Trying to start own business:)

[zpv30458]

I am 14 years old and live in Statesboro, Ga. I am considering starting my own lawn service. I already mow 6 lawns and do the flower beds. I make about $200 a week. I am seeking advice from anyone on what equipment to buy. I have an echo weedeater, a 28 inch Snapper, Shindowa stick edger, and a WeedEater blower. I would like to increase my accounts to about 20 yards. The main problem is that after next summer i have to buy my own vehicle, so I can't blow all my money on equipment unless it is an excellent investment. I am VERY intrested in a zero turn mower, maybe a 42 or 48 inch cut. Thanks for any response.

[FloridaMowMan]

Do you pay taxes on that money? Do you have liabiltiy insurance? Do you have your own transportation? Do you have your business license from the city and county? Take care of these things and you will be on your way to starting a business.

[zpv30458]

I do not have to file taxes as long as I am 14-16 years old and am self employed. I am planning on getting an insurance policy, my dad said he would pay for that part. I am planning on buying an old truck as transportation to pull my 8x14 trailer(I know how to back a trailer and drive.) My dad is planning on getting the bussiness license for me. I appreciate your response but I was looking for something more along the lines of advice maybe(equipment?)Thanks

[Thirdpete]

expect a lot of those responses. i dont know if people feel threatened by the many people entering the business but established business do not take kindly to anyone operating without insurance, business licenses, etc. That's understandable.

Oh, and you do have to pay taxes on that. I'm sure the IRS wont come knocking but technically, you do.

As far as getting started, six lawns a week would be kept fine with a 21" mower, decent trimmer, and a hand held blower. If you have that, focus on advertising.

[Redneckn]

I say go for it and good luck. Dont let the crappy old guys get to you..
those people are part of the reason why we dont have more young guys fixing these machines nowadays.

[MowingInAZ]

Don't blow any money on new equipment. You will do fine with that Snapper and the other handheld equipment. I would say that buying your own truck would take a lot of cash, even if it's an old beater. And if you do get your own truck, don't get the oldest and cheapest thing you see, if it broke down or worse, you would have to pay for repairs. Totally forget about a zero turning radius mower, but if you do want a new lawn tractor, get a Craftsman LT1000, for $900 brand new. That would be something to consider rather than a $3500+ zero turn mower. Hope it works out for you though.

[out4now]

Forget the ZTR at this stage. I would suggest banking a little for those unexpected breakdowns and replacement costs on the equipmnet you currently have. Nothing wrong with buying used stuff either. You found a good site. Ask as many questions as you like. You can also search old posts by typing in your topic under the search tab towards the upper right if you need faster responses.

[Thirdpete]

also...about used equipment-

classifieds are gold mines. you can get used WB's relatively cheap. a 36 or 48 should be your first mower, though on six properties, you are only working 12 hours a week tops, i would imagine.

[Redneckn]

I didnt think about this earlier.. but i would check around on ebay for a used truck.. i got my 1979 F-250 supercab for 800 off ebay.. it is a beater, but it's easy to work on, parts are cheap enough as well.

[MowingInAZ]

How much do you currently charge for different jobs aka mowing, trimming, ect? Maybe we could also see if you have room to increase your rates and give some advice on prices.

[zpv30458]

Well my cheapest yard is $25(elderly widow), my most expensive is $45 to mow, plus I to seasonal maintance(flower beds, etc.). I am looking to expand to about 20 yards. How much time would I save if I did choose to buy a 42 or 48 inch zero turn?I appreciate all of the helpful responses, and I will keep in touch.

[Mancinioldhorse]

The other guys are right.. you really should get a walk behind before a ztr...the ztr is limited to fairly flat ground and properties with large gates...they cut fast and the cut looks great ...but so do the walk behinds when you get good at it, and the walk behinds are much less expensive.

[SJK in Stamford, CT]

To begin with, congratulations on starting your business and I hope you keep up your enthusiasm... it will help get you through all the rough spots.

You may be noticing a pattern here... the guys with all the experience don't seem to focused on what equipment to buy, and you've got your mind set on that zero-turn! Well, there's a good reason...

The equipment really doesn't matter. Get the best professional gear you can afford that can be serviced by whatever local shop you like working with. Sit down with an accountant so you can depreciate any expenses... you will probably be rolling your profits back into the business for the next couple of years and won't have to pay much in taxes.

Your real focus should be on customers and customer service. Work on expanding your customer list in the areas you are already working, and offering a wider range of services to the customers you already have (getting more juice out of the same orange!) I have found that the lawn cutting returns a modest profit, but most importantly gives you access to the customers for the extras -- and that's where the good money is.

Do everything by the book when it comes to insurance, licensing, etc. And with every decision you make, look at it with a cold eye and only one criteria... does it put more money in your pocket at the end of the day? Shiny new machines get old fast; trucks are great until you need your first and second transmission, brake job, etc. The best asset you have is your customer list and the relationships you have with those clients.

I started 20 years ago with a 21" trimming mower cutting 11 lawns a day... and did myself a big favor when I could afford my first 48" walk-behind. I realized there was a limit to how much money I could make with my own two hands -- and for a lot of guys keeping it simple is worth it -- but the only way I could keep growing was to get away from doing the labor and into running a business.

For reference, I now cut 200 lawns per week with 15 men (I've had as many as 36 employees, but I wasn't making any more money and the headaches were unbelievable!) The most profitable division is in new landscaping. Don't be afraid to subcontract the work you are not skilled or experienced enough to provide... you can start up relationships with local masons, irrigation companies, etc. and make a little profit on their work. As I said, it's all about relationships...

Again, good luck to you

[MowingInAZ]

Well put SJK. Since you have seemed to established a custom base, this wouldn't be a bad time to increase you rates by a small amount such as bumping the $25 yard up to maybe $30 or such and increasing that $45 yard to $50.

I couldn't answer how much time you would save by buying a 48" ZTR, but lets figure the cost. Around $3400 for a ZTR, and you make around $200 a week, but you also need to buy an old truck, figure around $1200 for that.

NEW EQUIPMENT: $4600
INCOME: $ 200
__________________________
4600/200 = 23
You would need to work 23 weeks at $200/week to buy this stuff. After that you would start bringing in income to be kept. You would probobly cut your mowing time in half if you bought the ZTR, and if you increase your yards to 20, than the time would play a more major factor than it does now. When you increase your yards to 20, then I might consider a ZTR because you would have less time to do more work. Time is more valuable than money.

One last thing, mowing is only done in the summer, take that into consideration when and if you buy a ZTR. You won't be earning very much profit in the fall or even spring since you have school. And summer lasts for appx 16-18 weeks and you need 23 weeks to pay off that ZTR if you purchase one. Good luck though.

[MowingInAZ]

Just thought of something to add. Do you advertise your service? If so where at aka newspaper, radio ect? Do you have flyers posted on local store windows? If not, print a few up and see if you can post them in a hardware store, convenient store, ect. If you keep on doing an excellent job for your current clients, they will most likely refer you to others they know and that's how you can increase your earnings and be that much closer to buying a ZTR. When you have more work and less time to do that work, a ZTR would make more sense and it would really be something to contemplate over. So good luck and keep us posted.

[zpv30458]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Ya'll have helped me decide not to buy a ztr........just yet. But I would like to work my way up to one or even buy maybe a 48 inch wb. For right now though I will stick with what I have. I am still intrested in buying a truck. My dad said since we live in a small town I can drive around the 8 neighborhoods that are close to my house. I do advertise with flyers but I want to get business cards printed and go door to door in the 8 neighborhoods and hand the flyers/business cards out. I do have flyers at the local plant nursries, 2 convenience stores, my church, and any where else I can find a public bullitin board. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

[arborist-28]

hey good for you .. I would invest in some commercial equipment that you can rely on .. like a redmax blower and a stihl weedeater.. a 36 inch walk behind stihl edger.. a cell phone.. some nice uniforms.. advertise more .. stuff like that... c

[MowingInAZ]

I disagree, he has everything he needs. Investing in all this new equipment wouldn't make any sense especially the cell phone and new uniforms. Why would you need a cell phone when your going to cut 10-14 yards? As for the new uniforms, when you work around the yard and flower beds ect, these would get dirty very quickly and would take even more money. He has all the equipment he needs, and as long as it is in working order, he doesn't need to invest his profit into more equipment. And he is doing residential areas that aren't very large in lawn size, so commercial equipment would be out of the league and price range.

[zpv30458]

I already have a cell phone. I put that number on the business cards that I ordered today:) Thanks for the suggestions. I like the edger that I have now, I have used a walk behind and hate it, unless it is a yard that has never been edged before and has thick grass overgrowing the side walks. But I still do not see that as a justifyable investment. Thanks again!

[MowingInAZ]

The best investment that I have ever invested in is a 6-pack at the end of a hard day. But in all seriousness, you seem to know what you're talking about, and as long as you keep up the hard work, you should do very well. I'm glad to see teenagers like you trying to earn money and not have eveything handed to them.

[chuck_jax]

ZPV,

Good luck in your venture. I'm not a lawncutting guy, I'm a Chemical Engineer with a finance MBA. I can't help you at all with equipment specifics, but maybe I can help you with your expansion questions.

I'm not recommending you do anything under the table, but that is by far the cheapest route to take. You are by no means the first guy under 18 to cut neighborhood lawns for money. I doubt you'll get any flack until you start using a truck. Most regular insurance policies don't cover the use of a truck for commerical purposes. You or your dad will need to buy special insurance, which might require a tax ID number which requires you to incorporate which requires you to start filing taxes.

Based on your writing skills, my guess is you're pretty smart not to mention ambitious. You can probably do your own taxes using one of those canned tax programs. It is a lot cheaper than hiring an accoutant. Try to expense as much as you can get away with, depreciate what you have to at the most accelerated rate possible. This will minimize your taxes.

Regarding capital expenditures, it sounds like you are grossing ~$3000/yr. max. but hope to bring that up to much more. Having lurked around these boards for some time, it seems like the value of one of those ZTR mowers is goes down (depreciates) about $2000/year with low use. More if the owner is using it 30 hrs/week. Don't get one of those unless you can keep the machine running. All you will do is plow all your earnings into the mower, which will go down in value as fast as you are paying it off. For the time you might save, you are probably better off getting a higher-end walk behind. Spend $200 and get a sulke so you can "ride standing up."

In a more formal analysis, you need to determine what $/hr. your time is worth and do a cost analysis based on that plus how busy you really are.

[bohiaa]

come on guys........

How many of us " at that age" went out and pushed a mower to earn money?

I pushed a mower, and had a paper route, and NO i didn't pay taxes on eather.

I wouldn't worrie about it, anyone who has a young man mowing there lawn can expect that he's NOT running a large company and he is not registred with the state,

[topsites]

I didnt think about this earlier.. but i would check around on ebay for a used truck.. i got my 1979 F-250 supercab for 800 off ebay.. it is a beater, but it's easy to work on, parts are cheap enough as well.

Not just ebay but check local auto auctions as well, keeping in mind that at a real-world auction some of them take bids anytime. That's how I bought my 1986 D-250 for 1,400 - Little more money but the truck had 76,000 miles on it... Still a bit of a beater but not as bad as the 1976 F-250 I had before that, and the mpg is far better (14mpg with the dodge, 6-8 mpg with the older ford).
On the note of anytime bids, it's more of an offer and as a general rule, you can check with the admins there (or secretaries or whatever is called) as there is usually a minimum set by the seller and this is a guideline.

[topsites]

come on guys........

How many of us " at that age" went out and pushed a mower to earn money?

I pushed a mower, and had a paper route, and NO i didn't pay taxes on eather.

I wouldn't worrie about it, anyone who has a young man mowing there lawn can expect that he's NOT running a large company and he is not registred with the state,

Yes I agree 100%, let the guy cut his 6 lawns/week without all the nonsense and if this is such a big threat to someone's established business, then maybe the business isn't so established after all, lol.

[topsites]

The other guys are right.. you really should get a walk behind before a ztr...the ztr is limited to fairly flat ground and properties with large gates...they cut fast and the cut looks great ...but so do the walk behinds when you get good at it, and the walk behinds are much less expensive.

Keep in mind square footage as well, I find the wb runs circles around ztr's in properties UP to an acre in size. Once you approach the acre and larger lots, that's where the ztr starts to take the lead, and the bigger the lot, the further the lead.

[topsites]

I disagree, he has everything he needs. Investing in all this new equipment wouldn't make any sense especially the cell phone and new uniforms. Why would you need a cell phone when your going to cut 10-14 yards? As for the new uniforms, when you work around the yard and flower beds ect, these would get dirty very quickly and would take even more money. He has all the equipment he needs, and as long as it is in working order, he doesn't need to invest his profit into more equipment. And he is doing residential areas that aren't very large in lawn size, so commercial equipment would be out of the league and price range.

In 4 years of grass-cutting, I have never worn and never will wear a uniform. It's one of the reasons I run my own little thing is so I can wear whatever I feel like and to this day and into the future, when temps go above 80 degrees, I usually take my shirt off. Lets remember, grass cutting really IS hard work, thou many of us no longer see it that way.

[mcwlandscaping]

I am in the same boat you are in in terms of age, but have been doing this for 6 years. One thing to think about: if you think that your business is going to grow signifcantly over the next year, than i would buy the mower so that when you buy the truck, you are making money from the new mower to fix it up rather than working your butt off with the smaller mower to save up for both truck stuff and a new mower. That is why I bought a new eXmark Metro 48 this year so it can make me even more money to buy a nicer truck when I am 16. Hope this helps! (My business went from 8 to 20 lawns in the first 2 weeks of the year) I get new calls once a week for new accounts. Now I can accept them with the bigger mower.

[John_Deere Nut]

i think its awesome that u are willing to get out there and willing to do this kind of work. i hope that u find as much bussiness as u can handle. i am also considering and most likely thinking of buying a new ztr, most likely a exmark at the end of this year. i think that the current equipment u have currently will hold for the next year or so. and if u just can't resist investing in a new mower i would suggest a walk behind espically if your yards are under a acre. I also live in georgia, in Ivey south of Macon, thats why i notice your thread. and i hope and pray the best for u.

[The Grass Amputator]

I am 14 years old and live in Statesboro, Ga. I am considering starting my own lawn service. I already mow 6 lawns and do the flower beds. I make about $200 a week. I am seeking advice from anyone on what equipment to buy. I have an echo weedeater, a 28 inch Snapper, Shindowa stick edger, and a WeedEater blower. I would like to increase my accounts to about 20 yards. The main problem is that after next summer i have to buy my own vehicle, so I can't blow all my money on equipment unless it is an excellent investment. I am VERY intrested in a zero turn mower, maybe a 42 or 48 inch cut. Thanks for any response.

I wanted to say good luck with starting your business.

It's awesome to see kids who aren't wanting mom and dad to give them a handout, or out stealing, gang-banging, or strung out on drugs....

I admire the fact that, though only 14, you seem to have such a strong work ethic.....

Remember, if it's worth having, then it's worth working for.

-Scott

[CuttingCrew]

Good luck on your new business, hope its everything you expect it to be.

Best piece of advice I can give you has already been stated in one form or another already, and that is don't over extend yourself in the first few years.

Write down your business plan and your goals with time-lines and stick to them! Try to avoid spending cash on new toys unless you absolutely need them and can justify them and then, only if they are part of the plan! (yes it's OK to adjust the plan from time to time. Just be sure to have one)

Only grow as fast as your revenues will let you. Don't let the local dealer or another lawn care owner convince you to buy "this great machine" that you don't need or are not ready for.

Stash that cash!!

Good luck
Mike

[arborist-28]

why would he want to look professional .. image is everything in this business .. your appearence the equipment you use all reflects to an image of yourself ... if he want to make this a career and gain business the suggestions I made would definately help him out... uniforms aren't all that costly and would save his mom alot on washing his clothes ...haha .. he likes the edger .. could probably get by with some his equipment yes.. but in the long run commercial equipment will last him alot longer and save him money ...

[zpv30458]

Thanks for all the responses, I am taking them for what they are worth. I think my first investment will be a small truck(just something that can pull a trailer) I think I should be able to get one for about $1,000-$2,000. I could earn more money with transportation. I want to post a picture of a lawn that I cut next time I go(wed./thur.) Can someone tell me how to post a picture? I'm gonna stick with the lawn mower that I have now, until I see that it'd be worth it to spend that kind of money on a walk behind. I just need a p.o.s. truck to get me through next season. After next season I hope to have enough money to get a nice vehicle and I will use that for my lawn service. I hope to keep my lawn sevice up so that I can work for myself in college. That way I can work around my classes, after I graduate I could sell my established accounts/equipment. payup Once again, Thanks for all the responses.