The rain makes it very difficult to get any actual lawn care or landscaping work done.  I have three leaf jobs and two mowing jobs scheduled for today.  Instead of working, I am forced to take down time.

Rainy days like this is what proves you as a successful lawncare entrepreneur.  Sure, it is fun to take time off and just have a "vacation day."  However, when you think about all the jobs that are piling up and how behind you will be once the weather breaks, it really does make sense to make the best use of your downtime.  Although you can't actually service any customers, you can fill your day.

Weather days are perfect to service your equipment.  I like to stay on a strict maintenance schedule with my lawn care equipment.  Servicing includes: changing oil and oil filter, changing hydrostatic fluid and filter, cleaning and changing air filters, sharpening blades, greasing all the lubricating points, tightening bolts, and repairing broken parts.  In addition to servicing the commercial lawn mowers, I also restring the weedeaters.  There is very little that frustrates me more than starting a weedeater and realizing it is out of line.

Rainy days are good to catch up on customer service issues.  These times are great for making phone calls that you have neglected.  If you have a problem customers, it is better to speak with them when you are relaxed and you can take your time to find a solution to whatever the problem happens to be.  It is a good time also to pay visits to your larger customers.  When you are hot and sweaty and covered with grass in the middle of cutting a 10 acre business park is not always a good time to have a business meeting with your client.  However, on rainy days, you can dress in nicer clothes and have a long business lunch with your clients to discuss the renegotiation of next year's contracts.

Finally, rainy days give you a chance to be reflective on your business and to work on your lawn care business plan to help determine where you want to be in the future.  If you think about changing the course of your business by, maybe, focusing on larger business clients or offering a new service to your current customers, rainy days will give you a more relaxed environment to work on your strategy.

Lawn-trepreneurs are always working on their businesses and rainy days are no exception.