How Did You Start Out?

[CLARK LAWN]

Originally Posted by ALarsh

Who buys $150k worth of stuff to mow some grass?

#1 here

more people than you would think. lots of new guys runing around this year with 2 brand new Zs brand new trailer and brand new 1 ton dumps. see them sitting more than working.

[Mrs. H]

David bought a push mower, weedeater and edger.



Then he took all but the driver's seat out of a 1993 Ford Escort and put everything in there until he got a truck 2 months later.

That was 8 years ago this month.

[kleankutslawn]

i started with a 36 Toro walkbehind,fs85 weddeater,stick edger,br420 backpack blower, Honda push mower

[dingybigfoot]

i started with a 32 inch Toro walkbehind,a stihl weedwacker and edger and a 21 inch lawnboy all used. And a new br 420 backpack blower.

[SomervilleLawncare]

I started out with a 21" poulan pro mower, yard man weed eater, and a craftsman hand held blower. I had to mow most my lawns twice to make them look good with that mower. I can't imagine using that equipment again but we all have to start somewhere.

Now I have a 52" Scag Tiger Cub zero turn, 48" walk behind, 36" walk behind, stihl fs-90 trimmers, stihl edger, echo back pack blowers.

[RedWingsDet]

1 cub cadet push mower and a cheapo hd john deere all in one trimmer/edger/blower.

now, that equipment is in the landfill some where in the usa

[02DURAMAX]

#3 I just bought the equipment when i had 5 secure contracts

[Dean of Green]

#2 started with small mowers....2 21inch Snappers
5x10 trailer
Stihl trimmer
Stihl edger
2 Stihl backpack blowers br420
Echo hedge trimmer
I got a loan for $3000 to cover all of this and to cover cost of flyers. I already had a truck. All of this was paid off within 6 months. As soon as there was not enough time in the week to get it all done, we stepped up to a riding mower. We soon outgrew that and stepped up to an exmark walk behind(48 inch), and then eventually a Laser Z(48). I highly recommend this approach and for these reasons
1) It keeps costs down
2) It gives you goals to reach for early on. Work harder and faster to get that more efficient and easy to operate equipment.
3) It conditions you to be able to handle a heavy work load. I would never now cut 30 average sized lawns each week with a 21incher, but I do know I could do it.

[white1]

#3 Cashed out an investment that I had to do something with anyway. Bought a 6x12 trailer from a friend, a new Hustler 48" superduty, 2 shindiawa T-270's and a big Shindi backpack. Then the transmission in my Chevy went out so I picked up a little dakota to pull the trailer with

[Wittapp]

Not sure if any of those fit exactly. I guess number 4 is closest. I have had a real estate appraisal firm for about 18 years now. Decided that I wanted to get into property management and maintenance. Now I find myself concentrating on the landscape maintenance. Not because the money is flying in, but, because once I started doing it again, I found I missed it. This has been my first year back. Things are pretty slow. Hoping to get a few more accounts next year. However, as stated above, with the current economy, who knows what is going to happen. Guess I need to start hitting up some of the banks to see if I can get in on the REO market
Dave in Dayton