Everything is being done from scratch.

[brothamanjyro]

I do not own a truck or a trailer. I have a car, and the drive to get out and work. I do not have the best equipment either, just basic stuff to get by in the beginning. Is this a formula for failure, or should I keep going on? Thank you.

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by brothamanjyro I do not own a truck or a trailer. I have a car, and the drive to get out and work. I do not have the best equipment either, just basic stuff to get by in the beginning. Is this a formula for failure, or should I keep going on? Thank you. I believe the surest formula for failure is giving up and doing nothing. Equipment that is right for one business is wrong for another business. I don't think that your current equipment is necessarily going to cause failure, but it will simply be harder and slower to build your business. When it comes to questions about power equipment, don't hesitate to slide on over here and post the question. There is a chance that your question may already have an answer there but if not, ask away and it will be answered soon! Back to your question, your drive to succeed will greatly affect your success or failure. Like I said earlier, it may limit you but I believe your customers may understand as long as you are sincere and honest with them. Good luck! Eli

[Steve]

I do not own a truck or a trailer. I have a car, and the drive to get out and work.

We have seen plenty of success stories where a lawn care business started with a car only. Or a car and a trailer.

Check out this blog article for instance.

You don’t need a truck to start a lawn care business.



You can get started with next to nothing.

So tell us what you are going to be doing next to push forwards.

[jasonw]

Originally Posted by Steve

We have seen plenty of success stories where a lawn care business started with a car only. Or a car and a trailer.

Check out this blog article for instance.

You don’t need a truck to start a lawn care business.



You can get started with next to nothing.

So tell us what you are going to be doing next to push forwards.

Hey Steve, Do I get royalties for that?

[StartALawnCareBusiness]

I started my lawn care business with a $159 push lawn mower in the back of my hatchback Cheverolet. Within a year I had upgraded to commercial mowers, truck, and trailer...enough equipment to begin bidding commercial accounts.

It doesn't matter where you are...just where you're going.

Humble beginnings are the American way.


Keith
Start A Lawn Care Business

[jasonw]

I guess I could have answered the question when replying. Ok here goes. That old station wagon pictured is mine, yes I still have it but don't use it anymore. I started in this business using that car which I purchased 11 years ago for $150. I had a small boat and sold it but kept the trailer, I added wood to the trailer and bingo there ya go. I used a 3.5HP Muray mower with no bag that was several years old. It was my personal mower purchased at Walmart for less than $100, The weed eater was the same story. I alreay had it, it was a 32CC Weed eater brand purchased for about $60. All in all its cost me about $40 in wood to get into this business. Now only 6 months later I have a truck and all new equipment. New push and riding mower, new 4 stroke weed eater new blower, new everything. It ran me about $8,000 for all this new stuff but it was well worth it. You can get started with a bike and pair of scissors if you want to. My only recommendation is when you start making money put at least $200 away and don't touch it. This way if you have a mower failure or something you can go out strait away and get a new one. This happened to me first hand with my mower and weed eater, thank got for the lowes card LOL. Alot of people will tell you here that you will never make it with cheap department store equipment. DO NOT listen to them. Most of my stuff is not commercial but just residential stuff purchased at my local lowes. I get by fine with it. The good part is if my rider dies I am only out $1,100 for a new one as apposed to being out $10,000 for a larger commercial unit. As far as reliability in equipment goes a lot can be said for preventative maintenance. Take care of your crap and it will work hard for you. I recently dropped a customer because he was an hour drive away and would let his grass get 4' tall before ever calling me. This was death to my equipment. I basically said call me sooner or find someone ells. I have yet to hear back from him. Anything you buy will come with a manual. Read it, know it, live it. If it says to change the oil after the first 5 hours then after 5 hours drop what you are doing and change the oil. Oh by the way before I forget. The station wagon pictured is currently for sale, for $500. Its a 1981 Toyota Carolla. Lots of love has gone into it. Way not street legal anymore but still has plates on it but if interested you are on your own trying to get it smogged. Sirius inquiry's only.

Does the car still look as good as it does in the picture?

[jasonw]

Originally Posted by MikeO

Does the car still look as good as it does in the picture?

It has a little dust on it as it for the most part has sat since July but yes with a good washing it still looks that sharp. Car show ready.