Exmark Lazer Z

[dodgeman]

I demoed a Exmark Lazer Z last night and all I can say is WOW!! I am new to the Lawn care industry and wanted to start with something thing can cut lawn quickly and efficiently and this thing cuts like I never thought possible.

What I used to cut with my Cub Cadet rider in 1hr took me about 15-20 minutes and never has looked better.

Thanks for all of your advice in helping me make this decision. It is getting delivered tomorrow and I already picked my first account today.:D

Pete

[SIG]

Good Choice, Just wondering what exactly did you get ( deck size, motor) and how much did you pay. Just trying to compare to where I live. Dave

[scottb]

Congrats please keep us informed on how things go and the performance of the machine.

[dodgeman]

It is a 60" 25hp Kohler. I am paying $8100.00 out the door. I think it is a fair price from the shopping that I have done.

[Rowdy_Yates]

In March I bought a new Exmark Lazer Z EPS model. 60" Ultra Cut Deck, 26 HP Kohler E.F.I. engine. It's a super duper mowing machine.

Exmark Lazer Z EPS (http://www.exmark.com/LazerZEPS.htm)

I love it!!!

[chariot]

I just bought the same as Rowdy two weeks ago and love it also. I only have one regret, that is that I didn't get it sooner.

[dodgeman]

The one I tried I took and mowed the rental house I have. The grass was about 8" deep and it cut it like nothing. I was really surprised how little clipping I had laying around afterward. Of course there was some but nothing like what I use to leave with the Cub Cadet.

Having fun so far!!!

[SIG]

Dodgeman,
Are prices higher where you live. I paid 6999.00 for both of mine. 60" 25HP kohler. Now I have heard that they went up about 200.00 this year. I am curious what other people around the country are spending. I live just outside Baltimore, so a lot of competion around here for our business, I guess that keeps prices down. Interesting though isn't it?

[chariot]

Hey sig, mine was $8600. Most other places around here were wanting $9600. 2002 model 60" EPS

[SIG]

Mine is just the regular model. I am not even sure what you call it. So that would make some difference. Did you price the regular model? Sig

[AltaLawnCare]

You're experiencing the same dramatic jubilation as I the first few times I mowed with it! :D

Now mowing will be fun, you'll look forward to it - instead of dreading it.

The more you run it, the funner it gets. ;)

A good 'Z' is the ONLY way to mow grass!!!!
:cool:

[Rowdy_Yates]

I gave $8,599.00 for my Exmark Lazer Z EPS. It's got the deluxe spring loaded drivers seat. I think that's standard on this mower. It's nice!!!:blob3:

[awm]

after flirting with a few others ,ive about decided the lazer really does suit me better.of course pt o that is knowing the machine better.

[scott's turf]

Dodgeman, it is going to take quite a few more customers to pay for that. Good luck. I may be buying one next spring. Hopefully I can finish the season with my tire 54" wb's.

[dodgeman]

Well everyone has to start somewhere. I went to the Lazer only because I know I will eventually end up there. I have been in the car and RV business to long to start small and go up. All it does is cost you more money in the long run.

Pete

[SIG]

Dodgeman,
To me you can't go wrong with the Lazer, unless your mowing Townhouses. I can mow anything from 10,000 sf to my 9 acre church. When I bought my first Lazer, I had 0 customers. I was not limited to what jobs I could take on. Now granted, I was in this business for 12 years and got out, then realized how much I missed it. On a side note, anybody who tells you that you can not make money at this simply isn't working hard enough or smart enough!!
Sig

[dodgeman]

That is what I think. If you put a pencil to it and run it right there is definetly money in it. As I see it it really depends on:
1. equipment
2. Employees
3. Weather
4. Aggressiveness in getting the business
5. Charging enough

If you can do these things, which in the real world is not always easy, than you should be able to make some money.

I think that is why we all try this. I don't want to do it for just the fun of it. Even though I find being on a mower is ALOT more relaxing than what I do presently!

Pete

[AltaLawnCare]

Originally posted by dodgeman

..
4. Aggressiveness in getting the business
5. Charging enough

If you can do these things, which in the real world is not always easy, than you should be able to make some money.

I think that is why we all try this. I don't want to do it for just the fun of it. Even though I find being on a mower is ALOT more relaxing than what I do presently!

Pete

I agree 110% Dodgeman!!

:)

[dodgeman]

Been in sales all of my life so now I will have to sell the hardest this, Myself. Hopefully I can prove I have what it takes.:confused:

[SIG]

It's very simple to sell this work. Look Professional, Act Professional, and do Professional quality work. I think because of your age that you have the maturity to jump in and do very well. Good Luck my friend! I just wish I could take the golden handcuffs off and go for it again!!
Dave

[scott's turf]

Buying a $8k mower with 0 accounts does not seem like good practice to me. If it works than great. The name of the game is profit. I bought a used wb for my first few years. Cost me $1500 and I was making only about $500/wk for the first year until I got more clients. The next year it was around $1000/wk then the next year purchased another used one for the same price and a helper and was making $2000 in two days and the other 3 days did landscaping jobs. Maybe many of you have started out with all new machines but I think that it puts you in a major hole to start with. Especially when you don't know how to run the business yet. Maybe I could have made more faster but I didn't take the risk. I was never in debt. Now that the bisiness is well established and I know what my expenses are I can better determine if I can purchase a certain machine for $x.xx amount.

[SIG]

Scotts turf,
I understand what you are saying. But in my case I had already been in the business previously, I know how to price work and knew the demand for my services was there. I also wanted to purchase everthing I needed while i still have a full-time job, which is what I did. In my case it worked out very well, so well in fact this business provided me the means to buy the house I always wanted and to build a 52' x 30'x 14' pole building. I could not have done any of this with just working my regular job. Now, come next spring I feel confident I can leave my job because I have built my business to the point that I make a nice profit and my equipment is essentialy paid for. We all get to our end point in different ways, that's just the way I chose to do it.
Sig

[dodgeman]

It might seem like alot to bite off for a new venture but....

If you look at starting any kind of business for this kind of money you will find out that it is tough. The roughly $8000 investment is not to bad when you look at the possible production this machine will give you compared to a walkbehind.

I am not financing any of the initial equipment so if it doesn't work out I can sell it all in a couple of years and take a small loss and call it a day.

I do feel that I am aggressive enough to get the accounts needed to make some money doing this.( at least I hope so)

I have always felt if you are going to do something jump right on in and put the pressure on. If you stick your big toe in and don't feel comfortable you will most likely bale out faster without giving it a fair shot.

That is my 2 cents.

Pete

[Hawkeye5]

Entry costs into the Lawn Service business are minor compaired to other small business opportunities. Check out franchise costs some time, and retail stores spend many thousands before opening. The low entry costs are why there are so many LCOs and why the business builds little equity. Go for it!! JD

[scott's turf]

Dodgeman, You are right when you talk about a Z being a higher production machine compared to that of a wb but you need that production to make it profitable. If you think that you will be cutting 50 lawns a week this year it is worth it but if not why waste the money this year? MHO. Depending on on your lawns a wb w/ sulky maybe just as fast. I know that I would have a lot more trimming on a lot of my lawns with a Z. An 8k mower compared to a 4k mower should be 2x more profitable. If you paid for it in 1 year and say you had a 25 wk mowing season the Z would cost 320/wk compared to 160/wk. That means you would have to make an extra $160/wk just to break even. So if you are not working a full week now a Z will not make you any more money. I know some here have a Z becuase this is a second job and they have a short amount of time in the week to cut. They need to squeeze in as many lawns as they can a few hours a day.

[dodgeman]

I know what you are saying but I certainly hope that I get more than one year from this machine. Even if I get out after a year or two, which I doubt, I will get more for the Z when I sell. So I look at if I am going to do this I am jumping in. I will get more jobs done in a shorter amount of time. The average lawn around here is around a 1/4 acre with alot of them 1-3 acres.

Pete

[scott's turf]

Buy all new equipment (truck, trailer, mowers, trimmers, blowers) and you will easily be at $1k per month, 12 months a year for 5 years. So you better make it the full 5 years or you will be hurting because you don't get **** for used equipment. Now if you are only bringing in money 8 months a year your monthly bill goes up to $1500. I guess that is penuts compared to retail stores upfront costs but we can't compare the amount of income they bring in to our business.

[dodgeman]

Used truck, used trailer, used walk behind. Everything else new. Already had truck (need transportation anyways) trailer good used less than 1k, other equipment $2-3000, Z $8000.

This amount of outlay I still see as not to bad. I know there will be other expenses but hey that is what risk is all about. If you are afraid of pulling the trigger than as I see it don't play.IMHO

Pete

[jeffex]

SIG Where dd you get a lazer 60" for 6999 I live in Eldersburg and mow in Catonsville Md. ?

[TLS]

Jeffex,

He didn't get one for $6999, he got TWO! Some dealers don't mark up all that much. Thing is, that dealer STILL made money! Or maybe he knows that SIG may or may not be mechanically inclined and will need mechanics for blade changes/oilchanges, etc.

There are lots of factors in price.

I paid $8,495 for my '01 LC Lazer.