New mower in April "08" - need advice

[CuttingEdgeOhio]

I am planning to start a small mowing business starting this April "08". Currently i have:
91 ford ranger
5X6 utility trailer
home lite backpack blower
popular trimmer
craftsman push mower (mulcher bagger)

I was thinking that my first investment will be approx 2500 $ for either a 42" zero turn or a walk behind. Which is my first question. What is better long term? Should i hold out for a better rider and invest in a decent walk behind? Or should i buy a zero turn rider? I am currently looking at Toro, Arien and Kubota.
I have looked into insurance, and definitely will be investing in that!!! In the next couple days i plan to look into a license. I have little to no information so far, or if i really need to be licensed my first year only mowing approximately 10 yards. This upcoming season I plan to do about 20 - 30 hrs a week, just mowing and maybe mulching. I have a full time job second shift and i plan to keep that job to see if this is an opportunity i want to pursue. If things go well i plan on investing in a new trimmer (after my initial investment) and then a Sthil blower. After that i was thinking of buying a snowblower (if business permits).
I am curious to about leaf removal in the fall, not sure what to do there. Any advise on getting started, what my initial investment should be, or what to purchase first etc. would be very help full. This is a great site and i have learned SOOO much, i really thank everyone for posting, especially Eric, God bless him!

- Another thought was to sell my ranger and utility trailer and buy a landscaping trailer and pull it with my Astro van..... Thanks again Lawnsite.com!!

[93Chevy]

I also plan on mowing on the side next year through school and my internship. I can justify the cost of equipment, but I'm not sure if it's worth it, or illegal, to mow a dozen or so yards on the side without a license. I don't want to lowball the landscaper who lives across from me, but the people I'd mow for probably wouldn't hire a professional landscaper.

[Lawnut101]

I'd say it depends. I bought a walk behind for $1100 last year. I've only put 200 into repairs for it. It's made me around $3500. Now I'm looking at getting a Z to expand my business. So, a walkbehind will be cheaper off the bat, but in a few years, with enough accounts, your gonna want an upgrade to a Z. Most guys start out with a walkbehind. Do you have any accounts now, and what size are you planning on mowing?

[DillonsLawnCare]

if your gunna get a deck that small, get a walkbehind. you'll be able to do all lawns, instead of having to do flat lawns. JMO

[93Chevy]

Your trailer may be a tad small for a 42 walk behind, JMO.

[packey]

I agree with the others for the money you have to spend go with a walk behind. A good zero turn rider will cost quite a bit more. If business picks up and it probably will get a ztr in a couple of years. Use this time to learn how to perfect your skills.

[SwihartServices]

Maybe get a used stander. There have been some cheep great danes on ebay lately.

[93Chevy]

Great Dane has some nice mowers, I'm only worried about parts for used equipment.

[Even Cut Lawn Care]

I am planning to start a small mowing business starting this April "08". Currently i have:
91 ford ranger
5X6 utility trailer
home lite backpack blower
popular trimmer
craftsman push mower (mulcher bagger)

I was thinking that my first investment will be approx 2500 $ for either a 42" zero turn or a walk behind. Which is my first question. What is better long term? Should i hold out for a better rider and invest in a decent walk behind? Or should i buy a zero turn rider? I am currently looking at Toro, Arien and Kubota.
I have looked into insurance, and definitely will be investing in that!!! In the next couple days i plan to look into a license. I have little to no information so far, or if i really need to be licensed my first year only mowing approximately 10 yards. This upcoming season I plan to do about 20 - 30 hrs a week, just mowing and maybe mulching. I have a full time job second shift and i plan to keep that job to see if this is an opportunity i want to pursue. If things go well i plan on investing in a new trimmer (after my initial investment) and then a Sthil blower. After that i was thinking of buying a snowblower (if business permits).
I am curious to about leaf removal in the fall, not sure what to do there. Any advise on getting started, what my initial investment should be, or what to purchase first etc. would be very help full. This is a great site and i have learned SOOO much, i really thank everyone for posting, especially Eric, God bless him!

- Another thought was to sell my ranger and utility trailer and buy a landscaping trailer and pull it with my Astro van..... Thanks again Lawnsite.com!!


I don't know if you are interested or not but i have a yazoo/kees 48" walkbehind that i have used aonly 4-5 times that i would sell at a good price. Once i bought it didn't like using it as well as a rider. Its a great machine just, still brand new.

[CuttingEdgeOhio]

First thing, I appreciate all the replies, seems very helpful. I hadn't priced walk behinds but it sounds like that is my best investment so i can free up some $$ for better trimmer/blower. Currently i don't have any accounts, but in the next couple weeks i will be handing out flyer's in mailboxes. Most of the soon-to-be customers have 3/4 - 1 acre lawns. I don't mind walking, so a stander isn't necessary, but i'll look into them as well. I believe prices/brand names are necessary though. The closest Grate Dane Dealer is 40miles away, so i may look into a different brand. Any suggestions? I'd have to get a new trailer to haul the yazoo and i am trying to keep my budget low my first year, but thanks for the offer Even Cut. And thanks again for all the helpful replies ... SOOO appreciated.

[Budget]

3/4 to 1 acre you might want to consider a ZT. or a 52" WB. with a sulky. Trust me that is allot of walking on very hot days. Do these property's have steep hills, banks or gates that you will need to consider. You have all winter to think about what you will need. Do not rush into a purchase.:dancing:

[93Chevy]

Hey, I don't want to feed off your posts, but I just wanted to say that I'm in a similiar situation with no equipment and no accounts, so I also appreciate the advice give to CuttingEdge, as I am able to use it to my advantage as well.

[All_Toro_4ME]

Currently i don't have any accounts, but in the next couple weeks i will be handing out flyer's in mailboxes.

The closest Grate Dane Dealer is 40miles away, so i may look into a different brand. Any suggestions? I'd have to get a new trailer to haul the yazoo and i am trying to keep my budget low my first year, but thanks for the offer Even Cut. And thanks again for all the helpful replies ... SOOO appreciated.

DO NOT put the fliers in the mailboxes. This is illegal as hell. The mailboxes are for postage mail only. You can put postage on the fliers and mail them out to the addresses, but you will have to obtain a list of addresses from the post office.

You can keep your budget low, I dont see how that would be to challenging. Just control your costs and buy a used Walkbehind mower with sulky, but get new edger and trimmer. Your blower should be "ok" for the time being.

[CuttingEdgeOhio]

Ahh yeah, fliers in mailboxes = illegal, don't wanna get off on the wrong foot now do I? =)
I guess my best bet is to get the accounts before i purchase any lawn equipment. When is the best time to buy lawn equipment? I would believe that in the winter they should have better deals.... but who knows.
I know this is more of an advertising question, but i'll ask anyway.... I am trying to limit my business to a certain neighborhoods. There are approximatly 600 houses in that neighborhood so how do i direct advertising to a certain area? I suppose that sending a flier (with postage) would be very expensive to advertise, but anyone have any suggestions? I really don't want to advertise in the news paper because i know i'll get some unwanted requests. I don't want to have to do a blow and mow... i put a great deal of pride into mowing and i want it to show when i am finished, if ya know what i mean. And thanks again, this post has shown to be very helpful as well as all the other posts on other forums.

[CuttingEdgeOhio]

oh yeah, the neighborhood i am looking at is relitively flat.

[SwihartServices]

Use doorhangers or put them in the newspaper bin. It's not illegal unless you put them inside the actual mailbox. You can even tape them to mailboxes without bins or stick them in between the flag and box. You shouldn't have issues that way. But, if you do stick them in mailboxes (before the mail comes that day) you will get a phone call from the post office every time. Mostly they just threaten you with charging you postage on all the flyers they find (you wont ever see a bill). Sometimes however, they talk about pressing charges and federal offenses and terrorism and homeland security. So, it's probably not a good idea to put them in the box.

[daveintoledo]

your in ohio, the mowing season is almost over, you will be mostly wasting your time... plan for a spring start.....

[corbster]

First thing, I appreciate all the replies, seems very helpful. I hadn't priced walk behinds but it sounds like that is my best investment so i can free up some $$ for better trimmer/blower. Currently i don't have any accounts, but in the next couple weeks i will be handing out flyer's in mailboxes. Most of the soon-to-be customers have 3/4 - 1 acre lawns. I don't mind walking, so a stander isn't necessary, but i'll look into them as well. I believe prices/brand names are necessary though. The closest Grate Dane Dealer is 40miles away, so i may look into a different brand. Any suggestions? I'd have to get a new trailer to haul the yazoo and i am trying to keep my budget low my first year, but thanks for the offer Even Cut. And thanks again for all the helpful replies ... SOOO appreciated.

I would not place flyers in mailboxes. That's a big No, No.

[MFS]

Just a heads up I would not touch anyone mailbox man that will get you into trouble. Hang them on the door. And that way you can at less see most of the lawns that you are going to be doing that way. Anyone can drive mailbox to mailbox. Just my two cents:weightlifter:

[privatelawn]

It is illegal to put/tape or whatever ON the mail box, doesnt have to be IN to be illegal.
Use doorhangers or put them in the newspaper bin. It's not illegal unless you put them inside the actual mailbox. You can even tape them to mailboxes without bins or stick them in between the flag and box. You shouldn't have issues that way. But, if you do stick them in mailboxes (before the mail comes that day) you will get a phone call from the post office every time. Mostly they just threaten you with charging you postage on all the flyers they find (you wont ever see a bill). Sometimes however, they talk about pressing charges and federal offenses and terrorism and homeland security. So, it's probably not a good idea to put them in the box.

[SwihartServices]

I'm not sure what the exact laws are. But, I've had my fare share of talks with the post office after they found my flyers in mailboxes. All of the postal employees have told me that it is OK to put the flyers in the newspaper bin or attach them to the box, just don't put them in the mailbox itself.

[T Total Lawncare]

Great Dane has some nice mowers, I'm only worried about parts for used equipment.

You might want to hold off on Great Dane for a while. Click here.http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=203084

[J&R Landscaping]

Just keep an eye out for spring sales and open house specials. You can score a decent wb for $2200-$3200. See how many lawns you can build up with and get the machine the best fits to start.

[93Chevy]

You might want to hold off on Great Dane for a while. Click here.http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=203084

That was my point exactly. :waving: