Bringing it back

[jklawncare]

Hey everyone, long time no post..i don't know who all might remember me besides cheese, steve, and picframer maybe. But anyways i'm 17 now, turning 18 in march. Last year right before i quit i had the offer of managing several homes weekly under the same client but he required me to be licensed. Reason for my deserting my company was, I didn't have a dependable form of transportation (i relied on my co workers truck) and I was starting a new job at my local DQ grill and chill. I still work there, but i can be as flexible with my availability as i want now that i have worked myself up. Also i have my own truck so i can go where i need. I need your help. I want to start again, i have transportation, experience, all my previous statements and forms, previous knowledge. I have also matured more and miss the feeling of independence and self esteem that i got from owning my own company and somewhat succeeding. I know i can work hard towards this if i truly want it, which i do. But i just don't want to invest in the equipment (which i would do this year) and then flop again. What are the pro's and con's of re-starting a business and going back. Has anything really changed in the last year?

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Just Kut Lawn and Landscape
"Where Service is Always in Season"
Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Welcome back! What's your view on why you got out of your business in the past? Was it just because of your transportation issue? Has that since been resolved? If so, why would your business flop?

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[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by jklawncare

Hey everyone, long time no post..i don't know who all might remember me besides cheese

I will never forget you.

Happy you are back !

LET'S KICK SOME ARSE THIS SEASON! HOO-RAH!

[jklawncare]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I will never forget you.

Happy you are back !

LET'S KICK SOME ARSE THIS SEASON! HOO-RAH!

this made my night, hahahah

Steve: I want to get back into the groove of things. The reason i dropped it last year was because of transportation mostly. I could not be dependable and i did not want to provide that kind of service towards my customers so i gave them a months notice of my leave and i dropped it all together. Probably the wrong thing to do, i'm sure that there could have been some way or another but i didn't know where else to go for transportation, and to this day i still cant.

hopefully this will all workout for me, even as a side job it would be a nice little bonus. I will most likely start my advertising and re-organization of the company tomorrow and this weekend. I still have every file, and scrap of paperwork from when i first started to when i quit.

[Steve]

i'm sure that there could have been some way or another but i didn't know where else to go for transportation, and to this day i still cant.

So what is the plan now and what are you going to be doing about it to make it work?

[jklawncare]

Originally Posted by Steve

So what is the plan now and what are you going to be doing about it to make it work?

Well I have a truck now, im going to hit the advertising alot harder starting now, and then later towards spring, then again right in the beginning of summer. I'm hoping i can land enough accounts to help with some newer equipment, and forcing me to hire my partner back. But until i hit that number I will be working with my previous equipment and solo.

Also the drive of my hating my current job and taking orders from a boss will help encourage me to be on my own and make it work. This is the year i plan on getting my business license and insurance as well.

[CHEESE2009]

It's never too early to prepare for advertising. If you're like a lot of us, we lose our 'drive' to promote our business right after the first month. We might still need work, but things become incredibly stressful very fast!

I can't wait to see what kind of stories I will be bringing to the forum!

I wish you luck man!

[racerdude711]

Good move to get back at it. Working for $7 an hour listening to a demanding boss all day gets old I'm sure. Been a long time since my last post as well. I'm 18, will be 19 in March, and going at it again this year with my lawn business. This will be my 5th year in a row! I love owning and operating a business for the exact reasons JK was pointing out. Having the freedom, flexibility, self respect, and satisfaction of owning your own business is an incredible feeling, at least for me. I can't wait to get this year rolling, just wish I new the magic formula for ADVERTISING. I've done door to door flyers, and craigslist. I spent $350 last year on flyers, and although I got 1 customer from them, I feel it wasn't the way to go. Craigslist so far has been the best, and it's free. Over the years, I've been buying used equipment, mainly on craigslist, whenever I find a good deal. As of now, I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel, 16ft trailer, 36 walk behind, 52 stander, and 61 stander. This weekend I'm going to get a 34 stander, and sell the 36 walk behind. Right now I feel like I have way more equipment then I need, but hopefully I can bring on the business and not have to worry about getting more equipment. I would also really love to get more commercial accounts, but find it very hard to figure out how to get in on that. Seems like everyone I talk to that does commercial accounts new someone that was able to get them the contract. Anyway, goodluck JK, and everyone else at it again this year!

[Steve]

I'm hoping i can land enough accounts to help with some newer equipment, and forcing me to hire my partner back.

How does it feel now entering the new season without your previous partner and being on your own?

[jklawncare]

Originally Posted by Steve

How does it feel now entering the new season without your previous partner and being on your own?

It brings me back to the good ol' days when i pushed my mower around on my own with myd super low bids that made me just break even hahahah

im not to worried about it, ive done it before, plus its less to worry about and more money for me haha

itll help me straighten everything out easier on my own as well and i wont have to worry about others