Research before the plunge! He

[LikeAPuma]

Hey all! First, thanks to everyone for the wealth of information you have all posted on these forums! I'm currently looking into starting my own lawn care business with a family member, but since we're both new to this (besides our personal yards), I've turned to the Internet for some more info. Currently, we have access to a scag & a trailer, for the low cost of keeping it a relatives lawn taken care of. I figure that gives us a chance to save up & purchase our owner mower rather than starting out in the hole (too much). I'm in Northeast CT & am contemplating if we should dive head first into the remainder of the season, or save and plan to make a strong showing next spring. Any advice is greatly appreciated, and I hope to learn more on here, and maybe even contribute where I can!

[w0283767]

Lawn care business tips

Hey welcome to the forum! I am kind of in the same boat. I am working on purchasing my equipment now and learning the ropes. I plan to hit it hard in the spring of next year and am going to try and get some fall cleanup jobs as well. In the meantime I am working on developing website, logo, flyers for next year, and other various forms that I will use to run business.

[LikeAPuma]

Thanks for the welcome! Ya, my cousin wants to jump right in & go, but I'd rather have everything set & in place. And of course, there's leaf remove & snow removal to consider!

[Steve]

Welcome to our forum!

Why not get your feet wet now and scale up as you go? If you can perform the service you want to sell, start marketing it to people you know, neighbors, and other members of your community.

[stevef1201]

A faamous prcrastinator one said - Never start today what you can put off till tommarow. He NEVER GOT STARTED!!! Yuo have a mower, a triler, I hope a weedeater, edger, and blower. GET TO WORK. FLYERS, ADVERTISING, put it facebook (Your riends and family are a great scource for start up jobs) ask for refferals from them. JUST GET STARTED

[w0283767]

That is a very good point. My problem is that I don't have a truck yet. I plan on getting a commercial mower and a truck this winter before spring. I bought a backpack blower and am going to start with fall cleanups.

[Sprinkler Buddy]

I would recommend not having a partner. Just hire the relative as an employee and save yourself the headaches down the road when one of you want out of it.

[krzys666]

don't have any partners. that is a bad idea.
start now!
you might not get a lot of clients for the rest of this year.
they will however remain with you for the rest of the year, and next year.
this will give you a head start over starting next year.

you will also have a few more advantages.
1) you will have some money saved up.
2) you should have tried some marketing to see what works and what doesn't
3) you will be able to estimate a little easier.
4) you should be more comfortable with giving proposals, selling, and taking with clients

[Steve]

My problem is that I don't have a truck yet.

[w0283767]

Haha! True I just wanted to start out right and look professional. That is an option though.