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
Methodical
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Not a business-smart plan but it's your money so spend it how you want. Good luck, I hope it works out for you. :usflag:
I'd try to talk you out of it but if all goes wrong you can sell the big un-needed equipment and pick up extra hours to get yourself back on track. You seem like a hard worker so either way I think you will be ok.
I hope you have a marketing plan that will work.
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1 stand-on and 1 push mower isn't "big unneeded equipment" its pretty much a basic starter package for a solo op.
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Not around here. He is about 5 hours south of me and in my area I have only seen 2 guys using a 30" and the rest are using 21" & 22". The guys who use anything bigger have commercial accounts but they can't use the big ones on their residential, only on their commercial accounts. He said his lawns will be between 4500sf - 7500sf which is the same as ours. The only thing he can do with a stand on in his area is either get commercial accounts or put a hitch on it and pull his trailer with it. Those figures are before the house is built on the property. That leaves little room for mowing.
That is why I said I would try to talk him out of it.... until he has at least 1 commercial account with a signed contract he doesn't need the big walk behind mower. A person should never buy equipment until it is needed. The exception would be to buy the small walk behind and needed small tools for residential if he wants... that should be well under $2k.
That is why I said I would try to talk him out of it.... until he has at least 1 commercial account with a signed contract he doesn't need the big walk behind mower. A person should never buy equipment until it is needed. The exception would be to buy the small walk behind and needed small tools for residential if he wants... that should be well under $2k.
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And I thought everything was bigger in Texas. We have houses that are 4500 sq ft
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A Ranger is rated at half ton. You can tow a fair sized trailer with them.
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lol Several jokes I could make..... *trucewhiteflag*
We have some very large houses here too but sometimes if the house is 4500sf they still have the same amount of mowing to do around the house. We squeeze them in tight around here. There are some big yards here but why get those when there are about 1/2 million small ones for more profit?
If a guy wanted to around here he could get himself a motorcycle with a sidecar... 21" mower, blower and trimmer and be in business.
That's why when I see people saying they have all this competition yet they need those big mowers... I don't really think they've seen competition until you see 5 pickups and 2 cars with their trunks open on the same street with 21" mowers all cutting grass at the same time.
We have some very large houses here too but sometimes if the house is 4500sf they still have the same amount of mowing to do around the house. We squeeze them in tight around here. There are some big yards here but why get those when there are about 1/2 million small ones for more profit?
If a guy wanted to around here he could get himself a motorcycle with a sidecar... 21" mower, blower and trimmer and be in business.
That's why when I see people saying they have all this competition yet they need those big mowers... I don't really think they've seen competition until you see 5 pickups and 2 cars with their trunks open on the same street with 21" mowers all cutting grass at the same time.
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I see what your saying about very small yards and using a 21". But I see no joy in push mowing grass all day long. I also can't figure out how you would keep workers. If all they need is $500 bucks to buy a 21 and a trimmer now they can go out and be the next subiz
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Its the same with house cleaning.... how could I keep workers when all they needed was a bottle of window cleaner, towels and a vacuum? It is because people don't have the self confidence to go out and get customers them self. They are scared that if they aren't promised $x amount an hour, they won't have any money on Friday. They are scared to bid jobs because they don't know how. All the stuff that you and I can do in our sleep, they are afraid of. Some people think they can't afford the few hundred dollars to get started. :hammerhead:
Walking behind a mower does not appeal to me either but I'm going to do it for 6 months to go down from 210lbs to about 180lbs. My business partner and I have a $1 bet if I can do it or not.... I'm in good shape so I know I can but he swears I'm gonna die out there.
Walking behind a mower does not appeal to me either but I'm going to do it for 6 months to go down from 210lbs to about 180lbs. My business partner and I have a $1 bet if I can do it or not.... I'm in good shape so I know I can but he swears I'm gonna die out there.
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That is awesome !!! Hope you win the bet. Don't go getting heat stroke
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Just wondering if you decided to give the lawn care business a go and if so, how you're doing?
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