starting a new business

[jdharndt]

hello guys, i'm stating a new lawn care business next year. I'm trying to get everthing i need this year. i already have a 97' exmark turf tracer, weed eater,leaf blower, 21" push mower and small trailer. Now i feel like i have the basic tools and i'm also working on hedge trimmers and other tools for beautifing landscaping. When does anyone think i need to buy a ztr rider or do you guys think the walk-behinds are just as good, i guess what i'm trying to say is how big does the lawn have to be before anyone would get tierd of standing.

thanks

[Mike J]

Is there a reason you are waiting till next year?

Mike

[Phil Nilsson]

Start at the beginning ... with a Business Plan ... 70% fail and many continue to make very low incomes because they didn't do the homework before they took the test ... of going into Biz

Ignorance is bliss ... but not for the 70% who go broke ...

Good luck!

Also read this if you have time ...

Managing to Succeed in Business

By Phil Nilsson, Green Industry Consultant

Ask anyone what it takes to get ahead in business, and the most common answer will probably be perseverance. It sounds deceivingly simple. You finda market, sell something to it, continue to do that over and over and make aprofit in the process. While possessing plenty of perseverance is animportant factor to success, the placement of that energy can be totally wasted, misdirected and yield disappointing results. Maybe that's where theexpression working "smart" not "hard" comes from. For the green industry,that expression should be modified to working smart and hard at the same time. Very few contractors escape the "working hard" part, so a little more time needs spent on the "working smart" part.

WORKING SMART ...
What does it mean? The smart part of working is to correctly manage the working hard part. To practice working smart, you need to apply sound business practices and persevere in doing that. If you continue to work hard and persist at only that, you could work hard for the rest of your life and probably only achieve a marginal result. The bottom line is that a lot of people do business that way. Successful business people on the other hand know that they must apply time-proven management techniques. They practice the "art of smart" by staying on top of their game, listening closely to all the messages and signals, planning a course of action, sticking to theplan and expecting good results everyday.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
Expectations are important because you usually get what you expect.
Expectations are really targeted goals. Without them, there's nothing to go for. What do you expect? A company with misdirected goals wastes energy in a futile attempt to achieve success. Such a company dances around the goals that could set it apart from competitors and set it free from mediocrity.

Successful people think more. They think about their markets and customers. They think about their methods of production. They come to fully understand where the points of control are in their companies. They do just the opposite of what you'd call the "quick and dirty approach" to management.

HOW DO YOU GET SUCCESSFUL?
Success is not exclusive. It's not reserved for a few gifted and talented
people, which means anybody can do it. There is one requirement, however, and it's deceivingly simple. You must commit yourself to work toward a worthwhile goal. You must possess a burning desire to succeed like it is the most important thing in your life. The "thinking smart" part kicks in when you've thought about your business goals Once those are understood, a clear and definite course of action is planned and then followed. Working smart means that you know every aspect of your business like the back of your hand. No procrastination, no misses, no wishful thinking. You know it; you do it. You manage your business by design, not by accident.

JUST WAVE A MAGIC WAND?
Maybe you think I've made business success sound too easy -you wave a magic wand, take a few steps and, bang, you made it. If it were that simple, wouldn't everyone be really successful? Some of the businesses that aren't doing well can point to a million reasons - too much competition, the right help isn't available, pricing is too low. But how many of these same companies ever sat down, gave serious thought to what it takes to be successful and determined exactly how to achieve it? Instead of concentrating on negatives, switch to positives. That in and of itself is hard. If you don't believe me, get a piece of paper. Divide the paper in half down the middle. In onecolumn write positive, in the other negative. In the positive column write in all the reasons why your business will be successful. In the other write the reasons why your business will not be successful. It's easier and takes less brainwork to make the negative entries, whereas it takes real thinking to identify the factors for success. The lack of business planning is the number one reason why businesses fail or achieve only marginal results. Yet how many people actually take the time and energy to plan?

SELF-MADE OBSTACLES?
Well managed, successful companies don't usually happen by accident. If there aren't enough customers in your market area, go to another market. If your business has reached its potential and has stagnated, open a branch operation in the next closest market. When you've made a success of your business and can't decide what to do, take it national. Repeat that success elsewhere and everywhere. For every negative there's at least one opposing positive. Managing to succeed in business comes down to planning and execution of plans. You'll need to manage ideas and attitudes. It will take perseverance. Throw in a little "working smart" for good measure.

Copyright 2003, 2004 Phil Nilsson

[pride]

Equipment does not make business, Customers do! I think you have more than what's effecient to get started, Concentrate on getting customers and making money, you will know when it's time for a ztr just don't get ahead of yourself. Do a business plan and go for it!

[jdharndt]

i work full time as a union plasterer, my next question is how many yards can one do in the evening after a hard days work. I was hopeing by next february to have in the neighborhood of 60 to 80 yards.but if can't get that many i was going to set my goal for 30 and hope i can get more the next year. now some of you might think why would i give up such a great job of plastering (ha ha ha). I cant take it anymore walking on stilts, plastering over my head, and sling mortor all day i'm tired of it. by the way 60 to 80 yards means i will mow full-time. 30 part-time.

[pride]

60 to 80 sounds like a lot part time, don't take one more than you can handle and no matter how many you take on if you ever plan to make it a full-time gig do a good job and more work will come. The biggest thing I have learned is look for quality not quantity!!!! There is a guy in my area that does like 100 lawns but he is so cheap and so sloppy that I end up taking over most of his accounts throughout the year, a yard he charges $20 to do I charge $45 and customers will pay it and be happy to if they have seen the good work you do. So by me having less than half the yards he does I already make more money and don't put in the rediculous hours he does. Plus dont forget to diversify yourself a little, even part time by trimming shrubs and doing odd things you will make more money from one customer than having too many! Hope this helps, good luck!