Do you enjoy the lawn business?

[Shopkeeper]

For those of you who are in the business what is the extent of your services and do you enjoy your job? When you come home at night do you feel good with what you've done?

Just curious how others feel about what they do.

Also, I'm mainly looking for full timers, but all are welcome to post. Please post if you're in the business FT or PT.

Thanks,

~Shopkeeper

[Grass-Masters]

Yes, I was in real-estate for 10 years before I started my company. I began Lawn Care because it was what I enjoyed to do, I love when you can take some thing that is drab and messy and make it look like a gem. Very rewarding, the pay isn't bad either.

[Trinity Lawn Care, LLC]

I have to say that I do not love every day. However, it definitely has its rewards. Like right now I am sitting here talking with you folks. Going over my marketing plan for this season. Watching it flurry outside. I love looking at a property after we are done with it. Whether it be a landscaping job, or a simple mowing and look at how much nicer it looks.

[GreenN'Clean]

I love it ,thats the reason I got into the Business. Working outside surrounded with nature. Id rather be doing this then stuck in an office anyday

[LemkeLawns]

I wouldnt trade it for anything. The thing I like the best is knowing ive done a great job when the little old ladies tell their kids about the work we do. Its touching.

[carcrz]

Absolutely! I do cutting; chemical apps; ground/light tree trimming; & landscape maintenance/renovation/installation. I really enjoy the landscaping side of it though. Seeing someones landscaping change from "I already have landscaping?" to "WOW!!! I wish I'd done this sooner!" is really rewarding to me.

[2menandamower]

PT until this spring and going FT. I have the cust. base to support it so I am making the move. 3 years ago I was paying someone to cut my grass becasue I weighed in at 407lbs. Now that I am at 285 I have the energy of a 20y/o and I love the work and the heat and the sweat. There are days that I get discouraged but that is with any business weather you work for yourself of the man. I have not had any hesitation about going FT and I am looking forward to many years to come.....

[StBalor]

I love my job emmensly, just read my sig.

[Jpocket]

I like it some days more than others. Typically during the spring rush I love it.

Ususally by October im ready for it all to be over.

[Mr Priceless]

I love it for mainly the art you can created with whatever job, and of course the freedom from paid slavery. The list can go on and on.....

I just love the way the striping looked (before i knew what striping was) when i finished my neighbor's lawn across the street. When i had nothing to do i would just stare at the green beauty sitting on my porch for a while.

[LushGreenLawn]

I was one of those kids that did it part time after school, no license, insurance, charged $15 bucks per lawn, ect. :nono:

I eventually got into other things and got out of it, did it for three seasons, ages 16 to 18. :nono:

I have always wanted to start a legit lawncare company, ever since I stopped doing it the first time, and am now able to do it. I am 26 now, and work my lawn business Part Time, and Work Full Time.

This year I am planning on working on the Lawn Business Part time, but alot more than last year, and Working Part time at my main job

Next year I want to quit my regular job altogether and work for myself Full time.

I can't imagine doing anything else, this winter is killing me, I want to be outside working. I hate getting up to go to my regular job, I wake up before the alarm clock goes off on days I get to work for myself:walking: :clapping:

[Woody82986]

This time of year, I love it. By the time we get to October it's sometimes a different story. I love the work I do. I enjoy looking at lawns after I am done with them. It allows me the flexibility to go to school full time and still ahve a job that pays worth a damn. There are pros and cons to it, but i would say the good outweighs the bad.

[BTLS]

Was a nurse for many years and quit to do this. Love it. No boss. Your success coincided exactly with the amount of thought and work you put into your business. Very little B.S. to put up with. Work outdoors. Get in the best shape of your life (as long as you're not sucking down route 44 cokes all day) and one of the best parts, off all holidays and special events. In my case, I do balanced billing, so I'm off every other week during the winter Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb and get paid full time. It's great. You won't be disappointed...tired, but not disappointed. -Ben

[jsf343]

I agree with the 2 posters above me. Sometime around Oct. I get pretty burned out on it but then the winter checks keep coming in and I only have to work half the time! that part is great. I wish my body would hold up a bit better though, hips hurt, knees hurt, lower back hurts. Trying to strengthen those areas up though over the slow period. Anyway, it is all in YOUR outlook and what YOU make out of it. For the most part you will probably find that many of the responders like what they are doing.

[jason_2005lawnman]

i have had other jobs; parts manager; factory work; heating and air job; but this is what i was born for; lol; i have close to one hundred accounts and growing more this year; keeping employee's is my biggest problem; but it will work out;; this will be my 5th full time year;

[WALKER LANDSCAPE]

I kive it for mant of the sme reason everyone else said I am F/T now worked for Roadway Express for 10 yrs plus the Lawn thing for 6 of those years. I will be doing this long into the future. Hopefully I will be sitting in a truck telling about four crews what to be doing.:hammerhead: :clapping:

[beano]

Its great! Some days are better than others and by the end of the year im usually ready for a break but at the end of the day when its all said and done, i wouldnt trade it for the world. Nature, the equipment, it gets in your blood.

[RICHIE K]

I love it very much we do it all, plus it keeps me in shape and of corse I love the cash :usflag:

[hackitdown]

I love the freedom, flexibilty, creativity, no boss, being outside, the physical work, the money, mowing, aerating, de-thatching, warm days, cool customers.

I HATE trimming, clean-ups, digging holes, billing, hot days, rainy days, breakdowns, rude customers, and crappy-service-guys-at-the-dealer-making-my-life-complicated.

[Snyderserv5060]

I love the freedom, flexibilty, creativity, no boss, being outside, the physical work, the money, mowing, aerating, de-thatching, warm days, cool customers.

I HATE trimming, clean-ups, digging holes, billing, hot days, rainy days, breakdowns, rude customers, and crappy-service-guys-at-the-dealer-making-my-life-complicated.

I couldnt agree more! Add mean dogs who like to get in the way and people trying to steal your business but all in all I love it. I can also say that near the end of the seaon I get burnt out and just want to have some time for me. My issue is that im in college full time as well so the seasons conflict with that.

[ozd12005]

I love the lawn care and landscape business, when I'm getting in my truck and take a final look at the yard it make's me feel good to see a job well done I take pride in my work and strive for perfection

[J&R Landscaping]

Some days are great, some days aren't so great! The money is good and I enjoy the work! Working in the heat is sometimes harder than it looks but I manage through it. This will be my fourth year comming up and can't wait to get started!!!

Once spring gets here, and the smell of grass is in the air its like a drug for me. It becomes addictive real quick!!!

[Groh's Mows]

Woody hit it on the head for me. In the winter I miss it, but by late fall I wonder why I bother. I have a good full time job I really like, but it is not a physical job. I just do mowing and yard work/gardening part time and when the weather is right and the equipment is all cooperating it is the best part time going. Being busy, using my back to feed my family and being outside and my own boss are all big perks. Mid August with 104 degrees and Kansas humidity, not so much.

[Steve's Mow & Trim]

Im 18 and service between 35-45 accounts, full time in spring, part time on summer, and full time in fall....lol especially with school in spring in fall! Anyways, I do the basics mow, trim, blow. The I provide sidewalk edging, landscaping (gardens, mulch, planting and removing trees/bushes, retaining walls, decorative walks, etc), fertalizing. I absolutly love what I do...I love being outdoors, taking something like landscaping, then putting up a retaining wall and stepping back and saying damn I did that beautiful thing! I love physical work, I love the long days being in controll of my business and I love advertising and constantly introducing myself to new people. I am currently a freshmen in college and majoring in athletic training and minoring in physical education. I plan on being a PE teacher and coaching basketball, and in the warm months run my lawn and landscape company!

MOWING RULES!

[ScagBoy09]

Being only 16, I make much more money than my friends do stocking shelves or flipping burgers. I really love being outside and making people happy when I care for their lawns. How many people can say they like to go to work?

[Steve's Mow & Trim]

Being only 16, I make much more money than my friends do stocking shelves or flipping burgers. I really love being outside and making people happy when I care for their lawns. How many people can say they like to go to work?

Heck ya! Dude what the heck are you doing driving a family van for? lol. Its cool though I started with a jeep cherokee. How many accounts do you service?

[rodfather]

Full time...for the most part I enjoy it.

[AL Inc]

I can still say I enjoy the business. I've been doing it in one form or another since I was 10 years old, so that's about 25 years. I've owned my own business since 1995. I do think my interests have changed, I used to love doing mowing, now I really enjoy the landscape construction and enhancements that we do. Unfortunately, it has become more about "production" and just getting the work done as efficiently and quickly as possible. Dealing with clients and employee issues definitely wears me down, and some days are better than others.
More than anything, I just learned to keep a positive attitude, don't get too high on myself when things are good, and not too down when things are bad. It is a roller coaster. But I think the constant challenge is what keep me going.

[ScagBoy09]

Heck ya! Dude what the heck are you doing driving a family van for? lol. Its cool though I started with a jeep cherokee. How many accounts do you service?

Hey man you know what they say, "rubber wheels are better than rubber heels" haha. I service 10 lawns full time during the whole growing season and some side work with mulch and cleanups. Made a little over $4k last year. That before I got my license. I used to push my cub cadet 21" mower up and down the street and built myself up to where I am now and wish to continue to grow. Saving up for a Chevy truck now but the van will get me by for a while.

[CAG]

for me its a coin toss!! i did love it when i was 11-15 years old and helped my cousin, i use to get so excited to do jobs.. and when i first started out on my own and did a job i never did before it was pretty interesting and cool to see how the job comes out.. now it's just like it looks good or thats the way it suppose to be.. now dont get me wrong i dont wake up hating myself because i have to go to work ( well for the most part lol ).. but the wow factor is def out, its pretty much just a job.. i will say i make more money than any of my friends or family and buy just about anything i want which is cool..

[Jeds_Lawn_Care]

I like it some days more than others. Typically during the spring rush I love it.

Ususally by October im ready for it all to be over.

This guy took the words right out of my mouth. Every day has its ups and downs, but I enjoy cutting grass pretty well. I am thinking about maybe playing guitar for a living,

Check out my youtube videos

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xo0i_T1e9Jc

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ysY3ev2rjdw