Weekend lawn business - what do I really need?

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009 Read post title: Weekend lawn business Weekend lawn business Weekend lawn Weekend Weekend, the time in which clients are home, and often most annoying towards lawn maintenance professionals. If you can withstand the chit chat, and the feeling of being watched all day... I say go for it! Haha! Good point! I was just thinking that I don't see 95% of my clients and a few I've never met beyond an email conversation. Last season was my first full season, so take my input with a grain of salt. As for equipment - I started with a Craftsman, but I quickly replaced it with a Toro Super Recycler. No regrets. I also started with a cheapo Troy Bilt trimmer which I burned up trying to "mow" an overgrown lot. I had planned on saving up for a commercial grade trimmer, but that got fast tracked when my trimmer crapped out on me. I bought a Stihl FS90R and HIGHLY recommend picking up a commercial trimmer, as it's one of the most important pieces of gear you'll use. The difference between commercial grade and a homeowner trimmer is the difference between a butter knife and a steak knife when eating a T-bone. Unless you're doing leaf cleanups, I disagree on the backpack blower. For blowing clippings off a walk, a handheld will do just fine, and takes up less space, while being easier to carry for the 3 minutes you'll need it. All in all, can you make enough money working two days a week to cover your legal obligations?

[knosaj]

Lawn care business tips

Never thought of the home owners being around. Oh well, I'll just have to deal with it. No other choice. Legal obligations? If your talking about insurance, I think so. I have a general liability quote that is like 40 a month. I figure, I am hoping for 10 , but If I can get 5 lawns on a weekly basis at 35 a lawn that's, 700 a month. Maybe I am being naive but I feel that's pretty easy. Phone, 10 bucks, then fuel, not sure yet. I live in an area dense with neighborhoods. Thousands of residences in a few square miles. No to bad return. I could knock 5 yards out in one day easy. We have mowing here year round. Am I way off base?

[willshome]

your numbers are not that off but the first year you may spend 50% or more of what you make on tools... growing costs. starting with like 5 to 10 yards is smart learn the ropes & see what happens if it does not work out your not crazy money

[Steve]

How many lawn care customers do you have now and what is your goal as to how many you want with your business?

How long do you plan to keep it operating on the weekends only? Will you next expand it to week nights?

[knosaj]

i hate to admit it, but, i am, at the moment, mmm, all talk and no action. i have zero customers.

what i am really waiting on it to pay off this huge med bill in a few days then i can x off the last few things on my list and get started.

-insurance is the big one.

-cards and door hangers. i have designed these already and are ready for print. again, in a few days ill have them printed. they should be in my hands a couple days after that. i know these arent nesessary, but there is TONS of competition here and i want to look legit. first impression.

other than that and shaking off the cold feet, i am set to beat the street.

[Hedgemaster]

Do you need to do anything locally in the form of permits, or such?

Here, I needed to apply and be approved to run a home based business.
It wasn't expensive, or difficult, but when I registered my business name with the state, the municipality must get notice of new businesses in the area because before I had a chance to submit my zoning application, I received a letter stating that it was illegal to operate a business without zoning board approval along with the necessary application.

Just something to think about.

Everyone has their hand out for a piece of you.

[willshome]

Have you talked to insurance agency yet You may not need it til you start working just get licensed, line up work then when, or if you get work start the insurance ( my insurance started 24 hours after signing)

btw a lot of guys find it helpful to post there flyers here

[Lake Area Turf]

my advise would to get set up to do the odd jobs first. Such as spring clean ups, small mulching and plantings, shrub trimming, cleaning gutters, etc. THese jobs will get you the weekly maintenance stuff.
This is how i am going at it, but on a larger scale. It all depends on your experiance dealing with turf, and landscapes.

Also, dont worry about getting liscensed just yet. Get your insurance and get your *** out there. As any thing else the govt. is involved with liscensing will take alot of time and you want hit the ground running. If you can conceal your eqpt. on your property with out it being an eye sore you can get out there.

[wandfsmall]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Haha! Good point!

I bought a Stihl FS90R and HIGHLY recommend picking up a commercial trimmer, as it's one of the most important pieces of gear you'll use. The difference between commercial grade and a homeowner trimmer is the difference between a butter knife and a steak knife when eating a T-bone.

Unless you're doing leaf cleanups, I disagree on the backpack blower. For blowing clippings off a walk, a handheld will do just fine, and takes up less space, while being easier to carry for the 3 minutes you'll need it.


All in all, can you make enough money working two days a week to cover your legal obligations?

I agree with this statement for the most part, spend just $20 more on a piece of equipment and get more then triple the life out of it. The CRAPsman stuff it totaled if you break a rope start on them. Most shops will not touch it and it can take up to an hour to change just a rope start on one. A good commercial unit will take less then 10 min.

[Hedgemaster]

Originally Posted by Lake Area Turf

my advise would to get set up to do the odd jobs first. Such as spring clean ups, small mulching and plantings, shrub trimming, cleaning gutters, etc. THese jobs will get you the weekly maintenance stuff.
This is how i am going at it, but on a larger scale. It all depends on your experiance dealing with turf, and landscapes.

Also, dont worry about getting liscensed just yet. Get your insurance and get your *** out there. As any thing else the govt. is involved with liscensing will take alot of time and you want hit the ground running. If you can conceal your eqpt. on your property with out it being an eye sore you can get out there.

Great advice. Hey, and when your driver's license is up for renewal, don't bother - spend the money on flyers instead and just drive really carefully.

What the OP does is ultimately his decision, but telling people to ignore the law does nobody any favors.