Hello young lawn cutter here

[pyroracing85]

Hello all brand new to the forum and the lawn industry. I have been reading a few posts and it seems like a honda motor on my lawn mower and some echo string trimmers and blowers. Is that all the equipment I am going to need? I do not want to purchase a truck and trailer right now for I wnat to do this on the weekend.

That is another question do customers tend to NOT want you because you mow on the weekends?

[Ol'time Lawncare]

Hello all brand new to the forum and the lawn industry. I have been reading a few posts and it seems like a honda motor on my lawn mower and some echo string trimmers and blowers. Is that all the equipment I am going to need? I do not want to purchase a truck and trailer right now for I wnat to do this on the weekend.

That is another question do customers tend to NOT want you because you mow on the weekends?
how you going to move equipment around???

[pyroracing85]

how you going to move equipment around???


I just plan on doing stuff in my neighborhood. Me and my little brother. I would just wheel the mower over and carry the other equipment.

[pyroracing85]

Also, if it gets to much of a hassle I could just load it in the back of my truck

[zim bob the landscaper]

Also, if it gets to much of a hassle I could just load it in the back of my truck
didnt you say u didnt have a truck??

[pyroracing85]

didnt you say u didnt have a truck??


well it is my daily ride.... If I were to purchase a truck it would be dedicated for the lawn business. I wouldn't want to rely on my daily ride in case I break that going on a vacation trip or soemthing like that.

but I plan to run this business without a truck and trailer.

Also how many lawns do you guys have to make a decent income of like 20-30 k a year?

also how do I price the lawn?

[hosejockey2002]

As far as pricing, no one can answer that for you. It's a delicate balance of a) how much money you want to make per hour of work, b) how much your business costs you to run, and c) what the market you serve will bear. I'm no seasoned expert, but I can tell you one thing, you can't be in this business without using a vehicle to move your equipment around. If you're the neighborhood kid mowing lawns on weekends for beer money it might work, but if you want to actually make a living you need the right equipment.

[pyroracing85]

As far as pricing, no one can answer that for you. It's a delicate balance of a) how much money you want to make per hour of work, b) how much your business costs you to run, and c) what the market you serve will bear. I'm no seasoned expert, but I can tell you one thing, you can't be in this business without using a vehicle to move your equipment around. If you're the neighborhood kid mowing lawns on weekends for beer money it might work, but if you want to actually make a living you need the right equipment.


I don't plan on making a living on it just yet. I will just do a few lawns in the neighborhood but thanks for the outlook.

So I guess just compare prices from other companies in the area huh

[mike lane lawn care]

I don't plan on making a living on it just yet. I will just do a few lawns in the neighborhood but thanks for the outlook.

So I guess just compare prices from other companies in the area huh

you can't compare to other companies rates if you A) don't have the professional equipment to do the job and B) are only doing the houses within walking distance. You really should look into getting a trailer for your truck, they are pretty cheap and once you have a client data base, decide if you can afford a dedicated truck and some commercial equipment. Good luck

[pyroracing85]

you can't compare to other companies rates if you A) don't have the professional equipment to do the job and B) are only doing the houses within walking distance. You really should look into getting a trailer for your truck, they are pretty cheap and once you have a client data base, decide if you can afford a dedicated truck and some commercial equipment. Good luck


Why are you guys so against on not having a trailer? Yes, I could get one eventually but I am trying to keep the costs to a minimun. If worse comes to worse I could just load the equipment in the back of my truck.

[pyroracing85]

you can't compare to other companies rates if you A) don't have the professional equipment to do the job and B) are only doing the houses within walking distance. You really should look into getting a trailer for your truck, they are pretty cheap and once you have a client data base, decide if you can afford a dedicated truck and some commercial equipment. Good luck


Also, the fact that I don't have the overhead. Do you think I could be cheaper?

[nherweck]

I started with just an old crapsman 21" push, homelite gas trimmer, broom, dustpan, trash bags. I would do just as you're talking about doing...pushing the equipment around to neighbors houses... It worked fine for the first year, only servicing 4 homes. Then the next year, with the earnings from the first, I bought myself a riding lawn mower. Just a cheapo from Home Depot, but it worked for the while. I then moved up to about 7 or 8 lawns. Later that season I bought a trailer, just a 4x6 that I could attach to the riding lawn mower. It worked SO well...being able to service lawns 4-5 miles away (uhoh, I'm asking for trouble for that one!) From there on...I've just added and added. I think it'll work for you with no trailer, but for how inexpensive they are now...it would be a wise idea to pick one up. A lot of stores even sell the 4x8 folding trailer for about $300, all you need for those is plywood for the flooring, and makeshift sides, and it would be perfect. Anyways...I think I'm just blabbering on...so I'll stop and just give you a GOOD LUCK!

[K.Carothers]

Why are you guys so against on not having a trailer? Yes, I could get one eventually but I am trying to keep the costs to a minimun. If worse comes to worse I could just load the equipment in the back of my truck.


You are already keeping costs to a min by not paying taxes, having proper insurance and lowballing.

kc

[mike lane lawn care]

Also, the fact that I don't have the overhead. Do you think I could be cheaper?

yes and no. as long as you are doing just the houses around you, you are seen as the neighborhood lawn kid. you can charge differently than real LCO's however, a mistake i made was low-balling on all of my bids so that i could get the lawn. with the advice of people on this site, i modified the way i conduct my biz, and am on my way to becoming a legal opperation. sory if i sound like an azz, but this was a mistake i made and I just want to pass this advice on to you to help you avoid making the same mistake

mike

[pyrocare]

I saw your name and I was wondering if you had any association with the fireworks or pyrotechnics industry

[diamondcare]

i'm new to the industry as well, and from the advice i've gotten, i've (without any intent to do so in the first place) become completely legal in teh past month or so, purchased commercial equipment, looked into insurance (liability, vehicle & equipment, etc) and found most effective ways of advertising.

if you want to make a career out of this, and you have the truck, and even if you are just pushign a 21" crapsman down the street to mow Mr. So and So's lawn, I'd recommend doing things right from the start.

if you lowball just to get the job, 20 bucks or so, then what's gonna happen in 2 years when you want to go legal but keep those jobs, and what are you doing to teh economy in general?

its a costly business to get into if you do it right, i'm lukcy enough to have the money i have to start up, but i'd recommend doing it right at first if you plan to make a career out of it like me. if you do so and you do things right, the only way to go is up without hassles like what you're gonna do when you break Mr. So and So's glass door and don't have liability or what you're gonna do when the IRS looks at your bank account and you've got 5000 unnacounted for and you're getting penalized.

its tough, its business. keep the books, record expenses, read about it. get registered with the state and fed gov't and get insurance (that is, if you're willing to take this on for real, not just some cash to go see the newest movie out this weekend).

[daveintoledo]

only mow on weekends, what if it rains, most people dont want you mowing on weekends..either charge the proper price or dont get into this, it just hurts thet industry

[Brendan Smith]

Hey man - get a trailer - I tried the same thing (loading in my truck) when i
first started and went an bought a trailer after the first time i flipped the mower while loading. It really sucks to have a rider flip over while loading it.I was lucky enough to get out of it with only a severely sprained ankle but could have easily sustained broken leg(s), back, or neck. think about it. you really want to spend the rest of your life disabled? if you don't know how to weld, you can pick up a used trailer which will be good enough for your needs at this time for 200.00 in my area, would't think it would be much different in your area. good luck.