Looking for some advise

[CrystalCreek]

This is my first post and let me start by saying this site has been so helpful. I have been viewing it for a few months and finally joined. Thanks to all the pros for their advise and wisdom.:clapping::clapping:

I am stuck in a position.;) I work full time at the local Power Company. Steady job with some benefits. It is decent pay for what I do, but my heart has always been for the lawns. I have been cutting since I was 13, and started working for local guys both big and small when I was 15. I am now 26, single, and living at home. I have a route of about 25, and still growing work my full time job 40 plus hours, and still assist other landscapers when time permits. I went legal last year with full insurance and all the fixin's.

Here is the catch. The benefits at my job keep getting cut, the hours keep getting longer with more time away from my passions, and my heart is growing tired of the power company. I am thinking of leaving in the spring and going full time. I feel it is now or never. As mentioned earlier, I really have no responsibilities to anyone else. I have built a large inventory of equipment and supplies. I have a decent amount of money saved up. I should be able to survive for a few years until the business gets up to full steam.

Am I insane???:confused:

Sorry for the long post. Please let me know what you feel.

[Raven386]

Welcome to LawnSite. Was your question asking if you are insane?

I dont think so, like you said your client list keeps growing. Aslong as you keep up the good work, do some advertising to get your name out there a bit more you should be fine. Get magnets or vinyls for your truck, business cards, pass out doorhangers. you have the equipment, and the knowledge. Maybe try going p/t, work a few days a week.

[bill8379]

You're in better position to start a co. then anyone I ever heard of.

[CrystalCreek]

Yes. Everyone tells me that I should stay even thou I'm not happy. I am looking to leave.

I just wanted the feeling's from some people that have been doing this for a while.

[Raven386]

Why stay if you cant stand it. you have money in the bank as a back-up and 25 clients already. you got a better start then most people do when they start their business.

[NC Greenscaper]

I agree.It sounds like you have every thing in place. Just understand how much you will make with these 25 and have a good budget and you will know how many customers you will need to survive. Good Luck

[PatriotLandscape]

Jump in both feet you have nothing to lose if you have a good plan you'll be successful.

[mow2nd]

go for it..............good luck

[jdmcat]

think about it this way... if you lost your job with the power company for any reason, could you survive on those 25 lawns alone? since you're living at home (i assume that means with your parents?), chances are you could, and if so, i say GO FOR IT! you would be in a much better position than almost any other guy out there trying to start up, especially with money in the bank! then you'll have a ton of time to add customers and surpass what you were making before. and you are already licensed and insured? what's stopping you!?!

[Jerry Lee]

hey i see where ur comin from im only 17 and i just started this year but i have also been workin after school and in the summer for a huge company out where i live but this year im braken off and starting my own thing with customers i aquired with my hard work and ive almost got more work than i can handle but u sound like ur in a good possition just keep it up:usflag::usflag::clapping:

[CrystalCreek]

Thanks for all the replies. I seem to feel the most resistence from my own family. I have read of other's on hear that have had the same problem. I guess that a lot of my families objections come from the fact that all of them also work for the power ompany. Makes for really intresting dinner conversations.:sleeping: Hopefully I don't come accross as bragging, but the 25 lawns are small. Most in this area are about an 1\8 to a 1\4 acer. I have dropped a lot of business cards at the local dunkin donuts because if they can afford 3 dollar cups of coffee, they probably don't mind paying for landscape services.:usflag::usflag:

[lawnkingforever]

Like you I am part-timer in lawn care and have a pretty decent fulltime job and have thought of bailing many times. My wife and I have crunched the numbers and the numbers just don't add up. With my benefits and pay it would be very hard to replace that going full-time in lawn care. If the numbers worked I would do it tommorow. But with your age and living at home I would it. Why be at a job you hate?

[mjml&l]

Last year I left a job with benefits to go full time with my lco (I was part time for about 8 years) I had the same concerns as you. It ended up being easier than I ever expected.

[zima]

jump on it,it's just the rigth time of the year, advertize,advertize,you will make it

[Raven386]

the only bad thing IMO, is leaving the benefits.