Exmark 30in

Originally Posted by rockymtnnut You cannot be serious about cutting for a living or part time and count on using a 21 in mower on a rack behind a truck are you? There is such a thing as the cost of doing business. I am not trying to insult you but your argument against a trailer is without merrit. Quit thinking of this as a hobby and get a little more serious about making it a for profit. Not to mention a bigger mower cuts way higher cut quality. Actually you're wrong. One of the largest companies in St Louis started out with a pushmower and had only pushmowers for a few years. 20 years later, multiple crews, shop, their own mulch yard. Another company that mows here uses only pushmowers. They have multiple crews, have about 200 clients and do quite well. There are a couple guys here that do the same. Gotta love the guys that think their way is the only way and anyone else just isn't serious.

[rockymtnnut]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by JeffK26 Actually you're wrong. One of the largest companies in St Louis started out with a pushmower and had only pushmowers for a few years. 20 years later, multiple crews, shop, their own mulch yard. Another company that mows here uses only pushmowers. They have multiple crews, have about 200 clients and do quite well. There are a couple guys here that do the same. Gotta love the guys that think their way is the only way and anyone else just isn't serious. I dont think my way is the only way but I got tired of being behind the pack. So I looked at the successful outfits and what they were doing and ignored the ones my size and smaller and modeled my business after there's . you would be hard pressed to find a push mower on a Brickman trailer they are the largest landscape lawn maintenance company in the United States. push mowers have their place but a very small place at that.

[rockymtnnut]

I can cut 3 to 4 lawns start to finish in the same time it takes a young man who uses a push mower right next to me. Push mowers don't give the cut quality that a commercial walk behind does. Im not here to say hey look at me im trying to help you not make the beginner mistakes i did. Hey if you live in Cincinnati area I what you to buy push mowers.

[rockymtnnut]

Originally Posted by Ducke

This I find insulting. I am on my 3rd year and still mow with 21'' mowers I did buy a 48" last year but have only mowed with it once. 99% of my mowing is small residential lawns i don't need to waste my money on big mowers and big trailer. just to look big this is how most people get them selves in trouble thinking they are what they aren't, If he doesn't feel comfortable buying a big mower or a big trailer then he shouldn't it doesn't make him any less a business man then anyone else.A smart man invests in his company but only what it can afford in order to grow. I own no one anything if I wanted to quit tomorrow I could sell my gear and walk away with money in my pocket unlike a lot of guys I know that have all the cool tools and equipment but are slaves to the bank. BIGGER is not always better and as for a bigger mower cuts better well that is BullSh1t and anyone who believe that shouldn't be in the business that mowing is a skill yes equipment helps but the best mower in the wrong hands can cut like crap. There I am done that is my rant on this subject. this is part of the reason I stopped come here before people engaging there mouth before checking if their brain is in gear.

Im not here to fight or argue. This forum is "starting a lawncare business" if you want it to be,a hobby then say so. All of my equipment is paid for and it stripes beautiful ive never seen a 21 stripe beautiful not to mention how much revenue can you generate in a day with a push mower.
Try not to take things so personal. We are here to learn.

[rockymtnnut]

Originally Posted by googus

In my projected 10 mile area is 90% cookie cutter houses set on between 7,000 and 10,000 sq ft lots. With many of then with fenced in back yards. I have only a few clients now and use a 21in. I wouldn't call it a hobbie but I don't want to be a huge company if you guys understand. My thought and i could be wrong is if I buy the 30 now/ save money on a 36in with additions/ trailor, then if I get more accounts then invest in a different set up.


I have a local guy that is killing me driving his john deer down the street dropping who knows what on there lawn then putting a million holes in their lawn. Now I know I am new but everything I have read states you shouldn't do both at the same time. Also what kills me he is not registered or license.
Good at working it I guess- I am just to legit and honest.

I don't mind putting money into my business. Just driving a 36in onto my 5.5 bed scares me a bit and just don't see spending the coin/storage on a trailer

from time to time. a lawn gets skipped for whatever reason. when I have to go out and make a special trip to cut just 1 lawn I will use a ram 2500 with a hydro 50 to walk behind in the back of it facing backwards. I use aluminum ramps I back the mower backwards then tie it down with straps this setup works just fine in a pinch. if it were a 48 inch walk behind it would walk right up into the truck. this setup is how I actually got started. so don't worry you can make it work. the ramp I used as a tri-fold ramp that I got from Bass Pro Shops it's aluminum so it's real light but very strong.

[willshome]

most of my lawns are small or with gates. I didn't use my 48" mower once last year just not worth the space on the trailer. I started the year with a 32" walk behind and quickly upgraded to 33" zero turn. You have to think about how long you want to be on your feet per day. When I use a WB all day I am died at the end of the day but, with a z-turn I feel great

[rockymtnnut]

Originally Posted by Ducke

This I find insulting. I am on my 3rd year and still mow with 21'' mowers I did buy a 48" last year but have only mowed with it once. 99% of my mowing is small residential lawns i don't need to waste my money on big mowers and big trailer. just to look big this is how most people get them selves in trouble thinking they are what they aren't, If he doesn't feel comfortable buying a big mower or a big trailer then he shouldn't it doesn't make him any less a business man then anyone else.A smart man invests in his company but only what it can afford in order to grow. I own no one anything if I wanted to quit tomorrow I could sell my gear and walk away with money in my pocket unlike a lot of guys I know that have all the cool tools and equipment but are slaves to the bank. BIGGER is not always better and as for a bigger mower cuts better well that is BullSh1t and anyone who believe that shouldn't be in the business that mowing is a skill yes equipment helps but the best mower in the wrong hands can cut like crap. There I am done that is my rant on this subject. this is part of the reason I stopped come here before people engaging there mouth before checking if their brain is in gear.

I find it odd that you have a 48 and choose to use a 21 do you not have many customer?
With this business plan revenue is not a priority or is it? Please explain how a 21 push is capable of generating more revenue than a 48 walk behind. Your argument flies in the face of reason. The reason i care is other people who are getting started read your reply and may think that is a good business plan you know to make less with less or to have a piece of equipment to get the job done quicker and more efficiently and not use it. once again I hope I didn't insult you . we are all Here to help 1 another.

[ratchetmaster2]

Originally Posted by rockymtnnut

I find it odd that you have a 48 and choose to use a 21 do you not have many customer?
With this business plan revenue is not a priority or is it? Please explain how a 21 push is capable of generating more revenue than a 48 walk behind.

You obviously don't understand what's going on. I guess you live in a rural area that is composed entirely of wide-open, flat properties?
I live in a suburb of Washington D.C.
Most properties are 1/3 acre or smaller. I manage some properties that I literately CANNOT access with a zero turn, walk-behind, etc or anything except a push mower. Lots of the properties I manage have gates that are 36" or more narrow.
I have one property that is raised 4 feet from street level. The entire yard has a retaining wall around it. Tell me how I would get a 400lb mower up a 4foot wall?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by ratchetmaster2

You obviously don't understand what's going on. I guess you live in a rural area that is composed entirely of wide-open, flat properties?
I live in a suburb of Washington D.C.
Most properties are 1/3 acre or smaller. I manage some properties that I literately CANNOT access with a zero turn, walk-behind, etc or anything except a push mower. Lots of the properties I manage have gates that are 36" or more narrow.
I have one property that is raised 4 feet from street level. The entire yard has a retaining wall around it. Tell me how I would get a 400lb mower up a 4foot wall?

There are a crapload of lawns in urban Pittsburgh that have no access for mowers short of carrying one up some steps.
I work alone, so the first thing I ask when a call comes in from certain areas is whether the "lawn" can be accessed without going up steps.

Screw that.

[willshome]

Originally Posted by ratchetmaster2

Lots of the properties I manage have gates that are 36" or more narrow.

Just keep in mind you may need more than one size mower