Do I really need it?

[Mowin4Dollas]

I will most likely end up only having 10 or so lawns this year and some miscellaneous jobs. I'm 16 so I personally can't get a business license or an insurance policy under my name. Should I make sure that I need this? Also, being so young, how should I market my business to make it more appealing to the consumer? I have a lot of commercial lawn companies in town and a million "1 redneck and a mower companies." I am very big on being professional, as a matter of fact that is something that is very important to me. Business is business, so keep it that way and do it well. Just looking for any tips and tricks you all learned starting up. Also, I am looking to buy a trailer and a new mower. I currently have a 42" Deere L110. It just will not do the job with more than 2 yards. Haha! Should I got with a 5x10 or a 6x10 trailer. Tilt trailer or one with a gate? For my inquiry on mowers, walk behind or zero turn? Pro's and cons. Sorry if my post was a little out of place or if too many questions were condensed into one thread. Thank you!

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

If you can't get insurance, you can't get it. If you can't get a license, you can't get it. With your marketing, I would play up your strengths. Play up what makes you unique. We have seen quite a few students on here who operated their own lawn care business and promoted they were students, saving to pay their way through college. It's very admirable for you to be a student and run your own business. There will be many people who will like that and choose you over someone else if they feel they can help you achieve your goals. As far as commercial customers, I'd say, avoid them now. Stick with residential customers and you will do much better. Commercial customers are going to want insurance, licenses, etc and that would cause you problems. Go after them later when you are older. Does this help?

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[Mowin4Dollas]

Absolutely! What about on mowers? Or should I post that somewhere else?

[LawnCareMan280]

Originally Posted by Mowin4Dollas

Absolutely! What about on mowers? Or should I post that somewhere else?

I am 13 and own a small lawn care buisness because half of are neighbors hate mowing there lawns so I mow most of their lawnsfor them. Mowers I think if you have a lot of trees and a lot of objects in your customers's yard I would reccomend zero turn but If you have less objects to go around I would recommend non zero turn. About your trailer question I would reccomend a gate if you had an open trailer and also I would not recommend is a closed in trailer it just makes your fuel economy go bad towing it but if you don't like to unload it and load it every day get a closed trailer. I hope this helped you sorry if it was to much awensors!

[stevef1201]

Hi this is "Joe Young Lawn Service' as you can see I be here for years to come

That is how you handle being young in this business.

Too young to have Insurance? Now that is a problem, If you throw a rock through a window YOU pay for it (I did a few years ago 357 dollars). How about you get you dad to get the license, insurance, commercial vehicle, and liability, Then you are coverec as a employee. Now before doing this understand that there are legal and tax implications here so talk someone about this. SCORE is a great place to start as these people have the experence and knowledge.

AS for type of mower, That depends on your curcumstances, I would suggest to start out use a walk behind for smaller residential yards, add a sulky for larger yards. You will find that a walk behind is lot more manuverable, than a sit on mower. I would think that if you are doing residential yards a 36 inch would be a good place to start, small enough to get through gates and with a sly large enough to do 1/2 or so yards, also very easy to get on and off to pick up cr-p.

Just my two and half cents worth

[Mowin4Dollas]

Where I live a residential yard is at least an acre. A walk behind is looking better and better every day. Haha!

[brian'slawncare]

I'm 15 and this was my third year in the biz. I'm in the same boat as you as far as insurance and stuff. Just don't be a dumb*** and you shouldn't have an issue. Mow with the chute closed when it looks rocky or people are around. Oh, and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, be extremely careful with your string trimmer, very easy to get someone's eye.

Trailer

I would suggest an open trailer with a gate. Tilt trailers are a pain in the arse, to be honest. Open will be a lot better for fuel economy as previously said. Now , if you will be leaving this trailer outside overnight with all your gear on it, then a box trailer would be a good investment. There is a much lesser of a chance of things getting stolen.

Mower

Ditch your cheap Home-Depot tractor, it will die soon anyway. Get yourself a good commercial walk behind. 36" of 48". You can probably get away with a commercial 48" and a cheap 36" for those few yards with gates. If the yards in your area are fairly open, then maybe make that 48" a ztr - a lot less tiring at the end of the day.

Hope this helps, and good luck