Plan for 2013 Season

[xandrew245x]

I started late in the season this year, and decided from the start to really wait until next season to get my business into full effect. I have been working on my plan for next year, but I have a few questions. The biggest question being figuring out my operating expenses. I'm not exactly sure how to figure it out but here is my best guess. Right now I have a low overhead, I don't have a truck or trailer payment, actually my truck was given to me. Here is what I believe my expenses are right now. Trailer:$1100 Gas:1500 mower:$3000 advertisement:$300 trimmer:$300 Blower:$300 misc:100 My current expense is only about $11 an hour. Next year I want to aim to be a legitimate business, and work my way up to the correct equipment. What I am confused about is what should I include in my list, even though I don't need a new truck or trailer, should I still calculate it in my operating cost in case I would need to buy one? Here is hourly operating cost of the things I want: Truck:$7000 Trailer:2500 Commercial Mower:$6000 Maintenance:$1000 Gas:$2000 Misc:$500 Advertising:$500 Insurance:$1500 Trimmer:$300 Blower:$300 This comes out to a total of $21600 of expenses a season, $36 an hour Here is a cost of everything I actually need, I already have a truck and trailer, and I don't really need to upgrade them yet. Commercial mower:$4000 Maintenance:$1000 Gas:$2000 Misc:$500 Advertising:$500 Insurance:$1500 That comes out to $9500 a season, about $16 an hour of expense. Should I still include the price of a new truck and trailer? As well as a price for a new string trimmer and blower? Let me know if you think any of my numbers are off, this is based off of 20 hours a week and 30 mowing weeks a season.

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Carlisle Lawn Care

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

A biggie you need to keep in mind is taxes. even though I don't need a new truck or trailer, should I still calculate it in my operating cost in case I would need to buy one? The thing is, all mechanical equipment is slowly destroying itself overtime and will need to be replaced. It's great that you have a truck now, but as soon as you are out there driving it, it will be falling apart and money will need to be put away to buy another.

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[Chaz]

Originally Posted by xandrew245x

Should I still include the price of a new truck and trailer? As well as a price for a new string trimmer and blower?

Let me know if you think any of my numbers are off, this is based off of 20 hours a week and 30 mowing weeks a season.

a new commercial mower, should be faster than what you have, so it being faster will make you more productive!

If you new truck offers no advantages than what ur current has now, i wouldn't bother. If it has a plow, bigger cab, bigger bed, stronger or 4x4 (4x4 is advantage if u find yourself getting stuck i guess) that would also boost productivity

[shane-pa]

What you didn't mention was the cost of repairs and maintenance of the equipment and vehicles. Blades, oil, tires, grease. this all adds up over the course of a season. Especially if you don't know how to do the work yourself but will have to pay labor costs.

[xandrew245x]

Originally Posted by shane-pa

What you didn't mention was the cost of repairs and maintenance of the equipment and vehicles. Blades, oil, tires, grease. this all adds up over the course of a season. Especially if you don't know how to do the work yourself but will have to pay labor costs.

I included maintenance-$1000, I can do pretty much everything myself.

[shane-pa]

didn't see that the first time.

[Hedgemaster]

post it notes
paper clips
envelopes
stamps
staples
paper
pens
highlighters
ink
software
etc...

You get the idea.



Misc. hand tools:
knife
wrenches
pruning saw
rake
shovel
etc...

Even if you think you have everything you need - you don't.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by Hedgemaster

post it notes
paper clips
envelopes
stamps
staples
paper
pens
highlighters
ink
software
etc...

You get the idea.



Misc. hand tools:
knife
wrenches
pruning saw
rake
shovel
etc...

Even if you think you have everything you need - you don't.

Post it notes and envelopes. Two things I always need. I'm about 5 days late with sending out invoices because I kept forgetting envelopes. Then I picked them up yesterday and forgot stamps.

I'm soon to have a workshop. So my list is stuff like welder, tire changer, lift, bagger for my ZTR, leaf loader, and some other stuff.