What do you think I should do?

[14yearoldcutter]

I have 5 to 6 lawn accounts a week I cut. I average $25 a yard. I wanna know if I should get a commercial walkbehind yet. I do have plans tocut grass to get through college or mabe even a proffesion. Last year I made about a grand cutting. This year Im progressed to make about 2 gran.

The question is, should I go ahead and buy a bigger mower. Now I work with a cheap 21,blower, and trimmer.

Please dont blast me about bein a scrub, IM like the professional kid around here. Kids come to my accounts and say they will do it for $10(WTF)

[lawnkid]

Bro, you sounded like me about 2 years ago. I'm 14 now and got a commercial 52" Hydro doing 16 accounts on my street for about $25 each. Do you have any kind of flyer? This is where I got most of my business. In the summers I used to do other work to make some more money for the business. So yeah, I would try to get a used commercialk mower but make sure you know what size you need because most yards have gates where only mower 36" and smaller can get into. Also when you're buying, don't let anybody fool you about the mower they are selling you. Always have them staert the engine for you, move around wiht it a little, then ask questions about the mowers past, and finally ask why they are selling it. I got kinda jipped on my mower. Put it this way, if it sound too good to be true, it usually is. And don't worry about those other kids tryin to make some extra money on the sides, eventuaaly they'll go away because they know that you do a better job. Good Luck! :D

[John Allin]

Learn to raise prices each year. Then you'll be able to afford a new mower when you need it. Stay professional.

Keep in mind, that if the other 'pros' in the area are charging $45 per cut, you should be right there too. It's about professionalism and making money. Don't charge $25 because it "feels" like enough. Then you're only bring the business 'down' around you. Stay up with the others.

Yes, some of your customers are with you cause you're cheap, but that's only good for so long. Even if you only raise the price $1 per cut per year, you'll be setting a mindset that will be with you a long time.

I've read stories of guys that started at your age, and are millionaires now - all having done it in the landscape industry.

Keep asking questions. Some will blast you... but most will help you.

[AndyL]

Welcome to the industry first and foremost.

You'll get a few replies from this board I'm sure... Many less than positive. Take everything you read with a grain of salt. Some of these guys might be your competitors after all!

You've started off good, for now, rather than worrying about expanding. Spend the time and energy learning how to do your job better and safer. Once you've developed a reputation for doing good work, the new accounts will follow, and there wont be a question about needing a bigger mower.

Make sure you've got your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including safety Glasses, Hearing protection, Steel toed boots. Also remember the long sleeved shirt and proper pants. There's no reason why your summer job should leave a negative effect on the rest of your life. It may not be "cool" but is your 1-2000$ you'll make this year worth loosing an eye? How about your education, Hard to learn when you can't hear what the teacher is saying! Also hard to pick up chicks that way!

Get your ass(ets) covered. Get yourself some insurance. So WHEN you catch a rock with the trimmer and send it flying through that big window, your summer earnings don't dissapear.

And most importantly of all, LEARN THE TRADE. Spend some time watching your competitors work. Specifically look for yards that come out looking better than yours, then watch how they cut and trim them. Learn and practice how to do proper vertical trimming in a nice straight line, and when it should and shouldn't be used. Learn how to flat trim without scalping the edges, One of the biggest mistakes is to take the flat trimming down below the height you mow at. Looks bad, and results in browned edges.

Get your butt over to the library, or chapters, get yourself some gardening and lawn care books. There's _thousands_ of them. Read up on IPM (integrated Pest Management), understand and follow its principles. Also branch out a bit, grab a book or two on irrigation, Tree pruning, flowers (yeah, not manly, but bed maintenance can be good money too!) Cover your a$$ learn to identify the more common perenials and annuals, and what weeds are common to your area.

Above all, Have fun!

Andy

[65hoss]

I commend you on your educated question and thoughtfulness. I agree with Mr. JAA that you should bring your prices up to the norm. Especially if your doing the same quality work. Help to raise the bar not lower it down.

Your not doing enough right now to justify the comm'l mower. It would take you almost 2 yrs to recoup the price with nothing left for you or your expenses. One the other hand, if you can get a good bit more biz then I'd really think about it.

Good luck.

[thartz]

Maybe look into buying a used machine.I know a ton of lco's that buy equipment they don't need that they will part with for a reasonable cost.You don't need a $6000.00 mower to start with but you could pick up a good used 36" wb since you don't have a ton of accounts then when it's time to go large you have a decent back-up mower. You can do about any account with a ztr and a 36" mower.

[awm]

14 i am impessed. look at what a good pro in you re area
is doing ,and get as close to his quality as u can.
practice makes perfect or perfectly imperfect.
depends on which way u practice.so id advise u to do the best u can an ask what u are worth.mabe dad wuld help with a commercial ,if he knows how serious. as a father myself i take pride in givng this sort of help . lot better than dad, can i have a new car,an uh a 20 for gas. huh dad:)

[14yearoldcutter]

Thanks guys..keep em' comin

[TLS]

14yearoldcutter,

Glad to hear that your motivated by success! I started when I was 10yo. Please do as Andy says.... SAFETY first!

But I have a little problem with your math... MATH is important, especially when it comes to money!

I have 5 to 6 lawn accounts a week I cut. I average $25 a yard.
This year Im progressed to make about 2 gran.

That comes out to $150 per week. Times at least 30 weeks in VA is = $4500 for the season. Where is the $2500 going?

Even if you only cut 20x's a year it is still a "gran" more than your "progressed to make"!

Read, read, read, and dont forget to listen!

Good Luck

[Russo]

You are in a great position. You are in no hurry to purchase a commercial machine because you are OK if you don't. So take your time, shop around a lot. If you can't find a good machine that you can justify the expense of, it's no biggy. A commercial machine WILL increase your productivity and allow you to do more work ( mo money ) in the same amount of time, but don't spend too much money. Like 65HOSS was saying, the cost has to be worth it. Only you can decide how much is too much to pay.

Good Luck to you, Landscraper.

[dlandscaping]

When i was 13 or 14 i had about 8 yards weekly and got a walkbehind. I was taking forever to mow the yards with 21's me and my brother usually did it so i told my parents i wanted one used my savings and bought one. I think now it was a big mistake. I couldnt get anything bigger than a 36 said my mom and she didnt want pistol grips so i have a 36 fixed toro. I want floating deck and something a lil bigger but cant have it now. I added about 10 more accounts last season and bought a 48 lesco gear based on price since it was 200 less than exmark. That was another mistake and i have been yelling at myself for it all year. I cant get rid of the thing either and hate using it so it sits in the shed all season. The walkbehinds save me time but i tend to have scalped spots and the tires mess up the grass. These items are expensive and of course i hadnt investigated in them first and wish now i had 2 toro 21 commercials 2 cycles and had bought all stihl stuff (no redmax/shind dealer around) from one dealer. Instead i am dealing with 4 and no loaners or discounts. I hate myself for my decisions regarding my biz another one was buyin a used truck dont get me startd on that though. I suggest you stay with a good 21 for a while until you need a Z. I have learned from my mistakes but i think my mistakes have ruined my ambition and am thinking of quiting this winter.

[SLS]

dlandscaping,


"I have learned from my mistakes but i think my mistakes have ruined my ambition and am thinking of quiting this winter."


You have already learned a lot from your 'mistakes'. Consider 'mistakes' as an INVESTMENT in knowledge....the ol' "school of hard knocks".

Don't let it get you down...everyone here has made a boner or two....or three...

Making 'mistakes' only means you are doing something instead of doing nothing so be proud of yourself for working and trying to better your position in life.

Consider yourself ahead of the game! :)

Chin up, dude! :D

[eslawns]

You can do about any account with a ztr and a 36" mower.

I agree. I have 6 fairly large (compared to my residential) accounts, and 35 residentials. I also have a contract with my city where I do overgrown lots. There's 5-15 of these a week from May to Oct, and about 12 occasional clients with 1 or 2 "Can you cut it once for me?" lawns each week. Together with the Bed work, mulch, shrubs and misc. work, I stay very busy. And I do it with a 48" Z and a 36 WB.

I think you should keep the setup you have until you can not keep up. Since you're 14, how would you get the equipment around. There are only so many lawns near enough to you. Save your money. With a 21" self propelled, you could probably do 2 after school, and 5 or 6 on Saturday, and still have some time for your girlfriend. Even at $25, that's $400 a week. You're a full time student, so taxes aren't a problem. If you save half each week for 30 weeks, you have 6 grand. Do it for 3 summers and you have close to 20. That would get a pretty nice setup if you want to keep doing this work, or a pretty good car, or a good start on college.

[Toroguy]

14yearoldcutter,

Yes, I believe you should upgrade to a larger mower.

At 14 save the money until you have enough for the newer mower, by the time your 16 you should have enough saved for a used truck, by 18 you could be grossing $2000 a week?

Chase only one girl and stay away from booze and wasting money on CarFi and you have a shot.

Good luck

[RV_Landscaping]

Originally posted by 14yearoldcutter
I have 5 to 6 lawn accounts a week I cut. I average $25 a yard. I wanna know if I should get a commercial walkbehind yet. I do have plans tocut grass to get through college or mabe even a proffesion. Last year I made about a grand cutting. This year Im progressed to make about 2 gran.

The question is, should I go ahead and buy a bigger mower. Now I work with a cheap 21,blower, and trimmer.

Please dont blast me about bein a scrub, IM like the professional kid around here. Kids come to my accounts and say they will do it for $10(WTF)

I'm about in the situation you are...Only I'm a bit older:-) I'm looking to get some bigger equipment...I considered doing it back when i was 16, but figured it wouldn't be worth it....Especially since i wanted to have more spending money over the summer:-)

My advice, if you have the time...stick with the push mowers for a while.... They r cheaper to buy, and keep up etc. You can still get away with not having a truck (i even had my parents drop me off from our van when i was your age).... And to spend the money on a commercial is silly....especially if you have to go off the street anyway....

Its my (maybe not as experienced) opinion that your prices are fine....My prices were usually $25-$35 (for average lawn)...when I knew most landscapers in my area have $35 minimums... The fact is, i got a bunch of customers that hired me because i was a 'kid' at the time--and they would've done it themselves.... I also have a few customers with that really can't afford to pay the 15-20 more per job... I understand everyones concern about price under-cutting.....especially now as I become more 'professional'-- but most people who pay kids to do lawns know they aren't getting the same service and thats OK. The first account I ever 'lost' was to my biggest 'competitor' on my street (a pretty big commercial guy)--he charged the guy $15 more than me...But he could guarantee to be there same time every week, even in rainy weather. I couldn't with my 21" and somewhat wacky schedule...
If big time commcercial guys are undercutting....Yeah, its messed up...But teenagers just starting out? Lower prices help build a customer base--and don't forget, many of those customers are people who wouldn't pay $45 a cut anyway....

[TFL]

raise your prices on new costomers and in no time you'll be mowin with the big boys

[14yearoldcutter]

thanks...My math was messed up.. Ill make a little more than I expected.

eslawns, your from portsmouth too. Do you ever go to Merimac Point , thats where I live.