What am I missing?

[bilchak]

Just getting started this year full time.

Am I missing anything????

Have or getting the following:

-Truck and trailer.
-About to buy 48 or 52" SCAG.
-Redmax backpack blower, edger, whip, and shrub shears. All top of the line.
-Business Cards
-Ready to place Ads in the paper and use flyers
-Cell Phone
-Insurance
-License
-Registered as an LLC
-Quik Books Software
-t-shirts
-magnets for truck door
-extra springs and string for whip
-extra blades for the edger
-Lots of 2 cycle oil
-rake, shovel, tools, etc.
-opened business checking acct.
-Fed. tax ID number
-Corp. Credit Card


Going to be running a two man crew. Still debating
on whether to buy a 36" belt-driven WB.....or just
a 21". Thoughts???

Thanks everyone,
John

[bob]

Do you have customer lined up? I would go with the 36" mower and avoid lawns were only a 21" will do. A 36" could also be used on larger areas, to assist your other WB.

[turfcat75]

commercial weed eater would be very useful >:)

[bilchak]

We are working on the customers right now. We are placing Ads within in the next couple days and will hit the pavement up until we are cutting around April 1. I know I will have my hands full. I've done some research and we will be the only PROFESSIONAL lawn care service in a good sized area.

I ran a small operation in high school and had
to turn people away.

Hoping to land 60-75+ residentials our first year and
add a few commercials as well.

Our start up costs are going to be around 10 -12 grand, not including financing a truck.

John

[bilchak]

Have a REdmax commercial weedeater.

whip = weedeater.

Sorry about that.

John

[TJLC]

Sounds like you're on the right track. My advise is to listen and learn from the people here. Good luck.

[syzer]

You shouldnt have anytime to post on here you should be wranglin' up some ol' customers =). Hope things work out for ya good luck.

[VLM]

I dont see how you can avoid having a 21" mower. Sure the 36" would be nice, but there will be many times when you will absolutely need the 21". I've never seen anyone operate without one, they're too useful and you can get a really good one for $300-$500.

[bilchak]

VLM or anyone else:

Can you suggest a good 21" for 300-500?


Thanks,
John

[Randy Scott]

Not here, my 21" TORO Commercial Recycler was $700!:eek:

[Acute Cut]

DIto here, 650$ for my Ariens. I have found in my experience that if you buy cheap you get cheap. I know many people here will disagree, but that is just in MY opinion. Looking at your list i noticed one thing missing that i am sure you have but didnt put on there, gas gans.

I wish you luck in your endevours.
Acute Cut

[Highpoint]

Our motto is: " If it can't be done with a 48" or a string trimmer, it doesn't need to be done. " by us anyway. Good luck.

[DMC300]

How bout;
grease,grease gun
blades,sharpener
safety cones,safety equip
extra everthing,including mowers
ohyeah....how about clients lot's of them
"GOT JESUS?"
Hope you have a great season!

[Sammy]

First Aide Kit
Gloves
Shades
Lids [for head]

[Barkleymut]

Hearing protection, blade balancer, extra oil and air filters so you don't have to run out to get them during busy season. Man its expensive just starting up.

[65hoss]

Just about any area that you can get a 21" in you can use a 36". I carry a 21" about 1 day a week. Never any reason for one. If you don't get a 36" for gated areas you will definately be needing a crew. There is no comparison between the 36 and 21. 36" is the way to go. I now only take customers that I can get my 52" on only.

[Gtotoy]

if it cant be cut with a 36" then it dont get cut!!!
lol

[geogunn]

Originally posted by VLM
I dont see how you can avoid having a 21" mower. Sure the 36" would be nice, but there will be many times when you will absolutely need the 21". I've never seen anyone operate without one, they're too useful and you can get a really good one for $300-$500.

WELL! I do quite nicely without a 21 inch mower and have for over five years.

if someone needs a 21 then by all means they should have it. but I don't need it. and if I did need one it would be usedf so infrequently that I'd buy a used murray for 30 bucks.

I pushed a 21 as a kid and I aint pushin' a mower no more!

GEO

[TJLC]

I have a 36, 48, and 21. The 21 is RARELY used and that's in a small section of my own yard, where my 36 wouldn't fit. I bought it used for this reason. I don't think alot of money should be put into a 21. Put it into a good hydro 36.

[Greenkeepers]

Do you have an employee lined up. If so you need to be set up on payroll with the city where you live. How bout a name to put on those business cards. You'll need a bunch of shop tools if you're going to do maintenance on your equipment.

[osc]

Actually, you have many professional lawn care companies operating in the roundtown area. One of them is called Professional Lawn Care Co. and it's located on rte. 23 just North of you. Circleville is very competitive. I know because I've called on every major piece of commercial business in the area. Georgia Pacific, Thomson, Dupont, all the apartment complexes etc.

I know we have played tag with email but my last private message should have my phone number on it. Feel free to call me as I may have enough business to sub or in some cases give to you. There are some key people who owe me a lot of favours but I may not have time to take on the biz all by myself. The locations would be South Columbus and possibly Waverly.

[awm]

You might try a cable looped around each
trimmer etc on your rack. Cable is harder to cut
than chain.They can still steal it.But this
stops the quick grab and run. Also Master makes locks
that will mess up a bolt cutter .ALSO recommend
just one cable looped around all equipent so
you just have one lock to fool with.

[DMC300]

OSC,
sounds like your'e a pretty good guy!
We are what makes this site so great.

[accuratelawn]

The only thing I can add, other than a customer list, tools, gas cans, and a place to store/work on equipment.
Best of luck to you.

[tpirobert]

Looks like you have your bases covered. BUT, beware cash flow and employee related issues. Have some sort of employee handbook/rules in writing before you hire anyone. Your employees ARE your business. Watch your budget and plan for slow times(winter) or potential cash shortfalls. Don't get too in debt in relation to money coming in. Best of luck.

[Chopper Lover]

Let me toss this out to you and see what replies we get.

I have heard a 52" will cut better than a 48" because the blade speed is higher on most walk behind mowers. This is because the 48" is the biggest mower of "smaller" model line and the 52" is the smallest of the "larger" model size.

Has anyone found this to be true?

Mark

[bilchak]

OSC,

We are gearing more toward residentials to start. We would like to throw a couple commericals in as well, but
if we don't get them so be it.

I don't think we have emailed each other, but if
you want to contact me about some work in Southern
Columbus let me know.

Looking the phone book I see Jon's Custom Lawn as
the ONLY place in roundtown. Professional Lawn Care
is in Ashville I believe.

I know there is competition, I think I can
do a better job though. The competition may
be high for the commercial accounts, but
what about residentials? We think the
market for residentials is wide open.

Those that posted about an employee. I have a co-owner
that is going in with me. To start, we will run
a 2 man crew.

John

[bilchak]

OSC said:

"Actually, you have many professional lawn care companies operating in the roundtown area. One of them is called Professional Lawn Care Co. and it's located on rte. 23 just North of you. Circleville is very competitive. I know because I've called on every major piece of commercial business in the area. Georgia Pacific, Thomson, Dupont, all the apartment complexes etc."

I know the guy that mows Thompson. DuPont doesn't hire
anyone. They have 3 people that are hired year around
to manicure/cut the lawn and take care of landscaping.

All the apartment complexes?

My dealer says residentials are there to be had, and the
commericals will come if you work hard enough.

What part of Ohio are you from?

John

[osc]

I am affraid you have been misinformed.
Detillion Landscaping does Dupont. It is a 3 year contract. I know the buyer of those services. You won't learn that from calling in to the reception area because security will not give out any names.
Detillion's have had the contract for several years.

Twin Sycamores has had Thomson for several years as well, I met the owner but can't think of his name, I'm sure it must be the guy you are talking about. He is not from Circleville.

Be advised that Circleville has many companies coming from outside the area to service accounts there and I have found it to be very competitive and they do a nice job. At one point I could tell you the names of all the contacts and who had what business but I haven't done any biz in the area for a few years and I'd have to check my notes.

The residential market is probably good as you can always pick up residentials in any town. Good luck with your business.

P.S.: Yes, every single, solitary apartment complex. There aren't that many. Some of them I even did business with.


[Edited by osc on 02-22-2001 at 11:09 PM]

[Mark]

21 trim mowers come in very handy for the right job. I have several banks, an stores that i use a 21" only at the entrences, where the sidewalk is patterned by two grassways each around 40sq-ft. It looks much nicer and when its wet you just can't put a 52" walkbehind on this and make it look right. Marks Mowing Service

[BufalinoLand]

My advice is just keep doing a good job, dont screw anyone, call everyone back, and go above and beyond for some people, word of mouth travels fast. Ive never placed a singe ad, just word of mouth, and Ill have way more than I can handle in a few weeks. by the way Anybody have any word on the new advantage deck from scag, im looking to buy a 61 turf tiger. thanks

[bilchak]

Buffalo,

Search advantage deck on the search engine thingy up in
the right corner.

I asked the same thing a few weeks ago. It appears
there is NO advantage to the advantage deck.

Please post your set up on your Scags.

Thanks,
John