starting a lawn service...from scratch

[sedlmeier101]

so, I am 19 years old and from buffalo NY. Me and my good friend are going to start a mowing business this spring and we are startting from scratch.
We have plenty of money to invest.. 1st thing we are doing is going to buy a 1/2ton pickup for around 6grand.
then a trailer..
insurance!
a ztr mower..my uncle wants to sell me his 51" ztr mower with less than 100 hrs on it for 3,500$ which.i think will be too much to start out with even though its a good deal.

We are going to buy a push mower too for small stuff.. and 2 weed wackers and some misc. tools for clean up.
THe main thing I am worried about is getting our name out there!. We both are experianced with lawn maitnence. just need a few tips.. Ihave been reading on this site for about a month gathering info.

any help is appreciated!

[1MajorTom]

the quickest way to lose a friend is to go into business with him. You don't need a partner when it comes to a lawn business. Be the chief, build slowly, and hire yourself a few indians when the time comes.

[bkdlawnCo]

Jodi is right. Alot of friendships end due to business problems. My dad has had this problem...Also if you have 10 accounts your first year...you really not going to make much when you have to split it with someone. I'd say talk to your friend and see who is going to run the business as in a president and then one of you will work for him. Being the president may seem like the way to go, but if your going to work for him, you have less to worry about. You'll also get paid like an employee which isn't a bad thing. I think that is the way to go IMO, because as the business grows, the more hours you'll log as an employee and the more you'll get paid...If you go that way make sure your getting a good rate because it is also your money going into the business, this way you get some sort of reimbursement for the money you put into the business to get it going. just my .02

[lawnpro724]

I would have to agree, don't go into business with your friend if you still want to be friends. I would suggest that if your going to go ahead with your decision first agree on the direction you want to go in and then sit down and figure out an hourly rate you are willing to work at say $35 per man hr. I would also suggest to you that you both agree to work together for one year building the business and sit down again and evaluate your decision.

[sedlmeier101]

I would have to agree, don't go into business with your friend if you still want to be friends. I would suggest that if your going to go ahead with your decision first agree on the direction you want to go in and then sit down and figure out an hourly rate you are willing to work at say $35 per man hr. I would also suggest to you that you both agree to work together for one year building the business and sit down again and evaluate your decision.

I don't see why it would be so bad? We are planning on spliting every single cost down the middle. and what we have left over. (profit) we will split up evenly

[JB1]

I don't see why it would be so bad? We are planning on spliting every single cost down the middle. and what we have left over. (profit) we will split up evenly



sounds like you got a good plan, go for it. just don't come back later on crying the partner thing isn't working out.

[DuraCutter]

sounds like you got a good plan, go for it. just don't come back later on crying the partner thing isn't working out.

More than likely things may not work out, but he needs to find out for himself.
At times all of us don't follow advice just to find out others really knew what they were saying.

I say goodluck, sounds like you have your mind made up...:canadaflag:

[Military Lawns]

I have to agree with everyone else. Going into business with a friend is a recipe for disaster. In simplier terms: Business is business and friendship is friendship. Keep the two seperated. That is not to say that you cannot be friends with an employee. It just takes time for a mutual trust to build up with no certain timeframe.

ML-

[ED'S LAWNCARE]

Been there, done that... do what you want but consider everyone cannot be wrong.

When I started a couple of years ago I paid for everything and brought in a good friend as a full partner after 1 1/2 years we almost lost the friendship. Too many things wrong to list, to make a long story short we are no longer partners I own all the equiptment, we are still good friends, but now I am part-time.

What ever you decide good luck.

[lawnpro724]

I don't see why it would be so bad? We are planning on spliting every single cost down the middle. and what we have left over. (profit) we will split up evenly

The main reason for not going into business with a friend comes down to who is going to make a dicision that concerns the company. At the beginning going into business with a friend sounds like the best idea in the world, you trust him, you hang out with each other what could be better? Its business not friendship! I'm not saying it won't work but I also dont think its a good idea. You both may have the same idea about how to start out and where you want the business to go, splitting the income and expenses but what about a year or two down the road your friend wants to do more landscaping and you think you should spend more money for lawn equipment these kind of decisions on where to take the business to the next step can strain a friendship or end it all together.

[SSS 18734]

It sounds like you're willing to invest a great deal of money without any prior experience.

To be quite honest, you will probably spend your entire first season just breaking even the money you spent. And If you and your friend start getting frustrated over a lack of profit and control, it may mean the end of the business and the friendship.

Do yourself a favor: start out small and solo. Buy a walkbehind, a trimmer, a small trailer, a blower, and pull it with whatever car you have now. Then, once you build up a clientelle and feel confident and satisfied with your work, you can expand.

EDIT: You also might want to suggest to your friend that you both start seperate businesses. That way, if one of you wants to quit, there won't be any problems. Both of you can do things the way you want to do them. Later, you can always merge. You two might be much better off as seperate business partners than as co-owners.

[TURFLORD]

There's almost nothing more that I can add to this post. I you really fell it necessary to do the partner thing, go to a lawyer and GET A CONTRACT. This way when one of you starts doing less work than the other, you can equitable end the partnership if not the friendship.

[thefed]

dont do it. been there, done that(differnet business) and wish i hadnt. still working out ok, but damn, its aggrevating...i feel like he doesnt pull his weight, and oddly, he feels the same...and THAT pisses me off

[JS Landscaping]

As most of the others have said before me, ill say it again, dont go down the friendship partnership, or even have friends work for you. I have made the mistake before this past year, although I have always been the owner by myself and the boss, just having a friend as an employee doesnt work out. I hired a friend of mine who moved up from Florida in May of last year. My other friend refered me to him saying he needed a job to get on his feet up here. He was origionally from around here, we all went to school together. Well what was suposed to be temporary ened up with him staying the whole season. Once the new job feeling wears off people tend to slack, the first month was great he was always on time, didnt complain much and the work was done great, but as it wore into summer the whinning started and he started showing up to work a little late each morning. Through working together we became really close friends because hell your with this person everyday. It is very hard to enforce your company policys about being on time or other things when it is your friend, because you dont wanna be the bad guy and you dont wanna hurt your friendship. Needless to say i just grinned and pushed through the rest of the year. At the end of the season when there was no work he ended up taking another job which was great to me. It was a huge relief because you dont have to draw the line anymore from business and friends. It was very stressful at times when you are trying to run a succesful company. I wont be re-hiring him again this year. Our friendship is still great, this was one of the lucky instances I guess. But save yourself the headache and stress. Money changes people especially in a partnership. I will still hire friends only as temp. labor, but there is a timeframe that they know when they will not be working for me anymore, and this seems to work out great, they like the extra income, it helps me when im in a bind, but its not for the rest of the season. Usually its just on large landscape installs where an extra hand is needed. Advertize heavily, get your name out there as a quality landscape company, there are too many hacks out there that are giving our industry a bad name due to poor performance and quality. Image is everything. Portray yourself as a profesional, because thats what you should be, take care of your clients and they will take care of you. Also this message board is full of info on how to start up, take the time before the season starts and just read and learn as much as possible, network with landscape supplys and other business in your area. Any other questions feel free to ask, good to see someone else my age giving it a shot at this industry, the rest of this generation is screwed pretty much, no work ethic what so ever. Its a shame, but its also good for the ones who do have the drive like yourself, beacuse in the future is where you will really shine above the others. Best of luck to you.


James
JS LANDSCAPING

[Greenscapes, LLC]

get your education first, at 19 you have plenty of time to start a business.

[Ecoscape01]

I'm new myself and haven't started my business yet but I can tell you that I learned more about myself, about life, and the way the world works in two years of college than in four years in the military. Do it part time man and go to a community college. People knock 'em and I don't know why. When my friends see my sylabai and hear about my workload each semester they're shocked at how much work I have to do and how tough my professors are. Anyway, I screwed around with different majors until I realized that I have no interest in majoring in anything that will make me money but I do want to make a decent living. So I, somewhat like you but older and shamefully with less capital, decided to start my own LCO. College will make you a better person and though I have no experience yet, I anticipate that it will show in the success of your business.:usflag:

[TSG]

If two partners think alike,,,,,one of them isn't required
Alan

[Mr Priceless]

The main reason for not going into business with a friend comes down to who is going to make a dicision that concerns the company. At the beginning going into business with a friend sounds like the best idea in the world, you trust him, you hang out with each other what could be better? Its business not friendship! I'm not saying it won't work but I also dont think its a good idea. You both may have the same idea about how to start out and where you want the business to go, splitting the income and expenses but what about a year or two down the road your friend wants to do more landscaping and you think you should spend more money for lawn equipment these kind of decisions on where to take the business to the next step can strain a friendship or end it all together.

I can tell you frim experience, that even at age 15 both me and my best friend had troubles the second he resumed his business and i started mine...with him. I can't tell you the hassles we went thru just to see profit, even tho most of it was due to equipment breakdowns at the start of the season...my part of the equipment. (But both he and I halved the repair costs) On top of that, that same equipment belonged to my grandma. SOOOO, my mom puts her negative 2 cents in to agitate that situation. Well long story short, we split up about half way thru the season, and i ended up losing a yard that i aquired thru my solo biz b4 i partnered up to him so i could keep the friendship. It was worth it tho

[DeereHauler]

i wouldn't suggest any partner without a legal agreement. it all sounds good with words, and handshakes, but in the end someone will get mad, and thats that......

and i would find some accounts before buying all that equipmnt. when my PARTNER and i started, we had customers set up before we bought a mower, 8 years later, and NO PARTNER, i'm doing just fine.

honestly if i had to do it all over again, i would work at a golf course, or for another large landscaper, and get lots of expierence, i know it would be worth it.

[jaybow]

I don't see why it would be so bad? We are planning on spliting every single cost down the middle. and what we have left over. (profit) we will split up evenly

I was considering this to but thought there might be some trouble.I think every buisness ,orginization,or any other body needs a head.With two people making descisions there is bound to be trouble.Plu is your possible partner as motivated as you.Will he be there on time every day.When your buisness grows and you need two people will he be dependable because sometimes things grow quickly.I say go in alone you keep all the profit and hire when the time comes.I know you probably feel more stable starting off with someone but later when there is differences in opinion come along the stability will be gone.Dont be afraid to start small alone you will be happy you did later.:weightlifter:

[hess]

Hear is what i have to say: I been in bussiness for four years. It was founded by best friend of 12 years. It was the best four years of my life and i can't replace! we had our problems but we alway's worked out. He would always say take a break and walk away if there was a problem. Well worked out but in 10/05 I lost my best friend of 12 years due to cancer he was 36.1 week he was sick found out what he had the next 2 weeks i buried my friend of 12 years !! I go out and do my job and he is there with me. Angle on my shoulder! so spend your time with your friend and do it. it worked for me till the end!! God BLess!:usflag: :)

[DaughtryLC]

One person will be 100% dedicated and One will be 70% dedicated, that will = Failure