Scrub Starter Kit

[Preston]

Hello Everyone,
Long time viewer, but this is my first post.

After several months of planning and research, I have decided to take the plunge and go into the Landscape Maintenance Business.

My background:
Bachelor of Science degrees in Strategic Management and Computer Science.

Pre/during college work:
Worked for a landscape company as well as my dad in his walnut orchards, etc.(this includes mowing, spraying, pruning, fixing irrigation and basic equipment repair)

Post college work:
Sales (both cold calling and established accounts) and computer programming.

But after being laid-off yet again from a dot-bomb, I have decided to take my passion of gardening/landscaping and take destiny into my own hands.

I've done my SWOT analysis as well as other research and am feeling fairly comfortable that I am headed in the right direction.

My question is, what do you suggest is a good “Scrub Starter Kit" for somebody first starting out? I am on a limited budget and would like to keep costs fairly as low as possible. On the other hand, I do realize the "you get what you pay for" and would like to find a happy median.

My starter kit list of things to purchase:

1. Toyota Pick-up (just bought it last Sunday)
2. backpack blower
3. edger
4. line trimmer
5. mower
6. hedge trimmer
7. ladder(s)
8. gas cans
9. ear protection

Also in the budget:
1. flyers
2. business cards
3. magnetic door signs (for the truck)

I live in Santa Barbara, California where lawns are pretty small to say the least. Since there has not been any new residential real estate built since the 1960’s here (I’m not joking!), the majority of homes have a small lawn and well established shrubs and bushes. After scoping out other LCO’s in action and viewing the surrounding neighborhoods, I would estimate that half the work load will be spent on bushes/hedges and the other half on the lawn.

After reading several posts, I've decided to get started by canvassing the neighborhoods introducing my business (via flyers, then followed up by knocking door to door), as well as pushing Fall specials on gutter cleaning and holiday light installation.

Does this sound like a reasonable way to start off? Anything that I am missing/ overlooking from my Scrub Starter Kit list or in general? All tips/hints/help/<i><b>constructive</b></i> criticisms are welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Preston

[Scott]

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Will you be operating out of the back of your truck or will you be getting a trailer?
From the looks of it you have everything accounted for except eye protection, ramps if needed, and some good gloves.

Good luck and keep us informed on how you're doing.

[lawrence stone]

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So you have two BS degrees and you want to lower yourself to the status of an illegal foreign national laborer.

Here is some constructive criticism: Go get a real job.

[Galashiels]

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Depends what you are going to do with the clippings, pick up or mulch, as to whether you need a trailer, but seeing as you are thinking of a hedge trimmer you will need to take them away, but ammazing what you can stuff in the back of a pick up.
I started with a line trimmer and crap push mower, slowly got the rest as I needed them. Seeing as 95% of lawns here are all pick up a trailer was essential.
Also on the list could be some wool packs to stuff the clippings or hedge trimings in.

John

[GrassMaster]

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Hello Preston:

I'm glad you decided to participate here at the forum!

It looks like you've thought about this for a while & I wish you the Best.

Unless you have a better way of cleaning up after trimming bushes than I, let me reccomemd a trash can with wheels on it & a good old 5 gal. plastic bucket. I found both of these very handy in cleaning up.

Lets us Know how it goes for You!

[qualitylandscaping]

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Preston,

Welcome to the community!

If your Toyota has an extended bed (8'), you shouldn't have a problem just starting out running from your pickup.. Get a bed ramp, put all clippings in a wheelbarrow and run the wheelbarrow up the ramp and dump the clippings in the bed. A garbage can works well too! It also depends on what size equipment you want to have.. You can easily run a business with 21" mowers out of a truck bed, but 48" is a different story. You would find it very tight (accessibility wise), so I would suggest if you were going to use larger equipment, to get a trailer. Buy a big one at least 6x10.

Good luck and let us know how things work out for you!

[Bryan]

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Are you nut's ? No pun intended.

It sounds like you have done your home work. Now you just have to go out and do some work. In some cases you can learn something about the green industry on this site, but in most cases, just aruguments about cab-overs or a pick-up with a trailer.

The only thing I would not have bought is a non-import tax paying overseas truck. (just me)

HINT: One word. "Discipline", this is a must.

[louslawns]

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for the most part you can listen and learn or learn the hard way

[Phil Nilsson]

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No new construction since the 1960's and small lawns ... says it all ... look at a much larger market, consider going straight for the commercial markets ... if there is plenty of competition (more than likely is) joining them might offer only a limited income for you. Aim higher.

[KnoxLC]

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When I first got started I was on a small budget. The sales people talked me into getting a Stihl multicut trimmer (it is a motor unit that can be interchanged with a trimmer head, edger, hedgetrimmer, pruner, etc. It has been a great tool for my lawn care company. If you got this tool you could get it all for a discount, depending on where you got it from. It would save you a lot of money. Just trying to help.

[louslawns]

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yeah i have one of those where you can change the trimmer to an edger it is a pain in the ass but the both work great