16 year old needs advice

[contra]

ive had a lawn business in my neighborhood for 4 years now and ive earned some decent money. when i get my drivers lisence i was hoping to take my business to the next level. I already have a weedwhacker and a leaf blower but i need to buy a 40+ inch lawnmower. I dont have a big budget so i was looking to get one used. What brand should i get? How much should I pay?

Thanks

[Brieldo]

Hey man, congrats on being a young guy in the business. I'm only a year older than you but have been mowing for close to 10 years. It's funny how kids our age find a way to make money on the stuff that grows no matter what...Anyway, if you're looking at a mower that is 40 inches+, are you interested in a walkbehind or a ride on machine. IF you're doing just small residential stuff, a walkbehind is probably the answer, but if you're doing larger lawns, then you might look into a ride on machine that has a higher ground speed, more power, etc, etc. Give us an idea of what you're mowing and then you'll find tons more replys!=) Good luck!

Ben

[Brieldo]

Also, keep in mind that you'll have to have a trailer to put this stuff on and a truck to pull it=)

[contra]

the jobs take like an hour and 10 minutes to mow with a 21 inch mower so i probably dont need a big riding one. I'm planning on gettting a truck and trailer too. I need to know what knd of walk behind mower to get. I heard lesco's are good what kind do any of you recommend?

[Eric ELM]

An hour lawn with a 21" will take about 8 minutes with a 60" ZTR. I would think a 48" w/b would probably mow it in 20 minutes at the most. You can see the bigger the mower, the more you can make per hour. :)

Go to all your local dealers and see what they have for used mowers. Also call all the big lawn companies in your area and see it they have any they want to sell that are in decent shape. Just don't get a home owner type and try to use it for commercial work, since it will not hold up nearly as good.

[Dochere]

First off anything larger than your 21" is going to increase your completion speed and efficiency. Your are going to want to buy a gear/belt drive, as a hydro - even used - will be very expensive. You should be able to find a ransomes, bobcat, scag, or snapper with good hours on it for $1400 -$1600 both of which are decent mowers. I would also look into buntons. Stay in the $1400-$2000 range. Unless you know allot about commercial mowers, buy something / brand, that can be service by a local shop. Also check Ebay as they have commercial walk behinds on there from time to time. Don't OD on the first large mower you buy as it will pay for itself very quickly and soon you will be able to afford a new mower. Good Luck!

[clhartma]

Im sixteen too and have a growing lawn business. About what brand to buy i would definatly look at exmark they seem to be the best. I recently bought a new 36" metro with a mulch kit for $2300 out the door. Scag are also good machine but in my experince dont give quite as good a cut as the exmark do. But one thing to remember is that a quality truck an trailer will run about 5 times what the lawn mower will. Good luck

[awm]

just think a ztr would up your production enough to put you
thru college if you have that kinda focus. im talking live at home and go to college.just a thought. your legs are young.

[danlawnser]

I am a year younger than you. I have a great dane scamper 48 inch cut and I like the mower a lot. I was using a Sabre by John Deere with a 38 inch cut tractor and that machine mowed good. I had it for a couple of years. The Sabre is only about $1500 with hydo and a 38 inch cut. I had to replace the Sabre with a lt 155 jd I because wore it out.
I would highly consider a John Deere Sabre. I mowed about 6 yards a week with it and I had a couple minor problems with it but nothing much. When I bought the walkbehind I doubled my business and I cannot even drive yet. I personally would rahter have a 38 than a 42. Not much of a difference in cut. good luck on chosing a mower.

[toroboy]

Im 15 years olda nd my friend has a 36" exmarkmetro mower i have triyed it out it works great and it cuts really well too!! he is currenty cutting 14 lawns ( they r all residential) . i suggest u get a 36' if u have small lawns or if they have gates but if they dont i think u shoudl go with a 48" . I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!! :cool: O and im planning on gettting an exmarkmetro 36" soon

[geogunn]

young man--youneed a used 48 wb with something like a 14-17 hp motor.

and a belt drive will do nicely, thank you.

the JACK you can make with one of these outfits will amaze friends and family.

tell the chicks that it is a LESCO and you will have to beat them off with the weed whacker!:D

GEO

[contra]

it seems i'm getting mixed responses. some are saying go with 36 some are saying over 40. What kinds of walk behinds could i get for under $2000? And do i have to buy those things that you stand on the back?

thanks for the help

[contra]

oh yeah are there any website links to these ztr, scag and exmark sites?

[1MajorTom]

There's a link to Exmark at the top of the page.

www.scag.com

[Eric ELM]

Contra, in case the Exmark banner ad isn't at the top, you can click refresh until it comes up, or click this http://www.exmark.com/

We have several mfg banners at the top so please All Members, go visit these sites and see what they have to offer. This and member donations are what supports LawnSite.com ;)

If you have something to add to a post at the last second after clicking on submit, go click on EDIT under your post and add what you have to add. You can do this up to 2 minutes after posting. I've noticed more than one member has 2 posts in a row and the times they were posted are the same. This will avoid 2 posts in a row.

[1MajorTom]

oh yeah, I forgot about the Exmark banner. I was just talking about the link, Nobody does it better ~eXmark (www.exmark.com)

[mklawnman]

Im 18 and ive been cutting grass for people now for about 5yrs. Ive been working with my brother too which is alot of help and he's 16. We have been using a JD 314, a JD F525 with a 12ft trailer thats now cramped. Dont use the JD314 anymore. Also miscelanious Echo handhelds too. So this year we up graded to a Scag Turf Tiger 52inch ZTR. Now i got lucky and that my parents paid for the lawn mower right now, ill have to pay them back when i get older. If your looking at buying a ZTR but not a big one look at Scag's Tiger Cub, there small but as fast as the Tiger, but they can't handle the hills as well. Also maybe take alook at the HYDRO Walkbehinds from scag, exmark, toro or even JD. These walkbehinds r just as good as ZTRS but not as quick, but can get under tree's very easy. Make sure u look at a veilky too, if u have the money for it. I know your younger than me and dont have a lot of money, but hey a ZTR or a HYDRO walkbehind will increase your time and in turn have more time to pick up more accounts to make more $$. ITs worked for me now with my ZTR.
Well good luck to all teens out there in this hard working business
MAtt (Lawnman)

[iski3d]

Congrats on your business! I too am 16. My best recomendation would be to pick up a used 48" belt drive walkbehind. Most brands are VERY similar so just find out which brands your local dealers service. I was in your exact position 3 years ago, going from a 21" to a walkbehind. I found a '96 ferris 48 with the 14 horse kawi and paid $1400. The kawi engine is found on almost all of these mowers, it will do the job, but usues many aair filters. Dont buy a 36", the 48" will probly cost about 50 bucks more and you'll be thrilled u bought it. Be sure to buy a "Velke", which is what you stand/ride on, as it will probly double productivity over walking, you can go faster with less fatigue. Good Luck!

[geogunn]

contra--to follow up on my previous advice...go used. there is a 48 lesco belt with a 14 hp briggs engine for $595 advertised in the ROCKY TOP NEWS SENTINEL today.

you could have it paid for in no time at all.

and...you still get to tell the babes that you run a LESCO!

need I say more?

GEO

[Mownlawn]

Also, Keep in mind that anything bigger than a 36" deck isn't going to be able to fit through gates.

[contra]

most of the yards i have now have a lot of trees and obstacles. I was thinking of having my brother (who mows with me now) to go around the edges and hard to get obstacles that i couldnt get with a 48. Then i could give him a ittle bit of money so that in a ouple months time he could buy his own. I live in the suburbs and all the houses hae lots of bushes by fences and things hard to get like that. Do you pros use a 21 inch to get close to edges? Oh yes i live in the Pittsburgh area if any of you are from around there.

[snow]

i'm 16 also. I have an older 48" exmark with a 12.5 hp kawasaki. A couple of my friends from high school cut lawns and use older machines. The older ransomes bobcat,buntons and exmarks are good. i got mine for a good price. even if you put $500 into a $500 machine, it's still cheaper than buying a new one.


Good luck,


Bryan

[1MajorTom]

What area in Pittsburgh?

[contra]

like 15 miles north

[contra]

oh yes one last thing. I estimate I will have $5000 total to spend by beginning o next season. I'l spend $1500 (i guess) on the mower. You think $3500 can get me a respectable truck? I really hope so.

[Lawndude]

Im 16 and have been in the mowing bussiness for a while. i was in the same sitatuation u are in. i needed a truck and a bigger mower. I found a 52 inch Bunton Good All. Its the strongest and best mower ever. It was only $500 buck + extra for the bagger. Definetly go Bunton.

[toffees3]

Go with the 36" if you have, gates. Go with the 48 if you do not.

I bought my Scag 36" belt year old 100 hours! for 1500:cool:

[Island Lawn]

My advice is to demo everything two or three times over the next few months (or so).
Ask lots of questions!
Consider the dealer.

Insurance?
Licensing?

Business Plan?

Hope this helps...

[THIEM ENT.]

I just turned 18 and I too, was in your situation. I needed a truck and trailer, and a bigger mower. I had started with a 21" lawn boy, I had 12 residential lawns and needed a bigger piece. I demoed a scag 48" hydro and an exmark 48" turf tracer, the exmark cuts best I feel. But I ended up with a used scag that my dealer had traded in it was a 1996 48" hydro I paid $1600 cash. I also invested in a velke, definatly get one of these. The truck I got was a 1994 Chevy 2500, 107,000 miles I paid $4500. I also bought a 12' trailer for $500. My best advice to you is to watch what you spend, try to pay cash for everything, and watch out for the insurance man, I pay $2000/yr for truck and liability ins. make sure you can cover that too. Good luck

[dlandscaping2]

i am just like you. i have about 15 lawns around the neighborhood and i was using 21's but that took too long, i tried finding something used but i couldnt find good deals and i didnt know what i was gettin into so i didnt know if i was gettin ripped off or not. so i went to every dealer near me and tried every walkbehind, i went with a toro 36 fixed gear belt drive i got it for about 2500. i borrowed the money and paid all it back in like 2 months. this year i got a 48 lesco but i dont like it and is currently for sale. i am also looking for a truck and a lazer z hp from exmark, i am in between which one i shuld get. if i get the z i may have to wait on the truck or i will have to borrow some of the 8000 to pay for it,but it will pay off in a few years. well good luck with your mower decision, i looked at what area landscapers were using before i purchased i found that many used exmark sacg or toro walk behinds and toro and many exmark z turns

[Runner]

Looking for a used machine? Try www.machinefinder.com. This site will find all kinds of stuff you are looking for, and right around you, too.;)

[peeweezr]

I have read the above posts and have a couple of follow up questions. I have a son who is 15, about to be 16. He will have and old 1985 Ford Bronco with a trailer hitch already installed when he turns 16. He has been servicing about 10 lawns this summer using a 21" Honda harmony. Well, he has saved up some money and it seems from the board that with lawns that are somewhat tight with gates and all, the Ex-mark 36" hydro/floating deck is a good bet. Used is obviously the way to go, but I have looked in my area (Atlanta) and cannot seem to find one used in this model. Should I just call dealers or large landscape companies as well? Will this type of mower be good for all types of grass (fescue, bermuda, zoysia?) Thanks for all the advice.

peeweezr

[dhicks]

Spend your time being a kid and study-study-study. If you want to do this line of work when you're older, then be it. But there are so many opportunities awaiting you. Why mow grass when you can be the president of Toro, eXmark, etc? Go for it.

[clhartma]

peeweezr
I am too 16 years old and have a new exmark 36' with the 12.5 hp kawi on it. It been great so far and has made me money buy a new dodge ram truck. As for cutting grass I've down bermuda fescue and zoysai with it so far and its down well in all. But i might look into a 48' b/c it will really save time in the long run.

[taz72373]

Just remember when buying used if you don't know much about the machanical stuff take someone with you that does. In other words pic that mower with a fine tooth comb because there are people that will tell you that its a great mower and they only want $700 for it the you start finding stuff wrong with it. As someone else mentioned try ebay thats a great idea but not. Don't buy any thing you can't demo first. Ebay you bib on it you win the auction you may own a piece of junk when you get it home. And to the boy that said he's been mowing for 10 years and he's 16 or 17 you've been mowing since you where about 6 years old. If my neigbors 6 year old wanted to mow my grass no way I think 6 is a little young to be mowing grass for a living.

[cantoo]

peeweezr, maybe you could be your son's banker, set up terms the same as a bank and get him a brand new machine. Make him make monthly payments with interest etc. For someone starting out used equipment can be a real pain, starting out with new and learning how to service it properly might be the better route.

[hustlers]

hey im 20 and just
make sure you doing it legal if you more than 10 yards

laibility insurance, register your business name
with your sec. of state, study turf mgmt.
dress nice, pay sales tax if applicable

sounds bad but in the long run your business will
be worth something to somebody else,

my 2cents