soon to start up

[doriety33]

Hello everyone my name is Ray, I am currently in the Army stationed at Ft Drum NY. I will be leaving the military around sept 2014. At which time i plan on starting my own lawn care business in the Cobb county Georgia area. Since I am orgionally from Michigan this will be a real challenge, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Particulary in the funding and advertising area.

[SNethercutt]

Lawn care business tips

First off, thanks for your service. Many of us wouldn't have a business if it wasn't for the men and women like yourself. Also as far as funding. I would say that's hard pressed to come by. Not many banks interested in giving a loan to a company in which there are thousands of. Your best bet have a truck and trailer. Most equipment company's for things as mowers offer 0% financing. Trailers aren't too bad either. 2 grand for 16 ft. Or if you wanna start with a plain lowboy a little over a grand. Advertising is the tricky part. Yellow pages aren't really worth the money. Google is where it is at. I would say find local news letters to home owners from the HOA and see if you can advertise there. The neighborhood I live in sends on out to 10,000 plus homes and its $20 a month.

[doriety33]

Thanks for the advise, It is apreciated. After looking around on craigs list it seems I can buy the trailer, mower and other equipment as a package for anywhere from $4800 to $17000, my ultimate goal would be debt free when I start mowing. My other concern is the time of year I will be getting out of the military, mid to late sept does not seem to be a good time to start a lawn care business. thanks again for your advise.

[patrick6411]

Welcome to the forum! You guys are all true American Heroes!

If I was in your shoes I would start buying now. I know, I know where you going to store it. Send it home or better yet purchase in your home town and have family pick it up. Make sure they know what they are doing when looking at the stuff. Next winter there will be some great deals on equipment. I mainly buy in winter, in fact that's mainly the only time I purchase. Also once you get your equipment write down the make models and serial numbers down, what kind of oil and gas they use, and what you paid for them. I rent my business my equipment. Not for a tax deduction but to recoup my buying fund. I try never ever to finance anything. This enables me to be able to pay cash for everything. When I do have to purchase something new I have the funds for it and most of the time I get a much better deal from the dealers by paying cash.

Just my .02

[Steve]

Welcome to our forum.

You want to get your lawn care business started around sept 2014.

I'd say, save your money. Save as much as you can. Get into the habit of saving. Of having money in the bank and not spending it. Become ok with that.

When you get yourself situated in Georgia, pick up some basic tools and start your marketing.

Will you know anyone in the area you are moving too? If so, see if you can harness them to help you get work. Either have them hire you for lawn care or help you hand out cards to people they know etc.

Keep an eye out for marketing in that area on craigslist to get a feel for the pulse of the area. See what you are competing with and what prices they are marketing.

[doriety33]

I have family that live in the area, who are willing to help get my business rolling.

[Steve]

Oh good, that will make things a lot easier. Once you get in the area, you should get some business cards and flyers made to hand out and hopefully get your family to hand some cards out to people they know as well.

Keep us posted on all this.

[doriety33]

Going for simple lawn care, with some extra services like, gutter cleaning, spring and fall clean ups, thinks like that. The waiting part has been on my mind also, I think I get established and start advertising hard in Feb. I also plan on buying a truck while still in the military so as to have it paid for when I am ready to start. Thanks for your advise, I really appreciate it.

[Steve]

I certainly look forwards to your updates when you get everything going.