The Green Industry's Resource Center

wvaughn7 · #1 08-15-2010, 11:30 PM

Me and my brother are starting a mowing business next spring. We have a MTD Pro 54 inch zero turn and a MTD Pro 48 inch walk behind mower. We are experienced in mowing and produce a high quality cut. The only thing we are worried about is that he is still in school and are wondering what to do in the late spring and early fall when he is unable to help. has anyone ever ran into this problem?

shooterm · #2 08-15-2010, 11:36 PM

Pull your brother share.

wrgrounds · #3 08-15-2010, 11:41 PM

My guess is that if you are just starting out you should be able to handle it by yourself for a couple of years. I have been working alone for 12 years now.

wvaughn7 · #4 08-15-2010, 11:43 PM

Well I know that I will pick up some slack, but we already have 6 yards we do that take about an hour each and we have a commercial property that takes about 8. We are looking to get up to about 30 yards and I am afraid it will be too much for the last few weeks or the season, but just right for the time he has off.

bohiaa · #5 08-16-2010, 08:24 AM

only 1 problem...

a minor cant enter into a contract

kodak mowing · #6 08-17-2010, 06:07 PM

i would start your business as a sole ownership and just pay your brother for his work,but when his older you can split the biz/money evenly,but right now i would pay him for his work and just hired some part time for when you need them with unemployment at 10% shouldnt be hard.

LawnCareDirectory · #7 08-20-2010, 05:45 PM

Working with family can be a tricky situation. It is easy for us to tell you run the business by yourself (which would be my advice as well) but from experience I can tell you that you need to be extra careful about how you go about this so you avoid lasting damage to your relationship. He could see it as you being greedy or something of that sort unless you handle it with tact.

If doing it on your own is not an option then you need to work out an agreement to hire someone that can help you and not pay your brother who is not involved in the business during that time.