Hello everyone, I've been lurking around the site for a couple weeks now and I've made the decision to try and start a lawn service. I'm prior Air Force and after serving 8 years, I went to school for respiratory therapy while mowing at a golf course. Fact of the matter is, I was happier on a mower than I am working in the hospital. My wife is due in February with our first child and I really want to build a legacy for our family (property management included) to pass on. I'm a big fan of starting off small and efficient like this set up (link 2:40 mark). However, I really want to hear from you guys and your suggestions on the optimal, cost effective setup for a guy starting a lawn business in 2016 and whether the setup in the link provided would be worth the investment. Thanks!
Potentially starting a lawn service in San Antonio TX
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Hello everyone, I've been lurking around the site for a couple weeks now and I've made the decision to try and start a lawn service. I'm prior Air Force and after serving 8 years, I went to school for respiratory therapy while mowing at a golf course. Fact of the matter is, I was happier on a mower than I am working in the hospital. My wife is due in February with our first child and I really want to build a legacy for our family (property management included) to pass on. I'm a big fan of starting off small and efficient like this set up (link 2:40 mark). However, I really want to hear from you guys and your suggestions on the optimal, cost effective setup for a guy starting a lawn business in 2016 and whether the setup in the link provided would be worth the investment. Thanks!
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From what I hear, San Antonio is a tough market.
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I watched the link. Depending on your budget this setup is a very expensive rig and the amount of accounts needed to support such an investment would be high. I think you would need to start up and out smaller buy concentrating your efforts on quality work and not size. I would also recommend contacting score.org and schedule an appointment with a councilor. Learn how to prepare a business plan and schedule your Second appointment to review your plan. Have all of your start up questions ready and understand these men and women are there to help you. The cost is free and the peace of mind is priceless.
All the best
easy-lift guy
All the best
easy-lift guy
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I'm only looking at modifying a 2011 Ford Ranger or Ford F-150 like the rig he has starting @ 2:40 mark in the video. The truck at the beginning of the video is well out of my price range.
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How so? I understand that there are many competitors working illegally and undercutting the competition however, I believe a product or service backed by true customer service will prevail. I could very much be wrong though.
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I've never been to TX, so I wouldn't know first hand. From what I've read here and learned over the years, the 2 hardest markets seem to be TX and FL.
Those rigs are great depending on your budget and what you'll be starting out with. Do you have a target customer in mind or a target lot size?
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I'm just taking a guess, but anywhere from 4500 to 7500 sqft +/-. Middle class neighborhoods with large density and still expanding quickly. There really isn't a business that has dominated the area that I've seen. I also hope to bid and win some commercial and DOD contracts over the next couple of years.
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Just starting out unless you find a really good deal on a used mower I would buy new. You could end up paying more on repairs then just buying a new mower. You could find a ranger on Craigslist for 2k find a local fab shop or a friend who can weld. A shop could build that bad for around 1800.00 you could do it yourself if you can weld for 400.00. I have about 25k in my start up cost. Started like this.
Started last October like this. Now I have a 7x16 enclosed and a turf tracer walk behind.
Some people on here will tell you to look at a different career choice because they don't want to see another company start and become a low baller to them. Lol I've been doing this for 16 years this will be my first year as a owner, going from 40k a year to 100k a year. I know my start up story is better then most people's since I have customers that I've mowed for the last 8 years that are with me instead of the other company. So take this dream and build it, block out the negative.
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Started last October like this. Now I have a 7x16 enclosed and a turf tracer walk behind.
Some people on here will tell you to look at a different career choice because they don't want to see another company start and become a low baller to them. Lol I've been doing this for 16 years this will be my first year as a owner, going from 40k a year to 100k a year. I know my start up story is better then most people's since I have customers that I've mowed for the last 8 years that are with me instead of the other company. So take this dream and build it, block out the negative.
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Not necessarily true, it depends on the set aside.
Don't give up your day job. Start small and pay cash for everything. If you are in debt, get out. You are about to have your first child. I think you might find that you don't really need the added stress of trying to build a business in the middle of all of that, especially if it is going to be your only source of income.
Respiratory therapy isn't a bad gig and it should give you some flexibility. Can you switch your schedule and work nights so you could mow for a few hours in the morning? Drop down to part-time once you get better established and jump back up to full-time in the off season? You have in-demand skills so you should be able to negotiate something that works for you.
Be very slow and deliberate about this and you will be able to step off from your job into a successful AND established business without missing a beat.
Work sucks. But if you really want to build a legacy you are going to have to deal with it. You are in an enviable position to most people here in that you have something to fall back on. I also have a "career" and run a business on the side so if you would like to chat about it PM me.
Good luck!
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Great advice guys. I do plan on working PRN for a while until the business takes off. Ultimately, I would like to get a 2 man crew running a similar setup to the one in my first post so I can focus on the business as a whole and future expansion of the company.
So your lawns are about as small as the lawns here in Fort Worth. Do you plan to get one of those big mowers? If so.... where on earth are you going to use it at? Lots of our yards have that 1 tree in the middle so it screws it up in the front and in the back you might make 1 round trip if there is no pool and no swing set. Lots of money right there for nothing. You said you plan on getting some commercial accounts.... if you want those great but wait until the contract is signed before you buy any big equipment.
By the way, starting off small is buying a cheap used little pickup, a wooden ramp, 21" mower, trimmer, edger and blower. Plus gas cans etc can be done easily for less than $4k. You say you want to leave a legacy, you have many years to leave a legacy. Don't cause stress for your wife and new child by thinking a better looking truck will make you more money. If that was the case I'd have a whole fleet of them. Yeah... yeah.... need to look good blah blah blah.... like you said... start small and work your way up to looking good. A legacy isn't made in 1 year.
By the way, starting off small is buying a cheap used little pickup, a wooden ramp, 21" mower, trimmer, edger and blower. Plus gas cans etc can be done easily for less than $4k. You say you want to leave a legacy, you have many years to leave a legacy. Don't cause stress for your wife and new child by thinking a better looking truck will make you more money. If that was the case I'd have a whole fleet of them. Yeah... yeah.... need to look good blah blah blah.... like you said... start small and work your way up to looking good. A legacy isn't made in 1 year.
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I have 2 rangers 1 dodge 1500 and a f350 dually. I was going to sell 1 of the rangers this winter. But now after seeing that setup I may convert it like that. Then my part time guy can run around doing our small residential in town properties. No trailer to mess with. 3 yrs ago had 2 man crew cave in the side of another ranger I had plus bent the trailer tongue when he jackknifed backing up.
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I'm actually looking at purchasing one stand up mower and a push mower. I really want to purchase for growth as opoosed to purchasing small from the start only to find that I need a larger/quicker mower to keep up with increased business... As far as stressing out the wife, she makes a great income and I can pick up PRN shifts at work to supplement any needed income. Thanks for the suggestions though!
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PRN employees can sign up for shifts on a as needed basis. So if I have a day or night I want to pick up a shift, I just sign up and work.
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I know several guys out of San Antonio, Tx and I'm also within 80 minutes from San Antonio to my drive way. It's a very tough market, the key is separating yourself from the illegals. Let them sell on price and you sell on quality and convenience. If you try to compete with their prices, you'll get ran into the ground. You have to realize, many of them live in the same house hold, share rent, share vehicles, heck I even know a few that share wives.
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lol... I hear ya. I'm hoping that with exceptional customer service, quality lawn care and a functional website, we can generate and keep customers....
I really want to go heavy on marketing. What do you guys think a good amount would be to spend on marketing in the first season?
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double post.
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For small properties, work in town, and traffic that ranger would be an ok setup. You aren't gonna be able to bag thats for sure. And it seems very application specific. What if you need to tow a trailer to haul mulch, rocks, leaves...then you need another truck.
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