My Lawn Business Customer DID NOT Pay? My Thoughts

[@FloridaTurfPros]

This is an outstanding video.. Recently ran into an identical situation myself with a no paying customer.. You're right, we can't just a business based on a few bad apples. Thanks, Jason!

[@straightfromthefield7244]

What happened to you eventually happens to all companies in this industry at one point or another. How one handles it is what determines if there will be peace or chaos. Your points on being respectful are spot on. I enjoy your videos.....keep 'em coming.

[@lawncarelife]

+Straight From the Field thank you. Good to hear from you

[@MrTonyharrell]

Dealing with the public, you'll get everything.

[@kirkdehart7282]

Thank you for these videos. I’ve been in business for 17 years and am still learning. Two of my four sons work for me ( sometimes I think I work for them lol) and will be encouraging them to watch these as well. Would really enjoy meeting you sometime and “shop talk” :.

[@darinness]

thank you for your encouragment. when i have had a bad week or day in the mowing field i find you inspiring. thank you and God bless

[@GodsChild-qn6kp]

My customers love the quality of work i do,some just avoid paying me😪they say its under the mat,not there.no one answers the door,but there home lol.i forgive them and take it as a loss and never come back.

[@greenpea9412]

Just started watching some of your video's mainly because I need a mower and I'm seeing what people use. Anyhow I think your a good guy and I like the way you handle your business.

[@hitech98]

I would add this. All new customers.. Get credit card info & run the card after the job is complete. Its totally fair. Billing is a privilege not everyone deserves.

[@groovygrover190]

Eff people

[@freeagent6203]

I take it a step further. I charge when I pull up before I start work. What if its a bad card? What if there are no funds on the card? What if it get declined for any other reason? You are screwed and have no leg to stand on.

[@mslawncareandlandscaping146]

I like your channel I started watching your channel a week ago but customers that don't pay just leave it in God's hands the man up above knows you worked hard and karma will come back to the customer and you will get blessed somewhere with extra money to make up for your loss

[@jbird5211]

Prepaid man. They don't pay. I don't cut. Keeps the cash flow coming in. People pay late. They can go. Plenty of other good paying customers out there. The days of the handshake and promise to pay are dead. I been in cellular sales and customer service for 20 years which is why I own my lawn care business. I've seen it all which is why I run my business the way I do. Too many entitled deadbeats out there that think they can rip off the lawn guy. We all need to stand up to that crap. We work hard for our money to feed our families.

[@bofkaycee1970]

Seriously, I went out of town for a week and my customer tried to cheapass my fill in guy. His grass didn’t get cut. I’ve got another guy that should be running outside pretending he was having a hard time connecting with me to pay up... the last 10 weeks. Needless to say, I’m having a hard time continuing. We’ve had a relationship for nearly 10 years. Continual payment issues but always paid up before I start the new season, so, I keep doing it knowing he can’t do his own yard.

[@Velvethamma]

Always someone looking for a freebie

[@ledfoot2057]

Here in Florida we do all our accounts as a monthly service all year around, I bill all customers a month in advance due by the 1st of the month and I have most accounts on automatic bill pay from there Bank accounts and a few still leave cash or a check under the Door matt.. Ben doing it this way for 15 years now..

[@mixingreen]

Hi Jason, I have a very similar business as yours. I offer lawn cutting as well as lawn spraying. I love your videos, you come out and share your thoughts without a script. About customers who do not pay, If you have had only 1 bad apple out of 276 thats great. I have had about 5 just last year that screwed me out of several months of service and Im at around 175 clients. " Now I have a rule, I actually stop service if 2 months are due. ( no exceptions) But I must say , You are right when you remain cool and calm and respectful. Ive had some bad encounters over my thirty years of service that ended up in fights, cop calls and never ending threats. Not once did any of those methods end up in a payment. Just ended up in more stress. I just say thank you for your business and move on. If a check comes great , if not you dont want a customer like that anyways.

[@digginupastorm]

You are a stand up guy! Wish there were more, especially in our industry! I have a very hard time being as nice.

[@lawncarelife]

+Justin Burtner thank you for the kind words

[@chrisedward7659]

I've been thinking about starting my own lawn business and to tell you the truth your situation crosses my mind all the time and I think what would I do actually what can I do I think don't do nothing and just let it go that person will get his one hundred foe in bad luck and you will get 100 foe for the better all in good time

[@buddyphelps7281]

i get paid up front before i cut one blade of grass, cash money, i do not take checks or credit cards, it's a cash deal, and i have all the business i can handle, no cash no cut, just the way it is, busy here in N.C.

[@buddyphelps7281]

they can pay me in advance if they want it cut, hey if they want me to trust them, i think it only fair they trust me, by the way i have never had a complaint, i do great work, very neat, always give them a great job, guess that is why i stay very busy, sometimes i hire a extra help for the mulch jobs, for me this has to be a cash business.

[@sausagefingers666]

My dad always wanted to pay his landscaper up front as well. He would always leave the cash in an envelope on the property somewhere (like inside the grill) for the landscaper.

[@DoctorRickSanchez]

@Tod Wilkinson Cashapp works for non available customers and its easy.

[@beowolf19751]

Great guy and businessman!

[@joe4hirelawncare497]

I found that when I used to work selling car parts. Some customers just get mad over stuff and won't tell us why they were upset. Just focus on the good customers

[@chrislynch265]

What do you include in your spring cleanup

[@msulli1971]

Some customers always try to find a way not to pay.

[@1anthonybrowning]

A favorite quote from a friend of mine is "it takes a special kind of person to deal with the public".

[@lawncarelife]

That is one of the challenges of a service business

[@davetires7300]

communication is always Key w the customer,they should always give ya the chance to make it Right Cant please all the ppl all the time, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK🤓

[@wh8085]

I like your positive attitude Jason . IMHO, the guy most probably didn't have a complaint with your work but more likely he is just one of those people that use other people to their own purpose . He will probably do the next guy the same way. I simply say a prayer for those type guys and move on . People that do that are cheating themselves out of integrity . Just keep on keeping on 8)

[@nman2563]

He probably did not have the money for the last payment and was looking for an excuse to avoid paying it. You handled the situation well.

[@karlcox9199]

Had the same experience with one that didn't pay

[@keithmitzel3844]

Happened to me it's hard cause I did the work they hired me but they wont pay what's the recourse

[@jimmcilroy5408]

if customers don't pay you don't do their lawn until the customer pays you

[@daw162]

A reasonable customer pays you for the service, tells you that it's not up to their standards and then asks you to not come back. I have zero respect for people who think that it's appropriate to take up your time and then decided later that they think that you didn't do a good job. (I'm not a lawn care customer or lawn care guy, but do sell stuff from time to time - uncommon things that take some expertise to sell, and find that the type of person you were dealing with is usually someone who applies different standards to their behavior than they apply to someone else's.)

[@lawncarelife]

+David W I completely agree with your first paragraph. I don't like being fired but I really don't like being fired and not getting paid

[@Bellislawns]

I wouldn't even sweat this guy. Its clear its on him and not the service provided. True clients won't problems fixed and appreciate a business that works to fix things. His real intentions was to get some free service...good riddance!

[@boutcha1]

I could sure use a guy like you at my place. I have M.S. and my wife can't keep up with our yard. Our mower is breaking down and we have no way to afford another. We got 2.5 acres too.

[@LanceSheppard]

some customers really take advantage of the satisfaction garentee I have learned.

[@kkutube1972]

It suck, but we always need to keep it professionals because you never know how many friends and families they have. I always treat the 2 that don't pay with a friendly smile but I will never cut their grass again unless, at a higher rate. It is part the of business. Rental business is even worst.

[@dirtlint8311]

very good story

[@prolawn9057]

very good video brother. always remain professional. you know the quality of your work and out of 100 customers if 1 is bitching then it's obviously him not you.

[@craigflatters9933]

Top video mate.

[@Jasha333]

excellent video

[@joe4hirelawncare497]

Good video, keep up the good work

[@joecoelho7030]

Sucks when people don't pay! All my customers prepay or I collect the day of the service. I used to have a commercial lawn service always had to chase money down especially hoa properties run by property management company they were the worst slow pays.

[@stevenvandensen967]

Basically, what I do is I'm polite, I tell them I would take them to court and I remind them that they will have to pay the court costs, take a day off work what they probably won't get paid for and that when I go is the way the boss will find out and they buy, pay me

[@benjamindavis5762]

One thing that gets me about this video...why do the ones you love say eeewwww! This is nasty, taste this?? I have always wondered that one

[@nunyabiznis817]

One too many drinks, eh?

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

Residential lawncare? Prepay with CC or DC or Paypal.

[@JoeDoe2]

How many employees and major pieces of equipment do you 'run' to service 270 customers? You must have a great office manager to handle all that while you keep up the channel. What city are you in? Your accent sounds Texan more than anything from Alabama. How many years did it take you to get to 270? How much faster would you say it grew each year based on your expertise in fertilization and weed identification and killing?

[@zachdoris5067]

I just found out today that a check from a customer bounced and it cost me $500 things like that are the reason small claims court exist a lot of guys can't afford to lose money like that

[@Sarge4419]

Lot of people don't know but a lot of times you can go to your local courthouse and file a bad check warrant. They either pay or get charged for it and their situation gets a lot worse.

[@jeffstanley4593]

If you are a lawn professional you tell them up front what is wrong and your plan to correct it. Your whole plan, they can select any part of it. If they choose certain parts but not the whole plan then something is not going to work out. So, if they choose part of the plan, then you say another part will not be fixed. If you do this and not that, then you get this. End of story. But, working with the public SUCKS.

[@twosencefromcleveland6084]

I will usually work one job back with most people. Cheap lesson. If they want you back, accept the owed payment and then raise the rate and demand pre payment. Only fair.

[@josh-e3j]

What I always look at in this position is the majority of people that are fair and pay to the ones or one that doesn't says a lot about those type of people. If you have an apple tree full of good apples but only 3 or 4 that are rotten there's a reason for that its not the trees fault it's the elements that done the harm over time. (Personal issues) Some people have premeditated thoughts that have happened long before you've ever came along and to them your just another sucker they fooled. I personally think that there are people out there that take advantage of our services that simply try to get a freebie out of us and do it again and again. I had a gentleman do me the same last year spoke to me with the most friendliest demeanor even mentioning he was gonna pay me but in the end was nowhere to be found when the time came. Gosh I hate when these types of things happen but like you said it's part of business you really gotta have a good read on people to know their true intentions

[@nunyabiznis817]

Anyone who says "I'm gonna pay you" is not going to pay you. That's how you read people.

[@hunkydude322]

i think thats this business just goes with the territory, you'll run across some jerks now and then., but just keep moving on, like u said a jerk or two wont break you, good luck, good video.

[@triumphovertragedy7860]

That's all it takes, is ONE!!

[@nunyabiznis817]

To put you out of business.

[@mrthomas03]

I'd call other lawn guys and warn them about no payers. suggest they refuse their business or get payment up front.

[@unleashedrider4309]

thank God my trade doesnt rely on repeat business. only 20% at most will ever return.

[@urinator4464]

We should make a website for people who don't pay and put there mugshot on it.

[@nunyabiznis817]

Already been tried in this and many other industries. It is illegal and that is why they do not exist. However, you could make a secret database to share with other businesses and it may never get found out.

[@KingLeBronTv]

That's why you charge for a year. Create a contract that not only covers services but instances where people are unsatisfied and how they would be handled come on you guys are the pros you should know that. If your customer can't pay upfront you still create to contract make them adhere to the contract and always have a paper trace

[@scottodonahoe9505]

200.00 to file for small claims court where I'm at . 200.00 plus time off to show in court to get 60 bucks is not a great play but most of the people that try this shit know that you will not fight . File , show up and you will get your money ! File fees + cost of your time ! Real estate people are the worst !

[@hallaw9064]

No, he must give you an opportunity to fix and get paid!

[@bigpicturethinking5620]

I am a business owner but nothing related to lawn care. The public can be the best and worst part of any business.

[@BigDish101]

File a contractor's lien on the customer's property...

[@nunyabiznis817]

That would cost way more than $100 and is not always legally binding.

[@junaid3419]

Sounds like the customer could have been prejudice

[@johnkurtich7040]

Your like me and care to much. I have been not paid three times in 22 years. We do not offer spraying but one thing I could suggest from what I hear from customers is this. People think because they hire True Green the Lawn Doctor or whoever there lawn will be thick green grass. I would write up something to explain if you only have weeds your yard will look worse. Explain you offer service to first get there yard to the point it needs to be first then maintain it . I hear all the time my yard looked better before I hired them when really there weeds just looked green and when they were treated they have just dirt.

[@lawncarelife]

+John Kurtich good thoughts. I agree that setting customer expectations is important

[@therrienmichael08]

One way or another they would pay...

[@chrisburnsed6349]

Three words...... round up concentrate.

[@amznprime5145]

People who take advantage of Jason just make me ANGRY

[@ted_cori3724]

I dont bill anyone .Check or cash by the 5 th of the month.If everyone in the business does the same they have no choice

[@nunyabiznis817]

But the problem is there are so many people in this business that will work for nothing and be satisfied with not getting paid for weeks or at all because they are desperate for any money at all. They eventually go out of business but there is another fool just around the corner to take his place.

[@TheWolverine-rm2kr]

Peel out in there front yard lmao

[@williamstanley4960]

Cheap and Difficult people are BAD customers. With respect to my yardwork business, cheap and difficult people are what I call Not-My-Customer. When a person tells me they are not satisfied with my service, I tell them they do not owe us any money. You either give me a ten on a scale of 1 to 10, or we did not dazzle you. This lets me know one of two things about the person: 1. They are lying. This is most likely, and it is usually financial; sometimes they really are just jerks who love to steal, kill, and destroy. 2. They are mentally deranged. Anyone who is seriously not dazzled by my results has serious mental issues, and should be considered unpredictable and dangerous. My work is that good!

[@porterwallace9541]

its so sad to think that some people are actually this shity. I've had an encounter like this too.

[@ccww9]

Yeah, I'm sure your service that day was no different than any other day. How all of a sudden is it not satisfactory? Some people can never be pleased.

[@GrassDaddy]

Some people have unrealistic expectations of lawns.

[@nunyabiznis817]

That's not it in this case. People like this customer, who never say anything until the end (basically eat 75% of the meal then complain) are basically thieves and should be prosecuted. Unfortunately in this day and age of the internet, one person can ruin your whole business with a few bad reviews on Yelp, Google, etc.

[@breeze787]

I'll bet your customer ran into difficult financial problems and he's probably got a foreclosure on his hands. I'd knock on his door and ask if he'll let you do his yard for free. A person doesn't turn into an ass overnight. Something traumatic has occurred that has made him have to resort to not paying you. Anyhow that's how I would deal with it. By doing it for free you are not expecting anything back. But what goes around comes around and you in turn will be rewarded.

[@nunyabiznis817]

You are a fool. His money problems are no concern of yours or any other business owner. If he cannot afford to pay for services, then he needs to do it himself. His actions are intolerable and his "problems" do NOT absolve him of any moral agency WAHTSOEVER!

[@LawnStars]

You should have punched him in the mouth 😛

[@keithmitzel3844]

It's not your fault they just are nasty people but what you sow is what you reap they cheat us they will be cheated

[@dgilbertbigd]

He is just cheap

[@iamswoll]

I would add this. Hire Americans, and buy American!!!!!!

[@nunyabiznis817]

WTF does that have to do with the subject of this video. But since you are on the subject, I would trust a hard-working Peruvian illegal alien before I trust a "fellow" American. I am against illegal immigration, but most Americans are lazy and liars. This comes from 45 years of running various labor-intensive service businesses. If I spot a Peruvian that needs work, I will hire him in a heartbeat. American? Well, for them I have to spend money on background checks and employment history checks and references. Fuck that.

[@Baron-nv1ez]

Go back to his house at night if there are no security cameras and spray Herbicide on his/her lawn. The king that kills both weeds and grass.