Beginner Mistakes
	Here are some things beginners often get wrong: Working by the Hour:  Working by the hour kills any chance to make serious money.  Always work by the job: $20 for this lawn, $40 for that one. Inefficiency:  Slow machines and clumsy, inefficient operations kill your chances at serious money. When using hired help, inefficient operations can actually put you in the red.  The more efficient you are, the more money you make.  Learn all you can about efficiency. Bad Attitude:  Some beginning contractors (especially young ones) regard customers as old fogies or as marks to be ripped off.  That’s a gigantic blunder.  You'll make far more money by cultivating respectful, friendly relations.  Friendly customers work wonders for you and your business. Unreliability:  Nothing infuriates customers faster than erratic service.  Some delays can’t be helped, but strive to provide service customers can set their clocks by. Arbitrary Price Increases:  Sudden  price hikes also infuriate customers.   You can raise prices, but always do so in a spirit of friendly negotiation. Poor Quality Work:   Sloppy work is another good way to lose customers.  You’re a professional.  Your lawns should look as good as or better than any in the neighborhood. Big Spender: Buying a bunch of stuff up front – fancy truck, trailer, mowers, building, and so on  – is a huge mistake.  Buy things only as they are needed and the business has the actual cash flow to pay for them. Executive Mowing:  This is that wonderful scheme where you send out the troops to do the grunt work while you sit home by the pool.  This one belongs in your “Maybe someday” file.  For beginners it’s usually fatal. Homeowner Machines:   Most of us start with machines designed for homeowners.  That’s fine, but buying more of the same when the first set blows up (count on it) is a major mistake.  To name just two of many problems, these machines are hopelessly slow and commercial use will probably void the warranty.  Shift to commercial machines as soon as you can. Hiring “Under the Table”:  This is a giant mistake.  If you’re going to call your help  “subcontractors,” make sure they qualify.  Check with a lawyer or an accountant. Bagging Grass Clippings:  Don’t bag grass clippings, mulch them.  If you cannot avoid bagging, make sure you’re getting premium pay to cover all the extra work. Late Starts/Early Shut Downs:  Students who mow sometimes think the season starts and ends with summer vacation.  Wrong.  As far north as Chicago, the “summer” season is about eight months long.  Miss the extreme ends and you’ll lose both money and customers.
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