just starting

[yankeesdood16]

I am just starting to get a business going. So far I have 5 yards, I dont have a business license but as soon as I get my business bigger(10 yards at least) I'll get the license. How many yards do you guys think I should get before I get my license? Any other advise would also be appreciated. I am charing around $25 per yard right now just to get yards to do.

[cwlawley]

I would go ahead and get a license. Licenses aren't normally very expenisve, mine was $25.00 and I have piece of mind knowing that I have it.

[yankeesdood16]

I dont have any commericial equipement yet, I use a regular lawn mower. I had a 25cc string trimmer but a couple weeks ago I bought a 31cc for my business and I just use a regular leaf blower to clean up with, its a more powerfull one though(200mph). Also, I just have two boards that I use as ramps to get the mower into the truck. RIght now I just have a little chevy s10 but down the road I'll get a bigger truck, the s10 I just got last summer. Its a 2000 with only 73,000 miles on it and I got it from someone that used to live in florida so it has no rust.

[A1A Lawn Care]

Always need a license and like clarles said, they are only 15-25 bucks.

[daveintoledo]

you are under 18 right, some places you can but most places you cant do anything until your 18, no license, cant sign a contract.... cant get insurance, or a business checking account... on and on....

but try .... you show at least attempt to be completely legal before cutting your first lawn.... if you try and cant, then you have to do what you have to....

[Dunn's]

I would get the license NOW! In my town it is only $25.00 a year. It is a lot cheaper than to get caught doing business without a license. If you get caught doing a business without a license here, it is a MINIMUM $500.00 fine. Even if it is a small business, you don't want to have to pay an extra $475.00 minimum .....

[Dogbonz]

How many yards do you guys think I should get before I get my license? Any other advise would also be appreciated. I am charing around $25 per yard right now just to get yards to do.
I'd get it now Mine cost 10 bucks! Also,,,

Try this get a measure wheel on a stick,, measure yards at est time,, whip out this chart and say your size is X and I charge this rate for that size.
Works for me ,, stay at home dad Part time, 5 reg cust's. Can only get better!!

Size Chart-

1/8 acre= 5,445 square feet
¼ acre= 10,890 square feet
3/8 acre= 16,335 square feet
½ acre= 21,780 square feet
5/8 acre= 27,225 square feet
¾ acre= 32,670 square feet
7/8 acre= 38,115 square feet
1 acre= 43,560 square feet

1/8 acre: $30
1/4 acre: $35
3/8 acre: $40
1/2 acre: $45
5/8 acre: $50
3/4 acre: $55
7/8 acre: $60
1 acre: $65
Over 1 acre: $65 per acre + $20 for each additional acre
Example:3 acre lawn would cost $105.

[fulano]

When you get a license the state or county will probably have to pay some personal property tax. That is tax on your already bought and paid for and taxed equipment. Then, when the tax year is up for your city or county they'll want their share of your income along with the IRS.

[yankeesdood16]

Thanks for all your advise. I am actually 20, going to be 21 the 27th of july. Right now I only have 4 yards but in another month I'll most likely have 5. Only one out of the 5 people pay me by check and the rest pay me by cash so that way I wont get caught or anything. The person that does pay me by check sends me a personal check. My dad and one or two of his friends know stuff about having a small business(mowing business) and they told me that I dont have to get it yet. What I have isnt really considered a business since I only have 4 or 5 yards. Once I get more yards then I'll consider getting a license.

[MMLawn]

Thanks for all your advise. I am actually 20, going to be 21 the 27th of july. Right now I only have 4 yards but in another month I'll most likely have 5. Only one out of the 5 people pay me by check and the rest pay me by cash so that way I wont get caught or anything. The person that does pay me by check sends me a personal check. My dad and one or two of his friends know stuff about having a small business(mowing business) and they told me that I dont have to get it yet. What I have isnt really considered a business since I only have 4 or 5 yards. Once I get more yards then I'll consider getting a license.




SO what you are saying is that you are a Cheat, a Crook, and a Criminal and that your father condones it.

1 Lawn or 100 Lawns if you are getting paid you are legally bought to buy licenses and pay TAXES!

You are on the wrong site if you want to get on here and talk about doing business underhanded and avoiding paying taxes!

[Birdhunter1]

I'm in about the same boat as you yankeedood, well sort of anyway.
I'm helping my dad getting a lawncare service started now so when he retires in a few years he has it going good and strong. Will I stay in it after he retires? Probably, but for now it's getting it going and getting a name out there for us, we've always had a few yards we've kept up for people but now we're getting more serious about it, at least to the point where we could add a second mower to our operation but not for him to retire early and not even close to where I could leave my job (we'd have to have lots of lawn to maintain).

We work hard but we enjoy it, my wife (of 2 months) catches up to us at lunch time and makes sure we're fed well.

[cdjohnson7]

I totally agree with MM LAWN. Several in my area do the same. Pay Taxes and get the right permits

[yankeesdood16]

I just dont believe that I need to get my license right now sine I only have 4(soon to me 5 yards). I'm not trying to avoid anything. Two of the people are neighbors and the other two are people that me and my parents know. I am definately trying to get it bigger though. Mowing is something that I like doing and will be doing it for a while. I may get my business license later this mowing season once I get more yards, I just dont believe I need to get it yet. By the way its not nice to put people down like the one person above did. I'm really trying to get this thing going and believe me, I will get a license.

[Team-Green L&L]

Are You Completely Off Your Rocker? How Can You Carry Insurance On A Company That Doesn't Exist. Stay Off My Yard And Away From My Clients.

[Team-Green L&L]

I don't want to discourage you from mowing. You should simply work for, not as, an LCO for right now until you are financially prepared to take on an LCO. We invested $35,000 in start up funds for a small operation, but we had credentials from working with other LCO's and landscapers before jumping head-first into one of the most competitive industries in America.

[yankeesdood16]

Within the next 5 years or so I'm hoping to have at least 15 yards, more like 20 or 25 but I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Right now I'm mostly getting people by word. I'm just telling people that if they know anyone that wants there yard done to let me know. Right now per yard I'm charging around $25 per yard to get people. These people that me and my parents know own a apartment nearby and they pay me $75 a month to do the yard at the aparment. Its a fairly big yard. Instead of paying me $25 a week they are paying me $75 a month. Right now I'm just doing residentual mowing, I dont plan on mowing at businesses( stores and stuff) for a while. I see people drive around with the trailers with the mowers and stuff in the back and I keep saying to myself, that'll be me one day. There are a few people with commercial mowers that do yards in my neighborhood, one guy was going a couple yards down the street earlier today.

[yankeesdood16]

Tomorrow I am going to find out all the info for getting a business license in new york state. Is there anyone in this forum that lives in new york state and has gotten a license and what did you have to do? Any advise is appreciated, I mostly want advise from people that live in or know stuff about getting a license in new york.

[fulano]

I don't want to discourage you from mowing. You should simply work for, not as, an LCO for right now until you are financially prepared to take on an LCO. We invested $35,000 in start up funds for a small operation, but we had credentials from working with other LCO's and landscapers before jumping head-first into one of the most competitive industries in America.

$35K should start a pretty decent operation. But, for $10K or less you can buy a used truck($3000), trailer($1000), 48" gear drive mower ($1500), 60in used mower ($1500), a 21"mower ($500), blower ($500), trimmer ($300), and enough to pay for a license ($50), and down payment for insurance ($1000) and maybe even some gas and extra little parts.
If you already have a truck or a nice car with a hitch then you won't need that truck. If you only mow small yards save the money on the 60" mower and you are in business for even less. Buy a smaller trailer or a used one and you'll pay less. Buy used blower and trimmer etc and even less start up is required.
The more money you spend on start up does not equal success. Success will depend upon your determination and some luck. Sure you may get better jobs with better looking equipment but lots of people want a service based upon price and nothing else. If you can't compete with the good looking crews then start out with the price concerned customers and develop your business so you can buy better equipment and get commercial accounts or accounts in the better neighborhoods.

[PMLAWN]

SO what you are saying is that you are a Cheat, a Crook, and a Criminal and that your father condones it.

1 Lawn or 100 Lawns if you are getting paid you are legally bought to buy licenses and pay TAXES!

You are on the wrong site if you want to get on here and talk about doing business underhanded and avoiding paying taxes!

DITTO !!!

"By the way its not nice to put people down like the one person above did. I'm really trying to get this thing going and believe me, I will get a license."

Why don't you get the licence now. What is the reason not to.
MM did not put you down- only told it like it is. A person that gets paid to do a service is to pay taxes on it, Just like MM and myself do. Why should you be special. To come on here and say that, is saying that you feel that I should cover my part of living in the USA and yours also. Tell me why that is right???

[yankeesdood16]

I already have a chevy s10 and I have two boars that I use as ramps to get the mower into the truck. The mower I have is a craftsman 21", self propelled, 6.25hp. The string trimmer that I use for doing the other yards is a Bolens BL100, its 31cc. The blower I have is a poulan pro(200mph), I just got it last week because the one that I've had the last couple yrs died this last fall. It was a craftsman but it looked exactly like the poulan pro that I got now. Sometime within the next 5yrs or so once I save up my money I'll get a bigger mower but for now the one that I use is fine. The one I use is the mower I use to do my gramma's yard. This will be the 3rd whole mowing season that I'll have it. For doing my own yard I have a craftsman, 6.75hp, self propelled. I dont use that for doing the other yards because its older, I've had it 6 whole mowing seasons. I got it the beginning of the mowing season of 2000, mowing season is from the beginning of april to the middle of november.

[daveintoledo]

I already have a chevy s10 and I have two boars that I use as ramps to get the mower into the truck. The mower I have is a craftsman 21", self propelled, 6.25hp. The string trimmer that I use for doing the other yards is a Bolens BL100, its 31cc. The blower I have is a poulan pro(200mph), I just got it last week because the one that I've had the last couple yrs died this last fall. It was a craftsman but it looked exactly like the poulan pro that I got now. Sometime within the next 5yrs or so once I save up my money I'll get a bigger mower but for now the one that I use is fine. The one I use is the mower I use to do my gramma's yard. This will be the 3rd whole mowing season that I'll have it. For doing my own yard I have a craftsman, 6.75hp, self propelled. I dont use that for doing the other yards because its older, I've had it 6 whole mowing seasons. I got it the beginning of the mowing season of 2000, mowing season is from the beginning of april to the middle of november.


hahahaahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahaahaahaaahaahhaahahahahahahahahhaahahahhahahahaaahaahahahahaahhaha ahhahaaahaahaahhaahaahahahaahaahahha;)

[yankeesdood16]

PMLAWN, I am going to call somewhere tomorrow and find out all the info on getting a business license in new york state.

[PMLAWN]

hahahaahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahaahaahaaahaahhaahahahahahahahahhaahahahhahahahaaahaahahahahaahhaha ahhahaaahaahaahhaahaahahahaahaahahha;)

Dave, I do believe this is a set-up. this can not be real..

[yankeesdood16]

Daveintoledo, I am just starting out so give me a break. I cant aford all the heavy duty machinery that all you guys already have. Down the road I'd like to get one of those big commercial mowers that has the thing on the back to stand on. The guy that mows at my bros apartment in tampa has one of those and he moves right along. The area behind my bros apartment he gets done in like 5 mins. My dad is a mailman in binghamton and he told me that he saw someone use one of those on his route(someone that has a mowing business of coarse. The mower I use at my house I call a beast, 6.75hp craftsman. For a regular walk behind mower it is a beast. It cuts the grass pretty good, today it had trouble when I did my front cause the grass was a little wet

[mike lane lawn care]

go, get your license.
Buy a used commercial mower
never use that bolens again (get an echo or a redmax)
give your grandma back her mower
get a trailer, once you buy a real mower, you will get tired of puting it in the truck.

and i do wonder if BG paid someone to say this?

[mike lane lawn care]

also, take a course in buisness. learn about all the mowing techniques, learn to do aeration, dethatching, proper spring and fall cleanups, over seeding, fertilizing, and weed control (with an aplicators license ONLY)

do pressure washing, this will help get you some extra money to start up with

[yankeesdood16]

PMLAWN, I am really trying to get a business going. I enjoy mowing and stuff. Tomorrow I have to finish a yard down the street because I couldn't earlier, I had to get ready to go ump a game. This is my 3rd year with the local umpire chapter. I am doing yards during the day and umping in the evening. I have a game tomorrow evening and thursday evening and then saturday at 10am. At the yard down the street I got all the mowing done and trimmed out front, tomorrow morning I just have to trim outback. I didnt take any money from the guy yet. I dont take any money from the people until I'm done with the job. I just got done watching the yanks come back. Posada hit a walk off hr to beat texas 13-12. At one point they were down 10-2

[mike lane lawn care]

"get you head in the game" so to speak, focus on getting you lawns done, you should schedule your lawns so that you never have to come back and finish, i think it leaves a mark of unprofessionalism.

[yankeesdood16]

I know a lot about taking care of yards, I read stuff on the internet all the time. The last couple years me and a friend of me and my parents rented a aerator and did mine, his yard, 2 yards on my street, his neighbor and my gramma's. We took turns using the machine because its tiring. My yard is one of the best in the neighborhood because I keep it well trimmed. When I do my yard and the other yards I switch the way I mow everytime. Everyone says what a good job I do. I also get on the gardenweb lawncare forum. Those guys know a lot about taking care of yards and I've learned a lot from them. I've looked into getting a echo string trimmer but I wanted a fairly cheap one, I just got the bolens a couple weeks ago. I didnt want to spend a lot of money. The one I had before was a weed eater(I still have it but only use it to do my yard because for one thing the handle on the middle of the shaft broke off).

[yankeesdood16]

Yea I would not have done his yard til tomorrow morning but I was finishing my front and asked me if I would do his and I told him I would do it. That was at 1:30 and I had to be at my game at 4:00. I know the guy pretty good so he doesnt mind. He told me that I didnt have to do the whole thing if I didnt have time. To do his yard I use his mower, he doesnt want me to use mine.

[fulano]

Don't let them get you down. Do a good job with what you have and save up for some better more efficient equipment later. You sound like a hard worker.
I'm in the same boat as you, except I already owned a little better equipment to do my own home and just bought another new mower yesterday. Does that mean I will do a better job than you or make more money? No.

[sooner74]

Did he happen to tell you why you couldn't use your mower? You have to act professional to be a true professional.

[yankeesdood16]

I dont use my mower to do the other yards because a few years ago it dried up on me when I took it down to do a yard down the street, it dried up on oil I mean. I knew exactly what it was and shut it off. A few days before I checked the oil and it was really low and used it anyways. When it dried up like I said above I shut it up and went and got oil and put it in and moved the blade around by hand a coupe times and pulled the pull rope without the shutoff thing squeezed against the handle a couple times to lubricate the engine then started it and it started right up. By shuting it off right away I saved it, I know thats stupidity in my part. Now I check the oil in both mowers before each time I use them. The reason I dont use my mower is because I want it to last, I've had it 6 mowing seasons and would like it to last another few yrs at least by just doing my yard. My front I do every 3 days if the weather permitts to keep it looking nice. Last march and this march I took it for a tune up(got the oil changed, new spark plug, air filter, etc. The other mower I have to take for a tune up next year. It hasnt had a new spark plug or anything yet but it still runs really good. I've had it 3 mowing seasons now. Some people never change the oil in there mower or anything.

[Landscapes-r-us]

No offense, but man are you serious? 10 yards in the next 4 or 5 years? You want to be 25 making 300 bucks a week?! Dude when I was 14 I was making $200 a week and it's only went up from there. You gotta have some real goals, don't be a mooch from your parents. I moved out when I was 19, now I'm 22 and looking into buying a house. I ran a pretty sucessful LCO, I mean I don't have 1,000 accounts, but I also don't want 1,000 accounts. I stopped accepting new contracts for this season actually.

[yankeesdood16]

I never said I want to have 10 yards in the next 4 or 5 years. I'm hoping to have 10 yards hopefully by the end of this mowing season if not the beginning of next year. In the next 4 or 5 years I'm hoping to have 20 yards or so(possibly more). I really want to get this thing going, in a while I'm going to post something at the local grocery store to get more yards.

[yankeesdood16]

Also I umpire with the local umpire chapter so I make $300 or $400 or so a spring and summer.

[seagraves7]

calm down. what do you think a CPA is. they help you work around the government. same thing.

[seagraves7]

relax, what do you think a CPA does.




SO what you are saying is that you are a Cheat, a Crook, and a Criminal and that your father condones it.

1 Lawn or 100 Lawns if you are getting paid you are legally bought to buy licenses and pay TAXES!

You are on the wrong site if you want to get on here and talk about doing business underhanded and avoiding paying taxes!

[seagraves7]

calm down mmlawn, what do you think a CPA does.

[fulano]

If you use a homeowners equipment you may be covered under their homeowners insurance as well. They may also be responsible for taxes.

[yankeesdood16]

I use my own string trimmer and blower. For a mower I use a mower that I helped my gramma pay for because adventually it will be my mower. The mower is a craftsman 6.25hp, its only a few years old so it'll last a while. Just like with my mower with her mower I clean out the bottom after I'm done for the day and clean off the top. I always pick stuff up, even branches unless they're tiny twigs. I am very carefull with my equipement. What exactly is a CPA?

[PMLAWN]

calm down. what do you think a CPA is. they help you work around the government. same thing.

A CPA is a highly educated- specially trained and tested, professional that is certified and licensed to help you pay as little taxes as possible--WITHIN THE LAW!!!!!

They do not work around the gov. They work with in the laws that the Gov. makes.

Whats you next point?? times 3??

[PMLAWN]

What exactly is a CPA?

Your almost 21 and you ask this???

If this isn't Bobby that it is someone that wants to take his place--- or Calvin????

[yankeesdood16]

Sorry but I didnt know, thanks to you I do now. My name is Brent by the way.

[Hoss_27]

Yea I would not have done his yard til tomorrow morning but I was finishing my front and asked me if I would do his and I told him I would do it. That was at 1:30 and I had to be at my game at 4:00. I know the guy pretty good so he doesnt mind. He told me that I didnt have to do the whole thing if I didnt have time. To do his yard I use his mower, he doesnt want me to use mine.

So... being generous with driving and time to get ready you are saying you couldn't finish a $25 lawn in 1-1.5 hours? You left early when all you had left to do was trim the back?? I can't be the only one here wondering this but do you have some sort of mental handicap or disability maybe? Personally I don't see anything wrong with the equipment you're using to START with, get a license and insurance and rock on with whatever you can afford now. But I have to say it's your business sense I wonder about. Being 20 you should be able to get 10 accounts by the end of next week, not the season and 20 in 5 years?? Is your marketing plan simply word of mouth praying you never have to spend a dime on marketing/advertising? Or???

I'm confused.

[yankeesdood16]

It actually takes me a while to trim his back yard. He had a few trees and a garden that I have to do around. He also has a slope that I do with the string trimmer because its too sleep to do with the push mower. The yard he has takes me an hr or so to do with his mower. Its a self propelled snaper. Right now I'm mostly just getting yards by mouth, I tell people if they know anyone that needs a yard done to let me know. Tomorrow I'm going to post something at the local grocery store to hopefully get more yards, they have a place to post stuff. I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and have 20 yards, I just want to steadily get it bigger.

[yankeesdood16]

I got on the website for my local newspaper and was looking at used commercial mowers. I saw one thats only like a couple thousand bucs, its only a month or two old. Its a toro with a 36" cut. I'm not going to get anyting bigger this year but next year I might look into getting something bigger if I can save up enough money.

[K.Carothers]

Any updates today?

I really have enjoyed this thread:)


kc

[yankeesdood16]

I posted a thing at a local grocery store. All it says is "need your lawn mowed? Call Brent", then it has my cell phone number. Hopefully that will get me more yards. I have 20 of the things printed, I just need to find places to put them.

[Birdhunter1]

While I'm not looking to start a large scale business I can tell you that if you don't try to get folks yourself you will not get many if any. You can't rely on others to get work for you, yeah you'll get some here and there but everyone will tell their friends that "Brent does my yard, does a great job for $20" and all you will get is $20 yards.

As for your equipment, don't get down on yourself or let others bother you about it. Just keep working hard and working smarter and you'll get to the point you want to be with the bigger/newer/nicer equipment, but only if you work towards it.

I started doing brushcleanup work in high school for farmers and landowners with my dad's old Poulan Anti-vibe 3400 and within a year upgraded myself to a Stihl 029 for the work I wanted to do. What I'm saying there is work with what you've got to work with what you want!

[murray83]

ok all jokes aside heres my take.

first:get the license and cover your @ss ever been to court? i hope you never have to.

second:when u get that license go get a company created in your name,even if you have 10 yards,you can write things off unlike now thats where the CPA comes in.put some money back into your pocket dude.

as for your equipment...you don't need much more..you have an S10 cheap on gas and will pull a trailer...backpack blower,trimmer,edger,basic mower which u have to do smaller lawns and in backyards that are hard to get into,and invest in a decent walk behind say a 36'' to do the larger area to get it done quicker.a 48 might be too big to start if you need it buy one down the road.keep your overhead low and profits high

[yankeesdood16]

Earlier in the week I talked to a couple people in my neighborhood and told them that if they knew anyone that wanted there lawn done by someone to let me know. They asked me how much I'd charge and I said $30. One of the guys that I talked to said that he does his yard himself for exercise but he said he'd keep me in mind in case he wants his yard done by someone else for any reason due to going on vacation or whatever. The other guy I talked to said that he might have me do his yard for him starting next year. Right now I'm just trying to get lawns to do any way I can. I posted a flyer at the local grocery store and at a local bar, they have a bulletin board to post stuff. Me and my parents know the owners of the bar. My parents talked to a lady and she might have me do her yard and she knows someone else that might want there yard done. If anyone else has any tips on how to get more lawns let me know. I'm trying.

[MMLawn]

$30!!!! Come on kid that's too high for you, an unlicensed, uninsured, non-professional, dedicated lowballer! Get that price on down to about $15 and you;ll get those yards!

[yankeesdood16]

MMLawn, first of all I'm going on 21 in july. I may be nonprofessional but I know what the heck I'm doing. I'm not just some kid with a mower. I am very good at what I do. You should see my yard. I take care of it for my parents and its one of the nicest yards in the neighborhood, very few weeds and thick. A mow a friend of my parents yard up the street and she came down today to drop something off and she said I do a good job with doing the yard, they are very picky. I may be unlicensed and uninsured but I aint stupid, when it comes to yard work I know what I'm doing. A neighbor of mine used to be in the yard business(he's in his 50s now) and he told me earlier in the week that he worked with someone and they had 30 yards that they did and they never had a license. They did it on the side, apart from there regular job. Next year I will get my license though.

[yankeesdood16]

By the way, my neighbor that was in the lawn business was in it for quite a few years. They had a scag and a exmark, both were walk behind mowers and they had a trailer. I just thought that I would mention that.

[boxsky]

In my area every township you do business in wants money. There are 3 townships that merge right in my area. gets real expensive doing business. most guys here don't get the license as the fine is the cost of a license.