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Tuba707

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Phoenix, AZ
I will be graduating from college this December with a BS in Music Education. After that, I will sit out 1 semester to earn money, then start a Masters in Business Administration. The semester that I sit out, I will be starting an irrigation installation business, specializing in residential irrigation system repair/installation.

There are a lot of landscape businesses in the area that I will be starting up, and many of those businesses do irrigation as one of the many things that they tackle. I know for a fact that my work is cleaner than any of the landscaping irrigation systems that I have seen installed.

I don't really care about being the cheapest. I don't want to be the cheapest. I want to be the best. I plan on marketing myself by the facts that:

1)I give free estimates, and even if I don't install your system (I won't tell them this upfront :D), I can tell you what to look for when you have a company/individual bid you for a system.
2) I will show up when I say I will show up.
3) I will professionally install the best residential irrigation equipment available - no upgrades, just the best. Like getting a fully-loaded car. (Hunter Professional equipment - Pro-C controller, wireless Mini-Clik Rain Sensor, I-20 rotors, etc.)
4) Cleanup - I don't use a trencher that will wreck the yard and leave a 5-inch wide trench - when I leave the yard, I leave 2.5" wide trench, carefully packed and backfilled, that will grow over within a few weeks.
5) FULL 90-day warranty and availability for questions and help re: the system at any time.

I know many of you have business experience, which is great. I'd love to hear feedback from the business side - but also I'd like to hear feedback from the homeowner's side of things - i.e., what sort of things would you be looking for?

Any advice, thoughts, etc. regarding this matter is appreciated.

Thanks!

Update, pointed out by Jon:
I do plan on having all of the appropriate liscences and insurance that is required. This will be a 100% legal, tax-paying, above-board business.

I will have a signed, legally binding contract in triplicate with all of the pertinent information re: the system, my work, and numbers to call. I will also ask for 50% down, 50% at completion. Is that reasonable?
 
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First off, congratulations on the coming graduation and your industriousness. Many your age (and others as well![;)]) do not have the drive to advance themselves.

Unfortunately, the first thing you have to do in today's business environment is make sure you have protected yourself from your clients. As you have recently seen, making sure you get paid is a priority issue. Additionally, you need to make sure you have the appropriate licenses and insurance coverages for ALL of your business activities, also the appropriate legal separation between you and your business. One mistake, intentional or otherwise, can tie up you and your business for years, and lawyers aren't cheap! Make sure your contract contains binders on both parties so that everyone understands their rights and responsibilities for the completion of the contract.

Your goals are admirable. Every business owner should strive to be the best, your goals show that you have given that thought and accepted that doing everything in a first class manner is not compatible with doing the job the cheapest. Make sure that you follow through on your controllable promises, i.e. showing up when scheduled, completing job on schedule. Don't make promises to a customer that you cannot keep! One unhappy customer is far more expensive than all the advertising or good word-of-mouth you can generate, so make sure they have nothing to complain about.

I wish you the best on this venture (and if you wander up my way, I'll get a bid![:D] My grass is all brown!
 
Joel,

If you have not done selling before, READ a book!!!

Successful businesses start with the customer. You need to determine HOW you will FIND prospects, BEFORE you can tell them why you are worth more than your competition. Do NOT tell people you can advise them on what to buy, even if you don't get the business. This is a Negative statment - avoid negatives. Say instead, "I can select FOR you the best components and install them at a competitive price - I may NOT be the cheapest, but YOU will be THRILLED with your system, when I finish. YOu will NOT have to make DOZENS of phone calls to get me TO finish. AND, your yard will look good when I am done, NOT like a construction site!!!

This is just a small sample, ALWAYS be positive, but assume they will choose you. After all, they are smart and any smart person would realize you are their best choice!!!

FWIW
 
Sounds like excellent advice, Jon and Ed. Ed, do you have recommendations for a book/books to read? I'm obviously not an expert =) but I'm no dummy when it comes to people and I am always willing to learn more.

Any suggestions on advertising methods?

Would you be annoyed by a clean-cut, professional-dressed young man coming to your door or walking through your neighborhood with business brochures?

I do know that word-of-mouth will probably bigger than any other advertising. I plan on having professional signs made, as well, to place in the yard that I am currently working in.
 
Be honest.
Be reliable.
Be accessible.
Confess your mistakes.
Acknowledge what you don't know.
Don't make women feel like you're trying to pull one over on them.

At the end of the day, recognize that everyone operates from self-interest and you won't be able to please everyone. Some people will be jerks and it's not about you.

Julia
 
Joel,

I have never done "door-to-door", always been in "business-to-business".

"Cold calling" a neighborhood MAY be possible on a Saturday in the Spring. Carry a nice brochure as a "leave behind" after you have mentioned to the homeowner with wilted grass that you could HELP them beautify their yard. Yes, a personal conversation is great. What kind of cost is associated with your package? Should you be working with a local bank to provide a "payment" system or can they put it on their credit cards?

Closing a deal on the spot is always nice, to me it reaks of "pressure' and your "buyer's remorse" percentage will be higher. Better to make an appointment or get a phone number for follow up after the "couple" have been able to discuss your proposal. OR don't give exact numbers on your first meeting, tell them you will come back Tuesday evening with a firm quote, what time would be good (or is Thursday better for your schedule?)

You are correct, success breeds success - your signs will generate more business, but the first customers are hard to come by.
 
When your over booked, let people know. I hate when you call a business and they don't call back. Or even keep a up to date phone message Saying that your over booked and not taking any work.

Keep the customer informed. Let them know what's going to happen when, and if there is a delay, let them know. I've delt with contractors who will just up and disapear when something goes wrong. They don't return phone calls, they don't talk to me and they just don't care that the job is going to take a week or 2 longer than they say.

And finally, don't make excuses. As said above, be honest and you won't have to.
 
Joel,

Why only a 90 day warranty? Is that industry standard in your area? Are your parts only covered by a 90 day warranty? If so you could still have a 1 year warranty against any defects in YOUR work.

I am a custom home builder in a town of 50,000. I am one of the most expensive builders in the area due to the quality at attention to detail I put into my homes. All of my work comes from word of mouth since I do not advertise.

ALL of my competition only offer a 1 year warranty. I have a 3 year warranty that is covered in house (not a warranty insurance policy). My written warranty spells out that any manufacturer's product warranty take precedence over mine. In other words, if I install a door in your home that has a 5 year warranty is what we go by. If I install a dishwasher that only has a 1 year warranty, then the same applies. I tend to try to use products with at least 3 year warranties.

It has really helped set me apart from the competition and has helped me got jobs even though I was higher priced. It shows customers that you believe in your work and are willing to stand behind it.
 
I'm not a business person ..... far from it ... but, based upon my experiences ...... here is another suggestion:

Let the potential customer know that YOU yourself will be the one who is actually going to do the job. I hate when "the boss" comes out and talks all about how he's going to do the job ..... only to realize later that it's actually his crew doing the work ..... while the boss is out lining up another job. Know what I mean?

One other thought .... if you're a music major ... isn't there some way of putting your musical ability to work for you? Like, wouldn't you make more money (per hour) by playing a gig somewhere? Or ... giving private lessons? Or, maybe going to some private schools in your area that don't offer music ... and contracting your service to them? Just a thought. [:D]
 
Hey Curtis,
Industry standard by the landscape companies is NO warranty at all.
I have no problem standing by my work - perhaps you are right, 1 year would be a good thing to have. The only thing that worries me about that is that sometimes homeowners like to go out and mess with heads and valves and do funny things to them - and then call back when "something broke" in the yard =)

Re: the parts, the I-20 rotors have a 5 year!!! warranty. The other parts - valves, spray heads, etc., are all at least 1-year, if I remember correctly.

Ed, a moderate sized system will start around $2200 and can get up to $4000 or so for a large, complicated yard. $2200 is about the standard for a new subdivision house, 4 zone, 100% coverage, copper backflow preventer valve, indoor Pro-C controller, etc. I don't want to deal with payment plans unless absolutely necessary. We have always just taken checks here.

Hey Al! Well, I will still play in gigs. A good one will get me $100-125 for a rehearsal and one or two performances (for example, in a brass quintet). The problem with that is getting steady work.
When I do irrigation repair, I make ~$80-100/hr. With installation, I will make decent money (i.e., ~$500+/day if I bid well).

I will definitely keep on top of the music, though =) I still want to teach when I am done with grad school.
 
Originally posted by Tuba707
<br />
When I do irrigation repair, I make ~$80-100/hr. With installation, I will make decent money (i.e., ~$500+/day if I bid well).

I will definitely keep on top of the music, though =) I still want to teach when I am done with grad school.
Click to expand...

You won't make that kind of money teaching [:(]
 
I know it, but there is much more to life than money. My degrees aren't going to make me money, but they will give me the opportunity to forever impact lives.

I just have to PAY for those degrees first =)
 
Joel, Dan Miller is a career coach with books and online info at www.48days.com He also has a call in radio show Sunday evenings where he gives career, business and marketing advice that is also streamed online at http://www.997wtn.com/ I got a lot of good information from his books and also called into his radio show a couple weeks ago. There is a link to past podcasts of the show on his 48days.com website.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation and good luck in your business.
 
Originally posted by Stevej72
<br />Joel, Dan Miller is a career coach with books and online info at www.48days.com He also has a call in radio show Sunday evenings where he gives career, business and marketing advice that is also streamed online at http://www.997wtn.com/ I got a lot of good information from his books and also called into his radio show a couple weeks ago. There is a link to past podcasts of the show on his 48days.com website.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation and good luck in your business.
Click to expand...

Some good stuff here. I get his weekly email newsletter.
 
joel,

1) good choice with Hunter. they are, without a doubt, THE best irrigation company.

2) will you be doing all the installations by yourself? you might get some concerned customers if you're the only one doing the work. especially if you run out of t's or 90's or poly hose or whatever and you have to run out and get more. your time estimates might run a little over. just something to be cautious of, I've done a lot of irrigation work in the past and it always seems to take a little longer than you expect. but, it sounds like you've got a pretty good business plan together.

good luck.
 
Hey Andrew,
I will have 2 other guys working WITH me (not just for me.)
And Hunter is definitely the best. I love the I-20's - they are so durable and you can get the low angle, short radius, and standard nozzles - and they have a built in check valve.... ok, I'm done rambling =)
 
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