Being a legit company

[wat5150]

It's sad that this industry has gone downhill, I see a lot of lawn care companies around here that don't even have a name on their truck or trailer. .[/quote] Seems like one sentence to me.

[xandrew245x]

Lawn care business tips

I know it does, but thats honestly not how I meant it at all.

__________________

Carlisle Lawn Care

[xandrew245x]

Well anyways, I'm sorry didn't mean to cause any hard feelings.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by xandrew245x

Thanks, I'll look into it and see what I can find out. It's sad that this industry has gone downhill, I see a lot of lawn care companies around here that don't even have a name on their truck or trailer.

I will inherit my parents business someday, but that's honestly not what I want to do for the rest of my life, I would rather do something I enjoy.

why is that? is your parents business doing good? the bottom line in life is making money and no matter what you do in life it is gonna get old.
you like doing lawns probably because it is something different but it will get old too.

a business, career or a job is just a means to make money so you can afford to do the things in life you really enjoy.

it's funny how the grass always looks greener from the other side of the fence, no pun intended.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

These are start ups and part timers. They come and go. These are the people that drive down prices. Then they go out of business or get a good paying job.

yes, but whether they succeed or fail there will always be many more to take their place, it is a vicious cycle but even if only 1 out of ten succeed after a while it just adds one more business to a already flooded industry.

when i started out we had about 70 companies in my county and i always said there is plenty of work for all of us.
now 23 years later there is about 1,200 legit companies and that don't even include the untold hundreds of no names.

boy did i change my tune and i am thankfull i got into when i did because if i were starting out today i would not even come close to what i got now and i am sure i will eventually have my fill and call it quits to find greener pastures.

[Hedgemaster]

The man whose name cannot be pronounced pretty much nailed it all in his first post.

I was freaking out oer these samme issues and when I asked some people in the know, they all said to start as a sole proprietor for the simplicity, AND because it's SIMPLE to change to an LLC later, but to "dissolve" the LLC costs some time and (maybe) money.


You need to check with your state about licensing/registration - it varies.
In PA, there is no "license" for general lawn care.

[xandrew245x]

Originally Posted by dpld

why is that? is your parents business doing good? the bottom line in life is making money and no matter what you do in life it is gonna get old.
you like doing lawns probably because it is something different but it will get old too.

a business, career or a job is just a means to make money so you can afford to do the things in life you really enjoy.

it's funny how the grass always looks greener from the other side of the fence, no pun intended.

Their business is doing okay, not one of the best years but its hanging in there. They have been in business for over 50 years, but its just not something i'm interested in doing. I actually enjoy lawncare, but like you said it will probably get old, but who knows until you try.

Hedge, do you need a business license? If not then I don't think i'll need any licensing except for if I do mulch.

[Hedgemaster]

Not that I'm aware of.

I did need to apply for and be approved (and pay a one time fee) for a home occupancy permit from my local municipality. (In order to operate a business from my home)

Getting everything squared away is the worst part. Any time you ask a question the reply is "consult you attorney", or "ask your accountant".
Yeah, that's great if you have such people available, but I didn't have money to buy lunch when I started, so "an attorney" wasn't an option.

[xandrew245x]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

Not that I'm aware of.

I did need to apply for and be approved (and pay a one time fee) for a home occupancy permit from my local municipality. (In order to operate a business from my home)

Getting everything squared away is the worst part. Any time you ask a question the reply is "consult you attorney", or "ask your accountant".
Yeah, that's great if you have such people available, but I didn't have money to buy lunch when I started, so "an attorney" wasn't an option.

Yeah, I will need an occupancy permit, i'm sure of that. That is really easy to get though. I think I'm going to call my moms accountant, i'm sure she would answer questions for me for free.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by WorkForMySelf

I used legalzoom. I started a few months ago and am set as a LLC.
In the unlikely event of serious injury, the LLC is a firewall to keep you from being personally sued by an employee.
LLC's pay less taxes. I only pay myself the minimum I need to survive and leave the rest in the company account to let it grow. If you are a sole proprietor, expect to pay close to 30% taxes on everything. I expect to pay something like 5% on whats left with the company. Unless you are a weekend guy then get a LLC. If you are a weekend guy then work for cash. You dont even have to have a license at all to perform lawncare in my county/ state in the business is your name ie "John Doe Landscape"

i don't know what state you live in but a sole proprietor is the lowest tax rate you can have and it is the same as a individual.

as far as 30% is concerned that is gonna be closer to what you will pay come tax time if you turn a profit or have any money sitting in your account.

as far as protections go, as long as you have the proper insurance and as far as employee's go workers comp you pretty much have nothing to worry about other then if you were found to be at fault.

for example if your guy loses a eye string strimming and you did not supply the proper PPE ( personel protection equipment ) and had the sheild removed that could be a issue that could cost you.
or if you disconected the saftey shutoffs on your mowers and your worker slipped and it ran him over and seriously injured him you will go belly up.
but, if your worker got injured by the mower and all saftey mechanisms were in place as well as he was wearing the required PPE's then that would be a workers comp case.

the main protections a business owner would have as a corporation is they can not go after your personal assets in the event that your actions or neglect were the cause of someones injury.
but that is what we have insurance for and unfortunately too many people start businesses without insurance and some think that by incorporating they can buy time to get insurance.
i am not saying that is the case with you i am just speaking generally and if you don't have insurance being a corporation or even god all mighty is not going to help you.