Every so often one of your clients will ask if you can take care of their plants at a location just a bit too far, or at a distance from your usual service area.  Instead of saying "no", consider subbing the service out to another plantscaper (non competitor).  Make sure they bill YOU, not the client.  Then, you add on a %, say 20-25% for your management and you bill the client each month.  The charge to you should include replacements so you have no out of pocket costs.

You will need a brief contract with the sub.

However you set it up, this is an opportunity to give your client additional service and make a few bucks on your own.

I know nothing about vehicles but, over the years, I learned just how important it is to have someone who does be responsible for ongoing care.  Poor tire pressure, missed oil changes, and poor wheel alignment can suck $$ in higher gas use.  Same goes for vehicle appearance.  Dirty vehicles whether yours or your techs give your company a terrible image. 

Appoint someone to be in charge and put everything on a schedule whether it is maintenance or washing.  I suggest cutting a deal with a local repair/maintenance shop to get discounts.  This can be argued as "given business" so a discount is to their advantage.  Also ask that they notify you of Specials, Tire Sales, and the like so you can save even more.  Do this for the company gas card as well.  It may be that you can let them have your vehicles for service on "off" times.  Another way for a Win/Win situation.  Then, relook at this arrangement every year or so.

And, while we are talking about vehicles, look at the graphics on vehicles.  Is your web site prominently displayed?  800 or  regular phone number?  On the other hand, unless you are a retail location, you do not need to take up space listing your address.  Instead, a line stating your geographic area would be more to the point.

Lastly, check out insurance coverage and consider bidding it out every few years as well.  Now, go get ‘em, Nascar drivers.

Has there ever been so much weather related upheaval as we’ve seen recently?  Here in the US it has been called Snowmaggedon as record breaking anounts of the white stuff has covered the East Coast and Midwest not just once or twice, but,  several times.  In California it has been rain and wind and mudslides.  So far here in Las Vegas, we have already received the amount of rain we normakly see all year!

For ’scapers,taking care and transporting live plants is one hassle, but what about schools called off, roads blocked and power outages?  What about techs who cannot get to work or, if they do, cannot reach accounts?  Sure, it could be much worse, just look at the earthquake damage that struck Haiti and Chile.  Trouble is that it could happen hear in the US as well. 

So, once again I urge you to put a Disaster Plan in place.  What if, what if  and what if.  Think the worse case scenario and hope you never have to use it. 

Every so often it is important that you review your vehicle and other insurance packages.  Times are tough and it just might be that you can get the same or better coverage from another company hungry for your business.  Or, maybe you have better driving records in place.  Get competitive quotes.  It is worth the time and effort.  Time we were on the other end of that stick, huh??

Hmmm.  Wrote the above blog some weeks ago.  Then I had dinner with several interior scape buddies who were in town for a meeting.  Dinner talk came around to the topic of insurance and several recounted tales of discounts on vehicle and other business insurance as well as reduced lease prices for their facility.  Yes, in the latter case they had to extend the length of the lease, but, their attitude was it was a win/win situation.

So, get on the phone, schedule that meeting with landlord or agent and get some savings!!  The worse thing that can happen is that they say, "No".  Then you can either stay or get other quotes.  What’s good for the goose, etc.