Website. Yay or Nay?

[stevef1201]

Originally Posted by Mowin4Dollas I will be well under 10k this year. I keep a notebook of all transactions. Do you think I will be ok? Use quick books from intuit. It is easy to use, and keeps track of everything. you can get the quick start for free, and give it a try. I upgraded last year, and my tax man said he wished everyone used something this simple.

[bruces]

Lawn care business tips

no matter what the others say ,YES you should be worried ,you do not want the government sticking their noses in your life ,and when your working under the radar ,you do not want to draw any attention to yourself .A long time ago ,I took some work that another contractor thought was his ,he called on me [I was 12 and hand dug around a neighbours foundation to replace his weeping tile ] ,I ended up paying $4000.00 in fines .I think I earned about $1400.00 for the job .This would of been 1977 !

[Mowin4Dollas]

Alrighty. Well that's scary.

[CHEESE2009]

For just grass cutting alone, it's no big deal. Don't do anything to alter the clients property because that can get you into trouble.

Focus on pure maintenance. In the worst case scenario, damaging someones lawn is a cheap fix.


Again,

Do:
- cut grass
- lay sod
- seed
- topsoil
- pick up leaves
- trim small hedges, go for bigger if you feel confident
- weed flower beds
- add stones/mulch to flower beds

Don't:
- Dig holes, unless laying sod
- Build on and/or construct/alter property (incl: irrigation, beds, window-wells)
- Plant plants
- Fertilize (grey area; do if you feel confident, avoid destroying the lawn)
- Pressure wash
- take apart gutters to clear debris

[Greg'slawnandlandscape]

I wouldn't use a web site I use email fax and a phone and for advertisement I use flyers. Even with a site you have to advertise it to get customers. A big advertisment is truck decals and a nice truck (just on that's clean and looks good)I'm in the same boat I'm only sixteen but I spent a total of 16 hours calling insurance company's one after another to get insurance without my parents signing and eventually I found sia and they have taken care of me ever since when I try to get a commercial property they fax the insurance paperwork for me.

[Cashin H&P]

In my opinion, If you can not be a legit business, you should not be a business. What happens when you kick up a rock with your mower and it shoots out at a kid hurting him? how are you going to pay the possible medical fees? If I were you I would work for some one until your old enough to get the proper lic. and insurance.

If you are under 18 and you cause a problem at a customers house your parents are responsable, meaning the customer can sue your parents not just you.


Like I said just my opinion but I dont think you should advartise your self as a business if you cant do it right.

[jsslawncare]

I'd go for it.

Cheese2009- Planting plants is the same as laying sod.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by jsslawncare

I'd go for it.

Cheese2009- Planting plants is the same as laying sod.

SHHH! lol...

For example, if he went and planted a row of shrubs and they died within a week, it could be pretty awkward and an expensive/time-wasting problem to fix.

Sod is cheap, if it dies because it was put down wrong, it can be fixed without emptying your bank account... Unless you plan on sodding an entire property...


Also, grass isn't a plant... It's my wife! <3

[brian'slawncare]

cheese, why not pressure washing? Is there really any liability in that?

[Steve]

The one thing I was thinking is I would do everything as legit as I could. For example, I'd make sure I paid taxes on earned income.

Then when you are older, you will have a lot of the basics down and can easily register your business name.

You may want to register a domain name now, even if you don't put up a website.