Hi Im new

jasonw · #1 02-10-2009, 02:31 PM

Hi my name is Jason. I have done little nickle and dime yard work on and off for a very long time and recently decided it was time to make some real money doing it and become less dependent on my current employer that looks like it may fold under the economic stress. I look forward to learning a lot here. I am 30yo and from Amador County, Ca. At this point sence I do have a day job I am looking to take on some side work mowing yards in my area. Last time I did this I got way to busy and back then my current employer was doing very good so I pretty much stopped the yard work adventure. This time I hope to start of with the Mow, blow and go theory for now at least and be much more careful as to not over book myself like I did before. Thus far as much as I can tell I am ready to go. Got my trusty old car and tailor, mower, WW and blower. Got the business cards, put up fliers and my add comes out in the paper tomorow.

Steve · #2 02-10-2009, 02:45 PM

Lawn care business tips

Hey Jason,

Welcome to our forum!

Do you have a picture of your set up? I'd like to see it. I think it would be inspiring for others who feel they need a truck to get started.

What have you been doing so far to attract customers?

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jasonw · #3 02-10-2009, 03:03 PM

I will get a picture up in the next day or 2 as I must run out to my 9-5 in a few minutes. A truck is very over rated. I use as I have always used a 1981 Toyota Carolla station wagon to tow my trailer. The little 1.8L hemi and 5 speed have no problems what so ever towing the trailer witch is a converted boat trailer. To attract customers right now I am running an add in the paper "comes out tomorow" putting up fliers and handing out business cards to friends and family. I was also thinking of hopping on my mountain bike and running around my small town and leaving business cards at the doors of houses that looked like they needed the yard work done but I don't know. I keep my yard very nice, I enjoy doing this kind of work but I think I may be offended if my yard was bad and someone left a yard work card at my door.

Steve · #4 02-10-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

I will get a picture up in the next day or 2 as I must run out to my 9-5 in a few minutes. A truck is very over rated. I use as I have always used a 1981 Toyota Carolla station wagon to tow my trailer. The little 1.8L hemi and 5 speed have no problems what so ever towing the trailer witch is a converted boat trailer.

That is fantastic! Ingenuity! I can't wait to see!

jasonw · #5 02-11-2009, 02:39 PM

Here is my set up. As you can see its not much but its cheap and reliable witch is all that matters. I cant haul a lot but why do I need more than what I have in there in the picture?

Steve · #6 02-11-2009, 02:45 PM

That is just fantastic!

How long did it take to put that together and what do you think it cost to do it?

Are you planning on putting any signs on the side of your trailer? Heck you could even hand paint it and it would get the point across!

jasonw · #7 02-11-2009, 02:57 PM

Car= $150
New transmition= $300
Boat $400
Sold boat kept trailor +$200
Materials to box in trailor $60
Mower $120
WW $80
Blower $69.99
All total I am able to go into business for $979.99 Now take into consideration I already had the equipment for maintaining my own yard then it only really cost me a few hundred total. This of course dose not include business cards, paper to print fliers, computer to hook printer to so on and so forth but as you can see its very easy to get started cheap so common people call me LOL

My add came out today but no calls yet. hmmmm I'm sure this economy has something to do with it but I live just outside of a golf course community so I figured that would keep me pretty busy, unless of course yard maintenance is part of there home owners benefits, I have seen that before.

Steve · #8 02-11-2009, 03:13 PM

Great stuff!

What did you put in your ad?

Also, did you consider putting together an article to submit to the local paper about "When the economy hands you lemons, it's time to make lemonade." And in the article, talk about how you started your own business on the cheap and you want to inspire others in your area to harness their entrepreneurial spirit.

I bet something like that would get you in the paper and help get your name out.

jasonw · #9 02-11-2009, 03:19 PM

Thats not a bad idea really. As far as my add goes it was something to the effect of "Pain in the grass" Mowing and weed eating, call me. Strait , to the point and I think the bold title of Pain in the grass will catch peoples attention. As far as you question I forgot to answer before. I do plan on painting the plywood on the tailor and putting some sort of name and or logo on it but I told myself that will come from business income witch I am still working on. No more money out of my pocket on this project. I have everything I need its just a matter of the phone ringing now.

jasonw · #10 02-11-2009, 03:20 PM

On 2nd thought I don't know if an article in the paper would be a good idea. We live in a small community and I am not sure how my 9-5 employer would feel about me talking about that sort of thing, know what I mean? I fully plan to quit and do this full time but not until I build up a good customer base. so I can make my house payment and car payment and all my other bills.

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