Thinking of starting business

[wteeter]

This is my first day on website and my first thread. I have recently Moved to a small town in Texas. I am 38 yrs old. I spent 11 year Coaching HS football and 4 years in the Oil industry as a directional driller. I make over 100k a year. I've always wanted to start my own business. There seems to be a need in my town and surrounding towns for a lawn service provider. My job now alows me to save. My wife and I really want to pursue the thought of doing this right. Am i too old to get this going. Should I just work for someone else the rest of my working life or should I go for it? What is the general opinion? Please be brutally honest.

[Right Touch]

brutally honest- unless you plan on suffering for at least 2-3 years before you even begin building a "buzz" about your business, it will be difficult to get many good paying clients. Many guys think they can put an ad in the paper and get 100 customers the first year- that will never happen unless you are charging ridiculously low prices (in which case you will be bankrupt and out of business in a few years anyway). you'd be more likely to get 1 or 2 or maybe 5 if you are lucky. Then you will start charging lower than you'd like just to get the neighbor. In a few years you will have your 100 but not be making any money and wonder how you got to this point. Slow and steady seems to be the best way to build a "lawn cutting" business.


Its ALOT of hard work initially and ALOT of time, and if it were easy, everyone would do it. If you want to mow some lawns and make a couple bucks, go for it. If you want to start an actual business that you can make a decent living off of, be prepared for a couple years of the thought of "why the heck did i do this" wandering around in your head.

[starry night]

38? You're a young guy. I didn't start my landscaping business until I was 41.
Now 66 and still going strong. As far as starting a mowing business, I don't know. Mine was landscape installation, then into bigger commercial installation and now into a niche of landscape management for smaller properties.
Just be sure you offer something that no one else offers.

[wbw]

Financially you will never get even if you give up a 100k job. Someday, if you are really and I mean really good, you might make what you do now. However, between now and then you will make far less. No way would I give up what you have for this industry.

[Chilehead]

This job is defined by looooooong hours from spring through autumn for a business owner--if you want to turn a profit. Don't hire anybody until you absolutely have more work than you can handle by yourself on a daily basis. Look forward to only taking Sundays off unless there are several back-to-back days of wet weather, in which case you can plan on working 10-12 days straight. Make sure you are licensed and insured. Let every prospect you meet know this, and be willing to offer proof. Don't purchase anything new at first except small (under $400.00) power equipment: a nice NEW starter rig will cost you $30K. A nice USED starter rig can be had for $10K. Chances are that many of your customers will be somewhat affluent. You need to speak their language: practice proper grammar and etiquette. Develop a billing system BEFORE you pound pavement for new clients (you'll want business cards pre-printed too). If you have any other questions, PM me. Best wishes.

[PLS-Tx]

After reading your other thread, I say go for it. You need to be home with your family.

Where are you in Tx?