Tips for starting a
lawn care business.
It seems like everyone stuck in an office building 40 hours per week has the dream of shucking it all and starting a lawn care business, or landscaping business. I had a friend who was a mechanical engineer and decided to take the plunge. Within a few weeks he had so much business he couldn't do it all. Depending on where you are in the country starting a lawn care business can make you a comfortable living, and in some cases a luxurious one.So how do you do it? Can you get in business for yourself without spending thirty or forty thousand dollars? You bet you can. It's cheaper and has an easier entrance than almost any other business. You can't do it with a $79 lawn mower a weed whacker, and a few fliers, but it's close.
Ten tips for starting your lawn care business.
Buy a big mower. The more grass you can cut in an hour, the more money you make. You can buy a John Deere 48 inch deck mower new for $6,000. I found an off brand used 48 inch mower on Ebay for just $380. Somewhere between these two you can find one to fit your budget.
Start off with used equipment! When getting started you can save thousands of dollars by purchasing used lawn movers, trucks, trailors and weed eaters. Try to find the used equipment from a northern state. They're used less and normally will have more life left in them.
Get a web site and learn how to market it! It's easier these days for people to find you on the internet than it is in the yellow pages. Lawn care web site quick tutorial.
Paint your truck, don't use magnetic signs. Make sure the words "lawn care" and your phone number are big and easy to read. Put them on both sides of the truck, and on the tailgate.
It's all about the route! Every 4 to 6 weeks you must examine your customer list. Work like crazy to schedule jobs not only close together, but in the best possible traffic route. Any time your guys are in the trucks, they're not cutting grass!
Hire cheap labor to help you. This is easier in the summer months when kids are out of school. You'll make your money on the labor of others. Remember, the more grass you can cut in an hour, the more money you make. Starting a lawn care business means you want to run the business and grow it, more than just cut grass and put down mulch.
Study, study, study. Read up as much as you can on lawn care for your region. Then you can start to build simple services around the grass cutting. Offer things like, putting down fertilizer, aerating, and even putting down mulch. Not only will it bring in more income in the summer, it will keep you going through the winter months if you're in the midwest, or northern states.
Starting a lawn care business is a great dream. It's a business with potential beyond just cutting grass. Every house in America has a lawn, and every year more and more people opt to have someone maintain it for them. If you're looking for an enjoyable way to make really good money and be your own boss, it can be the perfect venue. If you've got dreams of striking it rich, that can happen too. But like any business it takes hard work, and a lot of thinking. What services can you roll out quickly and affordably? What market segment is not being served? How can I beat my competition to the customer? Work hard, and the sky's the limit. Back to lawn care home.
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