Is your 2015 still filled with optimism for the future of your green industry business, or are you losing your enthusiasm? Don’t let this year just rush by, because 2015 holds lots of great new opportunities for your business. Start planning now for your business’ success. Below, I’ve laid out 5 opportunities to make your business even better this year.
1. New services: mosquito, ant and tick services
Adding mosquito, ant or tick services to your roster can land you some great revenue. Tick services pay quite well, starting at over $100 for a one-time application, and can land you even more money if customers sign up for 3-season or monthly sprayings. Mosquito spraying can be even more lucrative because it needs to be done even more often: every 14-21 days, depending on the type of application. Customers seeking these services may choose you as their lawn maintenance provider if you service them well, winning you valuable new clients.
2. Training Programs
Invest in your employees this year and make your green industry business flourish. Recognize your workers as the asset that they are and develop them. Set up training schedules and charts that show what your employees have been trained in and where they are doing exceptional work. Cross train them in customer service and sales to get the most out of each worker. Show them that you value them and that you are providing them with useful education and experience that will benefit not only you, but them as well. If your employees are doing an amazing job, your customers will value your services more, helping you attract and retain more customers. Training is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss.
3. Sales
Without good work in sales, you can’t have a business. This year, focus on training everyone at your company to be a great sales representative for your business. Your workers are representing you all the time. Why not train them to do it well and win new customers? Train your employees on how to speak with customers and suggestive sell more services. Roll play to make sure they can sell in a comfortable, helpful way, rather than a pushy, sales-y way. Train your employees to educate customers and potential clients about your services and green industry practices. Don’t forget to supply them with company cards or fliers to provide a way for these leads to call in. Friendly, helpful suggestions can lead to extra revenue and new clients. Let everyone know that only a small percentage of those contacted will follow through and get your services.
4. Measure profit and losses on each job
Have your employees create profit-loss statements for each job your crews do. As your crews calculate how much each job is costing the company, they will begin to ask important questions like, “How can we reduce overhead?” Getting your workers to care about the little costs that add up so quickly will make you more efficient and more profitable. Also, workers will feel like the company is more “theirs” in a healthy way, which leads to higher moral and productivity.
5. Differentiate yourself from the competition
You will always hear some of your leads say, “Well, company X will do the job for less.” That’s why you have to make yourself the clear choice based on some other factor. Develop a valuable aspect of your business and then market it. Maybe you are the best in quality workmanship, or perhaps your business is always reliable and on-time. Emphasize an aspect of your business that is easily understandable as an important asset to prospective clients. Don’t just say that you have great customer service. Instead, say that you always have a live phone representative available to assist them and that your business has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Make yourself the clear choice based on your merits, not low prices.
If you take advantage of even 1 of the opportunities above, you are sure to grow your business in 2015. Keep your optimism and standards high. Plan and expect great things for your green-industry business. Invest wisely in marketing and training to see healthy returns in your growth and revenue. Don’t let the competition beat you to these opportunities this year.
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