no stupid questions?

[bubble boy]

I've been noticing lately a lot of questions being asked by guys starting up.

pretty basic ones like

1.how much per lawn

2.how many lawns can i do in a day

3.what is in a spring clean up

4.how do i advertise.

etc, etc.

now i know there is no such thing as a stupid question. but i'm wondering, do these people really not know? do they have an idea and want to confirm? are they just fishing for info?

cause without knowing how many lawns you can do and without knowing a price, you don't know revenue. logic then dictates you dont have accurate expense estimates as they are more difficult to project. well, how are these people even thinking of starting a business? i mean anyone working for a week for an lco knows how many lawns, at what size, can be done in a day.

for those who have such questions is lawnsite your only reference? i mean when i started out i had studied business at university and worked four seasons with various lco's. thus doing a business plan was relatively easy.

i know we are always saying lawnsite is a great resource for people, but some questions asked indicate these people have zero experience in the lawn industry.

should these people really be starting up on their own? i say no. research and work for an lco first. just seems like good business sense to me.

maybe the people asking these questions are just researching for when they do start out. but i get the impression they are actually in the process of starting, and dont have a clue. to me thats irratating.

flame if you wish:eek:

[fastrunner]

bubble boy, you have alot of time on your hands.:eek:

[DaveK]

I would guess that they are in the research stage. And where better to go than Lawnsite. Sure they could probably go to the library, but that is so boring.

You more than likely asked many question as well, the difference is that you may have asked in person, without thousands of others hearing (reading) your questions. You learned at a university and through experience, they are learning through the many members of Lawnsite. And where else could so find so many industry experts in one place willing to help others simply because they enjoy sharing their experience.

If you are in the mood to offer advice/answers, do so.
If not, don't.

BTW, I'm not flaming. I'm just sharing my viewpoint.

[BAMARED]

Hey Bubble Boy,

This sounds like you're wanting to pick an argument. These guys are trying to learn just as you and I did......... and are still doing. There are folks on here with decades of experience as well as 0 experience and everywhere in between. Look, the economy isn't great and I saw where we have an unemloyment rate that refects this. So, I imagine that there will be many more of these "just starting out" questions. If they bore or offend you, then don't click on them.

Now, quit belly-aching and get back to work.

BAMARED

[Turf Technologies]

I can see you point bubble boy. If they are starting off on there own , after working a few years or more for some other lco they should know pricing and timing per lawn. and how to grow as a bussiness.I worked 5 yrs for a company and now just this year im running it on my own.I know that two of us could do 20 to 23 lawns a day, so i can do about 11 to 12 alone.I dont handle pricing but i know the avg. charge is 20 per cut around 60 for mowing contract and add 20 or 40$ for full contract.(in my area anyways).

All of you are wrong about Bubble Boys post, in 5 yrs i have seen new companies formed in the spring and gone by summer.They have never done this work in there life, and when it gets to hot the run.How can you start a lco without working for one in your past?And pricing is diffrent all over the US how can you get ana ccurate amount on this board?The lawns a bigger or smaller, how can you get an avg time?Everyone works diffrent.ONly way to know is tow ork for someone eles first and learn.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Look at their profiles, you will notice not many are even old enough to vote.

Best thing to do, is not respond.

Teach them the right way to do research.

[BAMARED]

Originally posted by sackedbysapp
I can see you point bubble boy. If they are starting off on there own , after working a few years or more for some other lco they should know pricing and timing per lawn. and how to grow as a bussiness.I worked 5 yrs for a company and now just this year im running it on my own.I know that two of us could do 20 to 23 lawns a day, so i can do about 11 to 12 alone.I dont handle pricing but i know the avg. charge is 20 per cut around 60 for mowing contract and add 20 or 40$ for full contract.(in my area anyways).

All of you are wrong about Bubble Boys post, in 5 yrs i have seen new companies formed in the spring and gone by summer.They have never done this work in there life, and when it gets to hot the run.How can you start a lco without working for one in your past?And pricing is diffrent all over the US how can you get ana ccurate amount on this board?The lawns a bigger or smaller, how can you get an avg time?Everyone works diffrent.ONly way to know is tow ork for someone eles first and learn.

Hehehe! You guys are killing me. This ain't rocket science and the average fellow armed with enough grass cutting experience as a youngster can easily make it fly on a small scale or perhaps partime sense. I did.......and so did many others that I know.

Please don't take me wrong - working for a LCO, attending business classes, etc. are THE way to do it - no doubt. But it's not as you said "The only way." If a person who has the drive and good common sense, he'll find a way.

BAMARED

[Russo]

Now, now. Sometimes it does seem like the homeowner forum on here, BUT there are folks who worked for a LCo for many many years but never were involved in the advertising, or never came across a particular type of job. Doesn't make 'em stupid, right?

I consider myself very experienced in this field, but I recently asked for advice on solo revenue expectations because I always worked for someone else. Surely you're not calling me stupid. You did take the time to post, not one, but two replies. I think you could have stopped your post at " no such thing as a stupid question."

This is not a flame. I considered flaming you, but I don't Know how much to charge for that. LOL

Landscraper

[BAMARED]

Landscraper,

OK - I'm just a home owner and you're stupid. Hehehe! Anyone from Tennesse can't be all that bad, though...........that is unless you're a Vols fan!

Be good,

BAMARED

[DaveK]

How can you start a lco without working for one in your past? How did we get to the moon when nobody had done it in the past?

Best thing to do, is not respond. Teach them the right way to do research. They are researching. What would you be teaching them by not responding? That the members of Lawnsite aren't helpful?

You guys are killing me. This ain't rocket science and the average fellow armed with enough grass cutting experience as a youngster can easily make it fly on a small scale or perhaps partime sense. LOL. Let's see, I cut the grass, I charge a fee. You're right BAMARED, it isn't rocket science. But some people here act as if they hold the secret formula to Coka Cola.

BTW Landscraper, I offer flaming as a one-time free service. Then I start charging. :D

[mxrdrvr3]

BTW Landscraper, I offer flaming as a one-time free service. Then I start charging. :D [/B][/QUOTE]





I SECOND THAT MOTION!

[toby]

What's the best color trimmer line fer cuttin' grasses. I also want it to match my t-shirt so I look perfessional. T-shirts blue.
Thanks

[bubble boy]

i am the first to admit it isn't rocket science, but i just wonder if these guys jump in with thousands invested and no knowledge.

if that is not the case, as dave k says, and they are researching for say next season, great. then the questions make sense.

if they're sitting on their newly financed Z with a laptop posting questions about whether mower blades need sharpening, well...

i would think for their own sake they'd learn before jumping in head first.

how did we get to the moon when nobody had done it in the past?

well, i assume that they didn't build the rocket, launch, and then try to calculate fuel required. there is a logical order to things.

i'm just wondering if anyone reading this is starting up this spring with zero experience and only lawnsite as research. (i am aware that LS is a great tool)

and can i get a buy 2 flames, receive 1 free deal?:)

and casey, shouldn't you be tuning up the SCS for the summer?:D

[mxrdrvr3]

:D disregard this

[bubble boy]

don't know the thread, i was offline. i guess was someone with similar name?

[DaveK]

well, i assume that they didn't build the rocket, launch, and then try to calculate fuel required. there is a logical order to things. :D
Very good point.

I'll admit I did see a post where they said "How much _____ will I need for this job, It's my first job and I don't know how to write a bid..."
Or something similar.

It does make you wonder.

[Russo]

I hear what your sayin , too, b-boy.

[Toroguy]

Eric used to keep a post near the top to remind the new members to conduct a search before asking repeat questions. It does get old seeing the same questions posted over and over. But with all the new members there are always new people to helpout the new people.

Its a small inconvenience for a free site.

[landscaper3]

Hey what color is the best for a trimmer? Also can you replace the foo-foo valve with a 3/4 wrench? Hey the newbees are here to learn you all were newbees at sometime!!!!!! Give it a break!

[KirbysLawn]

Maybe we should use this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1529561643

[bubble boy]

that book is too funny. years of work, everything you need to know: 30 pages? People on lawnsite with thousands of posts have easily written hundreds of pages each.

its not really repeat questions that i'm complaining (whining:D ) about. lots of good ones reappear every month or so.

i just wonder how much is put on the line for some guys starting out. you quit a good job, or forgo college, and dump money into something you know so little about. this isn't a shot at newbies, rather its a shot at newbies who are unprepared.

whose tag line is it that says "fail to plan, and you plan to fail"

[MuskTurfKing]

Hahaha, this thread is a riot, I used to be one of the guys who asked what to charge, what to mow with, etc, etc, and occasionally I might make a post like that still, but I feel like I'm at the point to where I can help out a lot with the basic stuff. I'm hoping I got that part down. ;)

Hank

[Toroguy]

Kirby,

The ebay deal said you can start your biz for as little as $100.

Subtract the $7 for the book
subtract the $5 for shipping

Now start the biz with $88!

Add the insurance's (his spelling) and you can get on your hands and knees to rip the grass with your fingers.

I like your smiley band, what are they playing?

[Russo]

B-boy, get my tag line right, will ya!

[ceaman]

I ordered 3 of those books.... one for each of my employees
$100 - $36 = $64

I can by a bunch of crapsman equipment for what is left!

[Runner]

with the sales of my success in the lawn business books. We have had alot of sales already, but most of our sales will be generated from out infomercial that is just being finished up. I have HUNDREDS of testimoies of people JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, who have tried my plan, and made a complete success out of it! That's right, NOW is your chance to get in on the ground level of a virtually UNTAPPED MARKET. I will show you how to gain not tens, but HUNdreds of customers, and how to keep them. I will tell you the in, the outs, and all the "little strategies" to insure that YOUR business gets off the ground, and holds solid! I will have a 1 800 number available, yes, we take check, money order, and even accept most major credit cards for this once in a lifetime chance to find YOUR secret to happiness and true success in life! So, don't hesitate. Get in on this EXCLUSIVE DYNAMIC plan, and start your road to SUCCESS and HAPPINESS in the lawn care industry TODAY!

[lawnworker]

A1 reborn and brought back to life

[Heavy]

I still can't see way you are wining? These guys aren't gonna take any business from you and lets be honest here everybody has asked advise at one time or another. If you have never asked advise than you have way to much time on you hands an you should be working a little more instead of puffing out your chest over a computer.

[bubble boy]

i guess i've never been modest-must be a unionville thing-born and bred:cool: