Tips/advice for new business

[yearroundyardwork]

Hi everyone. I'm thinking of starting a lawn business this summer. I'm in Cincinnati. I will be 16 when I get the business going. I'm trying to purchase a wide area mower to use, so anyone nearby who has a decent one it would help. The problem I have is that right now I have a few lawns in the neighborhood I do now. My problem is that I would like to get some larger businesses in the area but since I don't have a official licensed business should I try to get accounts under the table or just stick to knocking out more residential jobs?

[jymie]

Lawn care business tips

No business is going to let you. They all require Businesses that are legit and have appropriate insurance. Once you turn 18, then you would be able to go down that road.

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. http://www.lunchesruslawncare.com

[Steve]

I'd say keep it easy at first. Work with your neighbors and people living in your area. Then as you scale up, you will already know the basics of how to perform the services you are selling and how to operate your business.

[yearroundyardwork]

That's what I did this past summer. I got a few lawns and figured out the basics: mowing, trimming, blowing walks off, and edging if they wanted it. This summer I'm looking to get some more accounts if I can get a larger mower.

[Steve]

What is your view on why you feel you need a larger mower? What do you want to get?

[matt spinniken]

Years ago I started in my neighborhood by knocking on as many doors as I could. I had enough customers to do pretty well, I would wait on purchasing much equipment. Save your money until you get the customers, and then purchase equipment as you need. I literally used lawn scissors to trim when I had under 10 accounts.

[Steve]

What kind of equipment did you start with and what were some of the early equipment upgrades you purchased?

As you look back now, would you have done anything differently? Maybe purchased some equipment that you didn't or wish you didn't purchase some equipment that you did?

[yearroundyardwork]

i just started with basic residential equipment, a 22" mower, ryobi weed whacker and blower. the trimmer and mower kicked at the end of last year. i am waiting on a sale for a new ryobi trimmer. as for the lawn mower, i figured if i start getting more accounts, a larger mower would be helpful. plus i have a larger yard myself. so it made more sense to use the money from a push mower and put it towards a larger mower now rather than get a small one again and have to buy a larger one in a few years.

[jymie]

Don't get another Ryobi trimmer, I went through 2 of them in 4 months. Worst trimmer i ever bought. The pull cord kept locking. Major PIA

[yearroundyardwork]

tahts odd because the one we had lasted over 10 years. granted it was only used once a week