pump me up

[mikey]

hi
thinkin of startin out this spring and need a little kick in the ass
afraid im not gonna make any $$$ .my problem is that im gonna have to start out with my 94 xplorer and buy a 6x10 or 6z12 trailer and hook it up.Afraid that i might look unprofessional when i pull up to their house.I need to use this truck cuz i cant afford a better truck right now.i used to have a steady paycheck and now im layed off and im afraid i might not be able to pay bills and a;ll the other crap plus im getting married in june .Didi all u guys go thru this wehen u first started out to?



go pats!!!!!!

[Downeast]

mike I know this carpenter that has long scragly hair.scragly beard , carries his tools around in an old dodge passenger van loolin like the beverly hillbillies , wears dirty scrubby looking swim trunks and sneakers to work {his jobs }.But he is sought after and has a very good clientel because he is very good at what he does ,and he pays me very well when I work for him.

are you related to marky mark?
Go Pats

[stahls2]

Mikey,

I thought the same way. However, once I started speaking with potential customers and listening closely to their prior complaints about their former LCO's. I believe customers just want a good job done. Make them feel as though they are important to you and your business. (Which they are! No customers, No business!) Be honest, do a good job, charge what you have to and customers will come.

For Example.
I had a potential customer call me the other day. He stated he had been through several LCO's throughout the years and was tired of paying LCO's to blow grass in landscape beds, destroying turf, and doing a poor job in general.
He stated at least ten times that money was not an issue. He told me to charge whatever, just as long as I did a good job.

Some may believe this guy is going to be trouble to work for. And he just may be. I see this as an opportunity for me to make money and make him happy in the mean time.

[Nelson]

Sometimes it gets confusing listening to everybod's input?
I am glad of Lawn Site. Do not get me wrong but,........


Mikey,

Sometimes it's good to sit down.... & Listen to yourself?

#1- Are you willing to do what you plain on doing no matter
what input you get?

#2 - I learned that the answers you want to hear.... Are always
not what you get.

#3- Have a mindset.. that no matter what, I am still going
to do what i first planned on doing. No matter "Good Or Bad"

#4- I am just starting out also.. & I REFUSE to give up !!!!!!!

Feel free to E-mail me w/any questions..........

:blob4: REFUSE

[david griggs]

when i first started out i was useing an old black camero and two 21' snappers in the trunk! no one ever said anything about it beacause i did a good job. people like determination more than a brand new shiny truck. at least yours is probaly paid for! if your happy then thats all that matters.

[lawnranger44]

My brother and I are starting out this year too, and I am 16 and i don't get my licence until late July. Until then, we're going to have to either walk from yard to yard (if they're in the same neighborhood) or my dad to drop us off. I can't wait till i get my licence!

[parkwest]

Originally posted by mikey
.i used to have a steady paycheck and now im layed off and im afraid i might not be able to pay bills and a;ll the other crap plus im getting married in june .

Nothing personal but, why in the world would you get married right now and what girl would marry a guy in your situation, also what dad would let his daughter marry you right now? Would a man want to make a woman live under these conditions? A good guage to use for a man to decide if he can afford to get married, Can you live on a tenth of what you make?

Get yourself together first. Get a business plan together. Get a market plan together. (Got to the SBA web page, they will help you.) Over 75% of new business' fail because they don't plan to succeed.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail!!

[PAPS]

sell your 94 explorer for a used pick-up truck to start.... and make do with what ever other equip. you can afford.

[gogetter]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by parkwest
Nothing personal but, why in the world would you get married right now and what girl would marry a guy in your situation, also what dad would let his daughter marry you right now? Would a man want to make a woman live under these conditions


What the hell does that mean?!?! This is one of the shallowest things I heard in a while. He probably has a strong, independent woman that loves him and encourages him no matter what. Not some princess that REQUIRES he provides for her.
"What dad would let his daughter marry you" ??? Are you living in the stone age? Who cares what the dad thinks!
Wow, sounds like you've got some issues with your wife and in laws bro.

Mikey, go for it and good luck to you and your future wife!

[parkwest]

We used to have a system that worked for thousands of years. Todays system, brought to us by the free love hippies of the sixties, where you send your 16 yo daughter out and hope she gets knocked up by mister right, I just don't believe is working.

The advice I gave was to encourage the guy to have a plan, including picking a mate for life.

[gogetter]

You sure are assuming ALOT parkwest. You have NO idea what this couples situation is, why in the world would you make such comments?
I lived with my girlfriend for 10 years before we ever got married. We got married just after I was laid off and just as I started my part time lawn biz.
Her parents have always treated me like I was thier son. They couldn't care less where I was at in my career or financial situation! They're not shallow and neither is my wife.
She's a workaholic and doesn't rely on me to provide for her. She can do that just fine for herself.

For all we know Mikey could be in a similar situation. Who knows?

For you to insinuate that her "free loving hippie parents sent her out when she was 16 in hopes that she would get knocked up by Mr. right" is pretty unbelievable!

[scagman]

Youll be fine. Youe first year or two things might be on the tight side, but stay with it. #1 thing is to pass out as many fliers as you can. Door knob hangers, or stick fliers in the paper box not as affective, but very easy and alot of ground is covered. Work on your selling/people skills bid accordingly and do the extra. You say you have an explorer, no big deal just keep it real clean looking and try to buy a mower with high horsepower so you can mulch. Go with the 6 x 12 a couple hundred bucks for 2 extra feet is well worth the money. Always look ahead that 6 X 10 will fill up way to fast ask the guys. These guys even say a 6 x 12 is to small well then I just wasted almost $3500 no Im kidding Ill just use it for another crew and buy bigger. Your explorer should be able to handle a 6 x 12 Im assuming it has a 4.0 V6. Get trailer brakes, also I think the single axle will have alot of tounge wright, so $150 for extra leafs for your explorer will be $$ well spent.

[hubb]

When I started out last year, I used an Explorer too. I think how your jobs look after your done is more important than what you show up in. I was self conscience about my ride too, until I saw this guy with a mustard yellow and dirt brown Dodge ramcharger that looked like crap towing a beat up chopper and an exmark around. Both mowers look like he never cleaned either one up. But he mows the local Wal-Mart by my house and he has several other commercial properties right around this area. I'm sure he's driving that ugly piece of crap right up to the bank with just as much money as anyone of us. And he probably don't have the payments that I do on my Chevy dually supercab. So like I said, dont worry about it.

[1stclasslawns]

I wasn't going to reply but here goes.

#1 if you wait till YOU can afford to start you will wait too long.

#2 if you wait till YOU can afford to get married you never will.

Start NOW do the best you can do with what you have. DO NOT get anything you cant afford. When you have the jobs then upgrade equipment. Keep striving to do better and learn more then you will be a success.

Could I afford new equipment when I started, no, that is why I started in the first place so I could get a new riding mower. 9 years later I have 3 riders.

Could I afford to get married when I did no, could we afford kids no. But my wife and I will this month be married 18 years with 2 kids ages 4 and 5 and can I afford it now? NO but we'll manage.

And as for the comment above about what kind of guy would let his daughter marry a "guy" like you it is the kind of daddy that wants his daughter to live a happy life and will help if he needs to. Remember though "If you fail to plan you plan to fail"

Go for it, do the best you can do, keep out of debt, and the best to ya!


Jim

[JSMLAWNCARE]

Let me start off by saying GOOD LUCK!!

I beat you all...
Two years ago I started off with a 1986 Pontiac Safari "STATION WAGON" and a 70's JD 110. Later that summer i bought a used JD 48" wb and I still used my old 4X8 trailer. The wb sticks over on both sides of the trailer. I bought a 2001 Dodge Dakota last year. It works good for now. As soon as I get my Rider, "hopefully this year", I might have to get a bigger truck. But start off with what you have. It all will work out just fine!!!

As for the wife. GOD BLESS YOU!!! I got married in Oct of 2000 and its working out great!!!! She doesn't like all the long hours. But she is making the sacrifices just like me.

Good Luck again!!!!

Jim M

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

My stratergy is to drive beat up vans to work out of. Make the customers think you're not making any $$$$$$. Only lost one account last year (sold house). I let my work speak for itself. Don't be ashamed to work out of the Explorer. I see lco's all the time with brand new trucks, mowers, etc... and all I can think about is what their overhead must be.

LAWNS AND MOWER

[AL Inc]

Mikey- Good luck and stay strong. You will find a lot of people trying to discourage you. Also very good advice from Naturallawn above. We all started out small, me with a Mazda pick-up and an old Bunton 36", what a nightmare. But I got through it and now run 3 trucks and 140 accounts. So stay determined and stick with it! I'm also getting married this year and that is scary enough, I can't imagine starting a business at the same time! Good luck. Mike

[parkwest]

Originally posted by gogetter
You have NO idea what this couples situation is, why in the world would you make such comments?
I lived with my girlfriend for 10 years before we ever got married. We got married just after I was laid off and just as I started my part time lawn biz.
Her parents have always treated me like I was thier son. They couldn't care less where I was at in my career or financial situation! They're not shallow and neither is my wife.
She's a workaholic and doesn't rely on me to provide for her. She can do that just fine for herself.

For all we know Mikey could be in a similar situation. Who knows?

For you to insinuate that her "free loving hippie parents sent her out when she was 16 in hopes that she would get knocked up by Mr. right" is pretty unbelievable!

Point #1 Read mikey's original post. He tells us what his situation is.

Point #2 Most on here claim to be Christians so when you say you lived with your girlfriend for 10 years before marrying her is what was known as common-law wife. (God doesn't wait for the state to issue a license to define marriage- see consumating wedding vows)

Point #3 You claim wife's parents couldn't care less about you, your finances, or your career, then state they aren't shallow. Which one is it?

Mikey, you can have a plan or you can be a victim of life - your choice. Be careful where you seek advice. Find someone who you would define as successful, then emulate him.

[Robert Ewald]

Mikey
Just like many of the guys on here I am getting married this summer and the love of my life works right along side of me. Sure things are tuff some times but that is life. No matter what you do there will always be ups and downs. Just do the best possible work you can and you will create a following of happy loyal customers.

In regards to all this other stuff being posted on this thread I may not agree with him but this is what makes America great the ability to freely express your ideas.

[gogetter]

parkwest, I'll just say you sure take stuff outta context and leave it at that.

[parkwest]

Hey johny, mikey asked for advice. I gave him advice based on over 20 years of business experience and 47 years of experience of life in general. You personally attacked my advice based on your 14 years as a delivery boy. Johny, give me a call when you gross a million. Then we'll talk.

Final advice to mikey. Look at the profiles.

[gogetter]

Sorry, not impressed.

[gogetter]

parkwest, although you were obviously trying to insult me in your last post, you were probably insulting at least half of the almost 6,000 members of LS here.
Ya see, everyone here started somewhere. I guess you must have started right at the top. Hooray for you.

There's an interesting thread taking place on another similar site that will explain how most of us started somewhere else.
Thread's titled "previous employment".
I have more respect those factory workers, truck/bus drivers, grocery store workers, mechanics, salesmen, etc, etc, then I ever could for someone that would post the things you've posted in this thread.

So this "delivery boy" will continue to grow his business and hope that someday I can sit on my high horse and belittle the new guys too. Me and you buddy, side by side sitting in our millions, just pointing and laughing. LOL!

[HOMER]

Parkwest made some good points about planning.

If this is what you want to do then by all means or any means do it. One piece of advice I'll give you is stay out of debt, no matter what it costs!

My wife says she would live in a pup tent with me as long as we were happy...........been close to doing that a few times...........getting married when the funds are low could cause some problems unless all this is ironed out ahead of time. When the going gets tough sometimes the relationship takes a few punches and it don't matter what line of work your in.

If only we could go back and delete our mistakes of the past.

Plan ahead so you don't need to, that's what Parkwest was saying............I think.

Pretty good advice if you ask me..........wish I'd a got it.

[plow kid]

heres a pic of a guy that uses a Jeep, almost the same as a Ford Exploder, looks like a clean setup.~NaTe

[HOMER]

Well now there's an example of how NOT to dress for success!:rolleyes:

[plow kid]

true, I think that shirts off look unprofessional ~NaTe

[kroll]

"A good guage to use for a man to decide if he can afford to get married, Can you live on a tenth of what you make? "
I've been married 25 yrs. and put 2 kids through
college. I can't live on a tenth of what I make.
should I not be married??????????
or selfemployed???????????

NO GUTS NO GLORY

[parkwest]

Hey kroll, thats a decision you'll have to make, not me. Maybe if, at your age, you can't live on a tenth, your not at your full potential yet.

[Downeast]

Mikey what do you think about all this ?Are you getting pumped up or depressed ? We gots to know !
Go Pats !!!

[kroll]

Parkwest:
the difference being live or survive
but I know what your saying and don't totally
disagree.just interpreted negativley.

[parkwest]

kroll, I heard that from an old man in his 80's a long time ago and it seemed appropriate for this guy.

Example: A few years ago 2 sons came home from neighbors house telling me about how the lady had bought an $1800 mt bike. They asked how she could afford such a nice bike. I took them into our garage and showed them the six $700 mt bikes we had hanging from the ceiling and said she didn't have any kids.

[Likestomow]

Mikey, you are 32 years old and out of work for who knows how long. The job you had last was simply a “steady paycheck” to you.

From this you want to start a business and get married almost at the same time. I say get real --- do one or the other. It would be way too frustrating to try to do both.

[WatkinsLawn]

In 1992 I started out with a beat up 1980 Dodge D-50 (if you don't know it is smaller than a S-10) and a trailor made from the back end of a Ford F-150. I think the trailor weighed more than the truck. It looked as though I bought my rig from Sanford and Son's. When I started mowing in April I only had 7 accounts, by the end of May that same year I had 55 residential accounts.
It seemed as though prospects were asking me for estimates every where I stopped. I believe they assumed I would be cheap because of my rig.
Now looking back, I was cheap. In fact that business only lasted 2 years and I had to sell. Never mind. I have nothing inspirational to offer you. Sorry.

Nah. I'm kiddin. I mean its true, but I do have some good advice. NEVER give up. I failed three times and went completely broke before I finally made it in this business. I expect that most of the guys that have been in the business for awhile will tell you that there are a lot of hard times. But if you persevere through the bad times it will pay dividends into the good times. Learn from your mistakes as well as others. Aways do what you say you will do. Under promise and over deliver. And always ALWAYS close the gate before you leave the property (just trust me on that one).
Good luck!

[gogetter]

[i]Originally posted by Likestomow
From this you want to start a business and get married almost at the same time. I say get real --- do one or the other. It would be way too frustrating to try to do both. [/B]

Why? I did it.

P.S. I wanted to apologize to Mike for taking his post so far off topic and turning into something between parkwest and myself. In retrospect, I should have e-mailed parkwest privately and discussed my feelings about his comments to him directly. Or kept my feelings to myself.
Good luck with whatever you choose Mike, and no hard feelings parkwest.

[_GUNNER_8]

Originally posted by parkwest


Point #1 Read mikey's original post. He tells us what his situation is.

Point #2 Most on here claim to be Christians so when you say you lived with your girlfriend for 10 years before marrying her is what was known as common-law wife. (God doesn't wait for the state to issue a license to define marriage- see consumating wedding vows)

Point #3 You claim wife's parents couldn't care less about you, your finances, or your career, then state they aren't shallow. Which one is it?

Mikey, you can have a plan or you can be a victim of life - your choice. Be careful where you seek advice. Find someone who you would define as successful, then emulate him.



Very well stated!!!!!!Find some1 successful, then try to emulate him, could not agree more!!!Far as advice goes , don't know your state laws but i would bet 75% of these guys giving advice are not certified for spraying, if you put down round-up in TN and are charging for it or tiple 13 fertilizer for that matter u have to be certified,also if your putting out flowers,shrubs,or any nursey stock also have to have to be certified, how many people in here carry workers comp. and also Buisness License, and pay uncle sam? Far as doesn't matter what you look like or drive or equipment thats hog wash!Successful people like dealing with successful people!!!

[Downeast]

I have comp and liability, I am a sub , I pay my taxes , On march 18,19, I am going to pest school ,and on the 20th I am going to take the exam . I am 43 and have been marriede for 14 years and my daughter just turned 14 and is on the hoor role , so there.

[Downeast]

sorry about the spelling .That would be married and honor role. That hoor thing looked pretty bad . she is really a good kid .

[Downeast]

And another thing . Even though this state is loaded with commiecrates, you dont need a certificate to plant shrubs and flowers .Yet

[HOMER]

All this and no response from the thread starter!

I hate it when that happens.:cry:

[awm]

just get somethin that will mow and somethin that will go.
and startlooking for wk. u might think about birthcontrol
for a while ,but thats up to you.not a better time than
being young an in love. 2 eat as cheap as one. its sighning on too many dotted lines that cause things to get tough.and it do happen a lot.later now an luck to you.

[_GUNNER_8]

Originally posted by Chester M5
And another thing . Even though this state is loaded with commiecrates, you dont need a certificate to plant shrubs and flowers
.Yet

Chester, in state of TN yes u have to be certified to put out nursey stock and flowers I should know,state fellow stoped by 1st week of jan. to check all my invoices and receipts.Guy across from my office and shop just suppose to do fert. pre and post ,state guy came back next day and fined him for a load of nursery stock.Don't think he will be fooling with nursery stock for a while unless he gets certified lol.

[Downeast]

gunner dont be giving Beacon Hill any ideas . As far as I know you dont need one in this state.I have never heard that you need any such thing in this state. I will ask my friend ,he has been in the bis for twenty years or so . Bummer for that guy that got tagged . Or hurray for the good guys .

[65hoss]

In the state of TN you do not need a license to apply fertilizer. Any weed control or pesticide you do. But not regular fertilizer. I also researched the plant installation, and nobody ever heard of that for a lawn care company.

[_GUNNER_8]

Originally posted by 65hoss
In the state of TN you do not need a license to apply fertilizer. Any weed control or pesticide you do. But not regular fertilizer. I also researched the plant installation, and nobody ever heard of that for a lawn care company.


LOL people like you never seem to amaze me.First question how long you been in buisness?Second, lawn care company? if u put out nursery stock or annuals thats not lawn care thats LANDSCAPING!! on fertilizer it does not matter you still have to have certification do your homework buddy then give remarks!!!!!
I have all the paperwork sitting right here on my desk in front of me if you have FAX MACHINE i fax it right to you.State is not putting up with that **** anymore and i do not blame them,so if you get stopped or audited then give them that DUMB LOOK like some many guys do and say "WELL I DIDN'T KNOW THAT,I ASKED AROUND AND THEY SAID I DIDN"T HAVE TO HAVE ANY CERTF." LOL good luck!!!!

[david griggs]

screw the state!! their always trying to make $$ of our sweat!! if they want to plant flowers ,then they can do it!!!:mad:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by _GUNNER_8



LOL people like you never seem to amaze me.First question how long you been in buisness?Second, lawn care company? if u put out nursery stock or annuals thats not lawn care thats LANDSCAPING!! on fertilizer it does not matter you still have to have certification do your homework buddy then give remarks!!!!!
I have all the paperwork sitting right here on my desk in front of me if you have FAX MACHINE i fax it right to you.State is not putting up with that **** anymore and i do not blame them,so if you get stopped or audited then give them that DUMB LOOK like some many guys do and say "WELL I DIDN'T KNOW THAT,I ASKED AROUND AND THEY SAID I DIDN"T HAVE TO HAVE ANY CERTF." LOL good luck!!!!

Sounds like news to us, but we have similar laws here in MO, and Hoss is 100% correct. If you can prove him wrong then I suggest, posting a link to the department of AG that clearly shows the law/rule.

Flowers and small shrubs cannot be classified as Landscaping directly as many plant them. If it was it would have to be a very lineant law bacause there is to many to inforce against with little to no advertisement.

I know you don't need any licenesing for what I posted above.

If you were a Landscaper only and doing Big trees and such mabe, but never have I heard about it for shrubs and flowers.

Here is a link for all Ag certifcations in TN.

Ag certifcation (http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/regulate/regulat6.html)

I'm from the "Show Me" state so show me.

[65hoss]

Better yet, here is the direct link to the fertilizing issue.

http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/regulate/regulat6.html

Check out the FAQ at the bottom. Seems to have a question directly about what you said.

"on fertilizer it does not matter you still have to have certification do your homework buddy then give remarks!!!!! " Ok, I've done my homework now. Would you really like me to continue making remarks?

[ERIC ROBERGE]

For thousands of years man thought the earth was flat and it was the center of the universe. That did not make them right.

[_GUNNER_8]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER


Sounds like news to us, but we have similar laws here in MO, and Hoss is 100% correct. If you can prove him wrong then I suggest, posting a link to the department of AG that clearly shows the law/rule.

Flowers and small shrubs cannot be classified as Landscaping directly as many plant them. If it was it would have to be a very lineant law bacause there is to many to inforce against with little to no advertisement.

I know you don't need any licenesing for what I posted above.

If you were a Landscaper only and doing Big trees and such mabe, but never have I heard about it for shrubs and flowers.

Here is a link for all Ag certifcations in TN.
DO YOU HAVE FAX MACHINE??????????
URL=http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/regulate/regulat6.html]Ag certifcation[/URL]

I'm from the "Show Me" state so show me.

[_GUNNER_8]

lawngodfather
(1)I'm reading from Tennesse department of agriculture
Chapter 5-plant pest act
DEALER:-Any person not a grower of nursery stock or other plants that buys or otherwise aquires nursery stock or other plants for the purpose of RESELLING or otherwise DISTRIBUTING same independently of any control of grower.
(2)i was wrong on triple 13 and man enough to admit it but, I'm stating right now whoever sats there and says they don't put down "weed and feed" and does not uses "round-up" and been in buisness more couple years is a OUT RIGHT LIAR, and you have to have certification, it is a $2500 dollar fine,on nursery i'm willing to put my money were mouth is!!!!!!ARE YOU TWO???????

[HOMER]

All this and STILL no response from Mikey...........I quit.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

It will be a few hours. I don't feel like driving to the office to pick up a fax.

But I relooked at the web site, all of dept of ag, and still nothing for certification for landscapers.

Only for nusery.

I'm pretty sure it's for the reason of not contaminating other plants with insects and/or other pests. For nursey certification.

BTW landscapers are not resellers nor are they distributers. Resellers are Wal-crap.

[mikey]

just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has replied
its god to know that i can go somewhere and have my questions answered right away and honest....


god speed....


how about those pats!!!!!!!
it was a holding call away from being a blowout?

[crazygator]

Originally posted by _GUNNER_8
lawngodfather
(1)I'm reading from Tennesse department of agriculture
Chapter 5-plant pest act
DEALER:-Any person not a grower of nursery stock or other plants that buys or otherwise aquires nursery stock or other plants for the purpose of RESELLING or otherwise DISTRIBUTING same independently of any control of grower.
(2)i was wrong on triple 13 and man enough to admit it but, I'm stating right now whoever sats there and says they don't put down "weed and feed" and does not uses "round-up" and been in buisness more couple years is a OUT RIGHT LIAR, and you have to have certification, it is a $2500 dollar fine,on nursery i'm willing to put my money were mouth is!!!!!!ARE YOU TWO???????

I wonder why some people list no email address when they think they know it all?

[skeloo]

Mikey:
If u don't have any down payments ect on a wedding yet wait.
If u do then my advice would be to get a job doing something else for now and save some money to start up in the furture, you really need to do alot of reading and imfo gathering. Just being on here won't answer everything for u there is alot of good advice here but you still need to get more as the more imfo you have the more you will learn so many people think lawncutting is the easy way out when they loose their job or just want their own business but they soon find out it takes more then hard labour .Its alot of brain work to . Its like any business you are always learning and things are always changing.
It,s not all cutting trimming ect it's knowing how to communcate with people , I could go on and on, however I was reading all the posts you have put on this site and you have so many questions and some scare me not to be mean but do some hard thinking and learning it will be worth it in the long run not to jump right into all this its a good business to have you can go far with it if you do it right . My boyfriend and I have been doing it for almost 11 years now well 6 for me he stated it himself and I wanted to help and here we are still together though sometimes it get hard but like others have said you stick together and as for married that is something we know will happen so no rush we have the rest of our lives together but getting your life together is what you need to do first. any way good luck
:blob3:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

OK GUNNER

I have recived your FAX.

You have missinterpered it.

It is for some one along the line has to have some sort of certification for pest control along the line of imported plants. As each plant will recive a verification/certification of being checked and dipped for pests.

[JimLewis]

Hey Mikey, I am not going to bother replying to a lot of the above.

But don't sweat it and just go for it. I do agree with the advice to sell your vehicle and buy a decent used truck. It doesn't even have to be a 94. All the trucks in my fleet except the one I drive are all older trucks but we keep them looking great.

As for just getting married soon, you are doing the best thing you could do for your marraige - becoming self employed and in charge of your own income. In a few years you'll understand more what I mean. But to summarize, here's a good quote from one of my favorite books;

"Americans have conditioned themselves to believe in a movement almost as dangerous a communism. I call it Job-ism. Under communism, the government takes away your freedom and forces you to depend on them for all of your basic needs. Under Job-ism, you voluntarily give away your freedom in exchange for a [fixed] weekly paycheck,"

Once you figure out how to make money on your own and how easy it is to determine your own income (which takes a few years on your own typically), you will have done the best thing for you, your wife, and your family that you could have done.

I quit my job and jumped in with both feet the week after I got married. Within a month I was making more than I was at my job and now I make 4-10 times that on any given month.

If you are the kind of person who's willing to learn, work hard, and not give up, you should do fine!

[thartz]

Mikey, If everyone here hasn't scared the crap out of you yet here is some food for thought. I would rather have a good woman with me during the bad times than a bad woman with me during the good times. On the business side; Say what you are going to do than do what you said. New trucks and pretty shiny mowers account for zero if people think your full of S#@%. It won't take long to get a bad name if your integrity is questioned. Good luck and watch this website so you can learn as much as possible

[skyphoto]

Well said Thartz!:)

[lamblawnscaping]

Mikey,

I wish you the best of luck getting your business going. Don't worry about the truck, people are more concerned with the quality of your work than your vehicle. When my brother and I started out we didn't even have a truck. We had to rent and old ford, and when the tailgate snapped off with our brand new 36 crashing to the ground, we decided to rent a penske truck. We drove that big yellow cube truck for most of our first season. This is our third season and now we have an 89 E250cargo van, an 85 F250, and we just purchased a 96 f350 14ft stakebody. We are totally debt free. I would recommend staying that way, at least for the first 3 or 4 years, until you get things down to a science. We started in the cheaper neihborhoods and are moving our way into the nicer ones and charging more money. <b>Just do good work, call people back when you are supposed to, and try to stay out of debt, and you will do just fine.</b>