Ken

Well i started this by accident really. I started out by mowing 4 properties for my in-laws. I asked my neighbor (an elderly couple) about maybe mowing his lawn for the summer and got his business. Since then i have been reading about the lawn care business and talking to a couple of people about their business. Seems to be very profitable.
I have hundreds of questions about this business but i think my biggest question is that , is this right for me. I do have a full time job but i want to supliment my income somehow. I am wondering how to make this work. My wife and i are partners in this venture. Well she's the boss but she lets me act like a partner ,heh. But, seriously there seems to be a huge saturation of lawn care services in my area. One day within 4 miles i literally counted 6 trailors full of zero-turns and ww's. Some tell me this is a good sign, some tell me dont even bother.
I have however gotten a business license, bought 2 used riding mowers, ramps for my truck, had 500 flyers made up and recently a trailor to haul my equipment. (which i think is too small 6x10) The two months that i have been mowing have eaten up all of my profit but i dont think that's too awfull bad to start any type of business. About two thousand dollars.
I am going to buy the Lawn Pro software in the next few days. Which may awnser all my questions. Anyway any starting advice would be great.



Ken

JRoss

Good luck with your new business!

haul0348

It will snowball on you fast i also work 2 other jobs and cut grass just dont take what you cant cover. I have a 5x10 trailer and get by pretty good with it but i am going to get a 5x14 next year. You may consider having to travel a little to get more work my longest trip is 39 miles. Take all this in mind and check your "local market" for the amount of work a the extent of lawncare that is being provided mowing,mulching,etc

(Wi)

Subplimenting income for a side job that will require more attention as the business grows may become a problem for you if your intention is to keep both.
However, if kept in check by keeping is small and start slow, it can be done!
The most worrisome time you will face is the ending of the mowing season. If you don't have a soild plan what you will do to off set this season, then I would keep my day job! Temporarly of course Once you know how much you have to have to off set this time, then you know how much you must put back until such time when your off again mowing. If your unable to grow at a rate you would like, intergrade other services you can offer. When I was starting out early in the season I offered mulchings, shurb maintainace, and Christmas Lighting. Now, I'm concentrating on Christmas Lights, Mowing, and Fertilizaiton and weed control. As a solo op, I have more work which I can pick and choose what, how and when best suit my calender year. What I don't want I pass on to other solo ops that I have come to be aquaintied with. On a side note, be picky, don't just mow everybody who want it. You must make your business profitable.
Good Luck!

Dynamic

You can never judge saturation by trucks and lawn mowers, although sometimes it can be discouraging. My only thoughts are you need to get insured and do it or get out of it, because its people who have side jobs, or are retire, or the summer student that really hurt this whole industry. They don't realize that there lowballing and few lawns really does effect the guy that is fully insured and is trying to make a fultime living at this.

Patrick

Dynamic, I agree about the insurance. You'd be surprised, it's really not that expensive to get a general liability policy.

joallen001

Lawn pro will definately help you start out organized.