Can you answer this?

[Steiner]

I am a technology (shop) teacher in central NY, and I am looking to start up a small landscaping/home services company (Sole Prop) for additional income in the summer.

I find people I work with are constantly asking me to do landscape/handyman work as they have talked to my other customers. I will be doing small jobs for people I work with, and would not advertise as I have a full time job. I rent most larger 1000+ equipment. I would be working from late June to early September and a few weekends. I will not hire any workers.

I have 5+ years experience in the landscaping arena, but I have a few questions:

1. Do you need a contractor licence in NY?

2. Who do you use in NY for insurance of your business?

3. Do I have to collect sales tax if I contract a job?

4. Can I get away with an F-150 (7500lb towing cap) to pull a small dump trailer? Or should I jump up to a 250? (I am a ford guy). Remember only 2 month a year (less than 10 jobs per summer on average)

5. I will eventually get a small TLB in the 30-35hp range, but for right now what is the most profitable jobs for a new guy without a ton of equipment? (I won't be mowing as my teacher job interferes)

[Mowgli]

Am not in NY but, Here is what i did when stared out here in KS.

#1 called my city to obtained my Buz license.
#2 I used the same insurance company that insured my home and cars.
#3 My estimate is including tax.
#4 You said Small dump trailer, How small, and what is a gross weight on that tailer? Does it have electric break?

[Steiner]

mowgli

if you collect sales tax, do you just save the paperwork and hand it off to your tax prep person and call it a day? Is it this easy?

I would like to buy a Brimar 10'-12' dump trailer for the F150 but if the towing capacity is 7500lbs i only have about 5,000 pounds of dirt payload which is only a few yards. Specs Below:

Bri-Mar DT712-10

? GVWR: 10,000 lbs.
? Bed Size: 7’ x 12’
? Empty Weight: 2,800 lbs.
? Height of Deck: 34”
? Vol. Capacity: 5.4 Cu. Yds.