<![CDATA[GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum]]> http://www.gopherforum.com The largest collection of FREE Lawn care and Landscaping business marketing material. Home of the GopherHaul lawn care business show. en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:37:46 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.gopherforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum]]> http://www.gopherforum.com <![CDATA[Thoughts, 52" Toro Z Master Comm. 3000]]> http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18857&goto=newpost Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:37:26 GMT So I'm thinking of taking the leap and picking up a brand new 52" Toro Z Master. I'm thinking of going with the Commerical 3000 series ztr w/collection system. Just wondering if anyone has one and what your thoughts on it are? Even if it's an older model how do you like it?

It'll be my first ztr and although every ounce of me says buy used, I'm just sick of break downs and want something that will hold up over the next few years that I can rely on. Thanks for the input gopher!! ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell Lopes Lawn Care http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18857 just ordered a Dixie Chopper http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18856&goto=newpost Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:11:20 GMT Just ordered my first zrt. Magnum 2250. I know its not commercial but it took all the guts I had to spend the $5500. It has a 22hp kawi fs and... Just ordered my first zrt. Magnum 2250. I know its not commercial but it took all the guts I had to spend the $5500. It has a 22hp kawi fs and zt3400's. Fab deck. What appears to be great warranty. It wont be here till a week from friday though. Ugh. 2 more weeks on my home owner rider. ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell t-10yrs2retire http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18856 Trailer park - please help http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18855&goto=newpost Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:55:44 GMT I have the opertunity to bid the mowing at a trailer park. There are 120 lots with the approximate size of 25x60. This is mowing only, no trimming or... I have the opertunity to bid the mowing at a trailer park. There are 120 lots with the approximate size of 25x60. This is mowing only, no trimming or blowing. This is my first 12 month bid, any an all help will be appreciated!
Thanks,
Cody ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job Codymac08 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18855 Hedge Trimming Estimate...HELP http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18853&goto=newpost Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:33:05 GMT I have been asked to bid a hedge trimming job at a condo community. They have a total of 580 hedges/shrubs, 85% are 2-3ft tall with the remaining 15%... I have been asked to bid a hedge trimming job at a condo community. They have a total of 580 hedges/shrubs, 85% are 2-3ft tall with the remaining 15% being taller. Would it be best to price per bush or per man hour including clean up and dump....Any help would be apperciated. ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job thegrounduplawncare http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18853 Hedge Video http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18852&goto=newpost Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:58:00 GMT This was a super-dooper p.i.t.a.

]]> Show Off - Picture Post - Photo Gallery CHEESE2009 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18852 Better a late start then never?!?! http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18851&goto=newpost Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:53:19 GMT Hey guys I am really pretty new to all this, but I am about to start mowing and such in my free time. I do have a full time job but I get off early... Hey guys I am really pretty new to all this, but I am about to start mowing and such in my free time. I do have a full time job but I get off early afternoon so it leaves a good 5 or so hours of work time. I have some good ideas and would like to go full time next season if not before (wishful thinking). I live in Florida and the grass/weeds/trees grow pretty well into November/December. Any advice I could get would help. I have made a CL ad and am ready to sacrifice some free time in order to make this company a reality. I am absolutely no stranger to hard work and already sacrifice my weekends to this job. Any advice from other Florida boys out there? Thanks a lot guys!:D ]]> Starting a lawn care business. MightyandTidy http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18851 Dump Insert Install http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18847&goto=newpost Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:43:32 GMT Going to look at a poly dumper dog insert. I was curious as how to mount it? Bolts thru the thin bed wont cut it. So do you put a piece of channel... Going to look at a poly dumper dog insert. I was curious as how to mount it? Bolts thru the thin bed wont cut it. So do you put a piece of channel across? Or what?

If I do decide to get a dumper. Theres a custom place out of RI that makes them out of steel for $2000. These guys install the dump to the frame. They look to be about the same weight. So only benefit of poly is no rust.

Not a 100% on this I dont like the 800lb payload hit or the year round extra gas cost.

My 1 ton sits with a bed spreader in it all year and has a short bed. The 1/2 ton wouldnt be able to carry squat. That leaves the 3/4 ton F250. I bought a beat dump before and that was a money pit. So I'm not going that route again. ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell SECTLANDSCAPING http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18847 Started two months ago - Status http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18845&goto=newpost Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:54:33 GMT Well we officially started working two months ago. The Trailer still needs some layout work to keep the equipment secure and easily removable. We... Well we officially started working two months ago. The Trailer still needs some layout work to keep the equipment secure and easily removable.

We started with one client that I work full time with - He and his wife seem pretty happy as they had us back for a second month :D

One other person from work had her lawn Killed and re-seeded (Marathon II) and it was being scalped by someone. So I started on it, re-seeded the bare spots and we have grass shots in some areas. Seems the guy who seeded it mixed WAY to much 15-15-15 and I've found white areas of powdered material just below the surface while I was breaking up the surface dirt.

Lots of people have seen my trailer and two have called, converted one into a client and doing a proposal for the second. The could be a re-sod or re-seed not sure of pricing on that one.

Thankfully one the Deacons at Church has been doing this 30 years and wants to retire. He is willing to Mentor me on some of these issues. He is also willing to train the troops as I need them and than just roll into a Drive around Quality Control person. So I'm pretty excited about that.

So we have done some flyers (small sample sets in two areas- Zero calls - So the flyer needs work. I'm listed on YP, Angie's List ( have to get my existing clients to fill out reviews) and need to start pressing the word of mouth.

I did a presentation for the local Pop Warner offering to do a fund raiser for them. I figured $5.00 for weekly and 2.5- bi-weekly donations for paying clients puts me in front of 200+ families.

So currently I'm doing 8 people a month filling in with lawn work after my full time job. Today, I need to sharpen the mower blade and clean out the trailer.

Progress? I believe so.

John ]]> Starting a lawn care business. Solar Lawn Care http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18845 Same Old http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18844&goto=newpost Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:16:35 GMT Thought I'd pop in and say hello. Hope everyone is having a good season. ]]> General Talk http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18844 In the ballpark? http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18843&goto=newpost Sun, 16 Jun 2013 01:21:46 GMT Granted, no one will be able to give me an exact answer on this, but I want to see if anyone experienced in commercial jobs can give me some kind of... Granted, no one will be able to give me an exact answer on this, but I want to see if anyone experienced in commercial jobs can give me some kind of idea.

I went out today to look at a daycare that I need to bid on for lawn care and flower bed cleanup. We estimate that the grass will take apprimately 45 minutes to mow and we'd spend an average of a half hour making sure the lot is cleaned up. We'd be mowing every two weeks.
One weeks between mows we would come by (at their request) and pull weeds from flower beds (this woman HATES weeds) and clean up. We estimate about an hour.
There will be an initial cleanup, which we estimated would take around 3 hours. The place has gotten a little out of hand.

So when I mapped it out for the rest of the year I came up with a total of $1770. $260 for the rest of this month (1 mow, initial cleanup, and 1 between mowing cleanup) and the rest of the year billed evenly at $251.67 per month.

I have never done a commercial bid before... does this sound like it's even in the ballpark? Too high? Too low? ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job smr91481 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18843 TheBrothersList.com http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18841&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:08:06 GMT hello, gopher members! me and brother have formed a business listing company @ www.thebrotherslist.com we invite all gopherforum members to... hello, gopher members!

me and brother have formed a business listing company

@ www.thebrotherslist.com

we invite all gopherforum members to come and list there services and business with us for ( FREE ) that's right we are a free business listing site that will remain free for life for all of ( gopher members ) i have talked to ( steve ) about this.

have a great weekend ! :) ]]> Promote your products or services mac83 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18841 Bobcat Pro Cat with ISO (i hate this mower) !!! http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18840&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:09:48 GMT Worst Commercial Mower I have ever bought ! Ive been in business for almost 10 years. Stay away from Bobcat Mowers all together ! recently bought... Worst Commercial Mower I have ever bought ! Ive been in business for almost 10 years. Stay away from Bobcat Mowers all together !


recently bought (1 week ago) a Bobcat Procat with ISO ride system $8400 mower. Very disappointed in this mower from top to bottom. Its been back to the shop 3 times now for pretty major issues and ive only owned it a bit over a week. Not happy with Bobcat at all ! Don't like the quality of cut, not a comfortable unit either overall. This mower has already pushed out 7 gallons of fuel on customers lawns due to a fuel pump issue, broke a drive belt and broke and arm rest and only has 40 hours on it...........yes 40 hours. Ive owned a lot of commercial mowers Scag, Gravely, Toro and more and ive been the least happy with this machine by far. I paid $8400 dollars for a machine that I am very unhappy with. Not comfortable, not happy with the quality of cut and overall construction is not up to standards with other companies in this same price range. Do not recommend a Bob Cat to anyone. ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell bradsnipes http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18840 <![CDATA[We're all pretty much the same]]> http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18839&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:59:32 GMT Image: http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m25/mad_insane/ducke-breeze_zps72c31a17.jpg ...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg ducke-breeze_zps72c31a17.jpg (55.8 KB)
]]> General Talk CHEESE2009 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18839 <![CDATA[2013 Toro TurfMaster 30" walkbehind]]> http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18838&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:10:56 GMT Looking for a mower today at my local dealer. Just in is this years turf master. The machine looks like a beast. Priced at $1700. Kawa 180cc... Looking for a mower today at my local dealer. Just in is this years turf master. The machine looks like a beast. Priced at $1700. Kawa 180cc commercial, 4mph cut speed, 13guage steel deck, and more. Anyone used this mower, pros, cons?

http://www.toro.com/en-us/profession...sid=turfmaster ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell CuttingEdgeLawnServiceLLC http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18838 Subdivision http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18836&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:42:36 GMT A friend referred me to a developer. I'm meeting with her today to view a new development so I can bid on the lawn maintenance. I did a drive through already and from what I can see there is not much to it. The entry is not much grass at all and I wouldn't even bother taking the self-propelled mower off of the trailer. There are ditches that would probably need to be trimmed on either side of the road. But they only go for about 10 feet on each side. There is a small playground with not much grass. Then there is a patch of grass in the cul-de-sac. There was also mention of mowing the grass of the vacant houses. It's only a two street subdivision and they are in the process of building about five houses right now. The rest look occupied

So what I'm trying to find out is what I should keep in mind when talking to her. I will ask about the scope of work and how often she wants us out there. What else do I need to find out?

On our residential customers, we usually figure it at $60/hr. I assume I'd use the same number here. She has many other subdivisions and rental properties so I want to give a good price and hopefully start a relationship.

Meeting with her in 6.5 hrs so I'd appreciate any advice I could get before then. ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job smr91481 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18836