Advertising without be Legit

[NOVAMowing]

I read this question three different ways

1st - OP wants to have a legit company and have a few customers already paying before getting insurance. I would say this is a NO GO. Its not worth the risk.

2nd - OP wants to advertise that he will be in business and secure a few clients before putting insurance active. A good choice for a startup who wants to advertise in the off-season before their first spring

3rd - OP is a kid and is looking to make a lil extra scratch on the weekends. Id say go for it. I do not wish to like in an America where the neighborhood kid cant cut the nieghbors lawn without an accountant, lawyer and insurance man.

Side note - I will be participating in option 2 this Winter. I am planning on 'going live' March, 1st 2013. I will begin my advertising 2nd week in January but will not have my liability go into effect until 2/29/2013. Disclaimer, I will have already obtained my business license and have the insurance ready to go in force. Im just simply not going to pay liability insurance for sending out door-knockers and tri-fold pamphlets.

[PhillyGuy]

Hey Novamowing, your side note is basically what I'm doing: going live march 2013. In the mean time, I am trying to learn as much about this business as I can. I liked how you said you are not going to make your insurance policy active until you actually start mowing even though you will be licensed, kind of what I was planning, and sort of what this thread starter was asking.

On my side note, I plan on so far purchasing a pick-up, 21 incher, blower, weed wacker, rakes, brooms, color mail advertisements, a website, a logo for my truck, company shirts, and I a talking with a local advertising agency. I also plan to rent out an aerator and dethatcher for extra work when I need them.

[NOVAMowing]

Good stuff, PhillyGuy!

The more planning and research we do now, the better off we will be in the spring! There is a company in my area that does nothing but mow with 21"ers. Steves. They have been around for years and grown steadily. They have never tried to get into bigger stuff, but rather do a great job on the city size and townhouse lawns.

I had great success doing dethatchings/aerations and overseedings with my previous LCO. I intend on putting together a package for my newest venture that will encompass the same services. If things go anywhere close to 'as planned' I will line up 20 or 30 of these at about $250 a pop before 3/1/13.

I just looked at my past notes, I saw a 3.5% return (EDIT: on dropped fliers) on a "Fall Services" package and booked 38 jobs in 2 weeks back in 2005. There are A LOT of people on the 1/4 - 1/2 acre yards that will never pay you to mow, but who will gladly pay an honest wage to have these services provided. They are not going to go rent an aerator, I will.

SO, what Im thinking is that you can advertise these services before the season starts and lineup $3K $5K or even $8K of business before ever cutting a first insurance check... Come March 1st, knock out the work, now fully insured, and take 100% of the profits from your "Spring Services" and put it directly back into your advertising budget.... to pick up more weekly cut customers.

I will not be using an ad agency. I intend on dropping all of my fliers, by hand, to the prospects front door. I may use some mailers for specific neighborhoods, but would never spend the postage to blanket an entire zip-code or community. Best of lock to you and the OP. Keep me updated on your progress, and Ill do the same!

[cgaengineer]

Rather than renting an aerator you would probably do better to network and make a few dollars off of the job letting someone else do it. Unless you line up a days worth renting a machine is costly, especially an 18" machine like most places rent.
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[GreenI.A.]

Originally Posted by cgaengineer

Rather than renting an aerator you would probably do better to network and make a few dollars off of the job letting someone else do it. Unless you line up a days worth renting a machine is costly, especially an 18" machine like most places rent.
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That's the key with anything you rent, line up as much work as you can ahead of time. And up-sell the customers on an overseeding at the same time. Last year we were backed up on our aeration/overseeds so I needed an extra aerator to catch up. I picked up a 27" split drum from Sunbelt, I think it was under $250 for the week.