How much $$ is needed to get started?

[scott015]

I have another post about starting my own business...I am really serious about it too. But I would like to take a couple lawn/landscape type classes to get a little more familar before I really start. There is a great Junior College about 5mins from me if anyone knows of the classes I should look for I would appreciate it. Anyway....I dont own much of anything (only a push mower and weed eater) just for my own personal lawn... What all do I need to get to get started...and about how much do they cost? Let me know if I am close....also what are some good model/brands to get?

This is my guess:

1-2 Push Mowers ($300 each)
1 Riding Mower ($1200)
1 Aerator ($1000)
1-2 Weed Eaters ($150 each)
1 Gas Blower ($150)
1 Sidewalk edger ($150)

I am just totally guessing.....can you guys help me out....

[Administrator]

Here is my list.

New Truck $30,000
18' Trailer $1,500
60" ZTR $9,000
Bagger for ZTR $1,800
36" WB $3,800
Bagger for WB $250
(2) trimmers $700
Hedge trimmers $250
Back Pack Blower$400
Hand Blower $250
Edger $400

And some misc. equipment.

Chuck

[Guido]

Like we said before, if you do a search on a specific piece of equipment, its been debated back and forth on here a million times, you'll find tons of info!

If I were you I would rent an Aerator until you have the money (and the need0 to buy one outright. (Unless you have a ton of cash to blow!)

Also, start off with a 36" or 48" walkbehind with a sulky if the properties you service are large enough. No need to jump into a riding mower yet. And when you say $1200 for a rider, I suspect you mean a garden tractor style? No good for commercial use in most of our opinions. Make your money with the walkbehind mowers first than upgrade/add on with a zero turn rider, or sulky's for your walkbehind. You'll find them much better.

Stop down to your local equipment dealer and check out what they have in the way of commercial equipment.

Try to stay away from the homeowner stuff as much as possible, it will cost you more in the longrun!

Good Luck, and hope this helps a little bit!

[Toroguy]

As guido recommended rent the aerator, about $70 a day from Home Depot.

Chuck listed all new equipment.

I think you can start with:

$3000 walk behind
$100 push mower
$250 trimmer
$100 hand held blower
$200-$1000 trailer (new or used)

You can also get by pulling the trailer with a large car. A trailer hitch from U-haul is around $150. But you will need a truck soon.

Dont forget advertising dollars and insurance coverage.

[Administrator]

Yea, I listed new stuff..... if you intend on starting out and don't have that kind of cash to throw out go with cheaper or used equip.

Yea, insurance is a must.

Chuck

[scott015]

Well what about a business loan? Anybody know anything about those? I am 21 with good credit, just not a whole bunch of it....is a business loan hard to get? I am thinking about $40k would be perfect with truck and all.....(F250)...how long can I pay it out over? 5years, 10years???? What is normal for intrest rate? Also, how much is insurance????thanks guys you have been great!!!!

[Twotoros]

I'd say a business loan from a bank could be hard. I have A1 credit and last year they were reluctant to loan me more than 5k. You may have more luck with the feds and the small business admin. Any well off relatives? That would be a plus. I started with a 21", trimmer and a truck in '86 and soon expanded my equiptment base in year two and three. Purchases were made with cash or a leasing company(lease to own). Back then there were no mid-size mowers that I was aware of and owning one now from the start is a plus. 36" with a sulky,21" 2-stroke mower,backpack blower and a good trimmer would be the least I would start with. Rent the areater but it is nice to own your own . I bought one in year four also a thatcher that year. Also budget for advertising. Good luck.

[1MajorTom]

Now I don't mean to burst anyone's bubble here, but how do you know you are going to like this type of work? It's one thing to like working on your yard, but to do it over and over again 8 hours a day 5 days a week, or more depending on the amount of customers, is another thing.

How long have you thought about doing this? Is this just something you recently dreamed up, or has this always been your desire to own a Lawn Care business?

Do you like working long hours? In the sun all day? Are you physically fit?
Have you researched your market area?

I'm asking all of these questions which is really just the tip of the iceburg, because it just seems to me that taking out a 40K loan is pretty risky, especially if you don't really know what you are getting into.


Start with a used truck first.

[Fantasy Lawns]

I suggest to go work for someone atleast 1 season .....go to someone with more than 1 truck & been in it for +5 (better to learn from someone who has made mistakes in the past ...learned & have developed good business sense ......so you can learn em).....take some night classes at a local com. college related to business .....start saving atleast 10k ...the #1 reason to business failure is ===>cash flow ....buy good "used" ...stay away form new for now (unless like under $5-300) ....good luck ;->

[Scag48]

I started out last year and it's good to have access to buy equipment. I learned that the hard way, by NOT being able to buy equipment. I'm only 14, which isn't old enough to get a loan and I didn't make a whole lot last year to buy new equipment so loans, if possible, are good. Here's what I would buy
if I were you-

Truck-$10,000-$20,000 for used truck
36" or 48" Walkbehind-36"$2300-48"$4500 (prices may vary)
21" Self propelled or push mower-$500-$700
2)trimmers-$600 for both
hand blower-$250
backpack blower-$400
trailer-$500-$1000

Note that all this equipment is commercial, except for the trailer and truck ;). Depending upon how much you want to spend and how much demand for this kind of work there is, you can justify bigger mowers, ect., but this should work out until you get rolling. If you get a walkbehind, it should have sulky for more productivity and you won't be as tired from walking all day. It would be good to go take business classes at the college. There was a thread about trimming on here somewhere and it is harder to master than mowing so I recommend practicing trimming. Some guys might disagree with this but the more practice the better, right? Good luck!

[Toroguy]

theleven and Jodi are correct. If you are not currently pushing your homeowner mower for several hours, you may not have "green" in your blood. I have had two friends help out, and they never want to partner or even help out again. I meet frinds from high school and when I tell them I do lawn care, they look at me like an alien from outer space. They cant imagine actually working for a living.

I like twotoros method, as I also started the same way.

Chucks idea of all new is great, to expensive for my green blood.

[HOMER]

Jump on with another crew and get acclimated to the environment first. Work a season and learn all you can. In the off season get your pesticide license, you can use that no matter what your ultimate decision is, go take some business courses and seek out a good cpa. Do these things when times are slow (like I really did;))and work hard at them, have everything in place the following season. Also do your cold calling, find out when the commercial bids go out and make contacts.

Whatever you do....................don't wait until you have 3 kids, been married for 18 years, been at your full time job for 16 years and..........................you get the picture. Your young, take full advantage of it now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:blob3:

[parkwest]

Are you going to run a business or mow grass? Your equipment list only included tools for your mowing crew. Don't forget the business management side of Lawn Maintenance. Thats where you make or break it. If you are just going to mow grass, make sure you read the post about what people pay their leadmen on a mowing crew and ask yourself if that is what you can live on.

[WILSON BROS.]

New equipment is very nice, but not required. I started with a used trimmer, and a Murray rider. 15 yrs later and about $200,000.00 + later I sometimes wish thats all I had. To start, A used walkbehind, and some sort of trimmer, will do alot of work until you can aford to buy what you need when you need it. Get the bussiness and the rest will come, give it time.

[Vibe Ray]

Scott, Let ,me tell you what I think the perfect "start up" Package would be:
This package is very economical (cheap) but not so cheap that you have equipment that makes you work your @$$ off and get discouraged. Cuz it's easy to get discouraged if you have crappy equipment. There is a such thing as "cheap but decent" equipment and that's what you wanna have.
Here is what I suggest (only my suggestion, do what you want):

Trimmer-ECHO SRM-2100-$200

Edger-ECHO PE-2601-(think it's about $300)

Blower-ECHO PB-603-$400 (a very nice backpack blower)

Mower-Scotts 21" 6.5 HP ZTR(swiveling front wheels) WB-$469@Home Depot (and yes it will hold up at least for a somewhat busy season, I have one and it's still going strong. It really is the best homeowner 21" and cheap; much better than having to lift the front wheels up for every turn! Look into it)

Used cargo van or truck-$2500 (no need for an expensive vehicle in this biz; that is optional!)

So if you wanted to you could get all your necesary equipment for under $1500 (assuming you have vehicle) and that's getting pretty dam* decent equipment! This business is very easy to get into! That's why you see so many of us!!! The only thing left is some motivation! And lots of that is needed! and with that equipment, you could at least gross $25.00 an hour. I was grossing $30.00/hour with very similar equipment. It will take some practice about 2 months to get that though! Nuttin' like workin' in the good ol' outdoors and no boss to worry about!!!! Hope you love it as much as we do! Good luck and let us in on your progress......

[KD'sLawns]

I agree with the rest, you need to test the water before you jump in. Keep your full time job and pick up a few customers here and there. Family members can help you out by passing the word that you are doing lawn maintenance. After you get about 5-6 lawns that you do on a regular basis, you will know if this business is for you or not. As for the equipment you will be using, a residential 21" will work for awhile. Keep blades sharp and perform maintenance regularly to keep in good shape. Do not be surprised when it breaks down though. Your best bet, would be to fork out the money for a commercial 21" $800.00-$1000.00. Will hold up better and if you decide that you do not want to do this full time, you can always use the mower on your own lawn. Until you know whether or not you like this type of work, I would not sink too much money into it. Right now, just buy commercial equipment that you could use even if you were not in business. Key word there- commercial! You get what you pay for.


Who has that picture of that guy with the mower on top of his Honda Accord?

[bobbygedd]

got a quick question about insurance. how many of u guys have actually ever had to use the insurance? when i purchased insurance the agent told me that in his 20 years in the ins business, he only had one grass company put in a claim.

[David Gretzmier]

we've broke a few windows and had some stolen. insurance is a necessary evil . I started with a craftsman push, lated 3 years part/full time, a ryan weedeater, and no blower- just used the mower or trimmer to blow. 20 years later I'd recommend a honda mower from home depot (300), an stihl fs85 2400 trimmer/split link with edger,hedge trimmer attatchment( 350 online + 125 ) , and a good stihl handheld - bg85 ( 200 )- it blows almost as hard as an older backpack. put it all in your trunk or get a trailer used ( 150-350 ) and pull it. your total investment should be around 1000-1500 bucks. mow a few. use flyers and charge a $25-30 minimum. good luck and do a good job. Dave g