If you are just starting - try this, it works a charm.
Say you reckon it's a $45 lawn - on the flyer put "first mow $30 including edges, pavements, clippings caught and Quotation for regular service" (excludes overgrown lawns)
Pros - you get paid to quote on a job that you know exactly how long it takes to mow. No wasted time doing dead quotes.
- the customer meets you properly and you get to suss them out too, you leave them with a good impression and a beautifull lawn.
-do the "sell" and leave them with some fridge magnets for thier friends
-save buckets on advertising, and get only the properties you want in the areas you want. I have plenty of streets with multiple neighbouring customers = less time in the truck.
Cons - there is a chance you might get "used up" by someone who only wants the offer, but $30 is better than $0 sitting at home. If the place is really dodgy, you may be 'too busy' to do it for a while, which means it may get overgrown (excludes overgrown lawns).
Try it - the books will be full in no time!