how to know if I have enough equipment

[Property Pro 1975]

I have a 6.5X14 ft trailer , 61 lz6127 Husq. , 48 ferris walk behind , 2 kawasaki commercial trimmers and a Kawasaki commercial blower , trailer has 2 foot mesh side and trimmer racks. Is this enough to start out mowing commercial contracts and make a living. Thanks

[KrayzKajun]

you bought all this equipment and dont have any accounts yet?
should have got the accounts before you bought equipment!!

[Tyler7692]

That should do it.

[Property Pro 1975]

I know sounds weird to buy the equipment before any contracts . But right now I make good money and can afforde it. I plan on hitting hard next year and wanted to have the equipment to do the jobs. I work night shift 12hr shifts and I am looking to make this my full time job . I know it won't happen overnight and wont be easy but I'm going to give it a go. Thanks for the feedback, even if its not what I want to hear .

[Sweet Tater]

Don't forget 1 5gal gas can for gas and 1 2gal gas can for oil/gas mix, extra trimmer string, misc tools for on the spot repairs, extra set of blades, gloves and hearing protection ... oh and eye protection.

[Property Pro 1975]

Ive got some of those things thanks . Hows it going your 1st year seen it on your profile. Are you doing this full time or part time .

[RhettMan]

just a few things that make a bad situations alot less stressful.

Get a tire repair kit, gas stations have $.75 air if you dont have an air tank
Have a box of sparkplugs, can of starter fluid, a dedicated pair of string scissors

Orange Cones-because someone somewhere just turned 16 and got their license and can text message 30 words per minute, and drive at the same time.

Im interested to hear what other things people have found useful to have all the time.

[MOW PRO LAWN SERVICE]

Don't quit your job,you have enough equipment to go..........

[Roger]

I have been at the business eleven years, and don't have that much equipment. And, sometimes I think I have too much!

[shane mapes]

good luck in the spring. I also work night shift 4-10s and do mowing 2 days a week. If it picks up do you have a helper and just keep in mind that the work changes through out the year. I too hope to make this a full time thing, but will keep the real job until i make double my income from mowing .. good luck

[Tadams]

I know sounds weird to buy the equipment before any contracts . But right now I make good money and can afforde it. I plan on hitting hard next year and wanted to have the equipment to do the jobs. I work night shift 12hr shifts and I am looking to make this my full time job . I know it won't happen overnight and wont be easy but I'm going to give it a go. Thanks for the feedback, even if its not what I want to hear .

That is exactly how I started out! 12 hour night shifts- thanks a lot for bringing that nightmare back up! You have plenty of equipment to start out doing residential and some small commercial stuff but not enough to go after bug commercial.

Here are some things that you will need to make life a lot easier. An air compressor at home, 1/2" impact gun & sockets, extra blades, vise & grinder to sharpen blades, grease gun, a portable air tank for the truck, air gauge, extra trimmer spools, extra edger blades, trimmer line & cutter, a small tool kit, flat tire repair kit (including a spray bottle with soapy water in it), water jug.
there are tons of stuff that you will eventually need but it would take pages to list everything.

[nobagger]

you bought all this equipment and dont have any accounts yet?
should have got the accounts before you bought equipment!!

I was lucky, we subbed out from a large landscaping company my first 2 years so we had the accounts just needed the equipment. But imo, its "6 in one hand and half a dozen in the other". You need the equipment to do the jobs, people are not going to wait a month or two til' you get the equip. together. On the other hand, all that equipment and no customers isnt a good thing either.

[Brianslawn]

nope its not.

[zak406]

if all that equipment is payed off or will be paid off in a few months i dont see a problem with buying it first worst comes to worst sell it off take a small lose its better than starting with a 21 in mower and a crafstman trimmer slowly get into the business becasue chances are taht one morning u wont just wake up and have enough to sustain your house and life.

[Even Cut Lawn Care]

I have been at the business eleven years, and don't have that much equipment. And, sometimes I think I have too much!

Are you kidding me?

[Property Pro 1975]

That was my way of thinking too, along with ZAK worse case I sell it and take a small loss . In the same breathe I have heard you bought all that and no jobs yet, I even thought it a little. But like I said I make the money to afford it and I also paid off my truck before I bought the equipment.

[Property Pro 1975]

I hate night shift and am at wits end working it. But I have worked here for over 8 years and make good money and have great benefits but no life to enjoy while working this shift. I have always wanted to do this and I am in a place financially to give it a go. You guys who have worked 12 hour night shift know what Im talking about I feel like crap all the time. Sorry to bring back up the nightmare but Im living it and trying like hell to end it.

[joe the lawn guy]

you have allot more than i did . now i have 60-70 per week 3 mowers & 3 trimmers 3 back pack blowers & a push blower . lots of little things shears & hands tools now if you do fall clean-ups you may need a push blower or a good bagger . i use the blower on parking lots and just bag the lawns i have a rider with a good bagger tho . just my 2 cents . if you ever have a ?? please feel free to pm me

[Property Pro 1975]

Thanks I'll keep you in mind.

[mngrassguy]

Don't forget insurance. It would suck to have some dirt bag come in and steal it all from you while your at work before you even get started. It happens.

[Sweet Tater]

Ive got some of those things thanks . Hows it going your 1st year seen it on your profile. Are you doing this full time or part time .

actualy this is the end of my second, need to update the profile. Its going good, I doubled the amount of customers I had last year, and hope to double it again for next year. Its rough getting started, but if you have a good head on your shooulders and good work ethics you'll make it.

[Property Pro 1975]

actualy this is the end of my second, need to update the profile. Its going good, I doubled the amount of customers I had last year, and hope to double it again for next year. Its rough getting started, but if you have a good head on your shooulders and good work ethics you'll make it.

Any thing you learned in the first year thats made it easier for the second. And how did you double your customers in that second season. I think I have a good head for business and I know I have the work ethic to make it just need some knowledge on how to go about doing it or tricks of the trade.

[Roger]

... And, sometimes I think I have too much!

Are you kidding me?

I presume your reference is to my comment about having too much equipment. Let me explain myself further. Unless I can see that some new piece of equipment will produce a ROI, or if I can see that it will help generate new business, then it is appropriate to add to the list. However, I'm in the season of life where generating new business is not the priority. Each piece of equipment requires space to store when not in use, new maintenance procedures to learn, and to do, etc. If adding something makes economic sense, then it is a good idea for me. If not, then to add it to my list is only adding a burden. I'm no longer willing to add burdens.

This is not an industry where "the one with the most toys wins." I read so many threads about suggestions to buy this, buy that, or spend money for something new, in order to accomplish a single task. In my situation, that is usually foolhardy. Equipment depreciates very quickly. Having spent the money initially, little of that money will be recovered. When it makes an profit, then the initial cost, space costs, and maintenance cost, is easily justified.

Yes, one can have too much equipment. This was demonstrated in a recent post about somebody buying an aerator, using it one (two?) times, and wanted to trade it on a new mower. The aerator was "too much equipment."

[HOOLIE]

I have a 6.5X14 ft trailer , 61 lz6127 Husq. , 48 ferris walk behind , 2 kawasaki commercial trimmers and a Kawasaki commercial blower , trailer has 2 foot mesh side and trimmer racks. Is this enough to start out mowing commercial contracts and make a living. Thanks

I don't see the point in both a 61" and 48"...the 48 likely is not going to fit thru gates. At least around here, most fence gates are 42" or smaller. A 36 would be a better option for me.

[Property Pro 1975]

I don't see the point in both a 61" and 48"...the 48 likely is not going to fit thru gates. At least around here, most fence gates are 42" or smaller. A 36 would be a better option for me.

I was told even by people before I bought that mower about that. Most yards around here are smaller yards if there fenced in. I would rather had the bigger walk behind to put my help on. Its funny the price didnt change much from 36 to 48 cut. All that said you and everyone else has a good point.

[nriddle77]

I would add a stick edger to that list

[Escapeslawncare]

Dont Listen To the KrayzKajun, I purchased my equipment before I had a single customer, And was able to make the payment on the loan and pay for gas in the first month, But it sounds like you need an edger, Try Husqivarna, light and manuverable

[brucec32]

I have a 6.5X14 ft trailer , 61 lz6127 Husq. , 48 ferris walk behind , 2 kawasaki commercial trimmers and a Kawasaki commercial blower , trailer has 2 foot mesh side and trimmer racks. Is this enough to start out mowing commercial contracts and make a living. Thanks

Let me know when you list all this stuff on Ebay. :)

[Wittapp]

just a few things that make a bad situations alot less stressful.

Get a tire repair kit, gas stations have $.75 air if you dont have an air tank
Have a box of sparkplugs, can of starter fluid, a dedicated pair of string scissors

Orange Cones-because someone somewhere just turned 16 and got their license and can text message 30 words per minute, and drive at the same time.

Im interested to hear what other things people have found useful to have all the time.

I learned the hard way to keep an extera pair of socks and and extera pair of boots in the truck. And a roll of large heavy duty trash bags.

[ALC-GregH]

Let me know when you list all this stuff on Ebay. :)

Why would he list them on egay? He's just getting started and sounds like he's on the right track. Hell, I don't have enough equipment, I'd like to add a WB to my short list. I have a choice right now to either use a 60in cut or a 22in cut. The 22in will take forever and the 60in can't get on specific hills and areas that a smaller WB can get into. I have to limit my choices in what properties I can cover without a WB. As of right now, even though I have a Scag ZTR, I think I'd rather have a BOP dually over the Scag Pro-V. I don't like the fact you have to maintain contact with the handles at all times for it to stay running. They use a pressure sensitive hand grip of some sort that to me is just another thing that can fail and be costly to fix. I wish I could demo a 44 dually but BOP doesn't have a dealer network in place to allow it. I'm curious about the controls and the ease of use with the EZR control system. They look to be much easier to operate with over a Toro T2, Wright stander and even the Scag Pro-V handles, forget a piston grip WB, I will NEVER own one. Back to the BOP dually control's, from the video, they look to be very easy to use and maintain control.

[JimmyStew]

you bought all this equipment and dont have any accounts yet?
should have got the accounts before you bought equipment!!

Wrong answer! Any new startup business is going to require an investment from the owner. Why convince every neighborhood kid or unhappy office drone that they can hitch a wagon to their 10 year old sedan and tote around the old murray 21 from the garage and call themselves a lawn care company. The best advice we can give, for the benefit of this industry, is to save up your money to buy the proper equipment to start a legitimate, professional business. This helps to boost the image of this industry as well as regulate pricing.

[bakerc8]

when you get acconts you have all you need