Need big time help

Just got back from my meeting with my VR counselor and have the info I will need to get assistance. I am to provive a detailed business plan so they can decide if the will fund my new business. -Description of proposed business -Market analysis(including proprietry features of the products of services and target customers) -Marketing Plan (advertising and promotion) -Finacial Plan(Breakeven analysis, cash flow analysis,balance sheet, plan for bookkeeping identification of loans and finacial assistance) - Operating budget -Analysis of needs for initial inventory or equipment -Legal issues, such as zoning or licenses -Analysis of possible risks and competition from similar existingbusinesses -Implementation schedule I know this is alot of questions to be answered but I really need help so I can get this going......Thank you everyone in advance for your help FYI I live in Kansas

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi makbootzy, No sweat! You are in luck! I have at least 10 sample business plans already on the forum here. Look through a couple and then fill out your own information. Then when you are done, post what your answers and I will look through them for you. Let me know if you have more questions.

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Greenview Superior Business Plan


Greenview Superior is an owner operated busness with years of personal experiance in lawn maintenance. I am dedicated to having a beautiful and healty lawn. I plan to offer the same amount of dedication, quality and attention to detail to all of my clients. I will be doing so in both residential and commercial fields. I am located in Jefferson County and plan to service not only Jefferson County but Lawrence and Leavenworth County as well.

SERVICES
Mowing all turf areas
Trimming all turf areas not accessible to mower
Edge all sidewalks and driveways
Blow off all sidewalks and driveways
Fall clean up
Snow removal
Greenview Superior will be of a great value to the community offering a competitive rates and quality detailed service, allowing time for clients to spend time with family.

QUALIFICATIONS
I started mowing lawns as a young boy, pushing a mower around the neighborhood knocking on doors. I am knowledgeable in proper mowing and watering technics to achieve a healthy lawn. I am determined and finish everything I start.

STRATEGY & MARKET ANALYSIS
Key strategic opportunities in the lawn care business...
While lawn care industry growth has been fueled by expansion of the housing market over the last several years, demographic trends indicate growth that will extend beyond the housing boom, with an increasingly greater percentage of homeowners hiring a professional lawn maintenance company. Maturing Baby Boomers with more disposable income and an increasing priority on enjoying life will continue to employ the services of our industry in greater numbers to ease the burdens of maintaining their homes. Additionally, growing numbers of dual-income families will continue to look to lawn care service providers to help them free up more time in which to enjoy the pleasures of family and home life. Simply stated, the green industry is a great industry to own a business in.
I plan to take advantage of these opportunities by offering a company with professional clean look and cater to the customers needs.I will continue to maintain a competetitive edge by being appropriately priced and provide the best possible service.

CHALLENGES
Starting a new business will offer alot of challenges. The major challenge being customers. I plan on launching an intensive advertising program with door to door exposure along with ads in the newspapers, metal signs, decals on vehicles, business cards,flyers and word of mouth.

MISSION STATEMENT
Greenview Superior is a full service lawn maintenance company. We will succeed by being a professional team offering quality lawn maintenance and possesing such values as putting the customer first, making the customer happy and being an honest professional company.

LEGAL STRUCTURE
I will operate Greenview Superior as a Limited Liability Company.





FINACIAL
I will include investments of time and effort and seek support from VR.

SALES FORECAST
My first month plan is to have five seasonal contracts with goals to increase to five additional contracts each month throughout the operating season.

OPERATING EXPENSES
I figure the cost of expenses on a typical lawn, per cut would be around five dollars. The expenses would include gas, oil, string,edger blades and maintenance to equipment. Fixed costs wil be taxes, insurance ,licensing and bonding.

MARKETING SLOGAN
"Greenview Superior offering you a superior greenview"

COMPETITORS
With so much property and new developement, the lawn maintenace industry will have enough work to provide a small lawn service business owner with an indirect competitive market.

TRENDS
Negative National trends being high gas prices affect small business lawn service in a big way. I will compensate with higher fuel charges by advertising and raising my customer database.
Possitive REGIONAL trend that affect my business would be long mowing season. Negative REGIONAL trends are drout, rain and snow. I will advantage of the long mowing season and deal with winter season by offering snow removal services.
Possitive lawn industry trends better equipment being produced every year. Negative lawn care industry trends are the un licensed low ballers and the kid down the street. I will take advantage of the possitive trend by upgrading equipment and deal with the neggatives by insuring customers I am licensed and pay taxes and dont low ball , I give competitive prices for honest, dependable and professional services.

INITIAL NEEDS INVENTORY
I will need a commercial ztr with roll bar(ROPS required by law)$7,300, walk behing mower$500, trimmer $300, edger $300, blower $389, cargo trailer $3,700, supplies for equipment $50 and vehicle.


This is what I have is this all I need?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]-Market analysis(including proprietry features of the products of services and target customers)
-Marketing Plan (advertising and promotion)
-Finacial Plan(Breakeven analysis, cash flow analysis,balance sheet, plan for bookkeeping identification of loans and finacial assistance)
- Operating budget
-Analysis of needs for initial inventory or equipment
-Legal issues, such as zoning or licenses

I think what you have is great so far and it just might do the job! However they may want more financial projections. Actual figures of the insurance costs, equipment costs, gas costs etc etc an then show your projected income. If they are asking for a break even analysis, then you are going to have to show them how many customers you will need based on income per customer, to break even.

Did you want to come up with some figures for that as well?

Variable Unit Cost = $20
Fixed Cost = $1,500
Expected Unit Sales = 100
Price Per Unit = $125

Total Revenue = $12,500
Total Variable Costs = $2,000
Profit = $9,000

Break-Even at 14 Units

Units Fixed Cost Total Cost Total Revenue Profit
****** ************ ************ ************ ************
0 $1.50 $1.50 $0 -$1.50
1 $1.50 $1.51 $0.12 -$1.39
2 $1.50 $1.53 $0.25 -$1.28
3 $1.50 $1.55 $0.37 -$1.18
4 $1.50 $1.58 $0.50 -$1.8
5 $1.50 $1.60 $0.62 -$0.97
6 $1.50 $1.62 $0.75 -$0.87
7 $1.50 $1.63 $0.87 -$0.76
8 $1.50 $1.65 $1.0 -$0.65
9 $1.50 $1.67 $1.12 -$0.55
10 $1.50 $1.70 $1.25 -$0.45
11 $1.50 $1.72 $1.37 -$0.34
12 $1.50 $1.74 $1.50 -$0.24
13 $1.50 $1.75 $1.62 -$0.13
14 $1.50 $1.77 $1.75 -$0.2
15 $1.50 $1.79 $1.87 $0.7
16 $1.50 $1.82 $2.0 $0.17
17 $1.50 $1.84 $2.12 $0.28
18 $1.50 $1.86 $2.25 $0.38
19 $1.50 $1.87 $2.37 $0.49
20 $1.50 $1.89 $2.50 $0.60
21 $1.50 $1.91 $2.62 $0.70
22 $1.50 $1.94 $2.75 $0.80
23 $1.50 $1.96 $2.87 $0.91
24 $1.50 $1.98 $3.0 $1.1
25 $1.50 $2.0 $3.12 $1.12
26 $1.50 $2.1 $3.25 $1.23
27 $1.50 $2.3 $3.37 $1.33
28 $1.50 $2.5 $3.50 $1.44
29 $1.50 $2.7 $3.62 $1.54
30 $1.50 $2.9 $3.75 $1.65
31 $1.50 $2.11 $3.87 $1.75
32 $1.50 $2.14 $4.0 $1.85
33 $1.50 $2.16 $4.12 $1.96
34 $1.50 $2.18 $4.25 $2.6
35 $1.50 $2.20 $4.37 $2.17
36 $1.50 $2.22 $4.50 $2.27
37 $1.50 $2.24 $4.62 $2.38
38 $1.50 $2.25 $4.75 $2.49
39 $1.50 $2.27 $4.87 $2.59
40 $1.50 $2.29 $5 $2.70
41 $1.50 $2.31 $5 $2.80
42 $1.50 $2.33 $5 $2.91
43 $1.50 $2.35 $5 $3.1
44 $1.50 $2.38 $5 $3.11
45 $1.50 $2.40 $5 $3.22
46 $1.50 $2.42 $5 $3.32
47 $1.50 $2.44 $5 $3.43
48 $1.50 $2.46 $6 $3.53
49 $1.50 $2.48 $6 $3.64
50 $1.50 $2.50 $6 $3.75
51 $1.50 $2.51 $6 $3.85
52 $1.50 $2.53 $6 $3.96
53 $1.50 $2.55 $6 $4.6
54 $1.50 $2.57 $6 $4.17
55 $1.50 $2.59 $6 $4.27
56 $1.50 $2.61 $7 $4.38
57 $1.50 $2.64 $7 $4.48
58 $1.50 $2.66 $7 $4.59
59 $1.50 $2.68 $7 $4.69
60 $1.50 $2.70 $7 $4.80
61 $1.50 $2.72 $7 $4.90
62 $1.50 $2.74 $7 $5
63 $1.50 $2.75 $7 $5
64 $1.50 $2.77 $8 $5
65 $1.50 $2.79 $8 $5
66 $1.50 $2.81 $8 $5
67 $1.50 $2.83 $8 $5
68 $1.50 $2.85 $8 $5
69 $1.50 $2.88 $8 $5
70 $1.50 $2.90 $8 $5
71 $1.50 $2.92 $8 $5
72 $1.50 $2.94 $9 $6
73 $1.50 $2.96 $9 $6
74 $1.50 $2.98 $9 $6
75 $1.50 $3.0 $9 $6
76 $1.50 $3.1 $9 $6
77 $1.50 $3.3 $9 $6
78 $1.50 $3.5 $9 $6
79 $1.50 $3.7 $9 $6
80 $1.50 $3.9 $10 $6
81 $1.50 $3.11 $10 $7
82 $1.50 $3.14 $10 $7
83 $1.50 $3.16 $10 $7
84 $1.50 $3.18 $10 $7
85 $1.50 $3.20 $10 $7
86 $1.50 $3.22 $10 $7
87 $1.50 $3.24 $10 $7
88 $1.50 $3.25 $11 $7
89 $1.50 $3.27 $11 $7
90 $1.50 $3.29 $11 $7
91 $1.50 $3.31 $11 $8
92 $1.50 $3.33 $11 $8
93 $1.50 $3.35 $11 $8
94 $1.50 $3.38 $11 $8
95 $1.50 $3.40 $11 $8
96 $1.50 $3.42 $12 $8
97 $1.50 $3.44 $12 $8
98 $1.50 $3.46 $12 $8
99 $1.50 $3.48 $12 $8
100 $1.50 $3.50 $12 $9
would this work?

[Steve]

Yes!
I think they are going to want to see some figures like this. Good!
Why not take this business plan to them and see what kind of reaction you get. I am thinking they are going to want to work with you to help you obtain funding so I don't think there is going to be as much pressure as if you were going to a bank to get a business loan.

Do you have more thoughts or are you ready to see how this works? Also please keep us posted as to the reaction you get.