Wondering if i am doing something wrong.

Rio_Grande · Jun 12, 2012

We took off like gang busters with the skid steer brush mower. But it only lasted a week. All the jobs we have done have met or exceeded the expectations of our customers. We haven't gotten every bid but the bulk of them. All of a sudden it was like someone turned the phone off. We are running 2 newspaper ads working the word of mouth thing and may be doing a break even job in a high profile location where we can put up a sign. Can you offer any more advice on getting the phone to ring?

igpoobah · Jun 12, 2012

Maybe you burned through the pent up demand already?

pjbci · Jun 12, 2012

Hang in there as long as u can but when it starts cost u to own it, drop it like a hot potato. Dont go broke like I did in the trucking industry years ago.

qball98 · Jun 12, 2012

Since you don't say where you are located this may not apply. If you are in a part of the country like I am where it's hot and everything is burned up people are not spending time outside. When the weather is like it is here they just don't care about having anything done they don't have to.

texasjohn · Jun 13, 2012

from your handle, can only assume you are in South Texas....might expand your personal profile

not sure what all services you provide...but in south texas shredding brush is not always a bright idea...comes back worse and more sprangly than before unless followed up with other brush control methods...

Might tie your service into recommendations from Texas AM's Brush Busters recommendations in your advertising...hope your service does match those brush control recommendations...

Rio_Grande · Jun 13, 2012

Qball we discussed that today. It was alot nicer weather when we started. Now it is what we call hay weather 80+ by noon!

I am in Southeastern Indiana. My Handle is the model of my first Jeep.

The equiptment is already paid off but for a bit on the skid steer and I am not going to let it go back. I use it to much for things other than business. That said, while I wont go broke, I need to keep working.

yellowdogsvc · Jun 13, 2012

Rio_Grande said:
Qball we discussed that today. It was alot nicer weather when we started. Now it is what we call hay weather 80+ by noon!

I am in Southeastern Indiana. My Handle is the model of my first Jeep.

The equiptment is already paid off but for a bit on the skid steer and I am not going to let it go back. I use it to much for things other than business. That said, while I wont go broke, I need to keep working.

I believe everything comes in cycles. If you are truly doing a good job at a fair price, then you will get the work. Staying is business, as you know, is more than having work. I have seen plenty of "busy" contractors go out of business.

Pick up a book called Guerilla Marketing. There is one for conventional marketing and Internet marketing. It's a good read and will help you get your name out there.
It doesn't hurt to pray. I believe in provision and blessing and it can't hurt to ask for help to stay busy.
Offer to do some charity work when you can. You may end up working for the board of a church who may have 9 or 12 members who will then know your name. If you have a rural agricultural extension office, let them know what you do. Talk to the contractors working the railroad rights of ways. It's a lot of work, long hours, and you load and unload the machine a lot but I have been told that the money is good and have been approached to mow those crossings.

sfloggie · Jun 13, 2012

Rio Grande,

A short term fix is to find out who does the power line brush clearing and gas line. Then try to sub to the Prime contractor. This will keep uou in cash flow, and show you the best way to bid on this work.

Another is to ask the local log mil if there is a local tract that is having trees cleared or thinned. Then contact the logger or landowner to see if you can do the clean up.

All of this is assuming you are talking about a Forestry Mulcher. If mower, it would be the first one only.

Jim

DIRTROAD · Jun 13, 2012

yellowdogsvc said:
It doesn't hurt to pray. I believe in provision and blessing and it can't hurt to ask for help to stay busy.

GOOD ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

:thumbsup:

Rio_Grande · Jun 13, 2012

Yellow ordered the book!

The only thing that concerns me is if we are offering a fair price. We are bidding at 100.00 an hour. I am not sure if that is fair or not. Nobody has balked yet. But I don't really mention the hourly rate I just try to bid the whole job.