It’s happened to all of us.  We get a call from a new client.  They have a small office.  They need 6 (count ‘em 6) plants.  You have a minimun charge of $100 per month.  This job is way under that amount at $50 per month.  The client doesn’t want to spend over $50 a month.  Where does that put you?  In the dreaded 6 plant dilemma.

What Do You Do?
Accept the job even though it is below your minimum?  Respectfully decline?  Or, how about coming up with a creative solution to do the job?

First, ask some questions. 

• Is the client planning an expansion at some point?
• Do they have other offices in the area that could also use plants?
• How about a Rental with Service?
• Do they also need Holiday?
• Can the job be subirrigated and seen every other or, even, every third week?

Next, check out the other tenants in the building.

• Are any of them potential clients? Three $50 a month clients in the same location equal a $150 per month job

We all have stories about the $50 a month job that turned out to be a couple of thousands dollars a month as the client added floors then buildings and just grew and grew.   Hey, it happens.  Happened to me, in fact.  One job started out at plants for one floor.  Then the  Company added 4 more floors the next year.  They added another building the following year and another one two years later.  Somewhere in all this they added Holiday both in and out complete with exterior trees being lit.  That tiny one-floor, $50 a month job ended up being a $3,700 a month account plus $60,000 a year Holiday account and the client is still a client!

Do Your Homework
The main idea is to do your homework, get as many facts as possible, and apply some creative problem solving. 

Be Willing to Let It Go
If, after all your work, the job still doesn’t meet your needs from either a logistic or monetary viewpoint, be willing to let it go.  However, still keep half an eye on this "fish".  It may not meet the posted weight limit today but revisit it a year from now.  Why?  Well, just like a fish, it may grow up to be a keeper and the very last thing you want is to regret the "one that got away". 
Good fishing.