Need Some Serious Advice!

[elite4422]

Hey guys I would love some help!! I live in the Atlanta Georgia area and I had plans to start my own lawn care service this year, I made all the proper plans for lic, ins and the like. I was working on an overnight job that would allow me to go at this business full time albeit at a slower rate. Well, guess what this Friday my boss calls me in to tell me that my position will be cut and I was given my last check and a pat on the back.

I have know earthly idea of what to do. I want to make the business work but now I'm uncertain. I made up about 1,000 fliers and haven't put them out yet, going to start tomorrow. I now have a large mountain on my shoulders and feeling the weight.

If any of you guys can offer any advice to help calm my mountain size fears I would really appreciate it.:confused: :confused: :confused:

[BBN]

I can't give you the magic pill of advice but the first thing is to do some serious chooping on your family budget.

What is it that you have no idea what to do in the business? Why are you uncertain that it wil work? Get them fliers handed out and hang some up in any store that will let you. Alot of grocery stores around here including Koger have a bulletin board where people can hang up their fliers.

[TXNSLighting]

well that really sucks. sorry to hear it. well all i can say is, get the flyers out, and hope for the best. Do you have equipment? any of that stuff? start up money?

[prizeprop]

How old are you? Married ,kids? Mortgage? Apartment rent?

[elite4422]

I can't give you the magic pill of advice but the first thing is to do some serious chooping on your family budget.

What is it that you have no idea what to do in the business? Why are you uncertain that it wil work? Get them fliers handed out and hang some up in any store that will let you. Alot of grocery stores around here including Koger have a bulletin board where people can hang up their fliers.

My wife and I have started to do all the copping that we can and I'm trying to look for a evening part-time job to help out. I am uncertain about if the business will work, because I see so many other guys around. I did some work last year and I just want to give the best I possibly can to my customers.

[elite4422]

I'm married with 2 kids renting. I have a snapper 36inch walk behind, red max blower, sthil trimmers, echo stick edger. Also misc garden tools.

[prizeprop]

If I were you I'd get a full time job and start part-time on lawns. Then if it takes off, you can go full time.

[lurch]

Just keep you head up and your shoulders back....

If anyone tells you that you can't succeed you punch them in the balls....

just my .02

[TXNSLighting]

Just keep you head up and your shoulders back....

If anyone tells you that you can't succeed you punch them in the balls....

just my .02

interesting advice....

[TXNSLighting]

well, youve got pretty good equipment, i started off unemployed. i busted my ass and got as many accounts as i could, and i did pretty good my first year, ended up with 17 yards, and my second year i more than doubled. So if your willing to work and your smart about it, you can make it.

[BOWHUNTER12]

Keep your head up buddy. Get the flyers out and get some business. Maybe you can find another 3rd shift job. So you can focus on the business. Good luck my friend.

[SHADESOFGREENLAWNCARE]

I think prizeprop has great advice. Since you have a family get another job with medical benefits and start out with the lawn care on a part time basis. It takes time to build a client base unless you are not charging enough to survive over the long haul.:walking:

[Poncho25]

sorry to hear about what happened to you. I am not great in this area for advice but for me what worked was saying F it....either you give it your all an then some or start slow or not at all. Now if you go at it full, you have to be extreamly agressive in your advertising and you will learn what you want to do an can do. I started in July of last year and by the end of the season i had 34 accounts. I was very overwhelmed and burnt out as being solo. So over the winter a few left (they were home renters or selling their home) and now I am down to 14 accounts. I got rid of a few bill chasers and the what not and will be more focused on what I want this season!

I am married with 2 kids and we own our home, pay morgage and things were tight there at the start. But my wife 100% supported me.

Just have to decide what you want! if you really want it you can get it no matter how many other guys are out there! If your a bit worried but still want it, get a part time job and start this on a pt basis also. GL with whatever choice you make and hope what I said made some sense :)

[Lawnboy85]

I'm married with 2 kids renting. I have a snapper 36inch walk behind, red max blower, sthil trimmers, echo stick edger. Also misc garden tools.

You will be fine. Some of the other responses imply that you don't stand a chance. You've got equipment that will easily help you build up your clientale. I see a lot of guys pulling out a 21" mower off the back of their pick-up. I don't know their situation, but they look like they are doing it alright, even if it is just part-time for them.

One thing you will have to do is be patient. You will have to work hard this year and build up some money for your business. Set aside a budget that will work for your family and start saving for more equipment. It goes without saying, you need to be prepared for equipment repairs and the like.

I'm 21 years old and going into my 6th year in the business. One thing that has helped me is the purchasing of used equipment. I currently own 2 60" Exmark ZTR mowers. I also own 2 32" Toro walk-behind mowers and a 21" Toro push mower (purchased new). I've had help from my dad, but you can still work your way up the ladder to more equipment. All other misc. equipment (trimmers, etc.) were purchased new.

Good luck to you this year and in years to come.

Thanks,
Lohse's Lawn Service

[supercuts]

all i can say is it doesnt happen overnight but you its certainly a good place for supplimental income if you were to find another job until you got the bus up and running enough to support your family. lots of money out there, and if you worried about compettion, all i can say is theres tons of competition up here and im doign great. good luck

[Duekster]

Best of luck. Maybe God is telling you to go for it!

[Lawnboy85]

Best of luck. Maybe God is telling you to go for it!

Couldn't agree more. I believe its Revelation 3:7 that goes something like this: "God opens doors that no one can close and closes doors that no one can open." That is paraphrasing, but you get my drift. And yes, for all the people on here who are looking to respond negatively, God has a say in how successful your business can be.

The whole idea of your boss letting you go and you willing to go into the mowing business is a perfect example of the scripture above. One door was shut then another opened. May God bless your new job opportunity.

Lohse's Lawn Service

[steve affordable lawn]

u will be fine u r starting at a good time u will find a lot of people just riding around i started with 7000 worth equipment with not 1 customer but went out on faith now i turn people down good advice u can make .

[LTDLawnCare]

I dont know how good of advice this is but it is what i do. I work from 3 am till 8 am at Fedex and then landscape all day. Im only 19 with no wife or kids so i dont need to be at home or anything. The fedex money isnt great but it is helping out with start up costs and things of that nature. good luck

[elite4422]

:waving: I would have never thought that I would receive this much advise from people I don't really know, but I'm very thankful for it. I really glad that I found and joined this site. After reading everyones replies to my post I was really motivated. I went out early this morning and put out about 300 fliers and received a call from them. I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU SUPPORT.

[BBN]

Ever considered going to college if you haven't already? I know you'll be more busy than you ever dreamt but if you're unsure that the lawn biz is for you just tough it out and get your degree. This is what I'm doing. I hate corrections. Done it for 16 years but planning on finishing school and getting my degree all the while working full time and mowing on the side. I have kids too, and be busier as heck but will be well worth it in the end. I hope you can find everything you're looking for in life and can get back on your feet.

[barefootlawnsandlandscape]

Elite,

I was also unemployed when I started this gig last year. I moved my family from N.E. Arkansas to N.W. Arkansas to start this company. I advertised at every chance I had. Go to a bank and give them a business plan. Ask them for a line of credit and sink some $$ into some serious advertising. I placed an ad in the newspaper and it payed for itself within a month. I bought 40 accounts to start with at a real good price so this gave me a jump, but more than doubled that number from March-December last year. This year I have signed $77,000 in 12 month contracts from spring advertising and added two guys to my staff. I am not bragging, but just letting you know it can be done, it just takes a little out of the box thinking and hard work. Go into it full speed, but don't bid to get the jobs, bid to make money. There are many people out there willing to pay good money for a quality job.
Think of a creative name also. I get many people that call me because they liked my name. I know other people on this site have my name, but I had no idea at the time. Target the right neighborhoods and you will have success.
As was said before, God works in mysterious ways. I had no clue as to what I was going to do when I got fired from my job, but I had faith and followed His direction. He will definitely bless you if you give Him all the glory.

Best of luck and God Bless.

[justanotherlawnguy]

Toss the flyers in the trash and go work for someone else to learn the biz..