Newbie needs a starting boost!

[JDgreen]

I'm 28 years old I started off working with 2 guys that had over 100 business accounts! I worked with them 6 years, after year 4 I got into the business, they gave me a handful of yards that they didn't want. From there I gained a reputation, I posted in local paper and got Alot of elderly people Wichita was good Bc they know Alot of people! It's always nice to work and learn the ends and outs to making the job look professional and doing it in a timely matter! Gl

Excellent advice and input from one who obviously knows the issue. Congratulations of your success !!

"A handful of yards they didn't want...." :confused2:

Slow payers, fussy customers, homeowners telling them what to do....??? Why didn't they want the yard work at those places?

 

[PyhooyaBooya]

You all are such a big help!

Thank you and keep the great ideas coming!

 

[C&R Lawn Care]

Hey booya

I am also in the lawn care industry and its a cut throat biz. Out there one thing imo is appearance and are you on time when bidding on work.

After you land the job give the customer the BEST quality all the time and you will GROW greatly.

I also have a full time job and a lawn care company.


Now for equipment Craigslist and other lawn care company are your friend lol. For instance I just bought a 44 inch toro walk behind commercial mower that needed minor work for 150.00 off Craigslist this weekend and I call other local company's seeing if there where selling any older equipment and picked up a nice echo trimmer.

One more thing is get your insurance for the biz. Very important

Hope this helped. Good luck.

 

[LandN]

I am new to the mowing game so forgive my ignorance. I have a full time job with benefits and all that good jazz, but I would like to start a mowing business. I would like to just do this part time until it can support itself. Most of the yards around my neighborhood are small, and could probably be mowed by a push mower. I guess my real questions are:

1. Should I buy a $100 push mower from wal-mart as a starter? Or should I save up and buy a commercial toro push mower?

2. Considering I don't have a trailer, I don't imagine I should go for a zero-turn mower yet...am I right?

3. Do I need a string trimmer or a leaf blower right at first?

4. What are my first steps? What is the order that I should start buying things?

my opinion would be to find a way to haul all your equipment around,you say you have no trailer?.I hope you at least have a truck.if you intend to push your mower and carry your equipment to the neighborhood yards,you are going to run out of time and energy especially when fall time comes and the days are shorter....anyway after you get that part done,the small yards that you say you are going to cut should be able to do with a 22" high quality mower/blower/trimmer.and yes they should all be bought at one time....getting customers is tricky stuff. the ole' stand-by fliers/door knocking/business cards/phone calls/signs/ads/etc,etc. or... you can 'think outside the box' be creative,be different than your competition..dont be the 'also ran':smile:

 

[WormsLawnCare]

Excellent advice and input from one who obviously knows the issue. Congratulations of your success !!

"A handful of yards they didn't want...." :confused2:

Slow payers, fussy customers, homeowners telling them what to do....??? Why didn't they want the yard work at those places?

Jdgreen they hate leaf holes or yards out of there path? I and they have over 100 business account that pay better than residential, they only do high end ever week accounts. Some I get are every other week! But it still adds up and pays help! As long as I turn a profit I'll take them!