Take the Lawn Care Plunge??

[Daleman]

I am considering starting a residential lawn care service in the spring of 2002. I have located an area about an hour and a half from where I currently live, that currently has a high unfilled demand for lawn care services. The only thing holding me back is the fact that I would have to move, and also my wife and I are expecting our first child (due in October). I am currently a salesman for Frito-Lay, and my wife is a bookeeper for a small accounting firm. I have taken college courses in small business management, marketing, sales etc.
If you were in my situation would you start the biz?

What is the average possible earnings for a first year solo biz?

Is 5-9k reasonable for a solo start-up?

Any other information or tips anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time, this seems like an excellent website!!

[Eric ELM]

If you get 40 $30 lawns, this will be $1200 a week times 4.5 weeks a month will be $5400 a month. As you can see, it's all in numbers. Now, you just have to get that many and have the equipment to handle it by yourself. A 36" W/B will get do twice as many lawns as a 21" in the same time. A 50" ZTR will double the 36" as far as mowing time. You just have to figure out what you need for equipment, but you need the lawns first. ;)

[casey]

A 36 wb WILL NOT DO TWICE AS MANY LAWNS AS A 21". It depends on the lawn. I leave the 36 in the trailer more than half the time when doing small res..21" IS FASTER. Deal with it.

I'll take my 21 LB COMM against any size Chopper on a small res any day.

Eat my dust.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Why wait?

See if you can get some lawns now... part time. See what kind of response you get.... See if you like it.

Tom

[Eric ELM]

Casey
I was giving him some ideas on how much he can make and some approximate mowers to use and the differences. Who do you think gave the most helpful advice, you or me?

Instead of critisizing me and others, why don't you try helping others here. One more smart comment like that and we will see who has the most power here, you or me. Consider this a warning.

[MLS]

I was waiting for that. LOL

[KV]

Daleman,

I am new this year and yes there is money to be made in this business and being a salesman you will find that you will use your customer service skills very often. But one thing is what Eric said check on the price of equiptment! Everyone told me to buy the best and I choose not to because of my financial situation. So don't sink yorself buying the goods get your feet wet and then go from there. Also are you gonna work solo or have help. Also you might want to think about insurance because it is easy to make mistakes when your new. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way but fells better not to! Good luck with the biz and the new little one!


KV

[casey]

Eric,
You said a 36 will do twice as many lawns as a 21 in the same amount of time. This is not necessarily true. I have a 36 hydro I have many 21 LB comm. The 36 WILL NOT cut twice as many lawns as my 21 LB. on most of my small res.
Are you going to wield your supreme power an censor that OPINION?

[1MajorTom]

Casey,

It's not about you stating your opinion. It's just that you seem to come here to rile people up.

The "eat my dust" comment after you gave your opinion was entirely uncalled for.

[AndrewLawn]

You tell 'em Jodi!:)

[casey]

Go get 'em Andy!

[lawrence stone]

Originally posted by casey
A 36 wb WILL NOT DO TWICE AS MANY LAWNS AS A 21".


This is true only in Canada. Do to the metric system.

[Eric ELM]

Are you going to wield your supreme power an censor that OPINION?

No, I'm not talking about your opinion, it's your smart mouth attitude and no respect and you did it again. I don't have time to edit each post you do. You are now our special guest.

[Greenkeepers]

Casey-

I don't mean to treat you like a KINDERGARTEN teacher here but didn't you ever hear that if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say it at all.. Everyone is here to help each other out and not bash each other , we can all take CONSTRUCTIVE criticism but yours for the most part is just degrading and negative.

I can tell that your new here, but we all have formed a type of "brother hood" here and if you have to bash people I'm sure you are outnumbered. Plus we have our "Big Brothers & Sister" moderators to take handle everything.

You opinion and views are valued your negativity and sarcasm is not!!

Just my opinion though!!

[Daleman]

I didn't mean to start a war with my letter!! :) Thank all for the responses you have submitted. Yes I plan on having insurance.

[jones]

Eric,
I do apologize for the flippant remarks.
I am a bit sensitive to all the 21" bashing I read on this forum as they are the lifeblood of my business and have been for the past 7 years.
The "eat my dust comment" was uncalled for.
When you make a statement that a 36 can cut twice as many lawns as a 21 I feel you should back it up or quantify it as I have been told to do numerous times on this forum.
I have extensive experience with both mowers and if your advice leads a newbie to purchace a 36 belt fixed deck over a good 21 and that person is doing smaller residentials he or she will encounter extensive problems.
I am not trying to "show no respect" but only offer a different perspective based on my many years of experience in the lawn care business.
I have been ridiculed and "shown no respect" because of my views on stripes, mower size, and productivity levels. Unfortunately, and regretably I lashed back in the same childish manner that some of the members have treated my opinions. Is that a double standard?

[Buzzard]

Eric has some good advice (esp. referring to the 36 vs 21 mower). The best thing to do is use this site extensively. Do searches extensively and you'll avoid pitfalls.
I can relate to your situation, I also moved from another town to start my business part time due to the income and growth in one area vs another. Earning and extra $1000-$1500/mo in my spare time, and still maintaing my full time job with all the benefits has allowed my wife to be a stay at home mom.
MY first purchases were a trimmer (Shindawa T230), blower (redmax 430b) and a Husqvarna 21" mower with bagger. After getting upto 15 hrs/wk in steady work, added a 36" Skag mower and a 14ft trailer. My belief was that I'll need the trimmer, blower and trim mower (21")on every job so I spared no expense. When I added the 36" and trailer, my time spent on the same jobs went from 15 to 10 hrs/week. (Eric was right in my case). I'm also searching Ebay for deals on additional non-essential equipment such as hedgers, stick edgeres, pole prunners.
Eventually, I plan to add a ZTR and go full time. But planning and learning before proceeding is best. Like the old bull responed to the young bull, "why run down the pasture to breed one cow when we can walk down there and breed em all".

[MATTHEW]

YOU MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
1. DO YOU HAVE THE $$$ TO BUY EQUIPMENT?
2. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR HEALTH INSURANCE?
3. DO YOU MIND PAYING MORE TAX? (YOU WILL)
4. DO YOU MIND HAVING TO LOOK FOR OTHER WORK
IN THE OFF-SEASON THAT WILL PAY THE BILLS?
5. DO YOU LIKE TO BE COVERED IN DIRT & GRASS,
SOAKED IN THE SPRING,ROASTING IN THE SUMMER,
AND FROZE TO THE BONE IN THE FALL?
6. DO YOU MIND WORKING SEVERAL HOURS FOR FREE
DOING SALES CALLS,ACCOUNTING,MAINTENANCE,
BILLING,ECT?
7. DO YOU MIND PUTTING OUT HUNDREDS OF YOUR HARD
EARNED DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS, LITERATURE,ECT?
8. DO YOU HAVE THE DRIVE TO KEEP WORKING UNTIL
DARK IF NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE EVEN IF
YOU ARE HUNGRY,TIRED OR SICK?
9. DO YOU HAVE NERVES OF STEEL?
10.DO YOU WANT TO BE SEEN AS A BUSINESS OWNER OR
A VULNERABLE,EXPENDABLE EMPLOYEE?
:blob3: IF THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE IS YES, THEN
MY FRIEND THIS IS THE JOB FOR YOU. I LOVE IT!!!!!!

[jones]

Matthew,
Excellent list but you forgot one thing.
11. DO YOU MIND MAKING LOTSA LOTSA LOTSA TAX FREE $$$$$$

Don't worry THEY are too busy watching out for kiddie porn.

[jones]

Just in case.
I was kidding.
PAY YOUR TAXES. KEEP IT LEGIT.

[MATTHEW]

YEAH, YOU NEED TO CLAIM WHAT YOU MAKE! IF YOU EVER
WANT TO BUY A HOUSE OR TRUCK, THE BANK WILL LAUGH AT
YOU IF YOU SHOW YOU ONLY MADE $5,000.00.ANOTHER THING
DO NOT GO HOG WILD BUYING STUFF THINKING IT IS A WRITE
OFF. FOR EVERY $100 YOU WRITE OFF, YOU WILL ONLY SAVE
$15.00 IN TAXES (UNTIL YOU GET TO THE HIGHER BRACKET)
EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND IS $$$ OUT OF YOUR POCKET. BE
WISE IN YOUR EXPENDATURES.BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT,
IT'S PRETTY COOL TO GET TO WRITE OFF YOUR LUNCH!;)

[LoneStarLawn]

Originally posted by MATTHEW
YOU MUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
....
3. DO YOU MIND PAYING MORE TAX? (YOU WILL)
4. DO YOU MIND HAVING TO LOOK FOR OTHER WORK
IN THE OFF-SEASON THAT WILL PAY THE BILLS?....

6. DO YOU MIND WORKING SEVERAL HOURS FOR FREE
DOING SALES CALLS,ACCOUNTING,MAINTENANCE,
BILLING,ECT?
7. DO YOU MIND PUTTING OUT HUNDREDS OF YOUR HARD
EARNED DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS, LITERATURE,ECT?....

10.DO YOU WANT TO BE SEEN AS A BUSINESS OWNER OR
A VULNERABLE,EXPENDABLE EMPLOYEE?
:blob3: IF THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THESE IS YES, THEN
MY FRIEND THIS IS THE JOB FOR YOU. I LOVE IT!!!!!!

I think 3, 4, 6, and 7 should be answered No, I don't mind ...not Yes, I mind....

10 is not a Yes or No question

Sorry I'm in a picky mood...;)