I am a female who has for about 15 yrs wanted to run a lawncare biz. I want to own and run the business end and be a stay at home mom, taking calls, billing, troubleshooting but have a great foreman who runs that end of the business. Trouble is, I can't start a business without someone to do the lawns nor hire someone without the lawns. I could do a few, I do help my husband here, but I can't crank the lawnmower and I don't think I could take the August in Texas heat. Do you think it would be a good idea to go to our church (mostly hispanic and ask if they know anyone unemployed, hard working and in good standing that I could invite to be a partner? He would be building a future for himself too and may be willing to start out slower. Plus he would be less likley to quit and leave me abandon with all these houses to mow if he had an investment. I can help out as a foreman, bills, payroll, calls, bills etc. My hsuband can't quit his job, but he can fix anything that breaks, We have a 2003 Ford -150 I can donate to the buisness. We can start slow and add. I have more capitol than I am sure he would but I see no other way to get this off the ground. I have run a buisness before and feel I have that end covered. There is a need in this area. growth of new subdivisions are all around us. Any opinions or doubts?
need an opinion from the experts
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First off welcome to the site.
You are going to find that most of us started our lawn care services by working a full time job and doing lawns on the side. This is not a business that is going to go from nothing to a major operation over night. Most of the time, it will take 3-5 years before you are making good money in lawn care.
No one is going to work for someone that asks there employees to do something that the owner is not willing to do. Personally, if I went to work for you and seen you sitting inside watching TV in the a/c while I was outside in 100 degree weather and high humidity building your business for you….I would tell you to go get bent….not to mention, if you were to do this you would be building your reputation on how someone else works.
Put God in everything you do but don’t use him for employees. Not to mention, why only hire Hispanics? Is there something wrong with Caucasians? You will also find that a lot of customers wont like it if you don’t have someone that speaks good English.
Not trying to be rude or bust any bubbles but….when it comes to lawn care, there isn’t very much paper work when starting the business. Your company will only work if your willing to work for it and that means working. I am sure you and or your husband have at least 1 day off a week…set up your lawns for that day until you have to much to handle.
By the way…most of the time women do better in this then men. Probably because most guys enjoy looking outside and seeing a woman on the lawn. You can do this if you set your mind to it.
You are going to find that most of us started our lawn care services by working a full time job and doing lawns on the side. This is not a business that is going to go from nothing to a major operation over night. Most of the time, it will take 3-5 years before you are making good money in lawn care.
No one is going to work for someone that asks there employees to do something that the owner is not willing to do. Personally, if I went to work for you and seen you sitting inside watching TV in the a/c while I was outside in 100 degree weather and high humidity building your business for you….I would tell you to go get bent….not to mention, if you were to do this you would be building your reputation on how someone else works.
Put God in everything you do but don’t use him for employees. Not to mention, why only hire Hispanics? Is there something wrong with Caucasians? You will also find that a lot of customers wont like it if you don’t have someone that speaks good English.
Not trying to be rude or bust any bubbles but….when it comes to lawn care, there isn’t very much paper work when starting the business. Your company will only work if your willing to work for it and that means working. I am sure you and or your husband have at least 1 day off a week…set up your lawns for that day until you have to much to handle.
By the way…most of the time women do better in this then men. Probably because most guys enjoy looking outside and seeing a woman on the lawn. You can do this if you set your mind to it.
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If you want to run the business you dont really have to work but get out there and do sales.. sell your products and work. Make sure you have plenty of work lined up, make sure that you can pay urself and your business and the guy you have working for you. Start out slow and then work your way up. Dont rush into things. Also make sure that whom ever you hire knows very good english or is fleunt in both english and spanish. Goodluck
Thanks for the responses. I planned on spending much of the time on distrubuting flyers, sales and marketing. I don't mind getting out there and sweating some if I have too in a pinch. I just think if partners each have thier own strenghts they should focus in that area. I would definately make sure someone spoke english and spanish. I am in the Houston area. around here, hispanic is the only thing I have ever seen do lawns and since the economy was not hit hard in this area, likes other parts of the country, you can't even find a teen willing to get out in this SE Texas 100 degree heat. My only reason for thinking about the church I frequent is, I see a lot of families go there. If I could give someone a chance to build a solid income, wouldnt that be helping someone in need and by calling the office I would be getting a personal reference. I am determine I am going to get this off the ground. My Husband already has a job and does some subcontracting for that his co to make extra. I can't ask him to do more. The problem is, He is 55. His small co. is struggling, if that goes down, the subcontracting job goes too. If something happens to his heath, they both go. We have a 18 yr old with major heath problems which is why I want more flexibilty in my day and all the work from home things are basically rip offs. This is the only solid thing I have found. I love to garden and be outdoors. From these boards I have learned so much. And, I have never run from hard work and a challenge.
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The church would be a great personal reference. I agree with some1 that has strength in the landscape field is good and some1 that has the business brains running the business. Flyers and business cards and advertising on craigslist may help you. Door to door helps alot more because there is nothing better then that. also make sure you have a business plan and stick to it. do not bite off more then you can chew although it may be tempting. Also when it comes to buying equipment do not go over board you just need the basics to start up, mower, trimmer, blower, edger. When it comes to the mower i advise you buy used and it be a walk behind 36"or 48" cut will be more then enough.
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No offence but if the only experience you have is doing your own lawn I would recommend not getting into this. There are a lot of people that went to collage for this and still cant properly groom a lawn. Considering turf can raise or lower a property value, you may consider another line of work. It almost appears to me like you are setting yourself up for a law suit.
no offense taken but after reading these boards. 99% of these started out with only doing thier own yards as experience. I have a college degree and while not in horticulture, I doubt you would find many in here who do have that. I believe in hard work, spending less than you take in, determination and a little luck, will get anyone where they want to go. I'm just trying to determine if I need a partner or can do it by myself.
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Actually, most of the ones that lasted over 3 years had previous experience. The rest get on here talking big but are normally gone in about 1-2 years or only work for banks and dont have any regular customers .thats something you might look into to? Maybe doing for closed house. No experience needed just cut and go. They dont pay much but it might help you get going?
Thanks that is a goodpoint and maybe I should try a season cutting for someone to really get better experience. With all the new subdivisions poping up around us and lack of flyers here. I suspect this area may have opportunity available. I called for quotes at my house and only had 1 give me a quote. The one time i did set up for someone to do the yard when my husband was out of town, on two occasions no one showed up.
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Normally I wouldn’t recommend doing bank properties because they are so hard to work with and sometimes even harder to get your money. In the position you are in however it might be a good idea.
Most companies don’t take one time cuts or cuts while you are out of town. On most occasions, you don’t make any money on the first few cuts because it takes so long. The money starts coming in after the lawn is trained. At that point you can fly thru the property and make it look good. It can take 4 or 5 mowings before the turf and edging is trained.
Most companies don’t take one time cuts or cuts while you are out of town. On most occasions, you don’t make any money on the first few cuts because it takes so long. The money starts coming in after the lawn is trained. At that point you can fly thru the property and make it look good. It can take 4 or 5 mowings before the turf and edging is trained.
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Sangerlawn is right. Although if the lawn is small enough flat and no obstacles it can be a quik cut trim blow and go. Look into it and if you are hiring some1 see what they can do. I have many years experience as do many ppl on here. First time at a new site will always take longer then the second and third and so on.
The area I am looking to market is flat, smaller homes and lots. Probably why there isn't alot of interest out her. But if I can get volume I can make money. Most are cut weedeat, blow and go 25.00 lawns. That is what people want here. Because there is so much new growth in subdivisions I feel it is promising. The two times I called when my husband was out of town, I was calling to start weekly service. Both times theywere local companies, gave a date they would start and never showed up.
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With new homes going up you can make a killing in landscape with installing plants, trees,hardscapes,lawns and mulching. If you have some1 that can do all that price it high enough for room to rent equipment pay the worker or workers and make a profit. Your lawns should probably be no lower then 30 dollars unless you can lawns like 2 or 3 an area then it could be 25 you dont wanna cut your own throat. but you will lose money before you start to make money. If you do things right and have a buz plan you should be just fine.
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I hate to keep hounding on this but….I have seen so many companies start up and take over an area, then someone new comes in and only gets 1 property. The new company with only 1 property ends up taking over because there work is so much better. The old company goes out of business and never gets another shot because everyone knows there work.
I am not trying to discourage you but….I am worried because you said you don’t have much experience in lawn care….I am still sticking with, its probably best to work for someone else until you get the experience or stick with foreclosed homes.
It’s really not hard to do superior work but there are a lot of tricks of the trade. Take a look at the pictures on my profile. We are not better then anyone else and probably have the same equipment…the difference is the experience.
I am not trying to discourage you but….I am worried because you said you don’t have much experience in lawn care….I am still sticking with, its probably best to work for someone else until you get the experience or stick with foreclosed homes.
It’s really not hard to do superior work but there are a lot of tricks of the trade. Take a look at the pictures on my profile. We are not better then anyone else and probably have the same equipment…the difference is the experience.
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WoW Sanger I don't know where you come off making it sound like you're the leading authority in lawn maintenance and running a business; you've only been in business for 3 years :hammerhead:
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I never said I was an authority of anything I just said that I have seen it time after time after time .not to mention .where the heck did you get that I have only been in business for 3 years???? Hate to say it but I have been in business for a lot longer then that oooo I bet because I joined this site 3 years ago ..yea you are right .people only go in business after joining this site
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Posted via Mobile DeviceI never said I was an authority of anything I just said that I have seen it time after time after time .not to mention .where the heck did you get that I have only been in business for 3 years???? Hate to say it but I have been in business for a lot longer then that oooo I bet because I joined this site 3 years ago ..yea you are right .people only go in business after joining this site
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I got that from your website stating you went into business in 2007...correct me if I'm wrong
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"We’ve been handling both residential and commercial properties throughout southern Indiana since 2007."
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