Hello from Havlin's Small Engine Repair

[Havlin's]

Well I am not in lawn care but small engine repair but we both go hand in hand. I have been a mechanic since i could hand my grandpa wrenches and it just got in the blood. I have been exclusively working on small engines for about 15 years now and I am just now venturing out to start my own shop. Any advice or thoughts are appreciated.

[The Cleaning Doctor]

Lawn care business tips

Always carry your business card and hand it to everyone you see buying power equipment. Has power equipment on their truck or trailer. Or just breathing! Throw a BBQ for landscape and lawn care companies in your area. Got to a local park and bring the dogs. You would be surprised how many show up for free food. Welcome to the forum.

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Pat

Deck Staining Tips
Search Engine Tweaks
Organic Lawn Tips

[Steve]

Welcome to our forum.

There have been quite a few discussions on here about starting a small engine repair shop, if you do a quick search, using the search function at top, I bet they will pop up.

What is your plan so far?

Are you going to start this out of your home? Start a mobile repair shop or rent some space for a shop?

Tell us some of the ideas you have so far.

[Havlin's]

That's a good idea about the bbq. I am just getting started so I have just got done with designing my cards and now have to find a place to print them. just dont trust taking them somewhere online where i cant see if i like them or not before ordering so many. I am going to be running it out of my garage. Right now we are in the midst of selling our house and should be closing in January so that is something we are making sure there is at our new home. i am offering pick up and delivery (i live in a small town) for free in town with a 10$ charge for out of town. I made up flyers already and distrubing them at events around town offering winter service specials. There is only one other repair shop in town and they are a dealer and charging $75 per hour. with my no overhead i can hopefully beat them and get people coming here. If any of you have ordered cards from an online store and was happy with them please let me know. I have heard many bad things about vistaprints so there is no way i would use them.

[The Cleaning Doctor]

I just posted a place this morning.

http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=13026

[Steve]

Who ultimately are you wanting to be your target audience?

Will you be looking to reach out to commercial customers, residential customers or a mixture of both?

I don't know where you are at but will people be using any power equipment over the winter that you could help service or will your big push be for the spring?

Will you be looking to sell any products or focus on your services?

[arthur712]

Welcome to our forum!