🌱 The day the man in orange overalls came to town


"I guess this is the last time you will be mowing that lawn"

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This is what the guy with the orange overalls came over and told me while I was working.

I knew it wasn't his lawn so I was understandably confused.
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So I asked him to explain.

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The guy in the orange overalls went on to tell me that he had just bought a lawn mowing franchise and I was working in his territory

This meant that I would no longer be able to mow the lawn I was working on.

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I was dumbfounded.

Seriously??

I couldn't believe it.
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Now I had to explain that his territory was an agreement between him and his franchise. It had nothing to do with me or my business.

It solely meant that there would be nobody else from his franchise working in that area. (assuming the master franchise would enforce it)

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I suggested that he go home and read his franchise agreement... carefully.

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I saw him a few times after that.

Working away in his orange overalls.

He always looked a bit grumpy when he saw me and never waved back and he disappeared within 6 months.

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One of the first rules of business (and life in general) is that you should NEVER sign any sort of agreement that you have not read and understood.

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If you are looking at buying a lawn mowing business do a bit of research first. I have have sold hundreds of lawns over the years and I have a course on "how to buy a lawn mowing" business inside the membership.

Do this before you run out and buy a pair of orange overalls.

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Talk soon

Stuart

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