Lawn Mowing

[bonfire]

Hey everyone!

I am a 13 year old boy from Lawrenceville, Ga. I recently started a lawn mowing business called Lawn Monster. So far I have made $145. I only advertise on Craigs List. I want to diversify my advertising. What can I do? How should I go about making flyers? Should my flyers say that I am a 13 year old? Should it say that You have to provide the equipment? Thanks alot!!

[stuffdeer]

You use someone else's equipment?

[topsites]

Yeah stuffdeer, man's 13 year's old, I did what he's doing many years ago, it was great cash.

Craigslist is that kind of a list as I'm finding out, a good place for someone young to advertise. In addition, you might can try some grocery stores that have those bulletin boards, maybe make up and pass out some flyers...

As for what you have to tell them, you don't have to tell them anything on the ad so long you don't lie about it or hide it...
I am sure they can figure out the age thing so I wouldn't worry there, but yes at some point in the estimating process you will have to talk about the equipment usage, you might ask them on the phone if they have a mower or if they're not too far up the road, just go on over there anyway.

I mean, you can put it on the ad but I think it might deter some folks for no reason. Yes, you'll get some phone calls that will result in a waste of your time but at the same rate, you will get calls that result in business that might not have.
Just my .000002

[stuffdeer]

Ohhh, Sorry,

That doesn't sound that bad.

[DuraCutter]

Mentioning your age will get you lower prices. Also, I don't know about Workers Compensation programs around your place, but you may want to check into that. Are you able to sign contracts at 13? Here in Canada, it's 18 years old to sign valid contracts.

One thing, don't go cheap as the lawncare business has many people like you that drive the price down below the ground.

Good luck.

[JJLandscapes]

Everybody before you post u are too young ,, or are you licensed and insured? or i hope you are collecting tax

realize he is 13 and he will in no way effect your business so stop crying and help the kid out think if it was your little cousin who wants to follow in your steps .... Its better he learns the hard way at 13 then when he is in college trying to pay bills ... If he kills someone he will go to juve for a little and it will be whipped of his record lol jk
Dont put your age on the flyers anywhere.. when you talk to the customers you better hope u are professional or they will have zero faith in you and not sign up.. Door hangers are a great form of advertising and so is the local paper but that might bring to much business so either door hangers or print something on your computer and distribute you will get 1 or 2 for every 1000 flyers you hand out but since u are young as hell its going to be a little less


have a list of references for the lawnss you are working on now and dont give up.. give them references for every family member even if you dont cut there house.. Lying isnt good but u gotta do what u gotta do to start up and you will eventually realize in the long run whatthe right ways are but at 13 it will be hard as hell..



i wish i started when i was 13 .... not that 19 is late

[mr mow]

I like the name "lawn monster" lol. that should be your screen name "The Lawn Monster" grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[garth1967]

if you havent got the equipment you should specify that and your age as well. good luck

[Greengo]

WTG bonfire, and good luck!

[PMLAWN]

I like the "you provide the equipment " part.
Would free up a lot of cash and cut way back on the maintenance. :clapping:

[CBramble]

If you are using their mower don't come crying when you have to use a POS mower...:dancing:

[29 Palms Property Management]

If you are using their mower don't come crying when you have to use a POS mower...:dancing:
How do you know their equipment is up to par? Blades sharpened, oil changed, plug changed, filters clean? Do you tell them to upkeep their stuff?

[BQLC]

Actually you could also offer the routine maintenance on there equipment and add that into your price. Just be careful not to let anyone take advantage of you due to your age and I know that is easier said than done. Good Luck!:)

[stargiss]

Man, you guys are hard on this kid. Give him a break. If we all had the get up and go that he does at 13 we would all have million dollar businesses. I think your age will be a credit to your business. Most older folks like to that kind of motivation in young people these days. Better to be making money honestly than some of the other ways kids choose now. I think you should put your age in your ad. Buy your own mower as soon as you make enough money. Invest as much of your profits as possible into your business in the beginning so you won't have to use your clients equipment. Also, I love the business name. Keep your head up and don't let any of these jokers here bring you down. GOOD LUCK!!

[29 Palms Property Management]

Man, you guys are hard on this kid. Give him a break......... Keep your head up and don't let any of these jokers here bring you down.
Good way to start off on LawnSite with that being your first post.
It's called opinions! Someone asks a question, for advice, and the rest give advice and opinions. Take it or leave it, but you will get mixed opinions. It's called reality.

[JT1304]

We were cutting in a fairly nice n'hood once and a kid come driving by on his riding mower pulling a little homemade trailer with his weed eater, blower and gas can. He , of course, only cut yards in his little n'hood. Go for it man. But do try to buy your own stuff to work with. You will get a tremendous sense of pride in owning your own stuff. GOOD LUCK!!:clapping:

[GroundControlLawnCare]

Mentioning your age will get you lower prices. Also, I don't know about Workers Compensation programs around your place, but you may want to check into that. Are you able to sign contracts at 13? Here in Canada, it's 18 years old to sign valid contracts.

One thing, don't go cheap as the lawncare business has many people like you that drive the price down below the ground.

Good luck.
Give him a break, quit crying cause you run yours in the gound

[RedMax Man]

Yea guys, you don't need to be so hard on him ... at least he is not getting into trouble or wasting time on an xbox.
Lawn monster, Keep up the hard work... sounds like your doing just fine. Do good work, be honest and respectful to your client and you will becom successfull. It would be good to get your own tools as soon as you can afford them. You wouldn't want anyone to blame you for breaking their mower if something happened to it and plus it great owning your own tools

[executive property maintenance]

lawn monster im just starting to so i know how tough it is trying to get business but im 23 not 13 so your a step ahead of me good luck:waving: :waving:

[Runner]

Hey everyone!

I am a 13 year old boy from Lawrenceville, Ga. I recently started a lawn mowing business called Lawn Monster. So far I have made $145. I only advertise on Craigs List. I want to diversify my advertising. What can I do? How should I go about making flyers? Should my flyers say that I am a 13 year old? Should it say that You have to provide the equipment? Thanks alot!!

Ok. Now down to business. Nevermind the negative commentary, and accentuate on the positive. you are asking on how to do a positive thing, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
First of all, let's do some sort of analysis of your surroundings. Do you live in or near a subdivision or a neighborhood where there is a high concentrate of homes? Are there many older people like seniors living around you? I think we can (and should) focus on a whole array of services you can perform that will make you some good income. The trick is, is just getting your name out there and the info that you DO this stuff.
As was mentioned before, the grocery store(s) would be a great place to start to hang some flyer signs. Also, perhaps we can work on getting you a flyer design that will attract more customers and give you some good work. There are some good guys on here - many of whom have a knack for designing things like this. I'd be willing to bet that some of these guys, out of kindness, may be willing to step up and help you out, here. I know I am. There is a guy named Teewolf on here, who is great at this kind of stuff, and has come to be well known lately FOR that. lol
Anyway, before we look at any type of flyer design, let's look into a list of useful services that will attract people TO your services.
Here are some suggestions. Besides lawn mowing, you can offer yard cleanup, bed cleaning (weed pulling), flower care, shrub trimming (with advice), fence and shed painting, and garage cleaning just to name a few. Now, here's another idea that a newspaper article was written about here not too long ago. There was this kid (about your age that started out doing lawns like you. His business went BIG time when he went into the birdbath business. What would he do? He comes in, dumps the birdbath, washes it out with a sponge, and refills it. Sounds like a simple thing, but apparently, there are alot of people who would rather have this DONE on a regular basis than do it themselves. He started just doing this for his lawn customers, but then many more people started having him come in. Anyway, just an idea. Stay in touch, and like I say....we'll see what we can come up with.

[drewskee032]

I started when I was about 11, i had my own push mower and would walk it to diff customer's houses. Now, I'm 15 and am getting a TTHP. It's GREAT that your starting young, it worked for me. As one person said, many people would rather see a young kid from their neighborhood cutting there grass instead of a professional landscaper. This is awesome for you if you live in a neighborhood! Do you have your own 21 in push mower? If you do, you could use that. How many lawns are you planning on getting? If tons of people ask you to cut, you can't do everyone's yard. You may have to limit yourself. Do you have a weed eater? You can get an extra $5 a lawn if you trim it with a weed eater. Also, make SURE you do a good job cutting. If you do a good job, the customer will tell maybe 1 person about you and how good you are. However, if you do a bad job, the customer will tell about 10 others about how bad of a job you've done. I would include your name in your fliers, I did, and i got plenty of jobs. Also, your being completely honest with your customers. This is always a good thing. Good luck!!

[paul vroom]

You can think about putting the $140 toward getting a mower of your own, check with the nearest small engine repair shop they have some good reconditioned ones sometimes. When I was 10 or 11 I used to walk with my mower several blocks to a house I used to cut (I might be next year to). Do you have a vocational school in your town, a grapic desigh or grapic arts class could print flyers on the cheap for ya. Maybe a friend with a printer, it does not need to be fancy. Print as many as you can and advertise heavy in an area that would not be to far for you to walk the mower. Good luck!!

[Classified]

i wonder if bonfire is a troll? he only posted one time and thats it? oh well, at least there is some good info/tips on this thread.

If bonfire is alive, then good luck to you!

[PMLAWN]

The kid has not been back (or at least not posted again) so not sure if he is still reading, But it brings back memories of many moons ago. When I was 13 or 14 I put out a flyers with the words --
"Young Entrepreneur, desires gainful employment"
Passed them out and got a good number of responce. Towed my mower (Dads) behind my bike:laugh:

[Classified]

haha, wow.

[Runner]

I hope I didn't waste a whole lotta time and typing. Maybe this thread should be earmarked for young'uns like him. :)