Starting Budget

[A1 Grass]

I am getting ready to buy some equipment to branch out into my own (1-2 man) lawn care business and have decided (?) that I should be able to purchase decent enough equipment for about $4000. Here's my breakdown. Please comment and give suggestions (other than "try the search button")

1. Gravely Pro G 32" walk behind w/velke (fits any gate) $2500
2. 5x8 trailer $700
3. Echo weed trimmer (model ???) $200
4. Backpack blower (Echo or RedMax) $350
5. Assorted yard tools $250

The amounts are what I am alloting for each purchase. If someone has a better suggestion, please....

I need to try to stay under $4000 if possible - am I on the right path?

[FrankenScagMachines]

Always get the biggest and best you can afford. Of course this probably shouldn't be applied for starters (get good stuff and keep costs down, don't outgrow yourself too fast.)
Good luck,
Eric

[lgi]

what i would do is get a 48in mower to save time on the mowing end. I wouldnt buy a backpack blower at first just get a hand blower and just get a push mower for small stuff
good luck

[KLMlawn]

Well, for the basic essentials, you have the right idea.
Now, do you want or need new equipment, or used in very good condition? This you have to ask yourself ...
I have found that by looking around, locally, you can often find used equipment in very good condition at often less than half what you would pay new and having work well for you for many years, say 2-3, before you would ever have to consider selling it or making major repairs. Look around !!!!!!
That said, I am not personally familiar with Gravely or their new types of equipment. They have a good reputation for many years in the agriculture and lawn industry but we do not have many/any dealer for Gravely in my area. If you can afford to but new, that would be best. Less things to go wrong and usually at least a one year warrantee.
I personally would get a 36" as opposed to a 32" but I do not know what market or customers you are targeting, the bigger the better!!! If you have a few customers that you can't fit a 36" thru their gate, then most likely you won't fit a 32" either. And the few you can't, you DON"T NEED. Plus, it would depend on what type of "next" machine you plan on getting, if you get a 32", then the blades would interchange with a 48". If you get a 36" then the blades will fit a 52". Just something to consider, plus the blade tip speed on the 36" and 52" is usually faster than the 32"/48" because of the length of the blade alone. Try looking at Exmark (Metro) if you have a dealer near by .... great machines!
Trailer - Get the biggest you can afford. Obviously you are looking at an open type ( I prefer enclosed, for convenience) which I would try and get a 6x10 at least, you always think you don't need or want as big as you really need and the price difference is negligible. If you have more than 20-25 lawns and have two guys, you need room for a second machine at some point and a 5x8 is real small!!!
Trimmer - Possbly look into getting a split boom, where you can add an edging, hedge trimmer, or broom attachment later on as you get bigger, many manufactures offer this option - Echo, Shindawia, Husky, RedMax ... I went with Shindi, but in this area, Echo also leads in it's own right.
Backpack - I would go with the RedMax of your two offerings, but honestly, if you can find a Shindawia dealer, they used the same short block from Zenoa-Komatsu, and it has the same power and is a lot lighter. Echo isn't a bad machine, but I have had good luck with both my Shindawia and RedMax's.
As far as Hand tools, a spade, round (digging), flat (grading) shovels, a couple of rakes, a grading rake (aluminum at least 30"),
and a cultivator and a "Garden Weasel", and you should be set. Trust me, the Garden Weasel is a great and versatile tool for cultivating and for spot seeding. Oh, and some lopping shears and a small hand pruner.
The only thing you haven't addressed is Hedge trimmers - I would try and get either a set of Echo or Shindi double sides ones about 20-24" long, and you should be good.
A couple of Barrels would help too ....
Good Luck..... :D

[IBGreen]

You're on the right track, start off with a walk behind and a set of jungle wheels. It will keep the price in you're range if you buy a fixed deck, minus the jungle wheels. Echo makes a 260 blower for $299 which would be great to start off with and a trimmer model #210 I think it is for $199 and they should both last for a really long time! Thats what I started off with. Good Luck!

Brandon Shaw
Evergreen Landscaping Concepts

[A1 Grass]

The reason I want a 32" mower is because I am going to concentrate on small to medium residential yards and I can save money by avoiding the "2-mower" purchase.

May take a little longer but I can do anything with a 32" that I can with a 48"+21"...right???

If the business expands then I'll buy a 48" later...

[KLMlawn]

Personally, I can't see what most career minded landscaper would want or need a 21" push mower for anymore with the manuverability and ease of use of most of the commercial w/b and ZTM's out there ... the touch up work or close cutting can be done in conjunction with regular weed whacking and edging.
As to your desire for a 32" as opposed to a 36", yes, you will have that little bit more versatility in getting into back yards, but another thing I found with 32" machines is that they are almost as heavy as the 36" but with much smaller and narrower tires ... which will , over time, begin to "rutt" the lawn.
I will say that your idea of small to medium residential lawns is a good one ... I find them to be much more profitable and less hassel and you can always upsell other services. Just make sure to have a minimum cut price and don't le tthem nickle and dime you.

[LAWnENFORCER]

I recently bought a 6'x16' tandem trailer w/gate for under $1000. It is not very heavy duty and does not have brakes, but it works great for what i have. If you need further info just e-mail me. I think you might be low on the trimmer, should be closer to $250. (shindaiwa t230). If you have only res. I would wait on the bp blower, go with a hand held and use the extra money for a stick edger. I am not familiar w/ the mower.

What will you be pulling the trailer with?

Just my opinion!

Kevin

[A1 Grass]

I already have an '88 Dodge Ram 1/2 ton sb. Great for this I think.

I should expand on this budget thing. Let's say that I am limited to no more than $4500 - I should be able to start with what I have outlined above, right? I really don't have the credit or accounts to justify (or support) a 10k loan. Plus, I am trying to "do with what I have" as I have heard a few times on this forum...

[LAWnENFORCER]

You are on the right track. If you don't mind me asking are you ft or pt and how many accounts do you have?

Kevin

[Phishook]

your equipment ideas are ok. you won't regret getting the biggest blower you can afford. A slightly used mower could save you some cash.

You might want to consider overhead. (gas, ins., labor, supplies, maint., ect, ect.) That's what will kill ya.

[Alan Bechard]

I would suggest the 16' Tandem trailer, you can get them here in that same price range and I would think they would be available in TX as well. $750 W/ one brake axle. You will not regret the extra room, and you wont be wanting to sell it right away when your business grows.

I would opt for a bigger mower and smaller blower. (handhelds do for what my wife does, they last 2 to 3 years with her)

We do not run "trim" mowers, the weedeaters spin 18" or so and you have to have it in your hands anyway.

I would buy hand tools, and hedge trimmers, as the jobs presented themselves. We do not do much of that type of work, and just buy the equipment when the jobs are worth enough to pay for them. I am excluding the basics that you always seem to need, bow rake, two shovels, leaf rake. Buy Craftsman and keep your receipt where you can find the dang thing, when they break, and they will, get them to give you a new one.

Last go round, I tried to skimp and bought shovels on "special" that is what they were too! Special! pissed me off each time I tried to dig something.

Used is great if you do your own maintenance. If you are depending on a shop to do your maintenance than build a relationship with that shop which is normally done by buying your equipment through them.

I bet (no facts to back it up, just an observation) that many of the "startup" lawncares go out of business when they realize that it is hot, nasty, hard work, then their one mower breaks and they do not know how to fix it and the shop says 3 weeks to get it back to them. Then they are left with very few options. Try to avoid finding yourself in that position.

My thoghts for what they are worth.

[scott's turf]

The one thing that has always saved me is having at least two of everything, besides a trailer that is. That way rarely is any on site repair work needed. When I started I bought two used bobcat wb for $2600 total. I was able to do any repair work needed and it saved me thousands. Occasionally a brake band would snap, belt broke, or transmission belt slips and I just would grab the other one and work through the rest of the day. I don't know how people can be in this line of work and not fix the majority of things themself. I would be broke if I had to send it out to get fixed. I even have have two trucks. One is the business truck and the other is for personal but I have had to use it when I was fixing the work truck.
Make sure you can justify your purchases and don't get over your head. Also be sure to factor in insurance as well.

[Blessed 1]

Don't forget a stick edger!

[Jimbo]

Brad didnt post so I will just to get Pete angry.

Did you consider the Fex-Deck to increase mower size?


There LGF, and Switchless go at it.

Jim

[hnter]

bigger trailer, definitely...

[Firefighter Dave]

CWA,

1. Gravely Pro G 32" walk behind w/velke (fits any gate) $2500
2. 5x8 trailer $700
3. Echo weed trimmer (model ???) $200
4. Backpack blower (Echo or RedMax) $350
5. Assorted yard tools $250

I don't know what Gravely's go for, so I can't help you with prices there..... 32" is fine if you have many gated lawns, I would go upto a 48" walk behind for more productivity...

Trailer seems really cheap? I think you should spend more money for a better quallity trailer? I bought an enclosed trailer (6X12) for $2,950.00. More storage room, protects equipment from the eliments and from theft. I don't think a cheap trailer would hold you for a full season.

Weed trimer - You should have two, what happens when one breaks, should have one as a back up..... your a little shy for good trimmer.... about $250. to $300. is more reasonable.

Backpack blowers - I have seen the Echo EB650 for as low as $450. and the Redmax EB7001 as low as $499.00. A hand blower would work great if you have smaller lots and small driveways to blow clean. Maybe only about $250. for a good hand held.

Yard tools - I only carry a rack, broom, and leave bags...

Good Luck!!!

Dave

:blob2: :blob2:

[Bill Davis]

you are so right about not taking out the loan. You can get in a lot of trouble with that. Just go with what you can afford and it will all fall in place with good work and long hours. If you grow to fast in the equipment side of your business then you will be digging yourself a hole that could take a while to get out of. Good luck with the new business!!

[Raven]

I'd definitely say you're on the right path. Keep that overhead down.

For the equipment you plan on carrying, the $700 5X8 trailer is perfect. I haul my mower on the same trailer, I've had it for six seasons and it will easily last for my final four seasons.

As far as a string trimmer goes, I use the Echo SRM-210. It costs about $190. Don't let the light to medium duty rating scare you. If you don't have to worry about employees beating the crap out of them, it will last for years. If you plan on cutting down tall, thick weeds you don't want it, but for lawn maintenance purposes it's perfect.

If leaves are an issue for you, you do want a powerful blower. Echo PB-650 costs about $425. Then again if leaves are an issue, you'll probably want a walk-behind blower. If all you have to do is blow grass off sidewalks, get a hand-held.

In my 20 years of lawn maintenance I've used many different makes of mowers and in my opinion... they all cut the grass! I've never mowed with one that cuts any better than the other. I like Scags because they are tanks. My Scag hydro is 8 years old and has 7,500 hours on it. I recently replaced the engine for the second time which should take me into my retirement. A rule of thumb I learned a long time ago is you'd better "get 2 years of service for every $1,000 worth of mower." With proper maintenance this is very easy to achieve. Match that $500 a year in preventive maintenance and you won't break down in the field.

[dmk395]

Your trailer will be obsolete soon, go with a 6x12...I paid 1350 including tax for mine, brand new.

[65hoss]

I'm only going to address the trailer situation. I usually tell people not to get less than a 14' trailer. You will outgrow anything smaller before you know it. Then your spending money twice. In this case, if you decide your never going to need a Z because your in a small lawn market niche then a 12' would be great. If you ever plan to need a Z, I would get the 14'.

I would stay away from the 5x8. Small trailers get packed out real fast. Then it takes to much time loading and unloading. Time is money. When you have to move and wrestle with other things to get your equipment off your wasting time. Give yourself enough room to be as quick as possible. I guess what I'm trying to say is this, Don't let your trailer be your bottleneck!