Lawn Care Service

Don't start one with buddies. Probably won't be buddies very long.

Do good work and get into a couple of sub divisions. Any lawn guy I ever hired was referred by a neighbor or I found in the neighborhood.

You should also offer other yard maintenance services besides mowing/edging.

I had one in high school and a few years into college. When it got to the point of me having to pay taxes, insurance, health insurance, etc. I couldn't make any money. This was me being a sole operator.

Things I did right:
Bought commercial equipment. Buy once, cry once. I am handy with tools, but I don't make money turning wrenches fixing cheap parts that don't last.
I got with two general contractors and quoted them dirt cheap for any and all new builds they had. When the houses sold, I raised the price to fair and tried like hell to keep it. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't.
I was organized. I knew where to be and when. More importantly, I made sure it happened. If it rained, I sent text/calls and made the new schedule work.

Things I did wrong (that I know of):
Never moved into commercial lots. I assume that you can make 2x the money here. Also, while you make more cutting 10 single acre homes, a 10 acre commercial lot is a wet dream labor wise.
Concentrated too much on being an operator instead of an owner. I should have lined my ducks up paper wise and started hiring employees. I could have had two full time rigs going with the yards I had.

All in all, it was fun and quick money. I work very hard at my current job to ensure that I never have to do it again though.

I do this full time and I def say leave the buddies out. First off get good commercial equipment that's dependable! Do good quality work and be there on time word of mouth the best advertisement you can have! Start small and do not get in over your head work solo for a year and build your customer base Grant it you might miss fun weekend activies but that's business. Second get insurance as soon as you can afford it that 800.00 a year you pay is well worth it ( trust me I broke a 5k window).

1. Leave the buddies out of it. For a heck of a lot of reasons
2. Commercial won't necessarily make you more money, considering it's ALL about price to them. Are more likely to take the cheapest option
3. Right now your eyes are probably lighting up seeing the $ potential. Throw in taxes, insurance, etc and that will go way down. Be legit business or don't do it at all
4. Don't provide services that you're not licensed for. (Landscaping, weed control, irrigation). Again, be legit.
5. That said, try and get those licenses and upsell your maintenance customers. Be their one stop shop. Saves driving time, and landscaping, fertilization and weed control are higher profit margin services

I did it also in high school and college. I actually like cutting grass but my advise to you is that if you don't you are going to be one hot, miserable sob in July / August.

You start on up yet?
I'm near college/ highland - and I'm lazy

Biggest advice is do not buy from a homecenter or a place that does not offer service. You want a place that will get your stuff in the service dept and turned around quickly to get you back on the job. My dealer when I went after the commercial guys I rented loaner units to keep them on their route.

Get the right size equipment for the job. If your customers have gates make sure you can get a zero turn inside the gate or they have a lot of trees etc.

Most guys that start out get wide area mower or eventually get a wide area mower and slightly bigger zero turn. Again, depends on your customer base.

I have no problem with that django,I'm actually contemplating this for sole purpose of the exercise and fresh air.

You can get exercise and fresh air other ways with out having to cut grass. I cut grass full time and its tough work. Pays good is the only reason i still do it. Always carry alot of water with you. If someone asks me about starting a career in lawn care i try and talk them out of it. Its something I dont want to be doing 15 years from now.