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Started By
Message
re: Starting a lawn care business
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:23 pm to LSUtigerME
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:23 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
I’d think you’d have to start small on the side and develop a customer base and referrals. Then expand and become full time.
this is where I am. Going to give a couple estimates this weekend, while still working my FT office job. I LOATHE my office job with a passion of a thousand suns, so as soon as I am comfortable with my customer base, i'm outta here
0
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:24 pm to jimbeam
quote:
You’ll need a license to do landscaping, pesticide application, fertilizer, etc
But not for general cutting, edging, and blowing, correct?
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:37 pm to TDsngumbo
where you located TDs?
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:40 pm to AU_251
Geismar, LA
Posted on 4/25/19 at 12:41 pm to AU_251
also... what do you think is my better option?
Buy a 400$ Yard Machine now off FB and cut yards with it for a while
OR
Go finance a commercial grade zero turn
Buy a 400$ Yard Machine now off FB and cut yards with it for a while
OR
Go finance a commercial grade zero turn
Posted on 4/25/19 at 1:13 pm to TDsngumbo
You don’t need a license to cut grass.
Just don’t advertise yourself as a “landscape contractor” or offer and pesticide/herbicide applications. You absolutely
Need license for those. If someone wants you to plant a few shrubs and seasonal color, you can obviously Do it. Just don’t use “landscape construction or installation” in your marketing
Just don’t advertise yourself as a “landscape contractor” or offer and pesticide/herbicide applications. You absolutely
Need license for those. If someone wants you to plant a few shrubs and seasonal color, you can obviously Do it. Just don’t use “landscape construction or installation” in your marketing
Posted on 4/25/19 at 1:28 pm to TDsngumbo
Posted on 4/25/19 at 2:35 pm to jimbeam
If you don't want to do much on the marketing end, maybe look into joining Block Lawn Care if you are in the BR area. I don't know much about specifics, but it's a new startup I read about that operates like Uber/Waitr/etc. I guess you just accept requests in a queue when you have free time? Their website
Posted on 4/25/19 at 2:35 pm to kadillak
this sounds awful and I hope it doesn't take off
Posted on 4/25/19 at 3:11 pm to TDsngumbo
Honestly, I'd look into the weed control/fertilization side of lawn maintenance. Huge margins, especially for a one man show. You do need license/certifications for that, but they're not hard to get.
Posted on 4/25/19 at 4:21 pm to TDsngumbo
I cut grass for a guy for about 10 years. I ultimately graduated HS back in the day and figured college wasnt for me. I started working for him to see if it was what i wanted to do. I worked for him for years. He was a good guy to work for. After a few years of that, i decided it wasnt for me, at least not running the show. I enrolled in college part time while still working for him full time and finished after 5 years. I will say this and you will think you'll be different, but cutting grass from sun up to sun down in july and and august is BRUTAL. It is going to take you a while to get seasoned to it. That's a fact. Also, don't spend everything you make. You will get paid A TON of cash. It will be easy to spend it quickly, but if you are in geismar, you've witnessed the stupid amount of rain we've had the last few months. You have save for a literal rainy day. Also, look into other things like people have mentioned: pressure washing, leaf removal, flower bed maintenance, etc. Don't be solely dependent on grass. (i know you mentioned you'd still have your office job). I don't mean to insult you, but assuming you do a really good job of cutting grass, you could go after a niche market and do well. Charge 50-55 a cut but i mean it has to be top notch. Clean turns with the ZTR, nice edge lines, no clippings left behind in the driveway edging, etc. It would take you 15 more minutes to do a great job and make 10-15 more dollars per cut. Also, ,try to map your customers out where you aren't on the road very much. My boss did this and as the guy who did most of the edging and weedeating, i hated it because it meant less of a break but for him, i get why he did it. Also, i know it will be tempting to do, but try not to cut in the same pattern every time. You will start to leave tire tracks in the yard. There are 100 other little nuances i could state, but i'm just tired of typing and i know this will get the "TL:DR" response.
This post was edited on 4/25/19 at 4:22 pm
Posted on 4/25/19 at 4:33 pm to AU_251
also... what do you think is my better option?
Buy a 400$ Yard Machine now off FB and cut yards with it for a while
OR
Go finance a commercial grade zero turn
----------------
Start small and upgrade equipment as cash flow permits.
Buy a 400$ Yard Machine now off FB and cut yards with it for a while
OR
Go finance a commercial grade zero turn
----------------
Start small and upgrade equipment as cash flow permits.
Posted on 4/25/19 at 4:34 pm to TDsngumbo
As someone said. Communication is the key. During the off season if the guy I used would have called and offered some other services or even a winter cutting to clean things up I would have taken it. I just wasn’t going to go through the effort to call him. Offer a referral incentive if a customer helps to find a neighbor.
Posted on 4/25/19 at 4:48 pm to FishinTygah84
quote:
I cut grass for a guy for about 10 years. I ultimately graduated HS back in the day and figured college wasnt for me. I started working for him to see if it was what i wanted to do. I worked for him for years. He was a good guy to work for. After a few years of that, i decided it wasnt for me, at least not running the show. I enrolled in college part time while still working for him full time and finished after 5 years. I will say this and you will think you'll be different, but cutting grass from sun up to sun down in july and and august is BRUTAL. It is going to take you a while to get seasoned to it. That's a fact. Also, don't spend everything you make. You will get paid A TON of cash. It will be easy to spend it quickly, but if you are in geismar, you've witnessed the stupid amount of rain we've had the last few months. You have save for a literal rainy day. Also, look into other things like people have mentioned: pressure washing, leaf removal, flower bed maintenance, etc. Don't be solely dependent on grass. (i know you mentioned you'd still have your office job). I don't mean to insult you, but assuming you do a really good job of cutting grass, you could go after a niche market and do well. Charge 50-55 a cut but i mean it has to be top notch. Clean turns with the ZTR, nice edge lines, no clippings left behind in the driveway edging, etc. It would take you 15 more minutes to do a great job and make 10-15 more dollars per cut. Also, ,try to map your customers out where you aren't on the road very much. My boss did this and as the guy who did most of the edging and weedeating, i hated it because it meant less of a break but for him, i get why he did it. Also, i know it will be tempting to do, but try not to cut in the same pattern every time. You will start to leave tire tracks in the yard. There are 100 other little nuances i could state, but i'm just tired of typing and i know this will get the "TL:DR" response.
Very good information and literally the only thing you said that I haven't considered already is the thing about not cutting in the same pattern each time. Good info.
Thanks!
Posted on 4/25/19 at 4:53 pm to FishinTygah84
Yep. There’s the fastest way and then the best way, that will get and keep good clients willing to pay extra for quality.
Posted on 4/26/19 at 6:51 am to TDsngumbo
quote:
Is there a way for me to pull my pay out of their account via Venmo or PayPal or would I only send an invoice asking for their payment after completing the services? I'm sure in most cases the homeowner won't be home when I am there.
I pay my lawn guy with Venmo. He sends me a text when he's done and I send him payment through Venmo. I don't get an invoice from him but I believe Venmo does offer pay requests.
Posted on 4/26/19 at 8:27 am to slinger1317
quote:
He sends me a text when he's done and I send him payment
Does he text you a pic of your yard or something?
Posted on 4/26/19 at 9:11 am to TDsngumbo
Here are my thoughts.
My lawn guy had a garage opener to my back yard. He is someone I trusted to be tooling around the backyard while my wife and kids are home by themselves. My wife would come to the back and pay him and visit. When we are out in town and see him we catch up.
I say that to say that this is the niche. Be the trustworthy community guy that gets away with charging more because he is trusted. Dress well, if you have a helper make sure he is presentable. Get enough contract work at stores, restaurants, =offices to get some monthly income. Find a gated subdivision and take over every lawn that you can. Approach the HOA presidents, offer to take care of their common areas for discounted rates to be present in the more posh areas.
Look at getting your chemical application license. That could be a HUGE value add for a homeowner.
Accurately bill/invoice/provide receipts.....
My lawn guy had a garage opener to my back yard. He is someone I trusted to be tooling around the backyard while my wife and kids are home by themselves. My wife would come to the back and pay him and visit. When we are out in town and see him we catch up.
I say that to say that this is the niche. Be the trustworthy community guy that gets away with charging more because he is trusted. Dress well, if you have a helper make sure he is presentable. Get enough contract work at stores, restaurants, =offices to get some monthly income. Find a gated subdivision and take over every lawn that you can. Approach the HOA presidents, offer to take care of their common areas for discounted rates to be present in the more posh areas.
Look at getting your chemical application license. That could be a HUGE value add for a homeowner.
Accurately bill/invoice/provide receipts.....
This post was edited on 4/26/19 at 9:12 am
Posted on 4/26/19 at 9:36 am to TDsngumbo
quote:I was just there at a boil.
Geismar, LA
Posted on 4/26/19 at 10:50 am to TDsngumbo
quote:
Does he text you a pic of your yard or something?
He did at the beginning but I've been using him 2 years and now I trust him. Like Tigerfoot said, be presentable, dress well and communicate. Sadly in today's world that puts you ahead of 80% of the yahoos out there.
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