It is a revolving door, ups and downs. Some people just want a job doing for nothing. They wouldn’t even ask that of another trade. We are professionals at our job and you never know we’re it will take you. Keep it up 👍
Hi Rob after watching this and starting a gardening buissness this is great advice i have a 2 loyal customers at the moment because I live in a rough estate in north wales and most people want everything done for nothing but listening to this advice asking trusted friends and neighbours etc its changed stuff massively everyone pays and are very loyal and i couldnt have found better advice so thankyou
I had some customers that were a lovely couple. Had me round for a meal until 4am! Gave me no end of things for free they were gettting rid of. As soon as i put my hourly rate up by £5. I never heard another thing from them. They moved on to another gardener and didn't have the decency to let me know. You live and you learn i guess.
@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices cheers Rob. It's been nice to watch them go from one gardener to another. They've now replaced alot of the grass with clover, and do most of the work themselves, I'll leave them to it.
I put my rates up this year (quite a jump) because I was over committed and wanted to thin out some customers. I could have filled the gaps 3 times over.
I would rather pick up a hot snake than a lawn mower. Brilliant will be using that this year😂 As you said phone off the hook again and can't take any more on over in North Wales borders. Makes me smile keep them up Rob.
Nice one Rob. My customers were all great with my price increases. Ive got rid of 2 jobs as they were too time consuming. I’ve managed 36 lawns this week & have tipped over the £1k mark for the first time on just lawn work! But I’m knackered now!
Love your posts Rob, very interesting, thanks. It’s amazing how similar I am to your good self. Been doing maintenance gardening for 17 years and now aim for grass cutting more. Stuck with a couple of customers for too long, got too friendly and think I got played to be honest. They got way too much done for the money. Keep it fresh, much better
Started my own gardening company 6 weeks ago , first week I had 3 jobs and now I’m 6 weeks in I’m doing 15-20 jobs per week , mow blow and go is definitely the best , social media & word of mouth has been brilliant but with first year charging low prices but still double minimum wage if hours worked out , the jobs I think will take long I do charge higher but some still be happy and the ones that think to expensive I be happy either way , do you still cut grass in the winter for clients that want every 4 weeks regardless or do you tell them no ? Great video
I knew you'd fill up your schedule Rob. Every time I've lost clients it's worked out for the best amd I now have some cracking customers. Good points about the small mowing jobs - I'll be building that section from now on as I agree.
I would love to hear more about marketing..! Going back to close to full time instead of just part time... So i need to get my current schedule of approx 1.5 days a week up to 3-4 to fit in around my other business that has taken a nose dive (hence the need for more gardening clients) Around my area, whenever someone posts on a Facebook local hub page asking for a gardener, there are often 50+ responses, with some saying "happy to come whenever and will work for £15 p/h" some have even been less. I just worry that its hard to compete with the sheer volume..! Would be good to know a few tips etc, cheers!
If I didn't do my own garden, I'd certainly ask you, your prices are spot on, I also appreciate all professional trades, my god there's plenty of cowboys out there. 👍
@@jimmyspartacus6do what's best for you mate, I've found being busy around regular work drops some gems in my lap, just moved Mondays scheduled maintenance onto Tuesday which will be a long day to fit in a pub beer garden tidy that'll pay twice what the maintenance would bring in. Will be tight but weather looks good, I've got the kit to do it and a chunk of change to add to the invest/ winter/ pension pot or a few days away for 'business'😅
You said that a bit to early rain forecast most of the week in Lincolnshire now 😅 I’m just starting out so building customers slowly but I’m taking you advice thank-you oh yeah and I would love to know how I can find more work be great to do a video on it please
Don't over book yourself Rob. It only takes one lost day because of bad weather and your stressing. We can all live with a little less stress these days. Glad things are on the up tho. All the best 👍
Great video Rob. Customers do cone and go its just the nature of the job. As long as you look professional and do a great job customers will come. Good to hear your doing great Rob Thank you for your videos as usual Regards Mark
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices screwfix titan don't laugh got spare battery 2 spools off ebay it cost me about £120 in total . No humping no noise no fumes get 6 good sized gardens done 1 battery ,then alternate the battery, spool change takes seconds try it pal
Doing a grass cut and handing out cards to the rest of the street always work 👍 more often than not a few will get you doing there’s the next time too.
Well done Rob you have discovered this Gardening business has many twists snd turns and to adapt to different situations is the key! Look after the body and mate pace yourself, allow time to service your very best profitable clients .Price is never an issue with Ideal clients because you provide that professional service ! Enjoy the growing season, we are in Autumn/ winter our busiest most profitable time if the year because we have targeted the gold clients. 70 is coming to me soon but still keen to keep going all good with health ( touch wood😂) Thanks for yet another great video
Been at this 20 years now, and I still panic around mid February. Similar to you, we lost a few customers but gained some really nice new ones, very appreciative of what we do. Things were quiet earlier though and I said yes to a couple of jobs I regretted afterwards. Got to hold your nerve!
Hi Rob, Well done and congratulations, sounds like you have got the work you were looking for... There are always better customers out there,small to medium gardens are great..😊
Hey Rob, great video, and I’m pleased you’re filling your books nicely, that’s great to hear. Obviously, I’m still building my business and have it as a sideline until I can make the transition to full-time, but I seem to have a lot of general maintenance of gardens, and a lot of weeding to do. It’s very seldom that I’ll have a mow blow and go, what do you think I’m doing wrong?
I've said it before we are the same person down to the haircut and age 😅 we think the same! Same stuff from customers over here in the U.S. You are doing right mate keep on what you are doing. The same approach is working for me over here. I take on the small lawns when these chaps want the big ones. They can have them give me the small ones. Cheers mate
Just stumbled upon your channel. Really helpful. I'm having issues with a big job. They really try and squeeze as much as they can out of me on an hourly rate. Much better binning them off to take on smaller in and out work. Just subscribed. All the best!
Great to hear your doing well Rob you'll soon be looking for that bigger van 😂 at the end off the day you are a small business just trying to earn an honest crust👍
Come on Rob - you've watched Geoff's video too - 80% capacity for wriggle room and happy customers!! You'll stress yourself out otherwise with a day of rain!! 😉👍
It's brilliant having these types of videos...yours, Geoffs, Damiens...etc etc...getting good ideas and different opinions...it really makes you think about what it takes to run a business...any business for that matter. Keep them coming...😉
Pretty much done exactly the same rob and had a very similar experience. fortnightly lawn diary is full tuesdays to Fridays and i kept sundays/mondays free for new work/one-offs. Though they've all been used to catch up on rained off lawn jobs so far. Phone going crazy from people happy to pay what i need to run the business. And defo agree the smaller mo-blow-and go are what I want to be full of - the easiest work and best paid! Best of luck rob!
I work up till December I always give customers notice about price increase then so next season if they decline. I know what I have to replace. No-one wants a price increase at Christmas but find it easier. Always work stick to your prices!
My 18 inch Honda izy and the blower arrived this week. Still waiting for my strimmer. I have no costumers yet,but your videos always cheers me up. Thanks a lot👍🙂
Rob, it's all dropping into place m8 in & out lawns all day long. If the books are full, don't turn any medium, small lawns away do them. Let the BIG BIG lawns go. Some drop me been there 10years 😂
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Rob always put the grass 1st if the weather not great. Joggle the work around like hedges,tidy ups etc. Sooner the grass is cut it's on the growing again and needs cut. Miss a hedge by 2 or 3 weeks of when you had it booked in it's not growing that much. Can't miss a week of grass you dont get it back. If you get what I mean. The hedge which is price will still be there to cut
I said I would advertise for more now blow and go gardens but I got lazy because of the wet weather in Scotland at the start of march. Right now I have people phoning me left right centre
True but you have to factor your travel time and fuel into one off jobs. If a job takes 2 hours but an hours round trip and a tenner fuel, il put £30 on the job before I have even quoted for the labour
Hi Rob just had a look at your website, who did you use for the design? I'm starting year four of gardening part time whilst trucking part time. Would love to be gardening full time through the summer but cant get enough customers to justify giving up the trucks till winter. I've done the ads on facebook business page but only had a couple of hits, so im thinking that a proper website aswell as a facebook page is the next step in the right direction and your website is one of the best i have seen. Let me know Thanks in advance 😊
Yes things have gone nuts this week because we’ve had abit of dry weather. Not had to do so much social media stuff all referrals or passing customers as your doing a job. Always makes me laugh. Worked my ass off all day last customer nearly finished and guy says “can you come and do mine” . Naw fxxk off it’s Friday. But my sensible head says txt me your address and I will come and see you next week. 😅 Rain has been brutal. Outskirts of Glasgow 🤷♂️👌
Good on you Rob! Inspirational fella! Can I ask out of curiosity, do you have a boxing background? It’s the way you smash your fist in your hand! Don’t mean to come across like I’m taking the p*ss. But it looks like you would deliver a good punch! 🤣
Hey mate - just a question with your pricing - do you have a minimum charge for clients? If a tiny small regular customer, how much is the minimum you would charge for a regular client? Cheers mate
took your advice and ditched the clients and gardens i did not like looking after. such a lovely weight of my shoulders and job feels good again.
Really pleased for you. Good luck going forward.👍🏻
It is a revolving door, ups and downs. Some people just want a job doing for nothing. They wouldn’t even ask that of another trade. We are professionals at our job and you never know we’re it will take you.
Keep it up 👍
I totally agree! Thank you .
Good video rob how many customers Is full
Hi Rob after watching this and starting a gardening buissness this is great advice i have a 2 loyal customers at the moment because I live in a rough estate in north wales and most people want everything done for nothing but listening to this advice asking trusted friends and neighbours etc its changed stuff massively everyone pays and are very loyal and i couldnt have found better advice so thankyou
Thank you and good luck with your new business.
Thanks mate but been at it 20 years
Rob, always got the goods, keep up the great work!
Thank you .
I had some customers that were a lovely couple. Had me round for a meal until 4am! Gave me no end of things for free they were gettting rid of. As soon as i put my hourly rate up by £5. I never heard another thing from them. They moved on to another gardener and didn't have the decency to let me know. You live and you learn i guess.
That’s awful, they don’t deserve you. All the best.
@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices cheers Rob. It's been nice to watch them go from one gardener to another. They've now replaced alot of the grass with clover, and do most of the work themselves, I'll leave them to it.
I put my rates up this year (quite a jump) because I was over committed and wanted to thin out some customers. I could have filled the gaps 3 times over.
Pleased to hear it . All the best for the season.
Great stuff Rob,lovely to see you so busy.
Thank you Carl, appreciated.
I would rather pick up a hot snake than a lawn mower. Brilliant will be using that this year😂 As you said phone off the hook again and can't take any more on over in North Wales borders. Makes me smile keep them up Rob.
Thanks Rob, all the best.
Nice one Rob. My customers were all great with my price increases. Ive got rid of 2 jobs as they were too time consuming. I’ve managed 36 lawns this week & have tipped over the £1k mark for the first time on just lawn work! But I’m knackered now!
That’s brilliant, enjoy the weekend break.
100% accurate rob.
Thank you 🙏
Love your posts Rob, very interesting, thanks.
It’s amazing how similar I am to your good self. Been doing maintenance gardening for 17 years and now aim for grass cutting more. Stuck with a couple of customers for too long, got too friendly and think I got played to be honest. They got way too much done for the money. Keep it fresh, much better
I agree changing customers isn’t a bad thing. Keeps it fresh. 👍🏻
Started my own gardening company 6 weeks ago , first week I had 3 jobs and now I’m 6 weeks in I’m doing 15-20 jobs per week , mow blow and go is definitely the best , social media & word of mouth has been brilliant but with first year charging low prices but still double minimum wage if hours worked out , the jobs I think will take long I do charge higher but some still be happy and the ones that think to expensive I be happy either way , do you still cut grass in the winter for clients that want every 4 weeks regardless or do you tell them no ? Great video
I don’t mow in the winter, the ground is usually too wet in the north.
Congratulations on your new business.
I knew you'd fill up your schedule Rob. Every time I've lost clients it's worked out for the best amd I now have some cracking customers. Good points about the small mowing jobs - I'll be building that section from now on as I agree.
Me and you both Rob. All the best.
I would love to hear more about marketing..! Going back to close to full time instead of just part time... So i need to get my current schedule of approx 1.5 days a week up to 3-4 to fit in around my other business that has taken a nose dive (hence the need for more gardening clients)
Around my area, whenever someone posts on a Facebook local hub page asking for a gardener, there are often 50+ responses, with some saying "happy to come whenever and will work for £15 p/h" some have even been less.
I just worry that its hard to compete with the sheer volume..!
Would be good to know a few tips etc, cheers!
Have a look through my old videos. May help.
Excellent update Rob, have a good weekend. 😉
Thank you Ian. You too.
If I didn't do my own garden, I'd certainly ask you, your prices are spot on, I also appreciate all professional trades, my god there's plenty of cowboys out there. 👍
Wow, thanks. Appreciate your kind words.
Well done Rob. Sounds like a great play.
Thank you Adam.
Never close your books Rob, could miss out on something interesting/ profitable/ network jobs👍👍
💯
You’re so right, thank you Nathan.
@@jimmyspartacus6do what's best for you mate, I've found being busy around regular work drops some gems in my lap, just moved Mondays scheduled maintenance onto Tuesday which will be a long day to fit in a pub beer garden tidy that'll pay twice what the maintenance would bring in. Will be tight but weather looks good, I've got the kit to do it and a chunk of change to add to the invest/ winter/ pension pot or a few days away for 'business'😅
@@jimmyspartacus6 😅👌
You said that a bit to early rain forecast most of the week in Lincolnshire now 😅 I’m just starting out so building customers slowly but I’m taking you advice thank-you oh yeah and I would love to know how I can find more work be great to do a video on it please
Good luck! Going forward.👍🏻
Good to see you Rob . Glad to hear your books are full and your work is full steam ahead !😊
Thank you Les, all the best.
Don't over book yourself Rob. It only takes one lost day because of bad weather and your stressing. We can all live with a little less stress these days. Glad things are on the up tho. All the best 👍
Thanks Gary. Fingers crossed for some mild weather.
Great video Rob.
Customers do cone and go its just the nature of the job. As long as you look professional and do a great job customers will come. Good to hear your doing great Rob
Thank you for your videos as usual
Regards
Mark
Thank you Mark, appreciate your kind words.
That's all I do now just cut grass keep it simple best thing I bought for this season cordless strimers game changer
Which model?
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices screwfix titan don't laugh got spare battery 2 spools off ebay it cost me about £120 in total . No humping no noise no fumes get 6 good sized gardens done 1 battery ,then alternate the battery, spool change takes seconds try it pal
Just keep moving forward Rob and take each day as is it comes buddy
Very wise words Wayne, have a great weekend.
You too Rob
Doing a grass cut and handing out cards to the rest of the street always work 👍 more often than not a few will get you doing there’s the next time too.
Google business page, Facebook business page all work well.
Well done Rob you have discovered this Gardening business has many twists snd turns and to adapt to different situations is the key!
Look after the body and mate pace yourself, allow time to service your very best profitable clients .Price is never an issue with Ideal clients because you provide that professional service !
Enjoy the growing season, we are in Autumn/ winter our busiest most profitable time if the year because we have targeted the gold clients.
70 is coming to me soon but still keen to keep going all good with health ( touch wood😂)
Thanks for yet another great video
Thank you Geoff, appreciate your kind words and wisdom.
Been at this 20 years now, and I still panic around mid February. Similar to you, we lost a few customers but gained some really nice new ones, very appreciative of what we do. Things were quiet earlier though and I said yes to a couple of jobs I regretted afterwards. Got to hold your nerve!
Thanks for sharing! I was exactly the same. It’s a funny old game.
Hi Rob,
Well done and congratulations, sounds like you have got the work you were looking for...
There are always better customers out there,small to medium gardens are great..😊
I agree with you. All the best.
Hey Rob, great video, and I’m pleased you’re filling your books nicely, that’s great to hear.
Obviously, I’m still building my business and have it as a sideline until I can make the transition to full-time, but I seem to have a lot of general maintenance of gardens, and a lot of weeding to do. It’s very seldom that I’ll have a mow blow and go, what do you think I’m doing wrong?
Advertise for lawn mowing jobs and see where is takes you .
Love it, Rob as ever, pal. We need to figure out how to get you onto the podcast
Thank you for the offer and I wish you well with it.
Same here I am full and cant take on any more work, even took my magnetic signs off the car to try and stop new enquires.
I did exactly the same with the van. 😂
if you can do a video on marketing that would be great. always wondering where the oldies look these days for professionals.
There is one on my old videos, how to achieve more work. I hope it helps.
I've said it before we are the same person down to the haircut and age 😅 we think the same! Same stuff from customers over here in the U.S. You are doing right mate keep on what you are doing. The same approach is working for me over here. I take on the small lawns when these chaps want the big ones. They can have them give me the small ones. Cheers mate
Exactly!! Thank you for watching and sharing your experience.
Hi Rob Where in Nottinghamshire were you from me duck? Love the channel ❤️
A small pit village just outside Mansfield. 👍🏻
@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices I'm from calverton pit Village about 8 mile from Mansfield
I'm a window cleaner 💯 people do cm and go yeah over fill your books pal
Just stumbled upon your channel. Really helpful. I'm having issues with a big job. They really try and squeeze as much as they can out of me on an hourly rate. Much better binning them off to take on smaller in and out work. Just subscribed. All the best!
Welcome! You make a great point.
Great to hear your doing well Rob you'll soon be looking for that bigger van 😂 at the end off the day you are a small business just trying to earn an honest crust👍
That’s right Justin. It’s a challenge sometimes.
Wisdom comes with age and experience...
You now have both.
Good luck to you.😀
Yes! Thank you! I’m am old. 😂
Nice one Rob...always glad to see ex serviceman doing well...😊
Thanks 👍 appreciated
Spot on Rob keep up the hard work 🌞
Thanks Ian.
Good for you...brilliant news 🎉🎉
Thank you , appreciated.
Great work
Thank you! Cheers!
Come on Rob - you've watched Geoff's video too - 80% capacity for wriggle room and happy customers!! You'll stress yourself out otherwise with a day of rain!! 😉👍
I watched Geoff’s video this afternoon whilst having a coffee. After I made this video. We live and learn. 😂
It's brilliant having these types of videos...yours, Geoffs, Damiens...etc etc...getting good ideas and different opinions...it really makes you think about what it takes to run a business...any business for that matter. Keep them coming...😉
Thank you 👌
Welcome 😊
Pretty much done exactly the same rob and had a very similar experience. fortnightly lawn diary is full tuesdays to Fridays and i kept sundays/mondays free for new work/one-offs. Though they've all been used to catch up on rained off lawn jobs so far. Phone going crazy from people happy to pay what i need to run the business. And defo agree the smaller mo-blow-and go are what I want to be full of - the easiest work and best paid! Best of luck rob!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree with you.
I work up till December I always give customers notice about price increase then so next season if they decline. I know what I have to replace. No-one wants a price increase at Christmas but find it easier. Always work stick to your prices!
Thanks for sharing!
My 18 inch Honda izy and the blower arrived this week. Still waiting for my strimmer. I have no costumers yet,but your videos always cheers me up.
Thanks a lot👍🙂
Good luck! Wishing you well on your journey.
Rob, it's all dropping into place m8 in & out lawns all day long. If the books are full, don't turn any medium, small lawns away do them. Let the BIG BIG lawns go. Some drop me been there 10years 😂
Very wise Simon. Thank you .
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Rob always put the grass 1st if the weather not great. Joggle the work around like hedges,tidy ups etc. Sooner the grass is cut it's on the growing again and needs cut. Miss a hedge by 2 or 3 weeks of when you had it booked in it's not growing that much. Can't miss a week of grass you dont get it back. If you get what I mean. The hedge which is price will still be there to cut
I understand 100 percent.
I said I would advertise for more now blow and go gardens but I got lazy because of the wet weather in Scotland at the start of march. Right now I have people phoning me left right centre
Pleased to hear your busy.
When your wheels are turning you are not earning, so much better to have close work as less time driving plus less fuel. Have a great weekend.
Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for the tips!
True but you have to factor your travel time and fuel into one off jobs. If a job takes 2 hours but an hours round trip and a tenner fuel, il put £30 on the job before I have even quoted for the labour
Hi Rob just had a look at your website, who did you use for the design? I'm starting year four of gardening part time whilst trucking part time. Would love to be gardening full time through the summer but cant get enough customers to justify giving up the trucks till winter. I've done the ads on facebook business page but only had a couple of hits, so im thinking that a proper website aswell as a facebook page is the next step in the right direction and your website is one of the best i have seen.
Let me know
Thanks in advance 😊
I use a company called , simple website.com.
They do everything for £9.99 per month.
It generates over 100 enquiries per year. Good luck.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices Thanks Rob, much appreciated.
panicked for the 1st time ever beginning of this season rob. but 1 door shut & 2 doors opened 👍 keep it real
You’re spot on . All the best.
Yes things have gone nuts this week because we’ve had abit of dry weather. Not had to do so much social media stuff all referrals or passing customers as your doing a job. Always makes me laugh. Worked my ass off all day last customer nearly finished and guy says “can you come and do mine” . Naw fxxk off it’s Friday. But my sensible head says txt me your address and I will come and see you next week. 😅
Rain has been brutal. Outskirts of Glasgow 🤷♂️👌
Pleased you’re getting busy. All the best for the season.
“Hot snake 🐍 “😅
Pleased you like it.
have you any gardening qualifications ?
Yes
Hi Rob what qualifications do you hold in Horticulture?
I told you....😁
You did and thank you.
Good on you Rob! Inspirational fella! Can I ask out of curiosity, do you have a boxing background? It’s the way you smash your fist in your hand! Don’t mean to come across like I’m taking the p*ss. But it looks like you would deliver a good punch! 🤣
Former British Forces Boxing champion and England International. A few years ago.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices I knew it! Wouldn’t get in a fight with you then! 🤣
👍.
Cheers
Hey mate - just a question with your pricing - do you have a minimum charge for clients? If a tiny small regular customer, how much is the minimum you would charge for a regular client?
Cheers mate
I have a minimum charge. £20👍🏻