I have been thinking about this for a while...

I really have.... So tell me what you guys think. I have been thinking about quitting my full time job and trying to make it full time in the shop. Optionally, I could do some other things like spraying and pressure washing until I got busy enough in the shop. I am actually very intrigued with the success that swstout and picframer have had with spraying, etc. I have a mower and a lawn tractor (an older one) and a 4 wheeler. I have a back pack sprayer and could probably get a pull behind sprayer easily. I also have a pressure washer, though it is a small and cheap Craftsman model, I suppose it would do until I could get something better or put something better together. I feel like I have all winter to think about this, perhaps do some research about this and get a plan together if I decide to do it. What do you guys think? Is there more to it than I realize? Any suggestions? Thanks, Eli

[Steve]

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How much of what you'd like to do full time can you do now part time?? How would doing it full time put you in a better spot?

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Originally Posted by Steve

How much of what you'd like to do full time can you do now part time??

How would doing it full time put you in a better spot?

I can do most of the things now, except I do not have time to do all of them. I run out of time. Because of this, I don't get machines done as soon as the customer wants and they get impatient. That is not my goal at all. I want to be a business that they can truly say is "Superior". I am also limited by the kind of jobs I can take because of time.

On Saturday at an auction I spoke to several people who said they would be bringing me work. One of them said he would be bringing me a skidloader that has engine problems. If I had very many of those jobs and would try to do them part time, I would not have time to do the smaller jobs.

[Steve]

What's your take on the competition in the area? Do you feel there is a need for you to go fulltime with these services? Also have you thought about when during the year would be the best time to go fulltime with it?

Originally Posted by Steve

What's your take on the competition in the area? Do you feel there is a need for you to go fulltime with these services? Also have you thought about when during the year would be the best time to go fulltime with it?

As far as the shop, there is some competition, but its mostly 15+ miles away. As far as the other things I mentioned, I doubt I would do much in the way off mowing so I really do not think there is that much competition. I know someone who does power washing so I may talk to him soon if I can. He may tell me not to get into it since he would consider me competition though! lol

[Steve]

Do you feel there is a certain time of year that would be better to go fulltime with this venture than other times?

If so, why not save some money and then go and do it.

I don't know much about it but I figure if you could become certified to handle warranty repairs, you could probably get some pretty steady work with that.

I think it could be a lot of fun, especially for someone who really enjoys small engines!

[swstout]

Organic lawn spraying is not that difficult.
Products:

• Nature's Magic - The best soil builder available
• Aerify - Organic aerifying agent that is far superior to mechanical aeration
• Bio-Dethatcher - Bio-enhanced dethatching agent far superior to mechanical dethatching
• Insect Guard - Natural Insect Repellant
• AquiGold - (US name Gluten8) for organic pre-emergent weed control
• Beneficial Nematodes - Biological insect control
• Fish Emulsion - Micro nutrient supplement
• Bio-enhanced fertilizers - Safe Organic lawn food
• Wipeout - Over winter insect control
• Liquid Lime - Raises soil pH
• Liquid Sulfur - Lowers soil pH
• Liquid Iron - Important soil conditioner
• Botanicals - Organic insect control (Caster Oil from the castor bean - kills chinch bugs that have become immune to chemical pesticides)　

The beauty of these is that they can be mixed and applied simultaneously.
The biological's here need climate control (41 to 78 degrees F). They are living organisms. Also, the biological's are harmed by chlorine in municipal water supplies. You can get pond de-cholrinator from Lowe's to add to your mixtures.

Different turfs have different requirements. You can customize treatments for particular turfs. If you decide to go this route, I can help with the mixtures.

Application is easy. You an train someone to apply them in a day or two.

I'll help you in any way I can.

Steve

Spring is the time I would do it if I did. Saving money is not really gonna happen anytime soon. I am trying to get my tools and parts together as I go. I may have to wait another year or so. But there are things that are making me want to do it (things I can't discuss. lol).

I used to think that I would never quit law enforcement but the entrepreneur bug seems to have bit me...

[Steve]

Here is a video that I think might be helpful at such a cross roads

Originally Posted by swstout

Organic lawn spraying is not that difficult.
Products:

• Nature's Magic - The best soil builder available
• Aerify - Organic aerifying agent that is far superior to mechanical aeration
• Bio-Dethatcher - Bio-enhanced dethatching agent far superior to mechanical dethatching
• Insect Guard - Natural Insect Repellant
• AquiGold - (US name Gluten8) for organic pre-emergent weed control
• Beneficial Nematodes - Biological insect control
• Fish Emulsion - Micro nutrient supplement
• Bio-enhanced fertilizers - Safe Organic lawn food
• Wipeout - Over winter insect control
• Liquid Lime - Raises soil pH
• Liquid Sulfur - Lowers soil pH
• Liquid Iron - Important soil conditioner
• Botanicals - Organic insect control (Caster Oil from the castor bean - kills chinch bugs that have become immune to chemical pesticides)　

The beauty of these is that they can be mixed and applied simultaneously.
The biological's here need climate control (41 to 78 degrees F). They are living organisms. Also, the biological's are harmed by chlorine in municipal water supplies. You can get pond de-cholrinator from Lowe's to add to your mixtures.

Different turfs have different requirements. You can customize treatments for particular turfs. If you decide to go this route, I can help with the mixtures.

Application is easy. You an train someone to apply them in a day or two.

I'll help you in any way I can.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I was hoping you would see my post. I have been really intrigued with your success.

But something that seems to hamper me just a bit is I know absolutely NOTHING about soil ph levels, what local soil issues are, etc. I have just recently started reading more about soil and soil health. I found a few articles I liked and posted them in my forum and even made a special little section for those articles... I honestly don't know that much about the sprayers and that kind of thing since I have never really needed to work on them and dad never sold sprayers other than an occasional backpack sprayer.

What kind of sprayer do you use? a pull behind? or should I consider one of those that mounts on a 4 wheeler? I don't really want to use my 4 wheeler if I don't have to since I would not be going fast enough to properly cool the engine. Any sprayer advice?

Like I said though, I have little interest in mowing unless I can get a good account or two. I have some decent connections because of my law enforcement job and feel that it may help me along if I decide to do it.