owner operator commercial mowing

[exotion]

You may not like the quality of other places. My question is do you know how to do the quality you want? People look in there garage and realize ooh I have a mower, a weed wacker,and blower I could go make money commercially and while this may be true people don't like paying someone who doesnt make their lawn look like a golf course ....

You need to understand how to mow how to keep your lines strait and not miss strips. You need to know how high to cut the grass when to bag. You need to keep your mower in tip top shape to leave the best cut.

You need to learn where to weed eat how tall to weed eat without scalping the lawn and make an even cut.

An edger is important while it is not hard to use it needs to be done. All sidewalks driveways shrub beds

Blowing all the clippings and dirt off of driveways sidewalks patios and all hard surfaces finishes the job nicely

While learning all the technicalities may not be hard it is hard to use them correctly and efficently and while I did not spell that word right that's the key word to succeed

 

[TaskForceLawnCare]

All the above 3 are correct, I've a decent size operation and last season i serviced my commercial account. I sat down with my business manager ( the wife ) we went over some numbers. We come to the assessment that we could just do residential, and make the same bottom line. Turns out we passed our bottom line and are still going for the year. We've enough equipment that we never say no to residential jobs.
The difference between commercial and residential. Commercial only cares about price but they want it to look great. Guess what quality comes at an expense, so you either suffer and make less on the hour. Residential they want quality and are an easy up sell for other services generating more bottom line for you.

I started with desire and a push mower. So it would be strongly hypocritical of me to tell you it can only be done with a large investment. I do however think in this market it will be a longer up hill struggle with out a serious effort and sizable amount of equipment. I will even stop on occasion and lend the little guy a hand if i see them in over their head, and remind them that i could take any of their business i want. It's not being harsh it's just business. But then again this is America and with hard work and proper management anything is possible.

 

[PVHIII]

The thing your lacking unless you have worked in the mowing business is experience. Anyone can now not anyone can do it right.
Also if you want to do car dealerships get some good insurance you will be quite annoyed the first time a pebble goes through a window.of a nice new car

Actually...I'm not lacking experience when it comes to mowing..edgeing..hedge trimming and I don't do any job and not do it right... and I'd say a half million dollars liability insurance should be plenty which is what I have didn't post anywhere that I didn't have experience MOWING and I didn't post that I was lacking insurance... which seems to be a no brainer...that would be like buying a new vehicle and not insuring it...but thanks for your info

 

[Ric]

You may not like the quality of other places. My question is do you know how to do the quality you want? People look in there garage and realize ooh I have a mower, a weed wacker,and blower I could go make money commercially and while this may be true people don't like paying someone who doesnt make their lawn look like a golf course ....

You need to understand how to mow how to keep your lines strait and not miss strips. You need to know how high to cut the grass when to bag. You need to keep your mower in tip top shape to leave the best cut.

You need to learn where to weed eat how tall to weed eat without scalping the lawn and make an even cut.

An edger is important while it is not hard to use it needs to be done. All sidewalks driveways shrub beds

Blowing all the clippings and dirt off of driveways sidewalks patios and all hard surfaces finishes the job nicely

While learning all the technicalities may not be hard it is hard to use them correctly and efficently and while I did not spell that word right that's the key word to succeed

Exotion I really don't know how to respond to your posting or response.

 

[Ric]

Actually...I'm not lacking experience when it comes to mowing..edgeing..hedge trimming and I don't do any job and not do it right... and I'd say a half million dollars liability insurance should be plenty which is what I have didn't post anywhere that I didn't have experience MOWING and I didn't post that I was lacking insurance... which seems to be a no brainer...that would be like buying a new vehicle and not insuring it...but thanks for your info

Up until now I think I've pointed out some of the pitfalls to being in the business but I think the a couple of things or advice I can give you if your really thinking about doing lawn care is stay with the residential part of the business. The other thing and when I said or talked about a sizable investment in equipment, it was to back up every piece of equipment you purchase whether it be your mower, trimmer, edger or what have you make sure you have backup, you can't afford to be without it. I've talked to many people when giving an estimate for a job and there number one compliant is the issue with the previous guy having his equipment in the shop. Down time cost you money and clients and you can't afford either. I myself carry two ZTR's a commercial push mower and residential push with to of everything in the hand held stuff and three back pack blowers and people appreciate the fact that I'm prepared.

 

[exotion]

Exotion I really don't know how to respond to your posting or response.

What do you mean? I see a lot of guys around here who think just cause they own a lawn mower they think they can go be a lawn care company. I was simply stating that if he has a standard of quality that he does not see very often then hopefully he knows how to achieve it... My neighbor down the street throws his craftsman mower in his truck everyday I talk to him and biggest question for me is "how do you keep your customers? I only now once or twice before I get fired"

 

[PVHIII]

What do you mean? I see a lot of guys around here who think just cause they own a lawn mower they think they can go be a lawn care company. I was simply stating that if he has a standard of quality that he does not see very often then hopefully he knows how to achieve it... My neighbor down the street throws his craftsman mower in his truck everyday I talk to him and biggest question for me is "how do you keep your customers? I only now once or twice before I get fired"

I'm not that guy and why you'd make that assumption I have no idea...your post comes off as bit arrogant and my advice to you would be never assume anything...it tends to make an ***/u/me..do you feel me?

 

[PVHIII]

Up until now I think I've pointed out some of the pitfalls to being in the business but I think the a couple of things or advice I can give you if your really thinking about doing lawn care is stay with the residential part of the business. The other thing and when I said or talked about a sizable investment in equipment, it was to back up every piece of equipment you purchase whether it be your mower, trimmer, edger or what have you make sure you have backup, you can't afford to be without it. I've talked to many people when giving an estimate for a job and there number one compliant is the issue with the previous guy having his equipment in the shop. Down time cost you money and clients and you can't afford either. I myself carry two ZTR's a commercial push mower and residential push with to of everything in the hand held stuff and three back pack blowers and people appreciate the fact that I'm prepared.

I'd have to disagree that it takes that amount of an investment for the guy just starting out...I've made about a $7000 investment to get started and I'd be willing to bet that's more than most beginners make and it should be plenty

 

[PVHIII]

I'd have to disagree that it takes that amount of an investment for the guy just starting out...I've made about a $7000 investment to get started and I'd be willing to bet that's more than most beginners make and it should be plenty

I don't have two of everything but I got at least two friends for every piece of equipment I own willing to loan me anything I might need and by the end of my first year I will have two of everything.. and I made investment In quality equipment.. ( not craftsmen)...and I'm saying you meant to be arrogant but it did come across that way...I've been running a small business for 15 yrs and I know how to keep an account

 

[BHLC]

I started with a commercial ztr, backpack blower and a trimmer. $8500 investment. Only 6 accts, after the season was done I asked myself wtf are you doing? Now I have 3 ztrs, 6 trimmers, 3 backpack blowers and a ton of other stuff! We maintain 65 accts with some having as many as 18 different properties. Just this year we are going after a lot of commercial. We mow about 8 commercial now and currently have plow bids out to about 10! I say go for it and yes you can compete as an owner operator against big guys