Advice Appreciated

[MeanGreenCare]

Hi, my name is Jon. I am currently 17 going on 18 next month. I currently work at Wendys in my town, and that was my second fast food job. I can't stand being around other school "kids" I say that, because they act like kids, and not young adults. I currently work 1 day a week there and it is completely unacceptable in my case I have car insurance and phone bill to pay, and it is definitely not going to cover my bills. I would not classify myself as "new" to this field of work since I have done this work as chores since I could operate machinery. I been taught how to properly take care of lawns by my uncle. Well, lets get off all that my main concern and questions are how to start it legally and get some ideas in names for the company. I'm aware that going into a Landscaping you must claim a 1099 form to claim what income I have made doing this. Unless a 1099 is work done other than from which not recorded by an employer. I want to know all the rules and regulations going into this so please provide me with links that has documentation of the rules and or how to start your own company etc.. I am well capable of using word to create my own ads etc... I'm preparing my ad for summer time this is my first yr I want to do it legally and professionally not saying that I did it professional before when I wasn't thinking about actually coming up with my own company. I am not sure if I want to run this with a flat rate for mowing and weed eating, other jobs requested by the other party such as leveling land etc.. be based on hourly pay rate for labor. I have some what of a clear idea as how I want to run this, just still not fully certain on what I want to choose. You must remember this I'm still a young adult just turning 18 next month I'm starting off with a small budget since my current and passed jobs were not so well. If I go flat rate with mowing and weed eating I was thinking 25$-30$ for any yard. My town is pretty decent size, and yards arent that big unless you live in certain areas, I want my price to be sufficient to cover gas cost and labor. Ok I believe you all get where I'm going with that. Ok as for a name for the company I'm stumped. I recently read on aol news this company is named "We Do Lines" they go out and paint parking lot lines which is part of landscaping. Thats what I see when I would look for a company I want my company name to be eye catching so that people are attracted and not insecure with their decision. As you see my username I'm thinking about that as a name. I am going in on this company with one other person and the first thought that comes to mind is the two peoples name. I rather not go with our names since it really is not that eye catching. I'm looking for something that will make people want to look at our ad and want us as their Lawn Care Service. I apologize for this long message I'm just so determined to make a successful Landscaping company.

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Last edited by MeanGreenCare; 04-19-2011 at 06:01 PM. Reason: To apologize to those who have to read such a long message.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Welcome to our forum. I'm aware that going into a Landscaping you must claim a 1099 form to claim what income I have made doing this. Unless a 1099 is work done other than from which not recorded by an employer. As far as I know, you would get a 1099 form if you were a sub-contractor for another lawn care business. Otherwise you wouldn't need to deal with that and just file your taxes as a business owner. I like the business name you are considering too. Let me know if I forgot something in that answer.

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[jasonw]

Regulations greatly differ depending on locality so I will go with the way it is here. Its extremely simple where I live. All I had to do was go to my local city hall as well as the city hall for any incorporated city I would be working in and secure a business license. The cost differs with area, in my city its $30 per year for the license where the next city over is a couple hundred a year for a license there even though its a small er city. When I do my taxes every year I just print out the years finances and hand them to my tax person who goes through them and dose her job. You will want a bank account and for your name in my area you would have to pay to file a FBNS, if your business uses your first or last name or both then you do not need to file a FBNS with your county to get a bank account, here its about $200 for all the filing's for that. I would strongly recommend going easy on purchasing equipment, there is no need for you to buy a $10 thousand dollar mower, just go to Lowes and grab a cheap one with a bag and take care of it. Spend a lot of time BSing with the guy in the out door power equipment department and it will pay off ten fold in the future when buying new equipment. Really thats all there is to it, your first step is to contact your city and tell them you are starting a service business and follow their requirements then go from there. If you get stuck along the way your City and or county clerk should be able to point you in the right direction. Another thing to think about is insurance, I must admit I dont have it but its so very important, I just cant afford it right now, as soon as I can I will have it though, until you have it be EXTREMELY careful as one slip up and someone can own you for the rest of your life. Here in California you can not do any work equaling $500 material and labor without a state contractors license which you need 4 years experience in the field, money and pass a test to get which will also require insurance and a bond. Most of us do NOT call ourselves landscapers because that implies we are landscape contractors which we are not, some are but more are not. I call my business a property maintenance business rather than a landscape business. There are loopholes to get around some of the red tape for example I can not legally be a landscape designer HOWEVER I do design landscapes but the stipulation of course is that the client is only paying for any idea and not necessarily a design. Just make sure you do all your homework and follow the rules and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!

[MeanGreenCare]

Originally Posted by Steve

Welcome to our forum.



As far as I know, you would get a 1099 form if you were a sub-contractor for another lawn care business.

Otherwise you wouldn't need to deal with that and just file your taxes as a business owner.

I like the business name you are considering too.

Ok, I'll look into the 1099 situation.

Yea, I like MeanGreenCare and me and my buddy while working on this leveling job today; we thought up a name combining ours. It would be called Runlap. My last name is Ross and his is Dunlap, so I dunno what other combinations I could Lapson, DunRap, and i dont know see what you guys come up with.

[MeanGreenCare]

Originally Posted by jasonw

Regulations greatly differ depending on locality so I will go with the way it is here. Its extremely simple where I live. All I had to do was go to my local city hall as well as the city hall for any incorporated city I would be working in and secure a business license. The cost differs with area, in my city its $30 per year for the license where the next city over is a couple hundred a year for a license there even though its a small er city. When I do my taxes every year I just print out the years finances and hand them to my tax person who goes through them and dose her job. You will want a bank account and for your name in my area you would have to pay to file a FBNS, if your business uses your first or last name or both then you do not need to file a FBNS with your county to get a bank account, here its about $200 for all the filing's for that. I would strongly recommend going easy on purchasing equipment, there is no need for you to buy a $10 thousand dollar mower, just go to Lowes and grab a cheap one with a bag and take care of it. Spend a lot of time BSing with the guy in the out door power equipment department and it will pay off ten fold in the future when buying new equipment. Really thats all there is to it, your first step is to contact your city and tell them you are starting a service business and follow their requirements then go from there. If you get stuck along the way your City and or county clerk should be able to point you in the right direction. Another thing to think about is insurance, I must admit I dont have it but its so very important, I just cant afford it right now, as soon as I can I will have it though, until you have it be EXTREMELY careful as one slip up and someone can own you for the rest of your life. Here in California you can not do any work equaling $500 material and labor without a state contractors license which you need 4 years experience in the field, money and pass a test to get which will also require insurance and a bond. Most of us do NOT call ourselves landscapers because that implies we are landscape contractors which we are not, some are but more are not. I call my business a property maintenance business rather than a landscape business. There are loopholes to get around some of the red tape for example I can not legally be a landscape designer HOWEVER I do design landscapes but the stipulation of course is that the client is only paying for any idea and not necessarily a design. Just make sure you do all your homework and follow the rules and most importantly HAVE FUN!!!

Lol, ya a ten thousand dollar mower is a aways to go. I know got to start small. Eventually I get one of those mowers you stand on and has that bag or mulch blade to get the job done faster, but neatly as well. I live in Pennsylvania i'll look up my laws around here. So do not classify as a landscaper company, so what else would I call it just some type of maintenance.

[Liberty Landscaping LLC]

Lawn Maintenance is another term you can use.

[Hedgemaster]

Don't use both of your names. What if it doesn't work out between the two of you?