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Hello, My name is Tony I am 27 years of age. I just started this April with my Honda HRX217HXA 21" self propelled lawn mower. I had 2 houses now I got a good 18. Next year will bring me into a 36" Hydrocut Ferris 36" + a trailer. I aslo work full time at 9 mile rent all, where I run the counter and customer service, I have been in that business for nearly 8 years now and used to cut lawns with my father nearly 12 years ago. The money is a good taste so far and hoping to keep this as a part time situation to help pay off my debt that I aquired after inherting 3 siblings from my wife's side when her mother died nearly 5 years ago. " we were both 22 and 23 at the time. We also have 3 small children of our own. Here is a little information about who I am. I have not decided on a company name and just been using my personal name so far. I throw everything in the back of the chevy 2000 s10 and get the job done.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Tony! Thank you for saying hello and joining our forum! What a great story you have! Could you post a picture of your current setup? I'd love to see it! How do you like working at the rental center? How does that compare with running your own business? Are you planning on going fulltime one day with your lawn care business? How many customers do you feel you would need to do that and when would you like to do that by?

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Welcome! We love hearing other people's stories and such! Are you looking to expand your business if and when you go fulltime and hire people, or do you want to stay small enough that you can do it all on your own?

Ill get a photo soon of my equipment, waiting for the camera to charge . I do feel that sometime I would like to go full time. I pull near 30K a year working at the rental store, sometimes its hectic dealing with theft of equipment and prosecuting people. In order for me to go full time on the lawn service, I would atleast need 60 or 80 houses to attempt going that route. I would probably would hire an addiatonal helper or crew so that the business can run its self. Although it is hard to find good people that you can trust with out being there. Most cases you can barley trust your on family wich is a sad thing.

The rental is okay like I mention before its hectic. I do like helping customers solving or fixing the situation they are in wether its with lawn care or other things, since we do rent out lawn equipment such as lawn mowers, 21", 48" walkbehind or 61" yazoo kees rider, other applications like lawn dethatchers and areators, lawn rollers and broadcast spredders.

We do a lot of construction rentals as well. *

We are also a STIHL product dealer. Wich I do 90% of the sales there but don't get no commision on the items I sell so lets hope I get a decent bonus "wishfull thinking again".

[Steve]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ] I would probably would hire an addiatonal helper or crew so that the business can run its self.

This is a fascinating point. Quite often this will come up but I dont think I have ever seen this actually happen. I do wonder if it is possible. It seems as soon as someone has a grasp on how the business works, they spin off and make their own business.

Do you have any good buddies that maybe you could partner up with and split the job load? Would that help the transition? Or even family members?

I do have my brother who needs his licsense to drive prior but I could always tag him along the route to learn the houses and maybe have him and another person to cut the route. If he ever got his license, he's nearly 25 now =/

I would have to give good pay to him at that point.

Through my time at the rental store I have seen many people come in working for someone else's service and a month later here he comes back in his own truck and equipment running his own business.

Looks to me as if this lawn care service is something very easy to jump into. Start small and work your way up just like I am doing.

My father owned his lawn care service nearly 12 years ago and had it going for a long time. Well he had given the company to my cousin about 8 years ago when he got remarried and moved out of state. at the time I was working at the rental store Button's Rent It, and I needed the security of a paycheck since my wife and I lived together and had one in the oven.

I am actually glad that I wasn't given the company because I feel much better that I am doing it on my own and my own way. Even though it would have been decent income business.
From what I understand he was ranking 10K to 15K a month I remember cutting 25 to 35 houses 5 days a week and if not more. My father had my brother and I and another older guy work for him, and evantually my cousin got in on the action.

Just incase everyone is wondering what state I live in it is Michigan and the season of lawn service just about up. Hoping to get some yard cleanups for some christmass shopping =).

[Steve]

Well keep us posted on what is going on! I hope you are able to bring in a lot of fall cleanups

[LOUROCK]

Hey Tony, I wish the best of luck in the business! I my self started my small lawn care business a little over a year ago and about to reach the 30 account mark soon. This year was great for me thank god! But next year things are going to be alot more serious. I recomend you get insurance, and get your self incorporated. That will help alot in the advertising aspect and will help you aquire new customers as well. Remember you will be paying taxes and you will be able to tax writeoff business expences such as fuel, advertising,ETC...Remember to purchase the GOPHER SOFTWARE, WICH I *WILL PURCHASE FOR MY SELF FOR CHRISTMAS !!

Can anyone help me on a how to come up with a company name , Tony Artan's Lawn Care Services is kinda well everyone else I suppose =)



help , tony