Here is my story!

[lawn4rlife]

I started in may 2010 with two 10 year old push mowers that my wifes grandpa gave me. I tuned them and used them for a couple of week and sold them. Craigslist.org became my best friend that summer. I started looking for a push mower that i could use commercial or some thing with good power for consitant on and off usage. I found a guy that was trying to sell a 6.75hp 21"troybilt push mower with a bagger. Soon after finding that mower on craigslist i message him and ask him if he would trade my mowering service for the mower. We agree to 5 mows and the mower was mine. Thats when i started to grow my equipment. I then saved enough money to purchase a cheap trimmer and again my wife grandpa gave me another machine a weedeater brand blower. At this point in i had trade my paid off honda prelude for a truck. First truck was a ford f150 4.2V6 2wd regular cab. Later on in the year, i ended up getting another push mower that same way i got the first one and my wife grandpa let me barrow his utility trailer. So, most of what i have for equipment is paid off as you can see. The only expenses i had was a trimmer and payments on my truck. I later bought a used residentail 42" troy bilt riding mower. That was all my equipment i had all year last year wich worked from May-Oct 2010. I did buy a my echo trimmer last year because i wanted something nicer in a trimmer. All my advertisment has been on craigslist and i was able to get 35 regular client that had me mower every two weeks and had my 6 phone calls a week on one time mow. I finished the year making $11,000 with my small operation just mowing. When 2011 came i step it up a level and got a business facebook like page, a google business website, and started to use html code to put pictures in my craigslist ads. All my advertisment has been free from the start. I did buy business card and magnet for my truck. With me being able to get mowing jobs in march of this year i bought a trailer. In may i upgrade my truck to a 2011 toyota tundra 4.6v8 2wd double cab. People were calling me all summer that in august of this year i was already thinking of upgrading my truck again to a 4x4 tundra. I bought a regular ariens zero turn to get familier with how they work this summer. After that i was hooked, i wanted to learn about more equipment. I then sold it and bought my first Gravley 36" commecial walk behind and bought a sulky for it. Love that thing! I upgrade my truck to a 2011 toyota 5.7V8 trd rock warrior 4X4...it had to happen because i got stuck in someone back yard doing some tree removal job and for towing because my business has triple to what i made last year. At this point i am still a solo operation and use parttime help some time, but it really rare. I plan to buy my equipment cash next year becuase i am unable to get finaincing for a new commercail mower. With my job i manage to pay rent, 2 car payment, car insurance and other little bills. My wife is a parttime student a U of A, and she watches my son. My ultimate goal is to create a business that makes me money for my family even, after i retiring from working. The plan is an LLC, in the next couple of years. This coming year the plans are to possible get a full timer. Right now i am a solo operation with 90-100 client a month (M-Sat work days). I am base out of Bentonville, AR and go as far as 20 mile from my home.This coming year, i want to just keep growing and really don't have a number of what i want just want more clients. When i started i was a parttime student at a community college, but had to drop out with the unforeseen amount of phone calls. I started mowing just to make some money to pay a couple of bill and it turn in to a small business in a couple of month and now into 2 years working for myself.Also, at this time I don't want to hire to many people at once, so i want to hire as need basis til i can guarantee hours. As i have been able to get better, faster, and more powerful equipment, i have been able to do more jobs by myself. It's good to set dream and goal to accomplish things in life. __________________

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

That is a great story! What is your view on why so many new lawn care businesses have such a tough time getting started? What tips or advice would you have for those trying to go full time with their business?

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[Hedgemaster]

Congrats on your success thus far!
It's encouraging to those of us who, like yourself, started from scratch, and are moving forward.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

congrats man. The one thing I didnt get with your story, was why so many trades with the trucks? and why new? I do see the need to get a 4x4 but wouldnt it have been a better a business decision to get like a 05-08?

[hansenslawncare]

Wow, great story! It's nice to hear about someone building up the business from literally nothing to having that many accounts. That inspires me to keep "working the dream" and staying positive in the process.

If you need help building a lawn care website or improving the ranking on google, contact Ring Lawn Care. He built my website and within a month I was on the first page of google! That was great but I'm barely into the business and I have so much to learn. With my website, it basically gave me a running start...but like I said, I have a lot to learn still.

Well, again congratulations thus far on your business!

Great things!

Richard

[lawn4rlife]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is a great story!

What is your view on why so many new lawn care businesses have such a tough time getting started? What tips or advice would you have for those trying to go full time with their business?

I guess, i would say, start small and work your way up slowly. When starting also use all forms of free advertising on the world wide web.

[lawn4rlife]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

congrats man. The one thing I didnt get with your story, was why so many trades with the trucks? and why new? I do see the need to get a 4x4 but wouldnt it have been a better a business decision to get like a 05-08?

I went through so many truck, because of needing to haul more things. During this past year i did a couple of mulching jobs and had to haul a trailer with all the equipment i had. The Mulch was in my truck bed and my trailer had my equipment. First the Ford was only a 4.6V6 4x2 and it max towing was 2,500 lbs so that why i upgrade that. I purchase the first tundra for more towing, but should of got the 4X4. My credit was only good enough to buy new the last 2 time. At this point in my lawn business i am done buying truck until i pay this one off.
The best advice i would give a person that want to be successful this industry is to buy a truck with 4x4,decent max towing, and, good power.

[ringahding1]

Originally Posted by Steve

That is a great story!

What is your view on why so many new lawn care businesses have such a tough time getting started? What tips or advice would you have for those trying to go full time with their business?

Mentally**They have too many people telling them they can't do it? Or they do get it going and doubts of their own creep in.

Physically They take on too much at once, when they should focus on one key service that will be a means to an end

Hiring They hire help prematurely and than end up not paying themselves