Research before the plunge! He

[w0283767]

I would work for another lawn care company if I could but I have a different situation. I have a good job in banking and want to do this mainly as a hobby and to make a few extra bucks on the weekends. I enjoy the outdoors and miss working outside sometimes. That is why I am holding off until next year. I could buy the truck and equip now if I wanted but am not in a rush. Thinking I can get better deals on a used ztr this winter. I have a lot of contacts through banking and can get commercial clients from my network but want to make sure I am ready and comfortable with equip.

[PineHillLawn]

Lawn care business tips

Everyone wants to look professional right outta the gate. But no one, hardly ever, just walks into a full set up and has all the best of the best. Start slow and work your way into it. Start immediatly. Do a craigslist ad for your area, and make two or three ads and keep reposting them daily. Make up flyers and door hangers and hand them out in your spare time. Get a couple of shirts made with a logo and name. These are all inexpensive ways to market yourself in the beginning. Don't worry about the guy driving next to you in a $40k truck with 3 ZTR's and a walk behind on the trailer. Bet you money he didnt start that way. Focus more on the absoulute best quality you can do and it will pay off. Quality not quantity is key when starting. If you do sheit work, you wont have to worry about getting more jobs. Be smart and don't lowball, be competitive but not don't sell your efforts short. And by all means know your costs. Knowing how much you have to make to just break even is essential to staying on the road and not becoming a "fly by night" outfit.

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Last edited by PineHillLawn; 06-21-2012 at 04:06 PM.

[w0283767]

Very insightful. Thanks for the info.

[w0283767]

I appreciate your insight as well. I am on this forum to learn so I don't want or need any advice to be candy coated.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

I wouldnt start anything without a truck.

You mention snow removal. Even to shovel someones driveway you need 4x4 to get there. Theres no money in shoveling anyways, for that matter doing driveways.

And for leaf cleanups the blow it in the woods jobs are few and far between. The majority want them hauled off.

If I had a good paying office job I wouldve stayed there. This business is cutthroat. If you tell a client on tuesday you cant do it till saturday you wont get the job. If your working just weekends youll be lucky to cover your expenses.

[Hedgemaster]

Who needs a truck? How about a Buick?




No, I didn't find this on the interwebs, I see this guy working when I'm out on my Friday route. I took the pic a week or so ago while at a stop sign.

That "trailer" looks like something you'd see in Mexico. LOL!

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

That "trailer" looks like something you'd see in Mexico. LOL!

lol... If he had a truck he wouldnt even need that crummy trailer for the equipment he has.