time for me to hit the road on my own...

[armyworm]

Hey fellas, I stumbled upon this site while google searching for tips on starting my own lawn business. Sounds like everyone here knows what there talking about and I would like you guys to help me out. I'm thinking of quitting
my job of 10 yrs with the lawn company I'm with and do what I only know what to do which is lawn care. I'm 30 and getting old and would like to do something for me other then helping the rich get richer. Anyone here quit there 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. lawn care job and doing well? If so let some light shine this way cause I'm done working for demanding bosses!!!

[LawnTamer]

Good luck,
You've got to do something, breaking your back for someone else isn't where it's at.
Go legit
Start selling NOW
Buy what you need, not what you want
A lot of guys go under when they set out on their own because they buy a brand new 1 ton, and all the mowers/blower/trimmers etc that their credit will allow, but they don't have 20 clients. Get clients first, buy commercial, just what you need.

[TGM]

buy commercial equipment that's used to get your started if you don't have 30 grand to invest. it's often discouraging that there are soooo many people going into the landscaping/maintenance business(es) and quitting. most seem to think it's a quick and easy buck which is not true.

like anything, you get out of it what you put into it. get pumped up and go for it!

[Prestige-Lawncare]

Hey fellas, I stumbled upon this site while google searching for tips on starting my own lawn business. Sounds like everyone here knows what there talking about and I would like you guys to help me out. I'm thinking of quitting
my job of 10 yrs with the lawn company I'm with and do what I only know what to do which is lawn care. I'm 30 and getting old and would like to do something for me other then helping the rich get richer. Anyone here quit there 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. lawn care job and doing well? If so let some light shine this way cause I'm done working for demanding bosses!!!

Only thing I see wrong here is ... you think you are getting old at the age of 30! I just left a career of 31 years to do this full time, and make a 2nd career for myself. Should have went this direction full time long ago ... but there is never a better time then now! Tomorrow is but a memory ... today is the best day to start anything.

Go for it ... don't look back. Be dedicated ... have the drive and desire to succeed, and you will. There is plenty of work here for those who want to do it. Just remember ... never sell yourself short, and don't work for free ... unless it is by choice.
.

[wowmowwow]

do it


thanks

[daveintoledo]

just working for someone else....


your probably more knowledgable then most here,,,,

you will do well...GOOD LUCK :)

[LandmarkPM]

I am also taking this very same road. I'm 32 and quitting a job I've been at for 10 years. I started my Lawn business last year and did well for only working part time evenings and weekends.I sit behind a computer and put up
with office drama all day long and can't take it anymore.I do have experience
working outdoors and working very hard (was a mason tender for 4 years).
I would much rather work hard physically and get self gratification from my own work.I am scared though because my current job pays well and supports
my family well.I guess it's a step everyone has to take in order to realize there dreams. I've been browsing the priceless information all over the site for a few months now. I can't believe the wealth of information it holds.I've
learned so much from people here and this is only my first post.It's nice to know that there is a place to go for help.It's also nice to hear some encouraging words for new guys like me. Thanks to all!!

[armyworm]

I agree landmarkPM with every thing you said. That is why its now or never...

[Steve's Mow & Trim]

Go for it...Stay active on here, there is alot of good advice and if you ever have a question it is usually answered in less than an hr, lol. Great site and great career choice. Get some accounts, buy what you can afford for now, and start putting money back into your business for new equipment and other expences. Don't invest to much in your business before you have one

[CoreyD]

Exactly why I havent gotten a full time job.... I only work from 6pm to 12am and i try to do yard work during the day but i cant really get many customers dunno what im doin wrong :\ ..... if it gets good in the spring thats good but..... what if i dont have any customers for the fall or winter this year

[Ga.GrassCutter]

I quit my airline mech. job at age 49 and went full time lawn care. I kept around 12 cusomers throught the ( my first ) winter and worked for a friend that does heating and air to make up the difference. I now know what i will need to do for next winter.

[CoreyD]

heh I only had 1 leaf job 3 times since december and thats it.... Ive gotten a few calls recently to lay pine straw but the people think the price is a rip off one bell of straw costs $4.00 and this one yard needed about 50 bells which is around $200 just for the pine straw so i charged them $40 more to lay it $240 total.... but they think im ripping them off so.... i dunno what to do

[CkLandscapingOrlando]

Most of the guys out there dont know a thing about landscaping and they make a living.I'll be damned If a guy that knows what to do,how to do It,and when to do It,could'nt make living as well.Dont think Its easy though.It will be alot more work then work.Hell Its 10 and I'm still talking shop.

[GroundControlLawnCare]

Good luck,
You've got to do something, breaking your back for someone else isn't where it's at.
Go legit
Start selling NOW
Buy what you need, not what you want
A lot of guys go under when they set out on their own because they buy a brand new 1 ton, and all the mowers/blower/trimmers etc that their credit will allow, but they don't have 20 clients. Get clients first, buy commercial, just what you need.

LawnTamer's right. Pay off all your bills first,buy used commercial grade equipment,and set goals high with biss plan. All my equiptment is payed for but new ztr. I work a full time job and do this part time. In a year or so i will do this full time when i got all my dept payed off. For the time being i am doing nothing but lawn maintenance and building a biss.

[Roger]

My question to the initial post: Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit, and are you cut from the cloth of being a businessman?

I have read many posts on LS over the years who wish to get started at lawn care for the wrong reasons. Wanting to be outside, wanting to ride a mower all day, wanting to get out from a bad boss, ... all reasons not sufficient for owning and running your own business. From what I see, the turnover for first time business owners in lawn care is large. I've been doing this for 10 years, working primarily in residential neighborhoods. Without hard statistics, I can only go on my best estimates. But, I believe that 8 of every 10 new lawn care businesses are gone in the first two seasons. In asking some questions where I can, I have concluded the primary reason for failure is lack of business acumen.

My point is that having an interest, knowing equipment and how to use it, is an inadequate basis for getting started. I don't know the specifics of the situation of the first post, but I see little written here, as well as many other posts, about the need to be a businessman first, a grass cutter second.

[martinfan06]

Wow.Unless you have a wife that makes real good money you might want to think part-time 1st then move into full-time later. The only thing worse than not making it is having to go ask for your old job back,money is king. Not saying don't try but make it an educated attempt well thought out and planned for the long term. good luck

[LandmarkPM]

My question to the initial post: Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit, and are you cut from the cloth of being a businessman?

I have read many posts on LS over the years who wish to get started at lawn care for the wrong reasons. Wanting to be outside, wanting to ride a mower all day, wanting to get out from a bad boss, ... all reasons not sufficient for owning and running your own business. From what I see, the turnover for first time business owners in lawn care is large. I've been doing this for 10 years, working primarily in residential neighborhoods. Without hard statistics, I can only go on my best estimates. But, I believe that 8 of every 10 new lawn care businesses are gone in the first two seasons. In asking some questions where I can, I have concluded the primary reason for failure is lack of business acumen.

My point is that having an interest, knowing equipment and how to use it, is an inadequate basis for getting started. I don't know the specifics of the situation of the first post, but I see little written here, as well as many other posts, about the need to be a businessman first, a grass cutter second.


I find it hard to judge someone's character and business "sense" by reading someone's post. Especailly there first post.Everybody has different reasons to want be Self employed.I didn't wake up one day and say I wanna be a lawn
guy so I can sit on a mower all day.Doing this part time is a great Idea and will let someone see exaclty how hard you do have to work to achieve what you want.I also didn't wake up one day and think I wanted to be a "business man" either.This is something that I take a geniune interest in and enjoy looking at my accomplishments.Getting away from my office job and being outdoors is just a few perks.I think the business aspect is going to be a live and learn experience.Learning and preparing to be a businessman is one thing, but being a business man before you have a business is asking to be
taken advantage of.I see tons of entrepreneurial spirit on this website and
alot of success stories too.I promise you I will be one of them in the future.
Who really decides who is cut from the cloth of a business? Not me, but I can gaurentee I will try my hardest and do what it takes to succeed.After all
my lively hood and Family are depending on it.

[LandmarkPM]

ROGER- Please don't take my last post personally.After reading my post, it sounds pretty harsh. By no means was I trying
to start anything.I was just stating my opinions.I appoligize.I do understand where your coming from. You've been in this business for along time and I hope to make it in this business as long as you have. Good luck in the upcoming season.I know I will need it.

[2menandamower]

heh I only had 1 leaf job 3 times since december and thats it.... Ive gotten a few calls recently to lay pine straw but the people think the price is a rip off one bell of straw costs $4.00 and this one yard needed about 50 bells which is around $200 just for the pine straw so i charged them $40 more to lay it $240 total.... but they think im ripping them off so.... i dunno what to do

First off is charge more for pine straw. I cahrge 7.00 per bale (that includes the straw) to put it in. There is no way I would do 50 bales for 40.00 labor.... Sounds like I would have told them to get someone else or do it themselves.

[Roger]

Landmark ... no apology needed. I can tend to be too direct sometimes, but often make a similar post in threads such as this one.

Over forty years have passed since I left college. I have worked in a variety of places, and also been directly, or indirectly, involved with startup businesses. My posts are meant to bring pause, "to consider," some issues that may have not been thought through, or even considered.

Many threads are posted on LS by those wishing to "mow lawns for a living." In reading the reasons and the thinking behind decisions (if any, or much), I shudder. From my experiences, and the limited information about what has been said, I am doubtful that there is a future in some of the cases.

Yes, as you point out, there are many who post with good business sense, holding a great entrepreneurial spirit. I applaud the willingness to put themselves on the line to make a successful enterprise. One of the great attributes of our country is the freedom to do so.

However, I also read posts from those who "have been in business a year or two," asking questions that expose a real lack of understanding. And, I just hate to see somebody get themselves (and their family ...?) into a bad situation. We have also read posts in thread, "... packing it in, selling out ..." for various reasons. I'm sure that many leave LS without posting a "farewell."

You are so right about not having business sense, until one has been in business for awhile. It is something akin to a "catch-22" situation. However, there are instruments, such as tests, screening devices, etc, that will enable one to get a more objective measure of "the stripe of cloth" (to use my metaphor started earlier). Over the years, I took many of these kinds of tests for various reasons (e.g. management, leadership, etc). Usually, they are pretty good measures of the issue being assessed.

Threads posted on LS, especially ones devoted to business plans, generate very little interest. Likewise, threads devoted to sources of help for new business owners don't generate much interest either. Threads posted on what mower to buy, what trimmer works best, how to sharpen blades, etc. often generate much interest. This is some measure of where the thinking rests for the new lawn care business owner. Oh yes, I was there at one time too!!!! I freely admit my mistakes in this regard.

I am sure glad we live in a place where people are free to make their own decisions that may create a successful business enterprise! But, people are also free to make poor choices, make bad decisions, and fail in new businesses. Small business owners are the number one employer of people in the country. Not only are new business owners have an opportunity to grow something great for themselves, but to be in a position to hire others to be gainfully employed too.

I hope this helps explain my thoughts posted earlier. Whether or not I think anybody will be successful, or fail, is unimportant and irrelevant. The most important thing is anybody giving consideration to leaving an employment situation have the ideas, vision, spirit, work-ethic, etc to make a new venture work.

[landscapemn]

I also am hitting the road again, leaving my old boss.. I have done lots of hardscape and have clients for myself i was just wondering if there is a formula that you can use to bid on a retaining wall or what is the correct way to bid the job.. Thanks for any remarks

[landscapemn]

is there a formula for bidding on retaining walls if so my some one please let me in on the secrect i can build them and have clients just need help on the bidding.. thanks

[CkLandscapingOrlando]

Landmark ... no apology needed. I can tend to be too direct sometimes, but often make a similar post in threads such as this one.

Over forty years have passed since I left college. I have worked in a variety of places, and also been directly, or indirectly, involved with startup businesses. My posts are meant to bring pause, "to consider," some issues that may have not been thought through, or even considered.

Many threads are posted on LS by those wishing to "mow lawns for a living." In reading the reasons and the thinking behind decisions (if any, or much), I shudder. From my experiences, and the limited information about what has been said, I am doubtful that there is a future in some of the cases.

Yes, as you point out, there are many who post with good business sense, holding a great entrepreneurial spirit. I applaud the willingness to put themselves on the line to make a successful enterprise. One of the great attributes of our country is the freedom to do so.

However, I also read posts from those who "have been in business a year or two," asking questions that expose a real lack of understanding. And, I just hate to see somebody get themselves (and their family ...?) into a bad situation. We have also read posts in thread, "... packing it in, selling out ..." for various reasons. I'm sure that many leave LS without posting a "farewell."

You are so right about not having business sense, until one has been in business for awhile. It is something akin to a "catch-22" situation. However, there are instruments, such as tests, screening devices, etc, that will enable one to get a more objective measure of "the stripe of cloth" (to use my metaphor started earlier). Over the years, I took many of these kinds of tests for various reasons (e.g. management, leadership, etc). Usually, they are pretty good measures of the issue being assessed.

Threads posted on LS, especially ones devoted to business plans, generate very little interest. Likewise, threads devoted to sources of help for new business owners don't generate much interest either. Threads posted on what mower to buy, what trimmer works best, how to sharpen blades, etc. often generate much interest. This is some measure of where the thinking rests for the new lawn care business owner. Oh yes, I was there at one time too!!!! I freely admit my mistakes in this regard.

I am sure glad we live in a place where people are free to make their own decisions that may create a successful business enterprise! But, people are also free to make poor choices, make bad decisions, and fail in new businesses. Small business owners are the number one employer of people in the country. Not only are new business owners have an opportunity to grow something great for themselves, but to be in a position to hire others to be gainfully employed too.

I hope this helps explain my thoughts posted earlier. Whether or not I think anybody will be successful, or fail, is unimportant and irrelevant. The most important thing is anybody giving consideration to leaving an employment situation have the ideas, vision, spirit, work-ethic, etc to make a new venture work.
You said It all so I'll just say I agree with you all the way

[armyworm]

I find it hard to judge someone's character and business "sense" by reading someone's post. Especailly there first post.Everybody has different reasons to want be Self employed.I didn't wake up one day and say I wanna be a lawn
guy so I can sit on a mower all day.Doing this part time is a great Idea and will let someone see exaclty how hard you do have to work to achieve what you want.I also didn't wake up one day and think I wanted to be a "business man" either.This is something that I take a geniune interest in and enjoy looking at my accomplishments.Getting away from my office job and being outdoors is just a few perks.I think the business aspect is going to be a live and learn experience.Learning and preparing to be a businessman is one thing, but being a business man before you have a business is asking to be
taken advantage of.I see tons of entrepreneurial spirit on this website and
alot of success stories too.I promise you I will be one of them in the future.
Who really decides who is cut from the cloth of a business? Not me, but I can gaurentee I will try my hardest and do what it takes to succeed.After all
my lively hood and Family are depending on it.

I.I...I got nothing to say you spoke everything I wanted to say...lol