Just Starting

[foggyjr5]

I am just getting started in the business and was wondering about insurance, licensed, and other stuff i need to do before i start. I am going to get insurance for sure, but i don't know what else i need to do. I talked with a lady at the bank and she said that i need a Tax ID #?

[MMLawn]

I am just getting started in the business and was wondering about insurance, licensed, and other stuff i need to do before i start. I am going to get insurance for sure, but i don't know what else i need to do. I talked with a lady at the bank and she said that i need a Tax ID #?


Sorry, but she should have also told you that at only 16 years old you can't get any of these things as you have to be at least 18 years old to do so, so you would have to get your parents to get everything in their name and you be their employee so to speak.

[foggyjr5]

Yes well my dad is helping me out so i could still use the advice

[daveintoledo]

best thing you could do , is get a job with a lown care company for 3 or 4 years and learn, and go to college

[daveintoledo]

changing the birtday here wont help .....now it says your 18, but when i look this morning you where 16?????????

i really ment it, that is the best advice you will get , go work for a lawn care service a few years

[foggyjr5]

My dad and i are starting our own lawn business, and i was just wondering about that stuff

[Patrick.B]

16 and you change it to 18 ?......LOL jeeez,,,,,,what a joke !!!!!!!!!

[foggyjr5]

Forget you guys then, all i was doing was asking for some advise from people that were willing to just help out, but i guess not.

[Tider6972]

foggyjr5, you are on the right track !

Call the city and the county clerks to see about what licenses are needed in your area.

Do you have to collect sales tax on mowing? If not, you won't need a tax number.

Use Quickbooks to set up your business records. You'll want to keep track of the money (capitol investment) you put into the business. Keep records of ALL money earned, and ALL money spent: insurance, licenses, equipment, and every thing else you buy.

I commend you for wanting to properly opperate your business - many don't make such an attempt.

Be honest, work smart, be dependable and you'll be successful !

[daveintoledo]

if this is the case you have to have him file a dba or lcc for your business name to get a bank account, tider said the rest......but getting some real experience is what you need, you cant just run out and make the lawns look good with equipment your not trained on, you could end up damaging turf with commercial equipment....

i wasnt being a smart a$$..... experience is important, i worked my way through college doing this type of stuff, now im ready to go on my own and have learned enough to start out....


GOOD LUCK :)

[pagefault]

The high points to me are:

1. Talk to an accountant and a lawyer (a hundred bucks or so for each) and get an idea of what type of company to start. Typically, it will be either LLC or corp. Due to the formalities of a corp, it will probably be LLC for you.

2. Call the Secretary of State and do a preliminary check on the name you want to use. If it is available, download the forms for forming and LLC or corp and fill them out. Have the attorney review them.

3. File with the Secretary of State. $300 in Texas. Probably something similar where you are. Make sure you bring an extra copy of the paperwork and have them stamp it and return it to you along with a Certificate of Incorporation (or the equivalent for LLC).

4. Go to the IRS website and get an Employer Identification Number, also known as a federal tax ID. This is free and easy. You may also need to get set up to collect sales tax. This is done through the state comptroller. Either they, or your attorney and accountant should be able to tell you if you need to do this.

5. Go to the bank with your paperwork and open an account. Once this account is open, do not use this money for anything that is not business related.

6. Get liability insurance, theft insurance and (if required by law) worker's comp insurance. Google for insurance, small business, liability, etc and get some quotes or see if your parents or their friends know a good agent in town. Make sure you are clear with the agent about what you are doing. There can be a substantial difference in premiums to insure a landscaping business as opposed to a lawn maintenance company. If you are using small equipment and doing small properties, make sure they know this. You might even call the insurance companies before you do all the rest, as getting insurance for an underage operator of some equipment might be the dealbreaker.

7. Set aside an hour or two each month to meet with your accountant and your attorney. You will need to pay for this, but it will reduce the chances that you will do something wrong and it will make it much easier for them to help you out if you get in trouble.

Hope this helps. I am sure it will be a little different from one state to the next.

[toddbntly]

I am just starting out. I am 19 and taking some time off college to get this deal going. I am hoping to eventually pay my way through college with this business. I am looking to try to get 15 to 20 lawns (I know I am going to have to advertise a ton to get that many lawns since I will be starting at the end of May).

How long does all that you described take to complete? I am doing this deal solo. I am assuming that to be legal and to charge the proper price (so as not to low ball you long timers) I need to get all of that stuff done? Or is there an easier route for going solo? Will I really need to charge tax if I only have 15-20 lawns? Thanks a ton!

Todd

[pagefault]

Other than consulting with attorneys and accountants, I got it all done in two days.

Yeah, you need to deal with taxes.

[lawnman_scott]

Then a few years from now someonw will be crying because he has no ins and doesnt pay taxes, this after complaining about something stupid like his profile. Just listen to pagefault, ignore the idiots.

[toddbntly]

Cool...thanks for all the advice!