New business

[LAWNORDEROAKVILLE]

Hi, my name is Jeff and here is my situation. I am 25 years old I live in Ontario Canada. I recently moved back home with my parents because I just finished a college business course and in these times it is hard as **** to get hired anywhere. I have worked for construction companies, landscape companies and lawn care companies among others but I love the outdoors. So, this is what I've done. I took my car off the road and put it up for sale. I went to the dollar store and got business card paper. Went to chapters and got a couple books on sale all about lawns and how to identify each of the many lawn problems-I know alot about lawn care but not everything and besides, I bought 2 waterproof books for only 5 bucks. I used a lawn care logo template from this site and used my business name. I went to Wal-Mart and got a push mower and went to Canadian Tire and picked up a string trimmer that doubles as a leaf blower with the flip of a handle. I went on foot and banged on a bunch of doors and although I've only talked to about twenty people have made verbal agreements to service 3. One more couple said they're interested but were just on their way to the airport and said come back in a week. Anyone who didn't answer the door will never know I was there because I want to talk to each person before I give them a card. That is only if I'm out hitting doors though. I'll give anyone a card. I have no truck yet. I am hoping to have a legit company with a truck up and running by winter for some snow removal and I can guarantee all of you I will do it. You know why? because, what else am I gonna do if no one will hire me for what I'm qualified for from college. Besides I love dealing with people and being outside. Some people have looked at me funny because I have no truck. But I'm making both money and contacts and gaining experience pricing lawns and making them look great

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Hi Jeff, Welcome to our forum. You are in good company. We have plenty of forum members that got their start with their car and a mower. Some even got started using the customers lawn mower. Don't sweat the truck. Keep taking things step by step. What are some of your future goals that are coming up?

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[LAWNORDEROAKVILLE]

Let me just tell you that I can't even begin to tell you how much reading your replies to everyone and your supporting thoughts have motivated me. Thank you so much.

Well, in a nutshell. my goals are to talk to as many homeowners as I can each day. I need to get enough customers to make some money and put money aside to expand my company.

I have spent countless hours surfing the internet on lawn care businesses and I always end up right back here. I come to your site before I even check my emails because there is so much on here and I am driven to do well in this business. There are no "get rich quick" schemes or make "x amount of money today" lies on here. I love the fact that it is real people with real companies who are helping each other giving each other advice to better their business rather than sink them.

Do you have any advice for me or anyone else for that matter for the less motivated days or the days that we may say to ourselves "am I wasting my time"?

Thanks a million
Jeff

[majoe7]

Hi Jeff,

It sounds like you have the motivation and desire to accomplish the goals you set for yourself in this new business venture.

Everyone has to start somewhere, so starting out small and growing is a good way to start.

When you go to the clients house or business make sure that if you have contact with them, try to get a call back number if they don’t need any service at that time. You can call them back later to see if they need any yard work, cleanup, planting ect.* now or in the future. It shows your desire not desperation.

It’s great that you bought a piece of equipment that can serve more than one function when you are starting out with a small budget. Always keep that in mind when purchasing new items. I tend to go to garage sales to see if I can pick up some more equipment for the fraction of the price.

Good luck to you.

John

[Steve]

Let me just tell you that I can't even begin to tell you how much reading your replies to everyone and your supporting thoughts have motivated me. Thank you so much.

Well, in a nutshell. my goals are to talk to as many homeowners as I can each day. I need to get enough customers to make some money and put money aside to expand my company.

I have spent countless hours surfing the internet on lawn care businesses and I always end up right back here. I come to your site before I even check my emails because there is so much on here and I am driven to do well in this business. There are no "get rich quick" schemes or make "x amount of money today" lies on here. I love the fact that it is real people with real companies who are helping each other giving each other advice to better their business rather than sink them.

Do you have any advice for me or anyone else for that matter for the less motivated days or the days that we may say to ourselves "am I wasting my time"?

Jeff you are very welcome.

Here are the facts.

Fact #1 You can succeed at this or anything you set your mind to.

Fact #2 You don't fail at this or anything else for that matter unless you quit.

Now as far as advice goes. Here is my take on business and life. The reason why one person will find success over others will most always come down to them putting in more time, energy, and passion into a project than what the majority of others was putting into it.

What does that mean? That means if the average person starting a lawn care business goes out and meets 10 people a day to promote their business and you meet 12, you will find success.

That is my personal view.

Most people just give up at the things they attempt because they don't feel they 'have it.' That others instead have it and they don't.

That is just not the case. We can all find success if we work hard and smart at what we want to do.

Now I know this is an over simplification of the big picture but it is the core of it.

What should you do to find success in your lawn care business? Learn as much as you can about the field and meet as many people in your area as you can. Pretend you are running for mayor. You want people to know you. The more people that know you, the more people that will want to hire you. They will want to hire you because you are a friendly guy. A good person. A friend of theirs.

Be their friend. Solve their problems and you will find success.

Feel free to ask more if this is to vague.

[LAWNORDEROAKVILLE]

John,

thank you for your input and I will definately check out some garage and yard sales. My mom loves to go every saturday morning to yard sales so that is a good opportunity for me to look around for some stuff and spend some time with my mom doing what she likes.

Steve,

I wil not quit. I am gonna use your words daily to keep myself positive. I am goint to tell myself everyday that I will not fail unless I quit. Thank you

You have different parts of the forum like "introduce yourself" etc. What if you had one that was titled "Motivate" or "Stay motivated" or something of that nature. I ask this because so many people have so much to say to motivate others on here and it just gets me pumped when I read them.

Just a thought

Jeff

[Steve]

Hi Jeff,

Recently I experimented with putting a section on her called the drama of running a business. The goal with it is to allow members to talk about the ups and downs they experience as they run their business.

Please start a post in there and share your thoughts with others. I am sure there are plenty of forum members on here who would look to you as a source of inspiration because you are doing it.