning. Think about your preferences and expectations as a business owner. Do you want maintenance to be fast and easy? Or, do you want it to take forever and use up all your free time? The answer seems obvious.

Many lawn care business operators prefer to carry out their own maintenance for cost-effectiveness and convenience. You can head home after a day of lawn care, check the oil and filter, sharpen the blade, and change the spark plug – and all for a fraction of what a servicing agent would charge.

However, time-poor lawn care workers may also see the value in taking their mower to a reputable servicing agent. Some lawn mowing business owners with cumbersome ride-on mowers may prefer this option.

Ultimately, maintenance is a personal choice, but some mowers make it easier than others. Think about how much time you will have to spare, and whether this consideration is one that could help you decide between different mower brands.

The most important thing to know, however, is maintenance – regardless of you do it - is crucial. A decent mower can last around a decade, but a poorly maintained one can fail in half the time.

Comfort

During the warmer months of the year, grass growth is phenomenal. The mixture of warmer weather and rainfall means that a lawn care expert’s calendar is full even before the month has begun. With such long hours ahead, it’s important to consider comfort as one of the primary considerations of buying a lawnmower. Does the one you’re looking to buy promote it?

Many things can factor in comfort. Is the body of your mower lightweight and nimble? Plastic frames of mowers, like those from Victa, are often a preference for lawn care experts. Even something as simple as the handle angle and padding and the wheel height can also be enough to make or break your lawnmower purchasing decision.

Ride-on mower comfort is even more critical, especially as you will be sitting down. Where possible, sit on the seat of the display model in your local lawn care equipment store and reach for the controls you will use often. You can then get an idea for how your body will be positioned as you mow.

Performance

Last, but not least, performance. An ill-performing mower can cost you money. As a lawn care professional, you can find yourself faced with long, soggy lawns, challenging terrain, obstacles, and all manner of tricky conditions. A mower that can’t handle those will not last the distance.

Engine capabilities also differ dramatically from one brand to the next – with overhead valves, side engine valves, and direct overhead valves just a few of the many components that matter a lot.

An overhead-valve, for example, promotes fuel efficiency and a quieter engine, but it’s also not the most cost-effective option on the market. Choose a mower that promotes value for money, but also fosters power where it matters the most.

Put your money where the mower is

It’s time to put your money where the mower is. Don’t put up with a poorly-performing push mower or a rusty ride-on anymore. Think about your comfort, price point, and power requirements, then consult your nearest mower and machinery store. You can then enter a new season of mowing with some of the best tools for the job.

For the most part, providing a lawn care service is reasonably straightforward. You build up your client base with a myriad of different marketing techniques, then give the service you advertised – and to a high standard.

But there is a formal part in between, and it involves a contract. Are you aware of how to create a lawn and gardening plan that works for you and your client? Read on to learn more about lawn and garden maintenance contracts, and much more.

Services

One of the most important things to include on a lawn and gardening plan or contract is the type of services you offer and the ones you are providing for a particular customer.  

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Lawn and garden services could include:

• Lawn mowing

• Hedge trimming

• Tree pruning

• Garden tidy-ups

• Leaf raking and removal

• Dead-heading plants

• Weed spraying

• Water blasting

• Green waste removal

• And more…

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Alongside the list of services, it’s also helpful to include a tick-box for the frequency of those services, such as weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or as required.

Some lawn care service providers go above and beyond for specific long-term, loyal clients, which might include the offering of services outside what you usually offer. In that case, your lawn and gardening plan could also include a blank area to write a one-off or custom services, such as fence painting or gutter clearing.

Writing down the start and finish date of those services on the contract can also clear up any possible confusion in the future.

Data entry information

To be the best lawn care service provider you can be, you need to run your business like a well-oiled machine. A filing and accounting system are crucial. All information you put on your lawn and garden maintenance contracts should align with payment information in that filing system.

Therefore, don’t forget to write out the customer’s name in full, their address, and give them a client number. You can then match that client number to payment and customer information in your online systems.

Lawn particulars

Even the best lawn mowing professional in New Zealand is not going to remember every single past and present customer’s yard. One patch of grass easily blends into another. When you are filling out a new lawn and garden maintenance contract, make sure you include the land size and any noteworthy points about the terrain.

Write down whether the section is sloping, rocky, hard on lawnmower blades, or has challenging parts that you will need to remember. You can then bring that information up for future lawn mowing jobs you take on with them. The more information you can squeeze into your plan, the fewer surprises you will come across.

Timing and frequency

We briefly touched on adding a tick-box for frequency in services, but some lawn contract service providers may see the need for more in-depth information. Some customers have unique requirements for how and when they want lawn and gardening services. The frequency of lawn care may increase over the warmer months, but the service type may change over the colder months of the year.

Be as detailed as possible to avoid any confusion and misconceptions from you or your customers in the future. This part of the contract also offers an opportunity for you to upsell your services. For example, you may not mow someone’s lawn at all over winter, but you can visit their property the same number of times to take care of moss, leaves, or any other winter-related problems.

What should your lawn and garden maintenance contract look like?

Your maintenance contract can be as detailed or as basic as you want it to be, but it should also be professional. Consider the use of your business branding on it, and clear, spacious areas for a lot – or a little – amount of writing.  

For durability, it also helps if you use a thicker paper, or at least carefully weigh up your stock options for the sake of presentation and longevity. Even the sizing matters, because a contract should be easy to file, but not easy to lose.

Benefits of lawn mowing service contracts vs. one-off services

Many people get in touch with lawn care service providers looking for the cost of one-off lawn mowing. They might not have time to tackle the lawns at a particular time, or they might be too hard for their lawnmower to handle at a certain stage of growth.

For a customer, a one-off lawn mowing service can seem like the easier answer, but they may just not see the value, yet, in a contract service. If you offer a one-off mowing service, have a chat with the client about their options for ongoing contract lawn mowing services. If they know that you will turn up on a set day or a fixed part of the month and they never have to worry about their lawns again, then they may be signing on the dotted line quicker than you think.

There is no single reason why people get involved in lawn care or start their own lawn care business. They might decide they’re tired of working for other people, or they desire flexibility with their working hours. Whatever the reason, the benefits are often immediately apparent. 

You get to start and finish when you like, build up a customer base that works for you, and dabble in different lawn care services that suit your abilities and passions. It doesn’t get much better than that.

But one thing you may not have anticipated was having to know a little bit about marketing. Never fear, for it is not as challenging as it sounds.

Marketing is about ensuring your service is as desirable to your target market as possible. It’s about advertising in all the right places, knowing what works and what doesn’t, and making sure your lawn care service is front and centre.

If the time has come to work on lawn care marketing strategies in your business, then read on. Here are a few of the many things that could work for you.

Embracing social media

It might go against every fibre in your being, but an excellent lawn care marketing strategy is social media. By 2021, there will be over three billion people on platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. Go where the people are, and you can reach a far wider audience than if you stuck with more traditional marketing methods alone.

Setting up a website

In this day and age, most people don’t thumb through the phonebook for the number of a lawn care service provider. Instead, they browse the internet, find one that works in their area and looks appealing, and get in touch via the website, email, or, often, as a last resort, phone.

Having a website can ensure that you are reaching your target market. There are plenty of content management system-style websites that allow you to build and edit the website yourself. You can also hire someone to create one for you. Once your website foundation is made, you can fill it with the information that people want to know.

Answer frequently asked questions such as:

1. How much does lawn mowing services cost?

2. What services does someone in lawn care offer?

3. What’s the average cost of gardening, lawn mowing, or hedge trimming?

The more information you can provide, the more likely you can appeal to those who are asking those exact questions.

Paper still works

The digital age may have considerably decreased the need for mail-outs and pamphlets, but this once-thriving advertising avenue is not dead in the water yet. In fact, for lawn care service providers, it’s an effective medium for getting your name out there.

Everyone checks their mailbox, and many people require lawn mowing, tree trimming, hedge pruning, and general section tidy-ups. All it takes is for your service and that need to combine, and you’ve now got a new customer on your books. Don’t underestimate the value of this marketing strategy.

Upselling

Someone contacts you to mow their lawns as a one-off. You go out there, do the job, and leave feeling satisfied that you earned your money’s worth. But did that customer have more needs than they knew about? Does it really just have to be a one-off?

Always head to a one-off job with the idea that it could be more than that. Take business cards with you, offer incentives to commit to ongoing lawn care services, and show them the value of your work. Upselling is one of the best lawn care marketing strategies to have up your sleeve.

Google

When you start in lawn care, it’s paramount to be seen online. Remember to claim your Google Business listing so that you are easy for people to find and contact. By doing so, you are also actively encouraging people to leave reviews, which you can monitor and from which you can improve your services. Being online is about more than having a website and social media; it’s about engaging with your prospective purchasers and being seen online.

Branding pride

If you want people to trust you, take your lawn care business seriously, and see the value in your services, then take pride in your branding. Ensure your branding is professional, clean, and makes you look approachable. It also helps if you join a franchised lawn care business, as you can fit within the confines of the well-established branding guide. Everything from your uniform to your vehicle can benefit from a bit of branding pride.

Lawn care marketing strategies that work

People love greenery. They love having lawns, gardens, and towering trees that offer shade from the sweltering summer sun. But they also don’t have time to look after them. There will always be a need for lawn care services, but will they be yours? Focus on lawn care marketing strategies that work, and grow your customer base beyond what you may have ever imagined.

Crewcut operators Bruce and Cam Marshall

Crewcut recently embarked on a mission to tidy up the outdoor areas of the Russell Police Station located in 37 The Strand, Russell, Bay of Islands, Northland.

The activity involved landscaping, shrub and hedge trimming, tree work, and laying new garden mulch to generally give the place some good spruce up, perfect and just in time for the coming summer.

Russell Police Station and the adjacent Moreton Bay fig tree

The historic site that houses the police station was designed by W.H. Clayton, the Colonial Architect in the late 1860s.

First occupied in 1870, it served as a custom house until the 1890s and became a police station and residence in the early 1900s.

The adjacent Moreton Bay fig tree (Ficus macrophylla) was planted by the first collector of customs, E.B. Laing who served from 1870 to 1886.

Crewcut understands that the Russell building has a high profile and prominent standing in the community, so project proponent and NZ Facilities Manager Warren Boniface thought it would be a good test subject for expanding the company’s efforts in giving back to the community.

“Upon completing the work, we want it to look fresh so that local community members and tourists or visitors would find it pleasing to the eyes,” Boniface said.

Bruce and Cam working at the Russell Police Station grounds

Our Far North local operator Bruce Marshall has taken a proactive part in this community effort, helping out with planning, coordination, and overseeing the actual work, while his son Cam Marshall provided assistance with the labour required.

Bruce has provided the head office with a list of requirements and constant updates regarding the work done.

It is also worth mentioning that we worked with several local suppliers to deliver the task at hand.

Kyle Lemon of Northland Treeworks, a specialist in tree removal and maintenance, has generously provided us with the bark, while Cathy Pennell from local garden centre and nursery Redwoods Garden Centre was responsible for sponsoring the plants.

Cam Marshall at work

Northland Treeworks / The Old Mill Tree Recyclers

Russell Police Station weeks after the spruce up

We hope that this project encourages and inspires others to give back to the people who are beneficial in providing a sense of security and keeping peace and order in the community.

Work was successfully carried out for the project on the 19th of November 2020.

More details about this story on NZHerald.co.nz.

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Massive thanks to:

for extending their support towards this initiative.

If you love nothing more than tending to your yard, mowing your lawns, and putting in a lot of work for the best-presented property on your street, then have you thought about starting your own lawn care business?

By now, you likely have all the lawn care equipment and expertise you need, and it’s merely a case of going bigger and better and turning your passion into profit. But how do you know where to begin? How easy is starting a lawn care or landscaping business? And what equipment do you need to begin in lawn care anyway?

Whether you’re tired of working for the man, or word of mouth has shown you that lawn mowing businesses are an excellent career choice, read on. You’ll be on your way to offering high-quality lawn services in no time.

Lawn mowers

It goes without saying that lawnmowers are one of the most critical pieces of lawn care equipment for anyone new to the industry. Both ride-on and push mowers can form the foundation of any lawn care expert’s arsenal, and they are going to get put to good use.

However, not any old lawnmower will do. You need one that can handle use in a commercial capacity, and that will be both easy to service, maintain, and repair over its lifetime. Working in lawn care can be a lot of work, so purchase mowers that will allow you to spend more time mowing and less time repairing.

Eric and Nina from Manawatu and their utility trailer

Utility trailers

Whether you’ve decided to open a landscaping business or focus on lawn mowing, you will find that you can’t do your job to the best of your ability without a utility trailer. It needs to house all those accessories and tools of the trade, such as hedge trimmers, rose pruners, digging and cutting tools, and more. 

Without a utility trailer, you can find yourself lifting, pushing, and pulling equipment from high truck beds that may eventually end in accidents or injuries. The simple addition of a single-axle trailer can make a world of difference.

Grass cutting accessories

Riding mowers and push mowers are the bread and butter of any lawn care business equipment package, but they are not all you need when it comes to grass cutting. Think about all those times you had to haul additional equipment out of storage to tend to your own lawns.

Grass that grows around mailboxes or trees is nearly impossible to cut with a standard push mower, but it’s effortless with trimmers and edgers. You can also offer hedge trimming services and seasonal care with the help of blowers and hedge trimmers too.

Put together a business plan that outlines all possible services you may need to offer to benefit your future clientele; then you’ll know what you need to buy.

Service vehicle

Your hatchback may be all you need to zip in and out of traffic and parallel park without stress, but it’s not going to suit your needs once you think about starting a lawn care business. You need something that stands out for all the right reasons – and not because you’ve got a lawnmower strapped to your roof.

Vans and trucks are the most preferred methods of transport for business owners involved in lawn mowing. They are presentable, look great with business signwriting, and are convenient for storage and transportation of all your lawn care business equipment. A vehicle that has plenty of space can also mean that everything has its place and is effortless to access at a moment’s notice.

Safety equipment

Every industry in New Zealand has to abide by strict (and legal) health and safety requirements. Landscaping businesses and those in lawn care are no different. It might be worth a chat to WorkSafe to find out your legal requirements, but also take matters into your own hands too.

Invest in earmuffs, eye protection, steel-capped work boots, and gloves that offer a firm grip and hand protection at the same time. If your lawn care business involves chainsaw work, then ensuring you wear chaps and other recommended chainsaw safety equipment is essential too. Don’t skimp on safety, for your clients rely on you to provide a safe and reliable lawn service.

A smile

It can seem a bit cheesy, but some of the best equipment to get when starting a lawn and garden business is a smile. When you’re starting out, you need to portray yourself as the epitome of professionalism.

You can then enjoy receiving a large volume of clients through word of mouth, purely because you presented yourself as a friendly, reliable, and honest worker who does an excellent job. Repeat business comes not only from a job well done, but how relaxed and at ease you made your customer feel.

Is it time to start looking for small lawn care business equipment?

If mowing your lawns is a pleasure rather than a pain, then a lawn care business might be right up your alley. Fortunately, there are plenty of professional franchises out there that are ready and waiting for passionate people to join their ranks. There’s no harm in looking for what lawn care business equipment you might need before you take the plunge.

Crewcut Franchise Group held its semi-annual national conference last November 30, 2019 at Sudima Hotel in Auckland, providing regional master franchise owners with solid business advice and a general overview of upcoming and ongoing initiatives through a casual day-long gathering.

The conference also provided plenty of time for networking and socialising opportunities for those in attendance.

Catching up with master franchisees

Crewcut Founder and CEO David Serville opened the meeting by facilitating a survey about the status of the business in each of the key regional areas, reminding master franchisees to keep their lawn prices and client lists updated all the time.

It was followed by a detailed marketing track that reiterated what needs to be done in order to keep widening the gap between the brand and its competitors. Crewcut’s overall supremacy in the digital space was also an integral part of the discussion.

Robotic lawn mowers

At midday, the regional masters were also treated to a little excursion to the Husqvarna Group showroom in Mangere to learn about the Automower, a robotic battery-driven mower that trims lawns automatically and quietly during any weather and any time of the day, from brand representative Hayden Ritchie.

Ritchie had a good chat with the Crewcut team about the installation and maintenance costs, servicing, plus safety and security concerns about the Swedish manufacturer’s latest and most technologically advanced product line.

One of the more enjoyable parts of the conference for the entire Crewcut team when they got the chance to see the robotic lawn mower in action. “That’s the future right there,” said one of the master franchisees.

What the future holds for the lawn and garden franchise

Back at the conference venue, there was talk about where the company is headed to in the next few years after earning its ISO 9001 certification. As a lawn and garden business, having this international certification standard means that Crewcut has an efficient management process in place to closely monitor the quality of services it provides to clients.

It also opens the company for continuous improvement, and may highlight shortcomings in order to get them sorted immediately rather than further down the line when it could affect the entire operations and the bottom line.

The discussion was a good exercise in gauging the level of energy and excitement for the future from newer and veteran master franchise owners alike. Hopefully, the optimism shown will also trickle down to the 200 plus Crewcut franchisees all over the country.

Meanwhile, there’s also the matter of health and safety.

Serville reminded the team to remain engaged when it comes to this aspect of the business. When asked about the extra costs of meeting H&S requirements that are usually shouldered by franchisees, the founder had this to say: “Cutting costs is for the powerless. Thinking about increased profitability is for visionaries.”

Recognising a key team member

Before the meeting came to a close, Serville took the time to recognise NZ Facilities Manager Warren Boniface, who is about to go into retirement after being part of the company for 13 years. He credited Boniface for his countless hours of work in helping individual Crewcut franchisees produce outstanding results, among many other immeasurable accomplishments and contributions.

Boniface recalls going in for an interview with Serville on a Saturday, saying he vividly remembers the CEO wearing a trench coat and thinking to himself that he might be working for a rock star. He says he had a colourful career and years of wonderful experiences at Crewcut.

He closed his speech with the practical reminder for everyone to always pay taxes so that senior citizens like him in the near future might benefit from it. “Always pay your taxes,” the visibly flustered manager joked.

Seeing the head office support team and the regional managers come together to celebrate successes and discuss goals for becoming better in the latter half of 2019 and beyond was indeed an incredible experience.

For more information on the Crewcut franchise system, contact us at 0800 800 286 or email info@crewcut.co.nz.

So it's a Friday afternoon and you've just finished mowing your last lawn of the day. Job done: time to put the feet up with a beer, right? Not necessarily.

First, let's get one thing straight - starting a lawn mowing business will absolutely change your life. And almost certainly for the better. Thinking about joining those who have boldly and successfully taken the plunge? You won't regret it. But that doesn't mean it's not an awful lot of hard work - or that the lawn mowing business isn't something that very much needs to match your personality. And that's because it's not just pushing a mower backwards and forwards on the green stuff.

It's going to take a lot of commitment, grit, sacrifices, an open mind and long hours to make it. Yes, buying a lawn mowing franchise is a great and simple way to go into business. But there is no such thing as guaranteed success, especially if you don't prioritise good business administration, the ideals of informed decision making, and tried-and-tested principles such as time management and customer service.

You may be thinking: "Sheesh! Sounds like there's an awful lot to do other than mowing the green stuff!" And you'd be right. But don't panic. It will one day all seem as simple as mowing in a straight line. And you'll be just as good at it, too.

Finished mowing for the day? Here are the other things you might find yourself doing when you run a successful lawn mowing business:

1. Securing finance

You're in luck: buying a lawn mowing franchise is one of the most affordable ways to go into business. And you're in luck again: you'll find it much easier to get that finance to buy a franchise compared to trying your luck with a stand-alone business.

2. Scheduling jobs

When you start that mower engine, it means you're about to tick off another job in the diary. But that job didn't just put itself there - you had to take the order. Not just that, you had to arrange your diary so that there are no clashing commitments. Scheduling management is a key task and skill for any business, but particularly one that relies on an ongoing turnover of clients and jobs.

3. Marketing

One of the great advantages of a franchise business is the support you'll get. And one of the key supports is in brand marketing and advertising. Nonetheless, you'll still want to get your name out there locally, and that may involve using social media, placing ads, making calls, handing out flyers - and more.'

4. Stocking up

Cranking up that mower engine is a key moment, but it relies on so much earlier preparation. You had to research the best equipment to buy. It has to be in tip-top shape. You'll want other gear in the trailer, including safety equipment, tools, and a reliable vehicle to get it all from client to client.

5. Doing maintenance

After a long day at work, you need a good sit down and a beer. But so does your equally hard-working equipment! Most successful lawn mowing franchise owners will do maintenance each and every day, and that means cleaning, repairing, replacing, ordering and checking. Because when you're ready for another long day, the last thing you want to discover is a tired tool at 9am!

6. Staying organised

A successful business is an organised business - it's just that simple. So your office, laptop, printer and business management tools and software are all just as crucial to your lawn mowing franchise as that mower is. You'll probably have separate organisational strands for new, repeat and potential clients, as well as all your marketing, new ideas, research, expenses, income, records, and so on.

7. Handling your logistics

Once you're getting those orders, you'll start to get really good at logistics. For instance, if you find yourself with three orders within two streets of one another, it won't make sense to keep dashing off to the other side of town between those local jobs. A paper monthly planner can help you do this, but there will also be electronic versions on the market that do the job even better.

8. Pleasing your customers

Especially when your franchise is the new kid on the block, taking incredible care of your customer base is the bread and butter of your lawn mowing business. This doesn't just mean perfecting your uniform, presentation and manners, but going above and beyond by doing special promotions and thinking about little gifts, for instance for Christmas.

9. Doing general administration

We said you'd spend time in that office - and we weren't kidding. There will always be phones to answer and calls to return. There will always be invoices to write, payments to process, and tax affairs to manage. You'll be constantly dealing with client complaints, rescheduling due to bad weather, chasing up money, coughing up to suppliers - and regularly reviewing, tweaking and improving in all of these tasks and more.

10. Keep on learning

A particularly awful day of weather is the perfect excuse to catch up on all of those little jobs, like changing the mower spark plugs and washing the business vehicle and trailer. But there's always going to be so much more to do as well. When was the last time you compared your prices to your nearest competitor? When was the last time you looked through the latest equipment catalogues? You may find a great deal on a brilliant new mower that ups your productivity by 10% - and that converts directly into business bucks!

Phew! There's always so much to do! But guess what? There will always be the unexpected to deal with on top of all that! Running a lawn mowing business may not sound like it's all beer and skittles, but it's a super-rewarding way to step free of that restrictive day job and take control of your destiny amid the fresh smell of freshly-cut grass.

Crewcut makes it all seem easy with training, mentoring, branding, marketing and guaranteed income all part of its lawn mowing franchise package, so join the adventure now by calling 0800 800 286. Happy mowing!

If you mow lawns for a living, your love of the green stuff and a willingness to work hard are extremely important. But it won't mean anything at all if you don't have lawns to mow.

So how do you get new customers? It's called marketing.

The Oxford Dictionary defines it as the "action of promoting and selling products or services". But if you've been in the lawn mowing business marketing world for decades and your customer numbers are low or dwindling, you're probably doing that selling wrong.

Goodbye physical marketing

You may be looking at this from the perspective of a lawn mowing business owner, but just for a moment put yourself in your customers' shoes. And when was the last time you actually looked at a flyer for a business and did anything other than bin it?

Back in the day, it used to be all about physical marketing materials including posters, flyers, pamphlets and brochures. And then it used to be about putting on some comfortable shoes and getting them all over town.

But these physical marketing materials, including prime real estate in the Yellow Pages, all now belong in the marketing museum. But don't despair: it's actually great news. Not having to get all of this stuff printed and put about the neighbourhood is going to save you a lot of time and money.

There are other traditional marketing techniques that no longer really work as well.

We're talking about things like:

Telemarketing

Just like doorknocking, people really don't like being bothered at home.

Sure, in days gone by, actively interrupting people used to have approximately a 3 in 100 hit-rate, so it was worth it. But these days, when more effective and less disruptive options are out there, telemarketing is actually more likely to simply damage your reputation.

Spam

If you actively get people to sign up for an email newsletter, that's still great marketing. But spam emails that go out to thousands of random people? It's no longer cutting it in 2018.

But although telemarketing and untargeted spam are examples of more modern and technological marketing options compared to door-knocking and flyers, it's still time to acknowledge that the world has sped ahead much faster than that.

Hello digital marketing!

So while your lawn mower may still be made of actual physical material that exists in the real world, for your marketing to get up-to-date, you're going to have to go digital.

In short, if digital marketing is not yet your bread and butter, you're not giving your lawn mowing business its best possible chance of attracting customers and growing in the long term.

It's also possible that your current approach to digital marketing is already out of date. Studies have shown that your customers already seriously hate things like spam, pop-up banners and obviously fake online reviews.

And just like door-knocking and flyers served lawn mowing businesses for many years, the world of digital marketing is also changing and progressing at a pace that you need to keep up with.

Here are a few super-up-to-date digital media strategies that you really should be using for your lawn mowing business marketing.

1. Up-to-date SEO

Having a website that works both on computers and mobiles may be mandatory, but it also needs to be constantly tweaked in order to keep up with Google's fast-moving and ever-changing search algorithm.

People used to 'stuff' keywords in content to boost their chances of appearing high on those Google searches. But now, those keywords need to be integrated with really high-quality content, and updated at least several times a year to ensure your business is still being found by those who are looking for it.

2. Blogging

As well as having a simple, attractive, useful and mobile-optimised website that is full of the right keywords, you really must consider blogging.

First, the Google algorithms love relevant and valuable content. Secondly, when you link that content to your social media profiles, your customers will love your valuable content too. Digital marketing experts agree that customers will feel a lot more positive about your business if your marketing material is actually interesting, compared to stuff they consider to be mere 'advertising'.

3. Social media

We mentioned social media in #2, but it more than deserves its own heading here. In fact, it equally could be #1.

All of your social media profiles are just as important as the last, and together they are probably your most powerful marketing tool. Social media allows you to share content that your target audience really wants, and then gives you the ability to actually engage with them through conversation. An awful lot of enquiries are also going to come via your social media channels, so if you're not prioritising it, you're definitely missing a serious trick.

4. Google My Business

Don't get us wrong - pay per click advertising is still worthwhile, and the targeting and analytical power of things like Google AdWords and Facebook advertising will feed you back a lot of valuable information.

But for a local business like your lawn mowing franchise, there is something even more powerful. It's called Google My Business. Basically, it's a business listing that will come up pretty much first when your customers are searching for a lawn mowing service near them. If yours is ranking prominently, you'll be getting a lot of business without spending a single cent on paid advertising.

5. Online reviews

Online reviews are worth their weight in gold - if you do them right. For instance, if someone stumbles upon your reviews section and everything is five stars with generic comments like 'Awesome!' and 'Love this business', your customers are going to be rightly suspicious.

Real word-of-mouth and actual recommendations are still incredibly powerful for your business, and genuine online reviews are just the modern version. A huge 90% of your customers will have checked out your reviews at various places before booking, because they feel like an actual person giving an honest opinion is worth so much more than a shiny ad.

But those reviews do have to be real. In fact, you may get more value from a negative review that you dealt with swiftly, deftly and honestly than you would have if you had just deleted it.

Final thoughts

This may be where we leave our article today, but that doesn't mean it's where your modern marketing journey ends. In reality, the different ways to grow, promote and monetise your lawn mowing business through modern marketing are almost endless - which is why we're here to help! Crewcut offers a ready-to-go option for those seeking a new start as a lawn mowing entrepreneur, including training, mentoring and (you guessed it) modern marketing support. We have a lawn mowing business for sale just for you, so get in touch today on 0800 800 286.

Whether you run a big or small business, you need to have your eye on digital trends. All age groups are now looking online to find their next service professionals, from lawn care to maintenance. If you’re not online, you’re not being found by your next customers.

Unfortunately, many small business owners make the mistake of thinking digital marketing is better left to the big-name businesses. There are simply too many trends to keep up with, to much to learn, and it’s not necessary for your day-to-day success. In reality, these are all myths that hold your business back.

In 2017, 46% of all Google searches were local searches. This means that your customers are out there searching for businesses in their area. While things like newspaper ads and radio segments might have worked 10 years ago, times are changing. Now, you need your business to be online if you want to be visible. Here’s why digital trends are essential to small businesses.

Image via Pexels

The Value of Digital Trends

Many small business owners are used to the way things “used to be.” They remember when word-of-mouth was their biggest source of new customers, and if they wanted more attention they’d invest in a print ad. While this was an excellent strategy a decade ago, it’s time to invest in something else.

Digital trends are shaping our world. For example, users are spending 69% of their media time on their smartphone. That’s a lot of scrolling through social media, watching videos, and visiting websites. How have you positioned your website? Do you even have a website? These questions are key today.

Maybe you do have a website. Maybe you’ve invested good time in making sure your website functions and looks nice. Beyond that, you didn’t think you needed to do anything else. While that’s an excellent first step, it can’t be your only step. The digital world moves fast. Having a website was a great way to get noticed a few years ago, especially if other local businesses didn’t have a quality website. However, today that’s just the expectation.

Social media platforms come and go. New ones gain popularity. Algorithms change. Suddenly, what worked before doesn’t work anymore. That’s why following digital trends is the only way to notice any improvement in your marketing.

Image via Pexels

Following a Digital Marketing Strategy

Keeping up with digital trends can be a big task. It’s important for your business to have a digital marketing strategy in place. It can be easy to become overwhelmed. But there are few things you’ll want to make sure you’re covering.

Set clear goals for what you want to accomplish, but be realistic. Here are some key focus areas that matter for small businesses:

• Responsive Website Design - Your website needs to look like it’s designed for this century. If it’s not mobile responsive, you’re losing customers. Use a template or work with a professional web developer to ensure everything looks perfect before you publish.

• Geotargeting - When creating ads whether you’re on Facebook or Google, use geotargeting tools. This means you can target consumers who live near your business.

• Video Content - Nowadays, video is becoming more powerful than written content. Showcase your best customer stories via video on social media and your website to establish trust with potential customers.

• Analyze - Nothing will work perfectly upon the first try. Be willing to analyze your marketing results, make some changes, and try again. Eventually, you’ll find the winning formula.

As you can see, it’s essential you dedicate your time to finding the right digital marketing strategy. Using a timeclock software trial you can track just how much time you’re spending on your new digital marketing. But digital trends will come and go, and you need to build a business that stands the test of time. Crewcut has it’s own internal marketing department that is dedicated to helping you grow and develop your business.

As your lawn mowing business is all about making those gardens and lawns look amazing, exactly what lawn mowing equipment you use is not all that important. Right?

Wrong! Your lawn mowing equipment is just as important as your lawn mowing technique. And as your old gas guzzler has served you well, why bother making the switch?

Before you say 'No way!' to electric, consider this for a moment: you may already have some awesome electric equipment in your toolbox or trailer. We're talking things like rechargeable weed and hedge trimmers - and they certainly do the job well enough!

So before we proceed much further, consider some of these obvious 'pros' of making the switch to electric for all of your lawn mowing equipment:

1. Zero emissions

Climate change is a big topic, and it's a great boast to be able to put 'zero emissions' on your lawn mowing business CV. One study showed that an hour at work with a petrol mower pollutes the planet just as much as a 160km car trip.

2. No maintenance

Just like your other petrol equipment including your car, there's always maintenance to do. But electric equipment involves basically NO maintenance or upkeep, so you can forget all about changing those spark plugs, fuel filters and oil.

3. No fuel

Save time and money at the petrol station, save space in your trailer, and make your job a little safer by no longer lugging around fuel tanks.

For a lawn mowing business that is going to get plenty of use from that slightly higher investment, cutting out those ongoing fuel costs is going to save you in the longer run - especially as fuel costs just seem to rise and rise.

4. Quieter

As well as reducing air pollution, electric lawn mowers are an awful lot quieter - which is good for your ears, as well as the local neighbourhood's! Check out this comparison on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZoeeKPFovc

5. Light

Anyone who has tried to get a petrol mower up and down stairs knows how heavy they can be. Electric mowers definitely are lighter, but the difference actually isn't huge.

6. Easy

Forget all about breaking a sweat while you crank a petrol engine - electric equipment is an easy as the push of a button.

Sounds good, right? But before you grab your keys and head out to buy a brand new electric lawn mower for your business, it's important to look at this very important decision from some other angles.

That's because while an electric lawn mower may be powered by electricity, it's not magic! There are some 'cons' to seriously consider, too!

1. The pesky cord

There are a few types of electric lawn mower on the market, and you'll definitely want to dodge the ones that plug straight into the power. Running over the cord will not be fun, and getting tangled up or finding that your extension lead is not long enough is a real pain, too.

2. The initial cost

For a lawn mowing business that is always busily counting its up-front costs, it may be difficult to justify the slightly higher price-tag compared to a conventional petrol mower.

3. The battery

And because you can't afford to sputter to a halt halfway through a job, you'll need at least one (expensive) spare battery in the trailer. Make sure you know exactly how long a single charge will last, as you can't tell clients that they need to wait when a simple re-fill of fuel would have done the job a lot better.

3. Less power

As a lawn mowing business, you need a lawn mower that really packs some punch. And while the salespeople will tell you all about that impressive voltage, it can be harder to know what the actual power will be compared to your petrol equipment.

The truth is, electric lawn mowers are not as powerful, the torque numbers are not as impressive, and the all-important cutting width is normally narrower.

4. Harder to fix

If your petrol mower stops working, the mechanically-minded among you will probably pull out the spanner. But because electric equipment is usually completely sealed, a major problem will almost certainly mean visiting the shop - possibly for a brand new mower.

Electric or petrol? Time for the verdict!

So we've weight up the pros and cons - it's now time to think about whether electric or petrol equipment is right for you.

If you were a normal homeowner with a couple of simple patches of lawn and you were currently on the market for a new mower, this might be a total no-brainer - electric mowers are simple, easy, not hugely more expensive and a perfect way to boost your low-emissions credentials. And when that battery runs out after a few mows over several weeks, it's no big deal to plug it in and go and do the housework.

But it's a much more difficult decision for a lawn mowing business.

Without a doubt, electric lawn mowers do the job - and it's probably the technology of the future for an industry that dates all the way back to the 1830s. And in a highly competitive market like lawn mowing, any 'green' marketing edge would be really handy.

But above all else, you really need your lawn mowing equipment to work BRILLIANTLY well. And an honest assessment of electric vs petrol lawn mowers will probably tell you that a powerful petrol mower that you can maintain and repair over time, and fill with fuel as needed when you run out, is the best answer for a lawn mowing business. While the electric market is still developing, there are so many different types of petrol mowers on the market that you will definitely find something that is perfect for a supercharged lawn mowing business.

So there's no denying that, in the lawn mowing world, petrol equipment is still King - and, as a business, that's going to be something that is hard to ignore. But that's not to say that petrol is definitely 'better' than electric. As long as you're getting the job done, at the end of the day it's totally up to you. Electric equipment is constantly getting more powerful, with beefier batteries and a raft of impressive performance-enhancing goodies. But some believe it's an attempt to fill an unnecessary gap in the market and will ultimately fall flat.

What do you think? Is it worth taking a punt on electric? Good luck with your choice, and happy mowing!

We're sorry to break it to you, but if you were born between 1980 and 2000, chances are you're a member of that special class of avocado-eating, selfie-taking, brunch-loving Millennials. And like many of your brethren, you may be seeking something to do with your life that's a little more fulfilling than your ordinary day job.

Unfortunately, for many of these Instagram-your-lunch types, business ownership seems out of reach. Even so, here's a fascinating phenomenon: Millennials are snapping franchises at an astronomical rate.

Indeed, the International Franchise Association claims that almost 75% of all Millennials list entrepreneurialism as a key aspiration. And here at Crewcut, we couldn't agree more that being under 30 in 2018 gives you the perfect set of skills and values for making a franchise succeed.

Forbes claims that a staggering 72% of all Millennials want to be their own boss. Why? Because they're not afraid to tell you what they want. They don't want to just sit at a desk. They see the big picture and are powered by technology.

And there are so many other reasons why the Millennial is the absolutely perfect candidate for owning and running a lawn mowing franchise:

Why?

1. Fresh thinking

Whether it's an opinion about the new iPhone or a cool way to make mowing lawns easier, Millennials certainly bring fresh thinking to the table.

These values are powered by the Millennials' desire to live rather than let work dictate life, which means a range of fresh strategies to make opportunities come to life whilst having fun at the same time.

2. Ready for change

As the world so obviously changes, so too does the Millennial.

In fact, the world has changed from the previous generation to the current one so radically that the Millennial is fairly well placed to embrace brand new thinking. We've gone from pre-internet to online gaming, and landlines to a smartphone in the hand of every toddler. But the job market is changing hugely as well, meaning the Millennial is ready for anything and primed for multi-tasking and rapid adaptation.

3. Technology savvy

If there's one main difference between the Millennial generation and the one that preceded it, it's technology.

In short, Millennials were raised with technology from the cradle, and they embraced it with relish. When transferred to the world of lawn mowing franchise ownership, one thing is certain: the Millennial lawn mowing King or Queen won't let even rapid technology changes leave them behind.

Read more → Be found on Google with a Crewcut franchise

4. Social media as King

Ok, so running a lawn mowing franchise is mainly about mowing. And that seems to have little to do with the Millennials' love affair with texting and Instagram-ing

But social media savvy will actually come in very handy for the Millennial lawn mowing entrepreneur. Filming, creating, hashtagging and sharing work with the community will be easy-peasy, giving the Millennial a big marketing head-start over the Baby Boomer competitor.

5. Youth beats experience

'Youth beats experience' may seem the wrong way around, but let's face it: mowing lawns is hard. Mowing 8 lawns a day is even harder. And it's going to be a lot easier for a 20-something compared to a more-than-20-something.

Fit, active and with minimal health issues, it's the perfect stage of life for a Millennial to get out and active and soaking up that vitamin D with a lawn mower. We've known lawn care business owners who reported walking 25-30km a day during the summer months - and only a Millennial's latest Fitbit watch is equipped for that sort of workout!

6. Work, earn, invest

One of the secrets of achieving wealth independence later in life is to start as soon as possible.

This fact alone gives Millennials a hefty head-start when it comes to taking on the responsibility of business ownership - with the protection of an established franchise brand and the willingness to work hard, save and invest for the long-term as key factors on top. The younger you are, the less responsibilities you have other than earning, learning and aiming high for the future. The cost of living and home ownership is sky-high for the Millennial, but a Crewcut franchise owner is almost guaranteed more than industry standard earnings.

7. Mission independence

When the Millennial's parents grew up, they were still on the trajectory of 'one life, one career'.

But as the global financial crisis demonstrated a decade ago, the Millennial knows they cannot rely on the promises of the past, which makes them ready for financial confidence and independence, and primed to take that bold step into business ownership. In fact, 75% of the top 2000 high-earning Millennials said they had a hunch they'd make it big as entrepreneurs

8. World-changing ambition

Ask a Millennial what they'd like to see, and they'll think big: like ushering in the dawn of renewable energy, and solving the catastrophic predictions of climate change.

It means the Millennial really wants to make a difference and leave the world in better shape than they found it - and they are prepared to think big and outside the box to achieve it, whilst not shying away from a hard day's work.

9. Creativity

Even amid all of that youthful angst, no generation is as creative as the Millennial one.

Finding a stable job is one particular worry, which makes creating and crafting and perfecting a job that is entirely under their control particularly attractive. The Millennial hasn't given up on the idea of the 'dream job' - they're just more likely to create it for themselves than hope it is given to them.

10. Forget 9-5

Once upon a time, the young people of the world got ahead because they were going to work 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday, 9 through 5.

But as the world slowly phases out that sort of job structure, the Millennial seems completely ready to take control of their own diary. They don't mind working hard, but the Millennial lifestyle is important too - and owning a franchise is a unique way to design a work itinerary with the flexibility they seek.

The bottom line? The lawn mowing franchise business seems like a match made in heaven for the Millennial. Are you a young, motivated and ambitious up-start who is ready to take the plunge but not sure quite where to begin? Give the Crewcut team a call today on 0800 800 286.

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The lawn mowing industry in New Zealand is not just healthy, it's growing and it's thriving.  And it's no surprise.  It's a great way to get out into the sun, smell freshly cut grass and roses, listen to the birds, and free yourself from 'the boss'.

 

But before you roll up your sleeves, there's an obvious question to answer: Should I buy a franchise?

If you don't think that's a big question to ask, think again.  Going it alone or shopping around for a great franchise is probably the most fundamental thing to consider up front. The answer is more complicated.  It depends on your finances, your targets, your skills, experience and confidence.

But if going it alone sounds a bit scarier than picking a franchise model off the shelf, you've probably made a wise and yet still bold and courageous step into the world of lawn mowing.  Quite simply, the rate of success is higher for those who buy into a NZ franchise compared to those who start a whole new start-up brand and business themselves.

As for who to pick, there are plenty of options to choose from. We're not going to tell you who to go for, but there are definitely plenty of questions you can ask as you mow your way towards an answer that works for you.

Here are 10 of the best questions to ask before you choose a lawn mowing franchise:

 

1. How much does it cost?

Just like if you're buying a new pair of shoes, you can't ignore that ticket price.  And the price can vary wildly.

But it's also important to recognise that the ticket price isn't everything.  There may be fees, commissions, marketing and administration costs, call centre referral fees, and more - so make sure they're all known, understood and weighed up.

2. Does a franchise appeal to me?

You may whittle your selection down to a short list, but that doesn't mean that your cold calculations need to rule you.  Is there an option that just appeals to you emotionally?  Does the brand match your personality?

They can be key questions that ultimately determine the success of your lawn mowing business escapade.

Read more → Why a lawn mowing franchise beats going independent

 

3. Is your favourite franchise experienced?

With more and more franchise brands on the market in New Zealand, it's important to consider something that is extremely important - do they really know what they're doing?

Peace of mind is crucial when buying a lawn mowing franchise, because while it may seem simple, the lawn care industry is anything but simple.  So if the brand's knowledge and experience match up to their business name, you could be onto a winner.

Not tooting our horn, but Crewcut is one of the most established lawn mowing franchises in New Zealand. We've been looking after Kiwi backyards for over 25 years - with that comes great experience.

4. Does my family support me?

All too often, people regard the decision to buy a NZ franchise in lawn mowing an easy alternative to a '9 to 5' job.  But it's anything but.

Yes, it's a simple route into the world of business, but it's no guarantee of success.  You'll still need to work hard, and lawn mowing may become a big topic of conversation around the dinner table.  If everyone is on board, the challenge will be smoother.

5. Is the franchise supportive?

It's all good and well that the franchise model suits you and you can afford it.  But what about the level of support that is offered?

The best lawn mowing franchise won't see you as yet another sale, they will see you as an important business partner.  They'll train you, mentor you and help with your marketing - and that means guaranteed income!

6. Do you have the finance?

Yes, the headline ticket price of your chosen franchise may look good, but how are you going to go about getting finance to buy and run it?

Most people going into business need to secure finance, and it's just a fact that if you can take a proven franchise name to the bank, your chances of success are higher.

7. Does the franchise have a good name?

One of the major benefits of going the franchise model route is that you're buying into an established image, name and reputation.

And not just that, you want your franchise brand to also have an established network, proven processes and systems, and a clear route to profitability. When we asked some of our customers why they chose Crewcut over other franchises or independents - one of the main reasons is that Crewcut seemed to be trustworthy and a quality service. 

8. Does it include marketing?

All of the best franchise options will point you towards the right equipment, accounting support, and training.  But that's all nothing if you aren't getting bookings!

Some NZ franchises are simply better at supporting you with one of the most important aspects of running a lawn mowing business - the marketing.  Because if you're not sure how best to reach your audience, what's the point of your brand if they won't help you?

9. Have you done all your homework?

If your franchise option is great at marketing, perhaps they've marketed themselves brilliantly as well!  But don't fall for the spin.  Do your own research.

It's called due diligence, and it means knowing the assets, liabilities and commercial potential of the brand - and test whether the stories you've been hearing are right before you pull the trigger and sign up.

10. How can I find out more?

If you still have questions that need answering, New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has set up a page that is just for you!  

And if you still need more support about how to go about setting up a business, try: How to research your market competitors

Ready to get started?

If you're thinking seriously about buying a lawn mowing franchise, remember: you're not alone.  There are thousands of others who are moving towards being convinced that deciding to buy NZ franchise is a great step into the exciting world of business.  

Whatever you decide, just remember that every option should be weighed up carefully, and if in doubt, get some professional advice.  Good luck ... and happy mowing!
 

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Think your lawn mowing business is all about mowers and sunshine and the green stuff?  No, there's two things that are arguably even more important: How about getting paid?  And (even better), how about getting paid on time?

So often, as the business owner, you go above and beyond to give your lawn mowing clients the service of their dreams.  "All they have to do in return is pay!"  It may not seem like you're asking for a lot, but it's a refrain that every operator of a lawn mowing franchise understands all too well. Many businesses are cash only, and credit is a last resort. Your customers are not entitled to have credit, unless they have been long standing and reliable customers. The first rule of having debtors is to avoid it before it starts!

You love your clients and you don't want to hassle them, but you've got bills to pay and mouths to feed and mowers to fuel.  If only you could get your lawn care clients to pay on time every single time! That's the Holy Grail - and here's how you should start your quest today:

1. Ask about upfront payment

A wise man once said 'Those who don't ask, don't get'.  So how about asking your clients to pay upfront?

Especially if it's a big lawn care project, you might even be justified to ask for a deposit.

 

 

2. Issue prompt invoices

If you're tired of the delay between doing a job and getting paid, make sure you're not contributing.

All too often, businesses will forget to issue an invoice straight away - and sometimes they forget all together! All Crewcut operators have access to a specialised invoicing and customer management system, which means that invoices aren't an issue and can be done almost instantly. You can check out the Crewcut app here.

 

3. Cut out misunderstandings

Often, a client will fail to pay on time not because they don't want to, but because they just didn't understand when it was due.

So make sure you briefly mention the invoice and what they should expect to find once they have it in their hands.  And if that invoice is in any way unclear, make sure you explain it - and if possible re-design the invoice to make it clearer.

4. Be polite

You'll always stand a better chance of getting what you want and deserve if you're polite.

Does your invoice say 'Thank you for your payment"?  It seems insignificant, but it's the little things that really count when it comes to awesome customer relationships.  In fact, a study by FreshBooks, an accounting expert, showed that a simple "please" can boost your chances of being paid by 5%.

5. Offer a discount

Everyone loves a discount, and we don't even mind making a little effort to get one.

So how about offering 2% off if that invoice is settled before the due date?  The client knows they have to pay anyway, so they'd might as well get a little bonus as well.

6. Issue a penalty

Especially if your invoice includes a reward for early payment, you might even like to consider including a penalty on that invoice for late payment.

Utility companies do it all the time, so your clients probably won't even mind if there is a late-to-pay penalty.  It could be just enough incentive to leap for the reward rather than the penalty.

7. Send regular reminders

If you don't love the idea of discounts or penalties, make sure you're at least issuing regular, timely reminders.

Your lawn care customers know that you have done an awesome job for them, so they won't mind at all if they get a little reminder a few days before that invoice is due.

8. Be tough

Especially for a repeat offender, there comes a time when you have to drop the Nice Guy routine and just demand that payment finally be made.

If you're consistently TOO lenient on customers who don't pay, you'll eventually be taken advantage of.

9. Simplify

Even if you do automate, make sure your invoices are nice and simple.

Often, a client will simply not understand something on an invoice, like 'Net 30' or even 'due upon receipt'.  Use everyday language and get paid - every day!

10. Be flexible

Are your clients ever asking if they can pay by credit card and you say no?  What about cheques, direct deposit and online payments?

If your answers are always no, then your payment options may simply not be flexible enough to meet the needs of your clients.

11. Boost your mood

One of the absolute cornerstones of a successful lawn mowing franchise is client rapport.

Never forget that you're not just mowing lawns, you're building relationships with lawn mowing clients.  So is your mood bright?  Do you communicate well?  Do you listen and engage?  Having a positive relationship with a client can fend off a problem before it ever arises.

12. Issue personalised rewards

As well as a friendly "please" in the invoice and a "thankyou" on the receipt, there's always room for a bit of personalised recognition.

If someone really does go above and beyond to be the perfect lawn mowing client, is there anything stopping you writing a hand-written note or text message?  What about a quarterly gift to your very best customers?  The more you reward loyalty, the more loyalty you will foster. Here at Crewcut, we always make sure to make our customers feel valued - we put seasonal door hangers on all the doors of our valued customers.

You may get a buzz out of manicuring your lawn mowing clients' lawns, but when they don't pay or they're slow to cough up, that's a big headache for you and for the health of your business.  So get thinking, get proactive, and get paid.  Happy mowing!

Want more information about owning your own lawn mowing business? Find out right here why Crewcut could be the Crew for you!

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If you've started a business on the lawn care rounds or you're getting ready to do so, you're joining a great party.  

But to make your business survive, grow and thrive, you'll also need lawn care smarts, all the right paperwork and a bit of cash and support behind you. And there's something very important you might not have considered at all: Your actual route.

When it comes to lawn mowing business profitability, you can't afford to fly by the seat of your pants.  Your accountant will expect efficiency, and so will your clients.  They care about emissions, waste and climate change, and they demand that you get to their place on time.

So when it comes to scheduling jobs, you'll need some planning smarts.  You don't want to head to one side of town for that 9am job, drive an hour to the other side and then finish the day right back where you started.  It wastes petrol, wears out your vehicle, and blows precious time that could be spent either relaxing or mowing more lawns.

Need more efficient routes for your lawn mowing business? Here's how to achieve that:

1. Collect information

Before you can put together an effective schedule, you'll need to go into information-gathering mode.

You're looking at anything that could affect travelling time, expenses, quality and efficiency - because information is power, especially when it comes to routing and scheduling.

2. Think deeper

You might not think that planning an efficient route is more complex than just looking at all the booking locations and joining the dots with the shortest possible transit time between them.

But you also need to consider how long each job will take, what the flow of traffic will be like at the proposed times, and what the road conditions and weather are likely to be.

3. Use technology

To get really efficient in this 21st century, you're going to have to go beyond mere scheduling.  You're going to need to use technology.

In 2018, there's plenty out there - even highly specialist online services designed just for lawn mowing route efficiency.  Others use GPS or cloud technology to combine satellite with local information to boost your travel times and optimise your routes.

4. Know the tricks

As we suggested, it's not just about joining the dots between the locations on the map to determine the shortest possible route.

It's also about knowing what to avoid.  For instance, try to avoid right turns.  Even normal road users sometimes avoid waiting for traffic to clear so you can make that right turn onto a busy road, because it burns petrol, time and personal serenity.  Simply by scheduling mainly left turns, you can save petrol, get there more safely, and save time and reduce stress.

5. Communicate

If you communicate well with your loyal clients, they won't be too upset when things don't quite go to plan.

Of course, every plan should be designed not only so it's efficient, but so it will work out.  But especially in the lawn care industry, sometimes things happen - like terrible weather.  There's also jobs that take longer than expected or technology breakdowns, so it's crucial that you have a good relationship with your client base.

6. Map for efficiency

It might sound obvious, but make sure you design that route for maximum efficiency.

That's because it's surprising how many businesses do have a route planning routine, but it might prioritise based on the type of job, a preference for certain clients, or availability.  But if you plan based primarily on location, everyone will get a prompt and efficient service, and you'll have a rep for being on time and stress-free.

7. Map for each day

One simple method used by lawn mowing businesses is to schedule jobs for each day focused on one particular area.

That way, if the mower knows they will be staying in that particular area for an entire day of business, they will be able to cram a lot of jobs into that day of service without worrying about blowing a lot of time or fuel on transit.

8. Strive for local jobs

To achieve #7, you'll have to put some effort into drumming up interest in that one particular area.  Because imagine how easy route planning would be if, on a Monday, half of your jobs were all in the exact same street or immediate area?

You'll need to make it happen.  Once you've finished your job in a new area, knock on a few doors or drop a few leaflets.  Offer discounts to other households on the street who might also want to sign up for some lawn mowing - and save mowing time, petrol costs and planning time as a bonus.

The final word: Take scheduling seriously

It might seem less important than your lawn mower or your bulging list of clients, but never forget - you only make money for the hours you can bill.  And you can't bill for time wasted between jobs because you didn't take your route planning seriously enough.

Not just that, every minute stuck in traffic is another minute of wasted fuel, and another minute closer to when that vehicle breaks down or needs its regular service.  In short: lawn mowing entrepreneurs need to treat their route scheduling with just as much importance as they treat any other aspect of their business - because it could be the difference between a failing, surviving or thriving lawn mowing operation.

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Already mowing lawns, or among those looking to buy a lawn mowing business?  You're undoubtedly already committed to ensuring that those lawns are nice and green.  But is your business really all that 'green'?

As we push ever further into the 21st century, it's just a fact that more and more consumers don't just appreciate environmentally friendly businesses - they absolutely demand them. And the expectations on lawn mowing businesses may even be higher than that.

Amid growing international concern about climate change, there are plenty of reasons why outdoor businesses are increasingly in the spotlight.  Not long ago, scientists made the shocking discovery of DDT in even the remotest areas of Antarctica.  The reason?  The widespread use of the pesticide in the West.

In short, 'green' practices when making our lawns green have been pretty grim. And it's a reputation every business, but especially businesses like a lawn care franchise, must battle.  So as competition grows, 'going green' is the perfect way to ensure that your responsible lawn mowing business is the one people reliably pick.

 

 - Why and how to make your lawn care business 'green'? - 

 

1. Price

Put Antarctica aside for a moment and think about the almighty dollar.

One study found that over two thirds of all consumers are prepared to pay more just because a business labels itself as environmentally friendly or sustainable.  Undoubtedly, it's the households with a bit extra disposable income who can afford to be more discerning about your environmental credentials.  

And it's these very people who are also the best lawn mowing business customers - people with a bit of extra money, a penchant for a professionally manicured 'green' lawn, and genuine concern about the state of the planet.

 

2. Equipment

No, we're not necessarily talking about wind powered ride-on mowers.

But there's no doubt that 'green'-minded people do associate the growl of your petrol-powered mowers with the sort of fossil fuel burning that is contributing to man-made climate change.  And there are great electric-powered lawn mowers and other equipment on the market to peruse.  

Even if you can't find something truly 'green' or can't afford it, the latest advances in just about all technological sectors make a big deal about energy efficiency, so be savvy when it comes time to replace some old equipment.

3. Vehicle

You get your business to that next paying customer with a scruffy lawn at the wheel of your work vehicle.

So show your green-minded customers that you care about the fuel you're burning and the emissions you're putting out.  Thought about a hybrid?  Now's the perfect time to consider it.  And if that sounds like a big bill, you might just consider telling your customers that you carefully plan your days in advance, so that driving time is minimised and emissions are kept to a minimum.

4. Organic stuff

So your lawn mowing business needs some chemicals, like fertilisers.  We get that - it's unavoidable.  But synthetic ones hurt the soil, pollute the air, and run into the water.

So have you thought about going organic?  There are organic lawn care products available commercially, but the savviest of lawn care businesses might even consider making their own with ordinary ingredients lying around the house.  And the best thing of all?  It's cheap. 

5. Compost

When you're done mowing, you have a lot of grass clippings.  So make a big deal with your clients about what you do with it.

Tell them a compost heap is the best solution.  That way, you can establish your own green credentials whilst encouraging your clients to have a compost heap of their own.  Not only will you get rid of the clippings on-site, you could even add a premium 'compost maintenance' service to your menu!

6. Marketing

You need to market your lawn mowing business.  Just make sure you do it the green way.

If you print any materials, keep it to a minimum and always use recycled paper - and if possible, avoid paper altogether and go completely digital. More and more consumers are becoming aware of their environmental footprint - even when it comes to receipts and invoices! Many opt for emailed versions instead - means just a little less waste. Just don't forget to let your customers know that even when it comes to the fine details, you care about the world.

7. Water

Environmental concerns are all about carbon emissions.  Right?  Wrong.

The most precious resource on Planet Earth is water, with only 1% of the world's H2O being fresh and fit to drink.  So as you use that water to make lawns beautifully green, show you care about water conservation by encouraging responsible irrigation and doing the little things like using a water-saving hose.

8. Emissions

So while it's not all about emissions, it definitely is a LOT about emissions.

And a lawn mowing business that is really serious about its emissions will not only try to reduce its carbon footprint - it may even pledge to becoming completely carbon neutral.  This can be easily done in New Zealand by offsetting the emissions you make.  Look up a couple of good Kiwi non-profit businesses that will plant the right amount of trees to offset your CO2.  You can then proudly call yourself '100% carbon neutral' - and that's some boast!

9. Green alliance

What's the only thing better than a 'green' business?  That's right: a network of green businesses.

Once you claim that title as a lawn mowing business that cares about the planet, look around for other businesses who are also seeking the very same reputation.  That way, when someone is getting their 'green' solar panels installed next week, they might recommend you as a great 'green' lawn mowing partner business.

By establishing a commitment to being as 'green' as the lawns you love so much, you demonstrate that even the friendly lawn mowing guy cares about the planet.  And as we've demonstrated, it's not just the environment that will thank you for it.  Your customers will reward you with a proud reputation and a loyal client base that is keen to pass on the word about your green credentials.  

Going as green as your pristine lawns?  It just makes sense.

 

For more help and information on lawn business ownership,
have a look at our website by clicking the button below

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They say that money doesn't grow on trees, but perhaps it does in grass. There's no denying that lawn care is a growing sector. 

Plenty of middle to high income households these love their lawn to look great, but don't have the time or the inclination to get out there themselves. And there's plenty in it for the lawn mowing entrepreneur too.  Work your own hours, get fit and tanned in the great outdoors, start a business quickly with few overheads and low risk, and get out there as an active member of your local community.

The pros of running a lawn mowing business are obvious.  But what about that big worry - profitability?  Plenty of fly-by-night 'entrepreneurs' will tell you mowing lawns can make you $50,000 a month, but they're almost certainly full of grass clippings.

Crewcut operators can earn anywhere upward of $1,200 a fortnight. But you get out what you put in. If you start that business right, run it diligently and grow it intelligently, the sky is pretty much the limit when it comes to income.

So answer the question simply - yes a lawn mowing business is very profitable.

But this question comes with a second question: what are the keys to a profitable lawn mowing business?

Know-how

Don't just start that motor and start mowing down long blades of grass.  It may sound tempting to pour the petrol in and get going straight away, but the most profitable lawn mowing entrepreneurs know every in and out and every blade of grass of the lawn care industry and mowing equipment.

Just imagine showing up at a new client's home, being asked whether your engines are two or four-stroke and shrugging whilst turning bright red.  Efficient operations that maximise productivity don't just know the business, they really know their stuff.

Brand power

But it's just not enough to know the business and the world of lawn mowing.  You also need to build your brand.

Branding is absolutely crucial when it comes to getting a prospective client to choose you over the next best looking option in that directory listing or Google.  Brands and market perception are built up carefully and painstakingly over many years, meaning that when a prospect slaps eyes on your name and logo, they automatically think 'Easy choice.  Go for it!'

Franchise

An easy way to get the brand power you're looking for is by going the franchise option.  Allying with a reputable and established brand like Crewcut will put you years ahead of the marketing power of a start-up name.

Not just that, a lawn mowing franchise answers just about every other tough question.  How do you start the business?  What about marketing?  What about finding clients?  How about financial and management support?  A business plan?

Starting a lawn mowing business as a franchise means you'll hit the lawns running with credibility and trust.  It's then up to you to start reeling in the big profits.

Business systems

Even with the power of a brand, the best gear and the right business acumen and industry know-how are still not enough for true profitable success in your lawn cutting service.  You also need all the mod-cons that make any smooth-running operation run smoothly.

Business people big and small have systems and processes in place that allow those daily business operations to run quickly and smoothly. From the latest software to processes that save time and reduce paperwork, you need to free up your diary and mental space so that you're attending lots of bookings, minimising problems and making swift and wise business decisions.

Marketing

As we said earlier, aligning with a franchise brand will make pretty much everything easier - including marketing.

That's because you can have absolutely everything in place, and yet still not be getting the word out there sufficiently to fill your diary.  Your actual service is one thing, but you need to package those services that give the customer value whilst balancing the need to push profits skywards.

The best sales approaches involve a constant revision of advertising methods to see which ones work the best and most cost-effectively.

Your client base

It's an old business adage that is true across the industry spectrum but particularly relevant in the world of lawn mowing - new clients are great, but your base is always your existing customers.

And it's always easier to boost your income by nurturing your client base than it is to constantly be needing to acquire new ones.  There's an entire world of up-selling, additional or premium services, or packages for repeat or more frequent services to consider.

Constant improvement

Got an idle half an hour?  Keep returning to step one and commit to constantly updating your knowledge about lawn mowing, garden care and the world of business and entrepreneurism more generally.

Are there are lawn mowing businesses near you that really are thriving?  What can you learn from them?  Is there a process that you do every day that never really works out so well?  Now is the time to replace it with something better.  Finished reading all the books about lawn mowing businesses that you can find?  Trust us: there is always another one being published.

Truly succeeding in business, especially as a small business operator, is not just about the brand and the business, it's about you.  And there's always something to improve.

Find a mentor

Most lawn mowing businesses are pretty much run by a single person - so supercharge your chances by being the one with more than adequate support.

Perhaps it's just a partner to de-brief with every night.  Maybe it's a business or industry mentor.  Or perhaps it's offloading some of the despised work like bookkeeping or accounting to a professional.  Either way, spreading the load means having people to pick up the slack so that you can focus on what you really need to be focusing on - supercharging profits.

Good old elbow (mower) grease

Let's be honest: if you think a lawn mowing business is your fast track to a laid back life, think again!  Having a dream and turning it into a reality may seem exciting, but the only way to get there is to join ALL the others who succeeded before you did and really making it happen.

It will require constant learning, an incredible drive to succeed, and buckets and buckets of determination and elbow (and lawn mower) grease.  In other words, treat your business like the lawns you care for so much.  Lovingly nurture and take care of it, and it will take care of you in return.

Keen to start raking in the profits in your own successful lawn mowing business?
Speak to us today, we'd love to help you out. 

 

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There are so many health benefits to owning your own lawn mowing business - some of them are more obvious than others. Whether it's mental or physical, most people recognise some improvements in their overall health after starting in the lawn care industry. Here are just a few of them.

Lawn mowing is great for your heart

It's pretty obvious that lawn mowing is a great form of exercise. Being out in the fresh air, going backwards and forth, pushing and pulling the mower - it’s all excellent for your cardiovascular system. Doing the constant exercise gets your heart pumping, and it's a great way to strengthen the muscle. A healthy heart means a longer & healthier life, something many of us desire.

Burn the calories. Lose weight. Look great

With all that exercise, it's inevitable that weight loss will happen. Many of our Crewcut operators reported losing a whole lot of weight after they started their lawn business. And it didn't take long either - most saw a change in the first 2 months.

On average for an 80kg person, you can easily burn upward of 300 calories an hour, which translates to a moro bar an hour. 

So cancel that gym membership and workout while you work. 
 

Get your steps up

We got some of our Crewcut operators to wear fitbits and track how much they walked over the course of a month (in the Autumn/Winter period). These results have been averaged out and are conservative numbers based on the time of the year, during the summer periods these steps would be a lot higher. 

 

17,000 steps on average walked a day

15-17 KM travelled by foot on average a day

Now the recommended number of steps most adults should be achieving daily is around 10,000. So these results are smashing the average out of the park (or should we say, backyard). Getting over the 10,000 recommended threshold has numerous health benefits including lowered blood pressure and better overall wellbeing. 

Feel good mentally

According to Psychology Today - the repetitive action of mowing the lawn can put your mind into a more relaxed state. Mowing lawns is a great way to give yourself the sense of job satisfaction. When you see what a lawn looks like after you've finished with, it can make you feel very accomplished. Additionally, the smell of freshly cut grass has been proven to reduce anxiety levels. The scent of grass has a calming effect which in turn helps you think with greater clarity. 

Many Crewcut business owners who previously worked in an office environment say the change to the great outdoor office was a welcome change. The fresh air, Vitamin D, and other factors contribute to them feeling better mentally. 

Want to learn more about how owning a lawn mowing business
could be the change you need? 

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No longer loving your job, but you've always loved keeping the lawns looking like an Olympic bowling green?  It sounds like you're one of the hordes of people considering leaving the rat race behind and jumping aboard the ever more popular world of lawn mowing franchise ownership.

You may be put off because you've heard that a successful lawn mowing business is like nurturing a perfect patch of green Kikuyu grass.  In other words, seriously HARD.  But as long as you treat that lawn mowing business like the real business it is rather than a throwaway weekend hobby, you can definitely make it survive and thrive.

You'll need planning, support, business know-how, industry know-how, equipment, the financial backing, and good old elbow grease.  But you knew that already. What you'll then need to think about is how to grow that business - because if the phone isn't ringing off the hook and your client list isn't ever expanding, you're not going to build the momentum to one day sell up and retire.

Want that lawn mowing business client base to grow?  Here's what to know:

1. Don't mess it up

To get your lawn mowing business into the growth phase, first you need to make it stable.  You've done the groundwork: acquired the know-how, established a routine and got a good bunch of clients who always use you.

Now don't mess it up!  Avoid racking up too much credit card debt, don't start sleeping in and missing appointments, go above and beyond client expectations, and - most importantly - treat every client's garden as though it's your beloved Mum's!  Get the basics right and the rest will follow.

2. Start small

If you're struggling to get a decent list of clients up and running, you're not going to grow - it's just that simple.  So before stressing that you don't have enough clients, think smaller.  Get SOME clients, and then go from there.

Got a good group of supportive family and friends?  What a perfect place to start - now offer to do their lawns.  At the very least, you'll get something ticking over and valuable experience and confidence at the same time. These people will serve as the foundations for very loyal clients, who will hopefully sing praises to their friends as well. 

3. Boost your customer service

Never forget who pays the bills - it's your clients. You know you have to be friendly, but there's a difference between 'I'm friendly because I need to be friendly' and 'I'm friendly and I'm passionate and I'm trying to do the absolute best job for you'.  Trust me - be the latter.

It's not just a smile, it's how you listen.  It's how you react to and process criticism.  It's how you follow up on even the smallest of little problems.  It's the stuff that really makes the difference. 

If customer interaction is something you struggle with, thankfully with the Crewcut franchise system, you'll learn all the tricks of the trade during your training process. Good customer service doesn't need to be difficult. 

4. Keep your clients

If you've got any chance of adding to that list of clients, you need to treat the ones you do have on the books like Kings and Queens!

That's because the vast majority of your work is going to be coming from a much smaller percentage of your existing clients.  So that means nurturing great relationships.

So just like revving up your customer service, nurturing your client base means touching base.  It means asking for advice about how to improve.  Because if you become known as the friendly, attentive, can-do lawn mowing guy, you will have the foundation upon which to grow. All Crewcut franchise owners are given seasonal door hangers which thank their customers for their patronage - but also reminds them of all the garden services on offer. It's a win-win for both parties, and is one of the things customers remember and will keep coming back for.

5. Work hard

Now, anyone who has mowed lawns day in and day out knows that it's no walk in the park.  But it's not a weekend paper round either.  You need to go the extra mile, and it takes a lot of planning.

Growing lawn mowing businesses are the ones that work the hardest - it's just that simple.  They research the best times of year to market the hardest.  They leave no stone unturned when it comes to getting the word out there.  They think outside the box.  They look professional at all times.  They're self-critical and open to change and improving.  They're highly organised.  And they think every extra daylight minute is another opportunity to make a lawn look lovely.

6. Target your clients

Now that you want to start seriously adding to that client base, know who you're targeting.

Yes, all sorts of people turn to lawn mowing businesses to get their gardens looking spick and span, but as you grow, start to hone in on a niche market.  Affluent people who are willing to spend a little to make their homes look a lot better are always up for it, as are those with moderate incomes but limited time.  Then there are developers, builders and investors who truly know the value of curb appeal. 

Targeting your clients may even mean targeting an area where the majority of your customers live. While in the beginning it may be an option to do your round all around town - but this is not a sustainable business run. Instead choose a few key suburbs and maintain the clients in that area. You'll soon become the 'local go-to lawn mowing person'. 

7. Reach your clients

Now that you know who you're targeting, it's time to go out there and get them!

You know your potential clients' ages, incomes and locations, so now match that up with their habits and relationships - and promote your business.  There are all sorts of advertising options and promotional opportunities, and plenty of hours in the day to pick up the phone, attend meetings, and line up partnerships with like-minded people and businesses.

This is a whole lot easier with Crewcut, as most of the leg work and effective marketing is already done for you. But this shouldn't stop you from approaching locals in the community when they're at home or in the garden themselves. Just remember step 3 "boost your customer service", everything else should just fall into place.

8. Think outside the box

As your client base starts to grow and that growth becomes growth momentum, that's when it all starts to happen.  But don't rest on your laurels!  Keep doing what you're doing, and THEN start thinking outside of the box as well.

Need an 'outside the box' idea?  How about getting yourself into the news?  Journalists are always looking for something fresh to report on, so think about whether there's an angle that might excite them.  Something you've seen on your grass-filled travels?  A special person or organisation you've helped?  A cool local sports team you've sponsored?

Once you start thinking outside the box, it will be hard to get back in there at all!

The final word: Keep chipping away. Yes, just the idea of sustaining (let alone growing) your business can be daunting, and the lists of things to do and ideas for improvement seem to keep growing just as fast as that Buffalo grass.

So here's the final tip: don't be overwhelmed.  Keep reading.  Keep learning.  Keep your mind open.  Keep mowing grass.  And keep the dream alive.

If there's anything else you want to learn about owning a lawn mowing business, be sure to contact the friendly team at Crewcut. We're always on the look out for fresh, new franchisees who want to begin their own success. 

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There is more to a lawn mowing franchise than just customer service and cutting lawns. We have scoured our sources to find the best do’s, don’ts and tips for those of you who are in the industry. You may be nodding along as you read this, which may be a sign you are a perfect candidate for a franchise of your own. 
 

Lawn mower handling
 

Let your engine warm up before handling

We know you want to fly through your lawns as fast as possible, but it will pay off if you wait before pushing your mower full throttle. Just like a car, you shouldn’t throw it in fourth gear without even letting it get warm. 
 

Let the engine run on idle before shutting down

It’s not good to shut your engine down right away. Many operators will let it run while they blow off drives and walks for about 3-5 minutes. Doing this allows the engine to relax, and shut down smoothly without a backfire.

Always fill your gas tanks up on the grass, never on truck beds. 
 

Gear

When a piece of equipment is down, it’s money you don’'t make. Maintain your equipment:

• Grease your equipment

• Change the oil

• Change the filters

• Sharpen your blades every 25 hours of lawn mowing. This may be every few days but it makes a significant difference in the cut.
  

Learn to fix and maintain as much as you can yourself as it will pay off in time and money. Also, try to buy all your oil, belts, filters, and whatever else you'll need for the year. It's better to be prepared and generally works out cheaper to buy in bulk. 

Garden manners

Do

Check for open windows or doors, when blowing or mulching grass as it can easily get blown into the house leading to unhappy customers.  
 

Don’t

Swear, even to yourself as you might turn around to see your customer. While swearing is fairly common in conversation, it's probably not the best look for a business professional. 

What to pack in your van

• Keep an extra set of belts and blades with you at all times. Because going to the shops in the middle of a job doesn’t look good for you or your wallet.
  

• Keep a spare tyre on hand and a portable pump.
  

• Cary a can of bug spray. You might come across a beehive, or another unwanted critter. Your customers will love it that you sprayed it for them so their kids can play outside, and you don’t have to worry for next time.
  

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy in case of emergencies.

Customer Service

• Do talk to your customers. Communicating often will develop a relationship, they get to know you more and your business together will last longer. Be courteous, let them know if you'll be a day late, try to keep this communication within business hours.
  

• If you know you’re doing a good job on your customers lawn, why not introduce yourself to the neighbours? Knock on the door for a friendly hello and give them your business card, even if they mow their own, they can see the good work you've done on their neighbours lawn
  

• Don’t underprice your lawns. Get quality clients willing to pay for your good service, rather than trying to haggle you down. Customers who want the cheapest deal are more likely to leave you if they find a cheaper option.
  

Remember, they aren’t just paying for your time and labour. It's insurance, gear cost, travel time and everything inbetween that adds up. Don’t sell yourself short.

Business Tips

• Take the time to make lists and goals. Make a business plan to track your progress and where you might be losing money, or where you could gain more.
  

• Prepare for winter, set money aside or invest in something weekly. Push your other services in winter, up-sell your clients on hedge trimming, pruning or a general garden tidy.
  

• Chase up those who don’t pay, and keep checking your accounts. Everything adds up, and you don’t want to be working for free.

Helpful Tips

• When you are on the biggest property of the day, check the gas is full.
  

• Always walk the property first - even twice to make sure there is nothing that could cause damage to yourself or the mower.
  

• For cold water all day, freeze half a bottle of water, then top it up and stays cold.
  

• Make sure your mower will fit past the gate when pricing the job.
  

• Close the gate behind you, ALWAYS.
  

• Write down your equipment serial numbers and keep on file. If your gear is stolen you can give this to the brand to see if it pops up for repairs/is sold.

Our franchisees biggest tip: Buy quality gear.

This is the biggest piece of advice from our franchisees. Countless times, new franchisees will pop down to the local store and get a cheap weed eater or mower. These work for a month or two, but you will be surprised how quickly it wears down. Shortly after purchasing it will break, and won’t be worth fixing. Get yourself quality branded gear, the brand will look after you with a warranty and you can get mowing without worries. Check out our some of our Tauranga franchisees brand preferences on their bios.

Running and maintaining a lawn business has more parts to it than just you and the mower. But don’t let that put you off starting a lawn mowing business, because if you follow these tips you'll be a pro. Let us know if you have any more tips or comments on these technical do’s and don’ts, we would love to hear them. 

Interested in a lawn mowing business?
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