camera pays off

[Toy2]

OK, decide to head out this morning to get extra fuel, hand out postcards/fliers with the youngest.......target an area where I have few homes already, round the corner and nearly takeout this dumba$$....at first i thought no way in hell.......but it is true....king of Scrubs had hit the area....Go figure!!!

[SodKing]

hopefully its an enterprising neighborhood kid and not a grown up...

[Toy2]

The crazy part of the whole day was my son's comment: "Why do you need commercial equipment and trailer"?.....The kid behind the wheel of this monster did mow the lawn behind him, he looked no more than 13 or 14......I guess I need to make a wooden trailer, attach it to the 36" and send my 15 year old son down the road.....pick up a few accounts??? :dizzy:

[txlawnking]

At least the kid ain't sitting around playing video games and smoking weed..

He could do a lot worse than Mow grass.

[liquidforcedude7]

WOW I really cant say anything at all. Thats how I get to my jobs. Except I have a lot nicer looking troy-bilt super bronco pulling a metal trailer with a commercial john deere push mower, a backpack blower, and a string trimmer inside.

Thats the only way I can cause im only 13 and I cant hook the big trailer up to my moms car and my dad is usually at work when I do my jobs. The one bad part Is sitting on the mower for 30 minutes just to get there.

[CamLand]

OK, decide to head out this morning to get extra fuel, hand out postcards/fliers with the youngest.......target an area where I have few homes already, round the corner and nearly takeout this dumba$$....at first i thought no way in hell.......but it is true....king of Scrubs had hit the area....Go figure!!!


Why are you saying this kid is scrub?Because he is doing something with his life.It's just what txlawnking stated better then him being lazy and sitting around.I started with my family Bolens tractor when I was 12.I had the trailer hooked on with my fuel and trimmer with a old Ryan handheld blower.give the kid credit dont bash him...

[speedyvision917]

my freind and i used to walk to jobs with the push mower and weed whacker, sometimes we'd have to take the push blower rakes and tarp too :realmad: not fun

[Paul H.]

My cousins used to cut grass. We would hop on the Quadrunner 230 and PULL the mower behind it while holding the weedeater. Did I mention that there were THREE of us on the 4 wheeler!! If its a young kid then good for him. If its an adult I would be ashamed.

Paul

[Toy2]

Yes, I call him a scrub.......what else do I call him?.....he is endangering himself as others with that trimmer, when is the last time you read the instruction manual for your equipment? It states " Never allow children to operate or play with the unit"....what happens if he hits a vehicle with a rock? Breaks a window??...... You bet if it was my truck hit, its coming out of his ass.....My 15 year is helping me this year, very smart, very strong....21" and blower are all he uses...plus it my ass on the line if something happens to him or my customer or a bystander......Scrub it is!!

[WoodBrothersLC]

Well, I'm glad that you started out at a young age with the best equipment possible. Seriously man, grow up and stop trying to be one of the guys who bashes scrubs. There is nothing wrong with a kid, which I am, working. I think you understand by now that the thread you started as a way to make fun of that kid has backfired on you.

[Toy2]

Lawnsites states " Professionals working together"...WoodBrothers, do you pay taxes? Come back when you can vote!!!

If your in this game just to make a buck, them yeah your a scrub.....had this "kid" had his dad close by...then it becomes a different story...

[jaybird]

creative, go get um.

[Howard Roark]

If this is a kid and he's out to earn money with his efforts and is learning business, I truly applaud him. (Despite a lack of guidance in some fine tuning of the biz). I would sincerely hope this is NOT an adult. Although if it is, and you're worried about him cutting into your biz....get a new business plan! :D

[WoodBrothersLC]

Hey Martinez, we are a registered business who pays taxes buddy! Look us up!

[WoodBrothersLC]

We have paid our taxes to Uncle Sam since last season and have been a registered business since about a month into this season. We couldn't set up a business account at our bank unless we had all the paper work from the state saying we were officially a business.

[bettergrass]

I started out when i was 12 with a nicer tractor than that but the same concept, just going around my neighborhood....since i was 12 i made about 6,000 a year and YES my dad made me claim that money along with the stock that was under my name.

I think it is a great idea to start out young like that because i know that when i am in my buisness classes at school I am so far ahead of half the kids in there from "being a scrub"

By the way i am far from a "scrub" now, although i will admit I have had ALOT of help from my parents as far as financing all my equipment for me

[SodKing]

I don't know anyone in the landscape business that didn't start mowing lawns when they were a child. I started cutting lawns when I was about 13 and stopped when I was about 16 ( didn't like cutting) Started a company after college just spraying lawns and then 2 years later added mowing , though I never did much of teh actual cutting of teh grass. Still this year I have only had to moe one day (still don't like it)

[Tharrell]

I wish I could say that's the way I started. If I had started back when I was a kid, well there's no telling where I'd be now.
One thing is for sure. This kid is enterprising. I'd look for him to grow and prosper. Look at the way he's getting his equipment around, he's gotta have a "Whatever it takes" attitude.
He needs cheering, not jeering.

[SodKing]

Hmmm.....I seem to have a spelling problem in the mornings...;)

[WoodBrothersLC]

Lawnsites states " Professionals working together"...WoodBrothers...

So you are saying we should work together and bash on this kid???...And by the way it's Professionals Growing Together

[Mike's Yard Services]

A..........are you crazy........15 yo have no business with any equipment capable of cutting or moving machinery that would cause or should be reasonably known to cause serious injury or death..........................give the kid the blower but I'd take the 21" away.....quickly strong,hard worker whatever...still no business with a mower................
P.S................What does your insurance guy think of 15 yo labor?

[RedWingsDet]

we all gotta start somewhere. I know I did. I had nothing, and now I have alot :) this kid will either, decide he hates mowing, and not do it nextyear... or do it this way for 2-3 more years and save up money and then buy a truck and trailer when hes 16

[Mountaingoat]

I think the underlying problem here is that the customer is getting a service for LESS.I know all the potential problems with a youngster running equipment. Lets hope he comes from a good and responsible family and that he has a good head on his shoulders. I say Go Jonny GO!
I have another business I run, and got a call from some one concerning work to be done. I quoted them a number they went with some one who would do it for $100 dollars less. Less money paid out for a service is appealing to the potential client. And most of them dont care if you have the latest greatest shinest equipment. They just want the job done.
My potential customer didnt care that I had been in this paticular business
for fifteen years and have forgoten more about it then most will learn,They just wanted the job done for less.

Competion is good they say. Im not so shure of that.Simply because it didnt swing in my favor this time. I'll get the next one! :D

[bettergrass]

Just to add to this:

Today as I went through down town Mason, Ohio.......I saw this same type of rig, except this time it was a 32 year old red neck with no shirt on a hat on backwards and his son (probally 12) was riding on the neck of the trailer with him.

I guess the only diff was that they were still using a old mower, except this one was a front engine mount and it ddidnt have a hood LOL

Now to me that diserves bashing, this kid you posted a picture of is just a hard worker. Trust me he probally has a list of 1000 things hed rather be doing than towing that around and cutting grass.

[gorknoids]

At least those who grew up on farms. Granted, farm labor falls under an entirely different set of rules, but 15 is plenty old to operate a tractor, drive a field truck, and hunt (using honest-to-goodness firearms!) Good for the kid. He's learning the value of a buck, how to deal with customers, and responsibility.

[Az Gardener]

A..........are you crazy........15 yo have no business with any equipment capable of cutting or moving machinery that would cause or should be reasonably known to cause serious injury or death..........................give the kid the blower but I'd take the 21" away.....quickly strong,hard worker whatever...still no business with a mower................
P.S................What does your insurance guy think of 15 yo labor?

How does a liberal survive in Omaha? Are you kidding me 15 too young to operate power equipment. I remember the days when we would make decisions based on what was right, not what our insurance guy thinks. He is not driving a car for gosh sakes its a mower. My granddad taught me to mow when I was 6. You can be sure it had none of the safety features of today either.

I think this kid is way ahead of the game, he has built a trailer instead of pulling the push mower and laying the line trimmer across his lap. He has also painted the trailer and customized it to securely hold the line trimmer rather than just throwing it in the back. He will be competition in the future, if not now. Maybe you should offer him a job.

[LindblomRJ]

How does a liberal survive in Omaha?

:laugh::laugh:

Are you kidding me 15 too young to operate power equipment. I remember the days when we would make decisions based on what was right, not what our insurance guy thinks. He is not driving a car for gosh sakes its a mower. My granddad taught me to mow when I was 6. You can be sure it had none of the safety features of today either.

I think this kid is way ahead of the game, he has built a trailer instead of pulling the push mower and laying the line trimmer across his lap. He has also painted the trailer and customized it to securely hold the line trimmer rather than just throwing it in the back. He will be competition in the future, if not now. Maybe you should offer him a job.

I am tired of hearing about 14 year olds with 4 years expirence. But I will not think less of them for going out and working. They should be applauded.

When I was 13 that summer I run a Mower conditioner, I cut 1000 ton of hay. When I was 11 I started to run cub cadet cutting grass in out yard. When I started working a camping resort, working outside.

[YardPro]

there is an adult guy around here that has the same setup, except his ride is an old murray tractor style.

[LindblomRJ]

Forrest gump?

[Lawnworks]

Hey that exactly how I started out at 12! Ole Forest Gump special. Dang that thing was slow. I can't complain about a kid earning a buck or two. It is nice to see one that might actually buy his own toys, and isn't having everything hand fed.

[MattsMowing3535]

Thats how I ran my buisness for the past 3+ years. If I could call it a buisness? I made a new custom trailer this year and got a couple free 21" to put in it and a new trimmer. If anyone told me that I was some loser kid who shouldn't be useing the equipment I would like to show them my equipment now and as soon as I got a car I would be out trying to be as much competition as I could to show that other company who could really cut grass :mad:

[Lawnsmithcare]

A..........are you crazy........15 yo have no business with any equipment capable of cutting or moving machinery that would cause or should be reasonably known to cause serious injury or death..........................give the kid the blower but I'd take the 21" away.....quickly strong,hard worker whatever...still no business with a mower................
P.S................What does your insurance guy think of 15 yo labor?

Um my insurance guy sure doesnt have a problem with it and i am 15 I in fact have 1 ztr and 2 walkbhinds a trailer and going to have a truck this coming spring. I also have 1 guy who works for me and I am one of the best and fastest growing businesses in my town. I owned and operated a ztr when I was 12 years old and I started my business when I was 10 years old. I don't see what the big deal is if we hit a sprinkler head like we have done many times we fix it or if it is something we can't fix the insurance takes care of it we even do landscaping. When we do landscaping I will rent a bobcat and use that I have also rented a mini excavator before to. If you know how to use the equipment and know what you are doing there is nothing wrong at all.

[freddyc]

If its a kid with that setup, you should support him--buy him a quart of paint so he can tune up the trailer. I noticed he's got the electric start snapper....had one myself about ten years ago---best machine I ever had for leaf pickup. He could use a new seat though. I think its very creative.

With regard to safety...so what. Were you 42 years old before someone allowed you to push a mower?? Give the kid credit...in a few years he will know more than most if he already figured this much out.


If its an adult, then he's either really down on his luck or theres a pint in the trailer. Either way, I don't think he's stealing too much business from you...windshield time is killing his hourly rate.

[robbo521]

dang you have to start some place.i guess you were handed everything on a gold plate.when i was 14 i was driving things twice the size of trucks and cutting grass with alot bigger.i still do it part time,picking cotton,beans,corn.even if it is not a kid he maybe trying to feed his family.

[RockSet N' Grade]

I think the kid that has that kind of get up and go should be applauded! To put together a rig, conduct a service and actually work.....he is a rarity amoung the youth that I see around here. I am all for that kid, who knows, with the inventiveness and gumption he has....he may end up being somebody! I look at the kids around here (went to a soccer game of 13-14 year olds last weekend) and they all looked as though they had been in a feed lot getting fattened up ready for slaughter. Work to them is plugging in the X-box and finding the remote control. If I saw a youngster around here driving that outfit down the road, I'd hire him in a heart beat to do my yard.....even if it didn't need it!

[ED'S LAWNCARE]

Why a scrub? He's a kid try to make a few bucks, maybe even helping his family financial situation? Would you rather see him on the street selling drugs? Sounds like you are worried about him stealing work from you. :confused:

You said your kid works with you that is great, how do you know what his situation is. As you read the posts give him some credit. Grow up and stop being jealous of a kid.:laugh:

[ChadsLawn]

Like the brathas say, "dont hate the player Hate the game". Since it was a kid, maybe you should stop him and give him some advice on mounting the trimmer on the side of the trailer. Also tell him to put some bright markings on it so people can see him better.
Seeing an adult driving a car with his mowing stuff in the trunk is more of a scrub then this kid is.

[Adam's Lawn and Garden]

Toy 2,

Your probably not getting the point out of what we're saying, if you're even reading these post anymore.

Furthermore, at least he is cutting the grass, instead of smoking it! That's the exact same outfit i had when i was about 13. Except i had a wheel horse, then a simplicity, and then a honda riding mower.

Now i am 16, i have a 27hp 60" lazer Z, echo blowers and string trimmers and a truck with a new 7X12 trailer. I maintain 7 residentials and 1 commercial and i'll be expanding this to more next year when i have my lisence.

I can personally say it takes alot of balls for a kid that age to be doing that. I used to get made fun of for driving my mowers to jobs, sometimes by adults. But i now the kids who where making fun of me want to work for me because i have a mower worth more than their car.

If i saw a kid like this, i would either hire him or stop and give advice to him on what i learned(who know's he might be on this website). Everyone has to start somewhere, and yea you probably should be scared, because chances are, he could take some of your accounts. I am still somewhat scared of business's like his because i took many jobs from bigger companies when i was that age. and now i take even more!

Plus, if he is only 13, then he isn't old enough to get insurance or finance equipment. so it's not like he can go out and buy a 12K mower.

What i started with:

11- Dad's 21"toro mulching mower.
12- Wheelhorse pull start riding mower for 75 bucks.
13- 42" Simplicity, 17hp, nice but broke down alot.
14- 30" Honda riding mower, nice machine.
15- 42" cub cadet zero turn
16- Just recently got a used 27hp 60"ultra cut Lazer Z

When i was 12-14 1/2 i pulled my equipment around on a trailer almost i dentical to that one,but trimmer was on the side.

Well if you made it this far, thanks for reading, this is years of anger built up from people who make fun of you.

Adam

[Lawnworks]

Toy 2,

Your probably not getting the point out of what we're saying, if you're even reading these post anymore.

Furthermore, at least he is cutting the grass, instead of smoking it! That's the exact same outfit i had when i was about 13. Except i had a wheel horse, then a simplicity, and then a honda riding mower.

Now i am 16, i have a 27hp 60" lazer Z, echo blowers and string trimmers and a truck with a new 7X12 trailer. I maintain 7 residentials and 1 commercial and i'll be expanding this to more next year when i have my lisence.

I can personally say it takes alot of balls for a kid that age to be doing that. I used to get made fun of for driving my mowers to jobs, sometimes by adults. But i now the kids who where making fun of me want to work for me because i have a mower worth more than their car.

If i saw a kid like this, i would either hire him or stop and give advice to him on what i learned(who know's he might be on this website). Everyone has to start somewhere, and yea you probably should be scared, because chances are, he could take some of your accounts. I am still somewhat scared of business's like his because i took many jobs from bigger companies when i was that age. and now i take even more!

Plus, if he is only 13, then he isn't old enough to get insurance or finance equipment. so it's not like he can go out and buy a 12K mower.

What i started with:

11- Dad's 21"toro mulching mower.
12- Wheelhorse pull start riding mower for 75 bucks.
13- 42" Simplicity, 17hp, nice but broke down alot.
14- 30" Honda riding mower, nice machine.
15- 42" cub cadet zero turn
16- Just recently got a used 27hp 60"ultra cut Lazer Z

When i was 12-14 1/2 i pulled my equipment around on a trailer almost i dentical to that one,but trimmer was on the side.

Well if you made it this far, thanks for reading, this is years of anger built up from people who make fun of you.



Adam

You can laugh all the way to the bank!

[BQLC]

This kid should be comended not bashed , I would hire this kid in a second. I have a 15 yearold brother-in-law that has to be the laziest kid alive and it burns me up. So I applaud this kid :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

[dzs1945]

were you in your town in 1993? send the FBI after him???

[dwc]

If some on here have to "compete" with stuff like this, then it's time to go to Wal-Mart......they're hiring!
The problem on here and in the real world is some people HAVE to compete with stuff like this because they are sorry business men/women and have no idea how to run a business and make a PROFIT doing it. Most of these types are just in it to buy themselves a 24 pack for the weekend then wind up giving the green industry a bad representation.

Yes there are some customers out there that want to hire the school kid or the scrub, but there are a lot of customers out there that want a real lawn care business to take care of their landscaping. Sad thing is some legit businesses try to match these guy's prices to get the work instead of sticking together like they do in every other trade.

[Tim Wright]

Give That scrub 3-4 more years and if he keeps working as he is, he will have the same equipment that you have now.

If it is an adult, who knows what the circumstances are/where that led to such a setup, but perhaps, next year, he too will have the commercial equipment that we all use.

I had to start out with a borrowed push mower. Today I have a commercial mower & trimmer, a 1ton dump, and a New Holland w/loader and harley rake. I had to start somewhere. I was broke because some huge company would not stand behind their product when I spent tens of thousands of dollars to start another business and they screwed me and hundreds of others.

So I would warn of being too proud of yourself and looking down on others.

Another thought; maybe this kid will buy you out in a couple of years.

Tim

[Beau Rivage]

I think the kid that has that kind of get up and go should be applauded! To put together a rig, conduct a service and actually work.....he is a rarity amoung the youth that I see around here. I am all for that kid, who knows, with the inventiveness and gumption he has....he may end up being somebody! I look at the kids around here (went to a soccer game of 13-14 year olds last weekend) and they all looked as though they had been in a feed lot getting fattened up ready for slaughter. Work to them is plugging in the X-box and finding the remote control. If I saw a youngster around here driving that outfit down the road, I'd hire him in a heart beat to do my yard.....even if it didn't need it!


This says about everything I was thinking...as worthless as most kids are these days I think I'd find something for him to do in my yard. Here's to the kid...:drinkup:

[MarcSmith]

you know the funnny thing is. the last post on this thread, before it got resurected a few days go....was 18 months ago.....

there needs to be a rule about resurecting useless post more than a year old.....

If you are under the age of being a legal adult, you are not running a business, you have a parent subsidized hobby, that happens to make money. IE if anything bad goes down, insurance or not, your parents are the one who bear the brunt of the burden.

If you are under 16 the above goes double with mom and dad hauling your goods around town...you really don't have any idea of the true cost of a business.

I will say that I'm glad you are working and doing constructive things with your time, but some times its worthwile to just be a kid.....There is plenty of time in your life to work.....

[Adam's Lawn and Garden]

Ok. Well, i started by doing yards for a cheap price, well at least for my age. Up until last year my prices were low and i technically didn't have insurance. For the '07 season, i am charging full rate that other companies charge maybe a few dollars below since my new jobs will be commercial. Maybe i will lose some residentials but those clients obviously aren't willing to pay the price to have a nice yard. Anyways, i am going to get insurance and have all taxes and all the permits and what not taken care of so that i'm legit. I am going to try to get more jobs once my prices are decent and cover my overhead that i have gained since i have started. Plus, with the knowledge that i have gained i am using to legally set it up.

adam

[d&rlawncare]

Like the brathas say, "dont hate the player Hate the game". Since it was a kid, maybe you should stop him and give him some advice on mounting the trimmer on the side of the trailer. Also tell him to put some bright markings on it so people can see him better.
Seeing an adult driving a car with his mowing stuff in the trunk is more of a scrub then this kid is.

Why do you even have to say that?

[S man]

That's funny. I heard snapper rear engine riders couldn't pull nothing heavy. :rolleyes: At least When I started out I didn't look like that much of a scene.

[Grass-Masters]

I think that kid deserves a pat on the back, I wish my kid would get away from the PS2 and do something like this. I would not call him a scrub, I would call him a young and driven businessman. Good for him.

[RedMax Man]

Its a funny looking setup but who cares the kids just trying to earn a few bucks. What matters most is his service and quality of work. If this is some of the competition you guys have to deal with then you got some problems in your own business. At least he's not causing trouble downtown or getting glued to a PS2 all day. Just leave him alone or give him some advice instead of bashing him about his mower and trailer.

[rfed32]

thats pimp...at 13 i was smokin grass not cuttin it and then around the age of 16 i realized i was goin no where fast...thats when i got my first rig....hes smart...i think ur jst bashin him b.c in 4yrs when he can drive he will be a hard work and work ur business under....or something along those lines....you have to start somewhere if thats his way so be it....as long as he does a good job let him be....

[Lawn Enforcer]

And how may I ask did you start? I mowed like this kid for 2-3 years and I did the best I could and saved up my money. I am almost 16 now, and my dad and I have a successful company, and I plan to go full time after high school.
How much business do you think you'll lose to him? Can't be much cause you can't do a lot with that set-up. I have mowed a lot of lawns, and all of that experience has paid off. Our company is well know and respected in our town. I have a future in this business because I wasn't lazy, and I got my butt out there and worked. With the way you are complaining, carpenters should complain every time they see someone building a shed in their backyard, because they might start a business and steal a bunch of work from them.

[OlsonBro]

You have to hand it to that young kid who is out there making some extra money. I started mowing lawns when I was 14 with even less equipment than that. I didn't even have a riding lawnmower at that time. But over the years I have built a company. I'm 24 now and have 17 employees. We send out 3 lawn crews, 2 landscape crews, 1 fert and herb guy, secratary and a full time mechanic. and I started with a push mower. So if you see a kid running around town with a set up like that, stop by and shake his hand, he may be your biggest competor in the future.

[Eakern & Dog]

I think the set-up is creative and fun. My only constructive criticism is to have painted the trailer all white