[Nebraska]

As a primarily maintenance company we have referred a lot of our landscape inquiry's to a landscape install company and have been paid 3-5% of each job completed. We found ourselves keeping more of the 1-2 day projects.

If one were to start more into it..? I am getting the maintenance more on auto pilot with good employees and good systems in place. Maybe I am looking for more "punishment".

I enjoy the walls (the actual creation of something) yet it is "back-breaking" work.

Is there a smooth way to make an entry....like say specializing in retaining walls and pavers?

I am attending a seminar next week on Pavestone and Anchor.

Quite honestly the work that some of you guys do (from pictures that I have seen) is mind boggling amazing.

Maybe it would be best to negotiate a higher referral fee and just sit back?

[Stonehenge]

Originally posted by Nebraska
Maybe it would be best to negotiate a higher referral fee and just sit back?

Depends on what you want to do.

'Smooth entry'....Pavers and walls would be jumping in with both feet, but I don't know how else to do it.

"Do or do not. There is no try."

Or at least, 'there is no smooth entry'

I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of the fire station work Paul's guys have been working on. I was going to try to get some pics when I was down for MidAm, but ran out of time. That looked like an amazing project.

But to get into it, beginning with seminars is a good idea, followed up quickly by some small projects at your own home or some willing guinea pig's, to test your knowledge.

Base prep is the biggie; get that down and a good portion of the other stuff is window dressing.


Jeff

[Nebraska]

If it doesn't snow I'll go to the seminar. I like the actual creation but I also like money to flow in with little or no effort even better.....

Like I said I can't get over how amazing some of the work that you guys do. Artists!

[diginahole]

Ya know, 3 or 5% for a phone call is a pretty sweet deal, and you won't get any blisters dialing the phone.

I also think the seminars are a good start. I still go every year and I've been at it 19 years.

[Paul]

Why 3%-5%, we upcharge 10%-15% for all subcontractor work. He wouldn't pay the bill, the homeowner would, a $10,000 job to you would cost the homeowner $11-11.5 K and it would leave the subcontractor with the full $10K.

[Stonehenge]

True, but if I understand Nebraska correctly, he's not doing any designing or selling. He's just forwarding a lead.

I like to build things. I guess I have a hang-up that I want there to be evidence of my existence after I'm gone. That plays a role in some of the decisions I make in this vein.

But if I didn't have that hang-up, and could generate enough leads to forward to peers for 3-5% to pay my way, I'd sit back and .

[Nebraska]

I'm doing nothing except forwarding a lead to the landscaping company and talking highly of the landscaping company...they have a better in since we are doing the maintenance (at least in most cases we hope). When they refer me let's say a mowing account we will pay them around $60. Quite honestly I think I have the better deal since my revenues are generated year after year from that one referral.

It's fun to sit back but my wife is a freak about any kind of smoking.....Cigars have to be done far away from home and I have to be fumugated afterwards before she'll even let me in the house. Needless to say the back deck is for bottled beverages only (don't even ask about how she feels about cans!).

[Stonehenge]

Sounds like you're right - you are getting the better end of the deal. I wouldn't be giving up 3-5% of my work just for forwarding a phonecall.

Well, if you decide to jump in, you know where you can find us....

[Nebraska]

The design factor is where I would fall flat on my face!