Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence

[Ol'time Lawncare]

Bobbygedd has a rating he uses in the lawn industry to rate your self were you are today and if you will be successful. It's called the school bus, meaning were you are at in your business.The front is of the bus is : a completely legit business, and the back of the bus is: the guy with the lawn mower sticking out of his trunk... i'm sitting in the middle right now! I need my applicators license to be able to be more productive! Were do you sit???

[Jpocket]

Im "TOWARDS" the front, Im not certified to spray and chemicals or pestisides. Other than that im at the front.

[procut]

Im "TOWARDS" the front, Im not certified to spray and chemicals or pestisides. Other than that im at the front.
Same here. Planning on getting a pesticide licence eventually though.

[randosh4]

im in the drivers seat all the way.

[TURF DOCTOR]

90 percent to the front no lic, whoo rahhh

[Ol'time Lawncare]

Bobbygedd has a rating he uses in the lawn industry to rate your self were you are today and if you will be successful. It's called the school bus, meaning were you are at in your business.The front is of the bus is : a completely legit business, and the back of the bus is: the guy with the lawn mower sticking out of his trunk... i'm sitting in the middle right now! I need my applicators license to be able to be more productive! Were do you sit???
Let me clarify...To be up front with the big boys: you must have a Applicators license,truck and trailer with commercial tags.Licensed and insured with commercial insurance.business license. paying taxes every quarter.and any other state requirements in your own state. Now were do you sit in the bus???

[cpritch]

I'm at the back of the bus, but vehemently trying to get to the front of the bus by April 1. :waving:

[TURF DOCTOR]

We run 3 tralers all decalled pay taxes that fun try to run legal.

[Lux Lawn]

Let me clarify...To be up front with the big boys: you must have a Applicators license,truck and trailer with commercial tags.Licensed and insured with commercial insurance.business license. paying taxes every quarter.and any other state requirements in your own state. Now were do you sit in the bus???

Front of the Bus.

[hole in one lco]

The front but the only perk is pease of mined.

[sheshovel]

I have a saying
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
But never as green as the grass you grow yourself!

[jason u]

mid bus is a good place to be, but what about the guy hanging out the back of the bus, low balling everyone just to be associated with the legitimate guys paying for the ride.

[Ol'time Lawncare]

I have a saying
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
But never as green as the grass you grow yourself! .... Hey shoveler, whats your other saying , consurning..." assuming"?

[KeystoneLawn&Landscaping]

Professional all the way.......front of the bus

[Ol'time Lawncare]

Professional all the way.......front of the bus
your truck and trailer looks to be top of the line!!!

[sheshovel]

That is "You know what assuming does don't you?"
"It makes an azz out of U and Me"

get it ? A.S.S out of U & MI?... assuming?

that's a real old one.

[sheshovel]

Now to answer your question..I would have to put myself on top of the bus..riding in the wind.

[Sean Adams]

Depending on your situation and the kind of business you operate, you are either legitimate or you are not. If you provide fert & pest services without proper licensing, you are not legit....but if you do not provide these services and do not have a license, you are still legit. If you have and pay what you are supposed to, like was said earlier, you have peace of mind.

[LB1234]

Just because you don't have a pest app liscense doesn't mean your aren't legit or professional. We don't/haven't, BUT we do subcontract out to liscensed companies to provide this service for us. Why is this unprofessional if our business plan states we aren't going to do this for one reason or another?

[Ol'time Lawncare]

Just because you don't have a pest app liscense doesn't mean your aren't legit or professional. We don't/haven't, BUT we do subcontract out to liscensed companies to provide this service for us. Why is this unprofessional if our business plan states we aren't going to do this for one reason or another?
To be legit in NJ you have to have a business license, commercial tag on your truck and trailer with commercial insurance! You must have a tax I.D. and liability insurance. if you have a helper then you MUST have work-mens comp.Also you have to have a Consumers Affair Number plastered on your truck. Now, i don't want to be a simple grass cutter so i think with the applicators license i will be on top of my game!

[LB1234]

To be legit in NJ you have to have a business license, commercial tag on your truck and trailer with commercial insurance! You must have a tax I.D. and liability insurance. if you have a helper then you MUST have work-mens comp.Also you have to have a Consumers Affair Number plastered on your truck. Now, i don't want to be a simple grass cutter so i think with the applicators license i will be on top of my game!

Thx for the info, I didn't realize you needed all that...:jester:


I have all that, thx. My point is I CHOOSE not to have my applicators liscense. It is easier for me to sub it out as I do not have the equipment for it, time for it, knowledge for it, etc.

With that said, I will be going for my liscense this spring and will start to offer the service, since I want to expand the business in that direction.

[Justcutitshort]

Thx for the info, I didn't realize you needed all that...:jester:

Yes, you need all that, but you don't have to have it.
It's like speeding...... It's only against the law if you get caught.
I'll bet most of us did not intial start up with all the items the state requires.
Just this past week end I drove into Jersey and saw plenty of plow trucks with $3,000 salt spreaders without any truck name or commerical plates. I'd like them to tell the state their are just plowing and salting their own driveway. I think not. dancing dancing

[The Cowboy]

I am in the bus, but close to the back. No license or applicators permit, but then I am only applying organic with no pesticides. I have business liability insurance 1 million coverage with some equipment and workers comp, but not licensed by the county to operate as a landscaper. Most little guys don't do that here or have insurance for that matter and no one cares as long as you aren't openly advertising or carrying signs. In towns east of me they do require a license to operate within a city limit. I am in the country. I wouldn't say I was a lowballer. I charge what I need to make a decent profit. I ran without insurance for a couple of years, it was hard to have peace of mind. I feel better just knowing my customers know I have it now. One thing at a time and I eventually will be taking the drivers seat.

[TJLC]

I can honestly say, I have ALWAYS been at the front of the bus and very proud of it.

[garydale]

Hi gang,

I feel like I built the bus.

I use to drive the bus.

I've been in every seat on the bus.

Now I stand up front and tell how it use to be.

Have a great year guys.

[Brendan Smith]

uncle sam takes about 1/3 of my paycheck from my regular full time job, damned if he's getting any more for my time after work and weekends...that being said, when i am financially solvent enough to escape from corporate life, i will look forward to being "legit". actually look forward to not having to worry if some idiot rear ends me while my trailer is attached or any of the other things that can happen beyond my control...

[daveintoledo]

uncle sam takes about 1/3 of my paycheck from my regular full time job, damned if he's getting any more for my time after work and weekends...that being said, when i am financially solvent enough to escape from corporate life, i will look forward to being "legit". actually look forward to not having to worry if some idiot rear ends me while my trailer is attached or any of the other things that can happen beyond my control...

you cant afford to be without insurance, one little accident and you will loose what ever you have, home, cars, and remember, these are public forums anyone can read and get an ip address from, admitting on a public forum that you are not paying taxes is asking for trouble from the government , or one of your own compeditors could turn you in... get legal man..:)

[Brendan Smith]

you cant afford to be without insurance, one little accident and you will loose what ever you have, home, cars, and remember, these are public forums anyone can read and get an ip address from, admitting on a public forum that you are not paying taxes is asking for trouble from the government , or one of your own compeditors could turn you in... get legal man..:)
yes, i understand. insurance isn't an issue and checks are run through my partner's business acct. vehicle insurance covers trailer if attached to vehicle. i was seriously thinking of starting my own business acct, but have NO experience of what the implications are as far as taxes. If i do this and put business insurance on vehicle and get a minimum liability policy for the business, how would i file taxes for this fiscal year? I have management experience, but have never started a business myself. any help would be appreciated.

[Brendan Smith]

also, how do i figure taxes? do they have to be paid quarterly? there will be no payroll excepting myself. should i get a tax exempt number? i know to save gas receipts and record mileage log, save equip. and materials receipts (ie for the trailer i'm building), but what else. again, thanks in advance for help.

[alwaysgreener]

It;s ALWAYS GREENER on my side....:)

[daveintoledo]

also, how do i figure taxes? do they have to be paid quarterly? there will be no payroll excepting myself. should i get a tax exempt number? i know to save gas receipts and record mileage log, save equip. and materials receipts (ie for the trailer i'm building), but what else. again, thanks in advance for help.

is it registered as a llc, sole propriotorship.... you take all the info you have to your cpa and have them do your taxes.... it all gets expensive, thats why i always say there is lots more to this then just cutting the grass..

good luck

[Brendan Smith]

ok, called my lawyer and accountant today. yall guilted me into it :)