advertising & business plan.

[RK1]

Im well on my way to opening my new business!

Im in the process of obtaining my business license and contacted my insurance company regarding liabilty coverage.

I have put together my business plan and also decided on the type of equipment I want. Financialy Im looking good. I already have very nice tow vehicle & trailer that is paid for. All my hand tools will be purchased with cash on hand. My only item I will finance will be the mower. I plan on purchasing a Exmark Lazer Z.

I currently have a job but have been notified that there is a 99.9% chance our group will be laid off sometime in Jan. or Feb. I will have about a 6 month full pay serverance package (about 20 grand)
My wife also works. I work in the Telecom sector and over the last two years I have watched the down turn and decided to start paying off everything possible just in case. We have paid off all our credit card and vehicle debts. We basically have our house and boat payment left. Im positioned well do go for it.

The business flyers have been created and the business cards should be finished next week. Im adding a extra telephone line dedicated to the business at my house. (already have a pager and cell)

Im not planning to advertise in the Yellow Pages but will put a add in the local paper. When the weather first starts to warm and people start to stir I can run a weekend add on the local radio station for 50 bucks. They play it every two hours. Also plan on doing the flyer thing in the paper. I have a total church listing with addresses and plan to do a mailing with business cards and with a flyer that is specifically designed to their needs. Thinking about doing the same thing to businesses in town. I might even do a mailing to certain housing areas/subdivision and offer a discount for people who live in the subdivision. My wife is a cosmetologist in a busy shop and she will probable get me more action than all the above! she knows everybody in town.....

I know a young man (17 years old) that I trust that is willing to work for me on a as needed basis. His dad died a few years ago and is trying to help his mom raise his two younger brother and sister. A good freind and I always find him projects to do to make extra money. He's one of those kids that if you tell him to be somewhere at 5:00am he will be there at 4:30 so he can review the project before start time.

The business name will be!!!!!!
<font face="Times New Roman"><font size="6"><font color="green"><b>FRONTLINE</b></font id="green"></font id="size6"></font id="Times New Roman">
<font size="1"></font id="size1">Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

Give me some more hints.. I want the work!

[Phil Nilsson]

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Where are you from and what about your market potential?

[RK1]

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North Central Arkansas (Twin lakes Area) Area population is about 50 thousand. 60-70% of the population is retired. Average home is $150,000 sitting on 1/2 acre. This area attracts retired people from Chicago. Main industry is medical. I have talked to the two main lawn care players in the area and they both tell me there is more work than lawn care people. Most of the folks in this area have money and do not wish to do anything but live,fish,hunt and go the the doctor. My brother-in-law owns a small tree service and makes roughly 55K per year just trimming and topping trees in the area. I live in a subdivision with about 200 homes and about 70% have someone else take care of the lawn. More than likely I will get most of my business right here in my own neighborhood. My home sits on a small lot with minimal trimming and edging, all flat & takes me about 30 minutes to mow,trim,weedeat, & blow. I had two estimates and both were 50-55 bucks per service. The guys around here will not unload the mower for less than $35.00 regardless of how small and people will pay the high rates. I believe by offering lower rates with good quality and customer care I can edge my way into the market.

One thing about it, I will have an income while im trying to start the biz, my investment will be minimal. Im basically good for a year without a job anyway. If I fail I can look at it this way, I have the coolest home use lawnmower in the neighborhood! I have contacts in the telecom sector I can call on and do contract work for decent money anytime I like. Im not realy putting everthing at risk. I have the drive to give the business 100%. I will know after the first season if this is right for me or not. I owe it to my kids to try, I have the chance and the money to try something that will get me off the road and posibly still make a good living. I have traveled for the past 10 years and Im sick of it.

[RK1]

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http://www.mtnhomechamber.com

The link above helps describe the area.

Thanks,
RK1

[qualitylandscaping]

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RK1,

Sounds like you have a real good chance at making it in this business!

I went to that website, your area is really nice looking!!

[CCLS]

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I used BUSINESS PLAN PRO to do my business plan, I really like the software. Has anyone else used it?

[T Wall]

plan

I used BUSINESS PLAN PRO to do my business plan, I really like the software. Has anyone else used it?

could you email me a copy of your plan

[RRS]

could you email me a copy of your plan

FYI...you're replying to a post from two years ago.

look here, www.sba.gov there are a lot of business plan ideas here.

[T Wall]

FYI...you're replying to a post from two years ago.

look here, www.sba.gov there are a lot of business plan ideas here.

thanks for letting me know that - do you have any suggestions for a business plan

[RRS]

This is taken from the SBA site, but I couldn't put in any better.

Before you begin writing your business plan, consider four core questions:

* What service or product does your business provide and what needs does it fill?
* Who are the potential customers for your product or service and why will they purchase it from you?
* How will you reach your potential customers?
* Where will you get the financial resources to start your business?

I wrote my business plan three years into owning my business because like many lawn/landscape owners my business started as a means to make extra money until something better came along.

Mine is basic, and I add to it every so often, but after finishing it I had a much better view of where I wanted to go with the business and how I was going to get there. The most difficult part of writing the plan for me was, researching the market I'm in so I could come up with the best strategy for meeting my goals. I can tell you this, after writing the plan I had a much much much much better understanding of how I needed to approach the landscape maintenance business.

[Team Gopher]

Hi All,

Here is a link to a sample business plan. It should help you.

[The_Green_Team]

so this guy started his bizz 2 years ago.......how ya doing now? if ya readin this