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Message
Lawn Care business
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:12 am
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:12 am
For those of you who frequent the OT, you may have seen my recent posts about quoting lawn care services lately. In doing so, I've realized how much money can be made in that business and have begun to entertain the idea of doing it myself.
I love working to beautify my own yard and I take serious pride in doing so. I love working in the yard and stuff like that but my job is increasingly requiring more and more time from me so it's hard to find the time to do it myself.
I have some questions for those here who do this for a living or on the side.
Questions:
1. Is it really that profitable? What if I just do it by myself with a vehicle towing a trailer around and one zero-turn mower, a few edgers, and a blower?
2. What are some services I could provide during the winter months when grass isn't really growing?
3. Should I form my own LLC or just do it on my own without forming an actual business?
4. What are some good ways to market myself and gain customers?
5. How many customers should I look to gain in order to quit my full-time job?
6. Lastly, is charging $25 a yard too little, just right, or expensive if the yard is a typical subdivision-sized 1-acre or less yard? What about $30 or $35 for yards 1-3 acres?
I love working to beautify my own yard and I take serious pride in doing so. I love working in the yard and stuff like that but my job is increasingly requiring more and more time from me so it's hard to find the time to do it myself.
I have some questions for those here who do this for a living or on the side.
Questions:
1. Is it really that profitable? What if I just do it by myself with a vehicle towing a trailer around and one zero-turn mower, a few edgers, and a blower?
2. What are some services I could provide during the winter months when grass isn't really growing?
3. Should I form my own LLC or just do it on my own without forming an actual business?
4. What are some good ways to market myself and gain customers?
5. How many customers should I look to gain in order to quit my full-time job?
6. Lastly, is charging $25 a yard too little, just right, or expensive if the yard is a typical subdivision-sized 1-acre or less yard? What about $30 or $35 for yards 1-3 acres?
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 11:21 am
15
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:17 am to TDsngumbo
Do an LLC. Cutting others peoples yards isn't as self gratifying as doing your own. Gotta find some quality help. Word of mouth is the best way to get new customers in a place that is already saturated with lawn businesses. The winter does drop business off significantly. That's why the company I worked for did lawns and construction.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:21 am to tigersownall
quote:
The winter does drop business off significantly.
When the business slows at the end of the year and before it picks up at the beginning of the year is the best time to get new customers-before the disgruntlement with the current lawn care company fades, and before the customers go back to the same well in the spring out of habit or lack of known choices.
Also-business note:
A zero turn mower =/= weedeater.
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 11:22 am
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:26 am to DownSouthJukin
quote:
A zero turn mower =/= weedeater.
Yea, I know there's still weedeating and edging to do with a zero-turn. I just like the speed of zero-turns and figure I can cut down the overall time drastically with one.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:29 am to TDsngumbo
quote:pressure washing
2. What are some services I could provide during the winter months when grass isn't really growing?
clean gutters
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 11:32 am
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:31 am to TDsngumbo
quote:
1. Is it really that profitable? What if I just do it by myself with a vehicle towing a trailer around and one zero-turn mower, a few edgers, and a blower?
A lot more too it than that. To be profitable you have to have great equipment and a number of customers. The cost of entry is pretty large.
quote:
. What are some services I could provide during the winter months when grass isn't really growing?
Winterizing yards (trimming bushes, hedges, trees, etc.)
Leaf blowing
Cutting down trees
quote:
3. Should I form my own LLC or just do it on my own without forming an actual business?
I think the rule around here is if you have enough clients to be noticed, you need an LLC. The city shut a guy down and he only had 8 yards.
quote:
4. What are some good ways to market myself and gain customers?
Word of mouth.
quote:
5. How many customers should I look to gain in order to quit my full-time job?
Way freaking more than you think. Say 30 bucks a yard, you can do about 8 yards a day. Do the yard twice a month. To bring in around $4,800 pretax you're looking at 60 clients.
quote:
6. Lastly, is charging $25 a yard too little, just right, or expensive if the yard is a typical subdivision-sized 1-acre or less yard? What about $30 or $35 for yards 1-3 acres?
Depends on the area, the yard, etc. I live in AL and size isn't nearly as important as how hilly.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:32 am to TDsngumbo
You want quick business? Be different. Most people in my neighborhood pay to have lawn cut- $35 and up - they all complain that ZTR rips the yard, tracks it and most of time the yard guys swing into the neighbors yard.
Be different- Get a good walk behind that will not track yard- e.g. gravely -there are others
Do quality work- most folks will give you more money for a good job.
Neighborhood I lived in a few years ago- a local school teacher started his business- He went in our neighborhood and knocked on doors and told us if he could get 20 customers in our neighbor hood he would give everyone a 25% discount- think about it- he did not have travel all over the city for work
whatever you do- do quality work- most guys spin around the yard, cut it up and it looks awful
offseason- flower beds, tree and hedge trimming, leaf pick up- and power washing of house and drives
Be different- Get a good walk behind that will not track yard- e.g. gravely -there are others
Do quality work- most folks will give you more money for a good job.
Neighborhood I lived in a few years ago- a local school teacher started his business- He went in our neighborhood and knocked on doors and told us if he could get 20 customers in our neighbor hood he would give everyone a 25% discount- think about it- he did not have travel all over the city for work
whatever you do- do quality work- most guys spin around the yard, cut it up and it looks awful
offseason- flower beds, tree and hedge trimming, leaf pick up- and power washing of house and drives
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:43 am to TDsngumbo
As 756 has said. Not everyone wants a ztr. I cut grass for 8 years in the Nola metro area walking behind a snapper. Given every yard was not a enormous lot. It's best to get lawns close to one another. You can do so many more in a day. No bullshite. My best day was cutting with the owner. We managed 17 yards from 6 am to 6 pm. That kind of work takes some know how on what the other person is doing at all times. When I was supervising I had some shite employees working under me. Much more difficult to even get 10 done sometimes.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:50 am to 756
quote:
Be different- Get a good walk behind that will not track yard- e.g. gravely -there are others
This is good info. Keep the advice coming!
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:52 am to TDsngumbo
Learn how to fix sprinkler heads because you are going to damage some.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:54 am to TDsngumbo
quote:
2. What are some services I could provide during the winter months when grass isn't really growing?
Tree cutting.
Guy I know stopped cutting grass altogether cause he was making a lot more money cutting trees. And he does it year round.
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 11:55 am
Posted on 6/11/15 at 11:57 am to PillageUrVillage
Contact HOA - mine has tried a different company every year- they charge a ton, do nothing and get angry when you replace them.
We only have 3 common areas and is mostly landscaped- but finding someone who will be consistent is tough. Word gets around in a neighborhood when you do bad work
We only have 3 common areas and is mostly landscaped- but finding someone who will be consistent is tough. Word gets around in a neighborhood when you do bad work
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:00 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:oh really? Think so? You're either competing for volume with Mexicans, or trying to get into high value areas who will pay more. What can you provide better than their existing lawn services though? It is extremely hard to set yourself from the rest of the industry as it is not by nature a "tough" job.
I've realized how much money can be made in that business
The way to do it is with specialty services; hardscapes, irrigation, high dollar landscaping, etc.
Put simply it's a tough business.
ETA- one thing to consider too is that when time gets tough, this is the first thing clients will stop paying for or choose the cheaper option
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 12:01 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:12 pm to TDsngumbo
1. There is money to be made in that business for sure. High cost of start up, no benefits, and you are at the mercy of the weather.
2. You can try to sell monthly payments based on "x" number of cuts per year at "x" price. Other yard maintenance work, winter leave blowing, renting an lawn aerator, laying sod, etc.
3. LLC
4. Hauling your trailer around with a sign on it, chances are you will be stopped and asked how much will it cost.
5. How much do you need to make to quit your full time job and replace the benefits that full time job offers, will answer that question.
6. I'm pretty sure these people cutting 1/4-1/3 acre lots are charging $35-40 a cut.
If you like cutting grass now you will hate it, the pride you take in your own yard will quickly turn into how many yards can I squeeze in a day. If you can show the average homeowner that you know more about the different grasses, weeds, and solutions for everything in between, than him or the group of Mexicans or kids taking a weedeater to a newly planted sapling the better you will be and the higher you can demand per yard.
2. You can try to sell monthly payments based on "x" number of cuts per year at "x" price. Other yard maintenance work, winter leave blowing, renting an lawn aerator, laying sod, etc.
3. LLC
4. Hauling your trailer around with a sign on it, chances are you will be stopped and asked how much will it cost.
5. How much do you need to make to quit your full time job and replace the benefits that full time job offers, will answer that question.
6. I'm pretty sure these people cutting 1/4-1/3 acre lots are charging $35-40 a cut.
If you like cutting grass now you will hate it, the pride you take in your own yard will quickly turn into how many yards can I squeeze in a day. If you can show the average homeowner that you know more about the different grasses, weeds, and solutions for everything in between, than him or the group of Mexicans or kids taking a weedeater to a newly planted sapling the better you will be and the higher you can demand per yard.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:37 pm to TDsngumbo
1) If you can cut fast with one or two other guys, it can be. Basically, they need to push mow, weed eat, and edge as fast as you can mow and blow. You need to have two of everything
2) pressure washing; leaf pickup; drainage stuff; tree trimming. It's only actually cold here for a couple of months
3) LLC
4) Signs in yards and on truck. Flyers on doors or on mailboxes
5) Depends how much money you want, but I'd say the smallest number per week is 20, but ideally with two guys, you'd be doing 40-50 per week during the summer. I used to do 5/day by myself
6) Don't ever charge less than $35 for any yard, no matter how small it is. Even if it is the bacl yard of a townhouse, it isnt worth the drive for less. 1ac yard probably averages $125 depending on obstructions
If you have a good job with good benefits, don't quit it to start cutting grass. It'll take a couple of years finding the right guys to have another crew or two doing stuff while you're not there. Most of the guys are on drugs or come to work drunk
2) pressure washing; leaf pickup; drainage stuff; tree trimming. It's only actually cold here for a couple of months
3) LLC
4) Signs in yards and on truck. Flyers on doors or on mailboxes
5) Depends how much money you want, but I'd say the smallest number per week is 20, but ideally with two guys, you'd be doing 40-50 per week during the summer. I used to do 5/day by myself
6) Don't ever charge less than $35 for any yard, no matter how small it is. Even if it is the bacl yard of a townhouse, it isnt worth the drive for less. 1ac yard probably averages $125 depending on obstructions
If you have a good job with good benefits, don't quit it to start cutting grass. It'll take a couple of years finding the right guys to have another crew or two doing stuff while you're not there. Most of the guys are on drugs or come to work drunk
This post was edited on 6/11/15 at 12:41 pm
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:54 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
my job is increasingly requiring more and more time from me
I would think that a yard service requires a great deal of time. Probably more than 40 hours a week during the summer months...
I couldn't imagine having to make a living on $35 a yard. Sounds really low.
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:56 pm to DownSouthDave
Definitely a young man's game. The successful guys I know work their asses off April-October. Nonstop especially if it's a rainy year
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:56 pm to DownSouthDave
Yes, basically 7-6 every day plus weekends
OP, you also need to factor in the price of a trailer to the price of all of the equipment
OP, you also need to factor in the price of a trailer to the price of all of the equipment
Posted on 6/11/15 at 12:59 pm to Hammertime
quote:
OP, you also need to factor in the price of insurance into the price
What happens if one of your no hablas cuts one of his foots off?
Posted on 6/11/15 at 1:03 pm to DownSouthDave
Well, he can't complain and can't sue, so just bring him to the border patrol office and see what he does. They're a very resourceful people
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