Hows everyone doin?

[CAPTWILL30]

Well as everyone can see my name is Will........lol Well I got the idea to start a Lawn Care business when i was tired of cutting my own lawn and was even more tired of paying someone else to do it. I actually just bought my domain and after the 1st of the year I will be applying for my business liscence through the state of VA. I currently reside in the Hampton Roads Area of VA I am still on active duty but will be getting out around this time next year so I wanted to try and build a strong business base as this will be my sole income when I get out. I actually have been window shopping on what kind of rig to buy wether to go BIG or start little and work my way up. The delema is buy an enclosed trailer and a good 0 turn and and good walk behind and the rest of what I will need or to buy a small single axel open trailer with a inexpensive 0 turn and walk behind? What are the pro's opinion's? Well thanks for any imput as this will help in my decision.

[CAPTWILL30]

Lawn care business tips

Well I guess everyone either too busy blowin leaves or plowin snow so I understand when y'all get a min a reply would be nice lol

[wandfsmall]

your first few years in business suck for the most part in any business you enter into. For one thing your client base is just starting out, for another you have equipment you have to buy and pay for. I suggest having as little in debt as you can so you can last to the good part of owning a business.

Now that being said, make smart decisions as to your equipment, for example if you can not do your repairs yourself buy from a servicing dealer so that you do not have to wait all summer for repairs. And really look at the prices sometimes $50 will go from a consumer trimmer to a commercial one(well worth it)

[Sprinkler Buddy]

I would start small and keep your cost down as much as possible. Grow the equipment as the business grows. Good Luck and thanks for your service. Semper-Fi

[Shark1611]

Originally Posted by CAPTWILL30

Well as everyone can see my name is Will........lol

Well I got the idea to start a Lawn Care business when i was tired of cutting my own lawn and was even more tired of paying someone else to do it.

I actually just bought my domain and after the 1st of the year I will be applying for my business liscence through the state of VA.

I currently reside in the Hampton Roads Area of VA I am still on active duty but will be getting out around this time next year so I wanted to try and build a strong business base as this will be my sole income when I get out.

I actually have been window shopping on what kind of rig to buy wether to go BIG or start little and work my way up.

The delema is buy an enclosed trailer and a good 0 turn and and good walk behind and the rest of what I will need or to buy a small single axel open trailer with a inexpensive 0 turn and walk behind?

What are the pro's opinion's?

Well thanks for any imput as this will help in my decision.

I have an enclosed trailer and flat out love it. I have everything I need in it and it is out of the weather making my equipment look much better. I have a 60" Dixon mower and a 44" Dixon mower, a 21" Exmark, and all my trimmers an blowers are Redmax. I pull these with a F250 and also have a open trailer that I use for tree and brush cleaning. I guess it's up to how much money you have and how you feel your business will grow. I have a wrap around my trailer and everyone in the area knows who we are.

[Steve]

Where will you park your trailer and equipment? Can you back it into a garage? If so, you could use an open trailer and not have to remove everything each night.

An enclosed trailer is good for security purposes.

All in all though, I always feel it is better to start small and scale up as needed. Don't spend cash until you absolutely need too.

[Ground Troops, LLC]

So my opinion is a little different here. If you got the cash, get set up right. My suggestion for a one truck company doing residential work would be:
- Obviously a truck. Something with an E-Z Dumper in it if possible.
- 8x18 or 8x20 enclosed trailer.
- 52" Hydro Walk Behind
- (2) 48" Hydro Walk Behind
- 32" Hydro Walk Behind
Trimmers, blowers, blah blah...
Just one guys opinion...

[CAPTWILL30]

Originally Posted by wandfsmall

your first few years in business suck for the most part in any business you enter into. For one thing your client base is just starting out, for another you have equipment you have to buy and pay for. I suggest having as little in debt as you can so you can last to the good part of owning a business.

Now that being said, make smart decisions as to your equipment, for example if you can not do your repairs yourself buy from a servicing dealer so that you do not have to wait all summer for repairs. And really look at the prices sometimes $50 will go from a consumer trimmer to a commercial one(well worth it)

Yeah I had a business in Chicago when I was stationed there and believe me thhe first 2 years were miserable then about 2 1/2 to 3 years in I dident want to leave because I was makin great $$$ but I had to go.

Yeah I plan on doin what I can by myself (kinda mechanically inclined) and i was goin all new no used and thats where im hung up lol what to buy.

[CAPTWILL30]

Originally Posted by Sprinkler Buddy

I would start small and keep your cost down as much as possible. Grow the equipment as the business grows. Good Luck and thanks for your service. Semper-Fi

Thats what my neighbor said who runs a small company and im kinda leaning towards that but i really want an enclosed trailer but then I thought when it comes to brush removal it will be a bear to load into a enclosed so I might just go the small and go big route.

(Navy Pride)

[CAPTWILL30]

Originally Posted by Shark1611

I have an enclosed trailer and flat out love it. I have everything I need in it and it is out of the weather making my equipment look much better. I have a 60" Dixon mower and a 44" Dixon mower, a 21" Exmark, and all my trimmers an blowers are Redmax. I pull these with a F250 and also have a open trailer that I use for tree and brush cleaning. I guess it's up to how much money you have and how you feel your business will grow. I have a wrap around my trailer and everyone in the area knows who we are.

See thats how I feel I was goin to go Enclosed and its like a rolling billboard but like I said brush wont go well with a enclosed lol but I drive a 09 GMC Dually so I had planned to get an enclosed to go with the truck to look like a 1st class operation!!

Im gettin a 33 walk behind and was thinkin bout a 48 0 turn and I will be running all Echo power tools.

The thing thats on my mind is that I want to look like Brickman or one of this other big companies to think the costumer base might grow a lil faster!