How long have you been in business

[PRECISION LC]

Just wondering how long you have been in business. How old you were when you started and how long it took to get to your desired size?

[Daleman]

Been in business officially for 2 days now. Hope to obtain 30 customers before spring starts!! Let the Advertising begin!!

[BobR]

Welcome Precision LC

Have been business for five years, was 55 when my employment with a large company went on the rocks, took my severence pay and started up.. I work alone and reached capacity in three years (might be able to do more but I believe my customers would see a decline in personal attention), I have never looked back (company job). Watch out for the shoppers and cheapskates your service is worth a good price don't give it away.

[PAPS]

started cutting some of the neighbor's lawns at the age of 17 and who would have known it would have turned into a pretty large company right now at the age of 24.

[Bassman]

Originally posted by BobR
Welcome Precision LC

Watch out for the shoppers and cheapskates your service is worth a good price don't give it away.

When I started out in June of 2000, I jumped on just about every opportunity to make a buck and settled for less than I should have as far as compensation goes. BobR is right on with his analysis of shoppers and cheapskates. After I saw that I would be able to meet expenses and make a go of my LCO, I finally started to bid jobs without being afraid that I would lose the prospect if I was not "low enough". Don't sell your services too cheaply. There are plenty of potential customers who are smart enough to know that they get what they pay for. After you are established and have a full schedule, you can start to replace slow payors, eccentric over-demanding types, etc. with appreciative and loyal customers who pay great and love the superior service you provide and wouldn't drop you no matter what low baller comes down the pike. You've got them for life and every time you perform maint. on their property you know you are earning fair compensation for the time you put in and you will be paid promptly when your statement goes out. Money in the bank, no hassles.

[rodfather]

This is the beginning of our 8th year. I started our firm when I was 38. Who knows where it will go from there?

[DMS]

Kyle (Precision LC)-

I started mowing with my grandfather at age 10. We maintained about 5-10 properties. In 1996, at age 16 I decided I was sick of making minimum wage lifeguarding, so I set myself up to expand. I haven't looked back since. I reached my desired capacity of 70 in the third year ('98). I would say I routinely turn away about 50 customers per year. I would like to take them on, but most of my help is in high school and are involved with extracurricular activities. That leaves me to pick up the slack, which I don't mind, but I am also a full-time firefighter by trade. The business has been good to me as I stated in an earlier thread. It paid for all of my schooling and equipment including a pickup. Persistence and quality work pay off. Good luck with school and the business.

Nick Dinges, 23
Dinges Mowing Service

[TLS]

This has been discussed before a few times, but here goes again!

Started cutting grass at age 10 (summer of 1980) had 3 neighbors lawns, plus ours. Registered for Ficticious Name with the Commonwealth of PA "Tommy's Lawn Service" in 1988, and have been at capacity ever since. I still have one of my original customers from my first year. Most customers are going on 17 years now. Most have moved or died :( and I still cut the new owners!

[southside]

6 years. Fulltime the whole time.

[HOMER]

August of 96............May of 98: Part timer
May of 98.................present: Full time

Didn't have enough when I went full time.....................then had too much....................gave up some....................going back for more!

Being more selective and bidding high.............if I get it I can smile now...........before........:(

[gusbuster]

Been in the business over 31 years, have my own business as of June '02 for 20 years.:dizzy:
John

[Just Cut]

I have been in business for 4 years, started when I was 36 and went full time last year

[walker-talker]

starting my 3rd year as partime......planning to go full time spring of next year.......a little scary leaving a 10yr job making 40K a year

MATT

[MOW ED]

Started at 33 years old and will be starting my 7th year. Planned growth up till now and my wife will be adding to the crew this coming season.
Not quite the size I want to be yet but we still have to get the kids a little older. I want to have aprox 25% growth this season for full time accounts and 75% growth in specialty or one time services (add ons and singles).
Within 5 years I am looking to grow 100% all around.

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

Worked for my brother 5 years, then college, and now starting my 16th season. Have just about maxed out on number of clients I can handle since I'm solo. Try to drop 2 crappy yards each year and pick up 2 or 3 cupcake yards to replace them. I'm spoiled rotten but feel I deserve it. I've paid my dues!!!!!

LAWNS AND MOWER

[bruces]

Last year was my first season, really part time.

I am going to be working at my current job mornings and doing lawn care from noon until whenever I get done.

Hopefully in 2003 I will have enough business to go full time with the lawn care and do accounting part time.

I am going to be 50 this month, but I am looking forward to working with my 13 year son doing something we both enjoy.

[lamblawnscaping]

Started with my brother in May 2000 at age 22 (he was 19), with a new 36", 21", trimmer, and blower. Rented a truck until we could afford one (hard to make money paying truck rental fees of about 800 a month). Learned alot about customers, employees, scheduling and sales over the last 2 seasons. Got burned for about 600 dollars last year (it'll never happen again). Went through about 5 employees (very selective about who we hire now). Finished last year with about 100 mowing customers. Getting rid of about 30 of those this year, and adding about 50-60 in higher priced area. Starting this year with one full time (monday-thursday) mowing crew and one half landscape/half mowing crew. Mowing is not where the money is, but it is steady cash flow, and will get you the full service customers. Get liscensed and insured, and when selling jobs explain the risks of using someone who is not. Nowhere near our desired size yet, we want to be millionaires.

I guess this is more info than you really asked for but I'm done typing it already so here it is.

[stslawncare]

i have been doing lawns for about 4 years now, i would say serioulsy for 2.5 of them, im still in the building stages :-)