Need some advise please...

[djMyers]

Looking to do a Late Fall Startup. I thought about just getting a real good blower, been looking at the EBZ8000 RedMax. Besides the chainsaw the Husky 385XP I plan on buying a good rake and some tarps. What else would you feel I may need for this time of year? I do intend to purchase a commercial mower this Spring a long with a Line Trimmer and perhaps an Edger if needed but they will not be puchased until this Spring. I plan on just going at this solo so I will be a one man wrecking crew so to speak. I am currently reading over the State Business License brochure the State sent me. Washington State is not very small business friendly. You have to get what they call a Master Business License for the State plus you need a business license for every municipality you do business in so when all said and done you could end up with a whole slew of licenses.

Thanks for your help...

Dave

[PTLlandscapingIL]

well, its gonna be hard to do lweave clean upas this time of year without the right equipment,first a good commerical mower is a need, and a good back pack blower and a pickup with some sides on the bed so u can get ti loaded down...

[Bikehigh]

If that's the only saw you're gonna have, it's too big. You don't have the capacity to handle the size lumb er that that saw is designed to cut. Besides that, do you really want to be getting up in a tree with a saw that big? Take a look at something like the Stihl 250C. It's light enough for one hand operation and will do everything you need a saw to do.

The Redmax is the upgraded version of what I have. Be prepared, wearing that thing on your back all day while blowing leaves can get to be a real bear. Nothing to be done about it, just maybe think about getting the 7001 if you can get a deal on it.

Besides the rake, you'll probably want to get a decent manure fork, for unlaoding the truck. Unless you've got a dumper that is.

[nick11380]

If your getting a chain saw to trim trees with a good one to start with is a remington electric pole saw. It cost less than $100.00. The chain saw can be used on or off the pole. This is the only chain saw I have and use. It's little but it can cut some good sized branches. It's not a professional piece of equipment but it has done every job that I needed it to do and I don't use it enough to get a better one. Then after you cut down a big branch you will need a long handled pruning shears to cut the small branches.

Other equipment would be a hedging shears for cutting down perennials. Ladders for cleaning out gutters. The Redmax 8000 (if your going to spend the money on a backpack blower it would be worth spending a little more to get the best). This is the end of my second year full time and I still don't have a commerial mower or pickup. I'm thinking about getting the quick36 or 36" exmark in the spring.

[PTLlandscapingIL]

hang on your going about this all wrong guys hang on....
1. what services do you plan to offer
2. tree service(arborist or any education behind it)
3. equipment start small but smart go commerical but dont go in debt
4. sole propieator or inc.
5. insurance
here write down a list then set goal;s this year i wanna do this next year this, 3 years i wanna be here. pace yourself.dont be anothe rlocal scag or lowballer. go out there, take care of your customers. and keepa strong front honesty is the best way to go good luck.

[djMyers]

hang on your going about this all wrong guys hang on....
1. what services do you plan to offer
2. tree service(arborist or any education behind it)
3. equipment start small but smart go commerical but dont go in debt
4. sole propieator or inc.
5. insurance
here write down a list then set goal;s this year i wanna do this next year this, 3 years i wanna be here. pace yourself.dont be anothe rlocal scag or lowballer. go out there, take care of your customers. and keepa strong front honesty is the best way to go good luck.

Good Points PTL:
1. Services I would plan to offer would be just lawn maintenance, cut, blow, edge and a side job the homeowner may want like refreshing a flower bed with mulch, etc...
2. Tree Service would be taking care of blow downs, bucking and maybe splitting if homeowner so desires. I live on an Island with Douglas Firs, Hemlock and Alder making up your large percentage of tree's. This time of year we have strong winds and the stronger Chinook Winds that almost certainly guarentee some blow down business.
3. All ready covered. I do plan on just easing into this slowly. Have been eyeing the EBZ8000. As a matter of fact I looked at one the other day at a Shop.
4. sole propieator or inc. Good question, I don't know. Is there an advantage to either one?
5. Insurance. Is this a must have when just starting out? How much is it for one person? Is there a legit website I might be able to inquire?

[Jack D.]

Please note that a properly equipped mower is your most important leaf clean-up tool followed closely by Push or BP blowers.

The RM8000 comes w/a second strap that attaches around your mid-section to relieve tension on the shoulders during long sessions. This attachment is labelled the "Pansy Strap" in the owner's manual.

[hardboiled]

You say your state is not very "small business friendly". From what I've read from other people in your state, this may seem the case initially. However, you should try to look at it as though they are on your side and want you to succeed. The regulations put in place are to protect your future business from unfair competition from those who try to operate without following the rules. I would say try to get all the proper licensing and insurance before starting, if you can. I was able to do so and will know that if my business should fail next year, that it is not because I was not playing fair. Noone can report me for not paying taxes, or fertilizing without a license, trimming a tree without insurance, etc.
Good luck to you. Maybe you can get the minimum insurance for your start this year and add to it as needed for expanded services as you go. I wouldn't start mowing without insurance, because of the increased risks. A few leaf cleanups are not as risky but accidents have a funny way of happening without warning. I personally wouldn't want to be caught without coverage when one comes along.

[lawn hopper]

Study business entities and incorporate ASAP because it saves you on taxes and liability. And if you plan well, you'll be focused on running your corp. instead of working on it.

I'm still a SP but thinking about incorporation everyday because it's necessary. Need to take my own advice and act.

[Phil Nilsson]

Quote ... "What else would you feel I may need for this time of year?"

Customers ... get them first and the equip needs will be apparent.

[theweedman]

question.. whats the best way to go when doing leaf cleanup with a walkbehind mower equipped with bagger and gator's? for instance, what mowing height for best results? should you keep it high where your not touching to much of the grass? or should you be taking a bit of grass off the top? i see guys all the time around here with the blowers, rakes and tarps doing leaf cleanups, while the commercial mower w/ bagger sits on the truck! which is beyond me. but in the past i have always used the tarp method because it was all i could do, and it was a hassle. but now i got a quick36 with the bagger.. gonna give it a go as soon as some damn leaves fall!

Please note that a properly equipped mower is your most important leaf clean-up tool followed closely by Push or BP blowers.

The RM8000 comes w/a second strap that attaches around your mid-section to relieve tension on the shoulders during long sessions. This attachment is labelled the "Pansy Strap" in the owner's manual.

[mariner]

Quote ... "What else would you feel I may need for this time of year?"

Customers ... get them first and the equip needs will be apparent.

Those too, but, you need the equipment if you are going to offer services. In this biz, you need to be prepared at all times and take everything new that comes your way. Thats if, you wanna make money.

[Jack D.]

Mr. Weedman, you will want the deck set as low as possible w/out plowing the leaves to increase mulching ability. Turf damage is not an issue during fall cutting. Please set the front @ 2" & the rear @ 2.5" to 3" and reverse over leaves should they become too dense.

[jschlenker]

weedman,

I usually trim first to loosen those at the edge then blow everything onto the lawn.

I always run double blades in the fall. Most of the time I just by run the mower over them (cutting grass if needed) with the bagger, or just mulch em. the second blade will do two things--1. increase suction tremendously, and 2. chop more of the leaves on their way into the bag which means more per bag or better mulching.
If there is a ****load then I run em through the side-discharge into a pile in the center of the yard going over the pile as well. after that they are ready to bag taking up one fourth the volume cause they're shredded. plus many of them get chopped so small they dissappeared into the turf.
once they are shredded you'll need double blades or a high-vac to pick them up.

hey Jackd-- I set the front higher to let in the leaves.

occasionally I just mow the whole lawn twice, first shred, then bag.

another plus to chopping leaves up is that they compost lots faster, especially when mixed with a little green grass.

happy leafing . . . the worst thing is the dust, though I like working in the cool air of fall.

[Jack D.]

Jack D. shudders to imagine the blowout Mr. jschlenker experiences w/the deck set higher in front and 2 blades per spindle. Perhaps he is using belt driven units where reversing over thick leaves is difficult. W/ Mr. Weedman's Quick 36" one is able to use the positive reverse of the single hydro if plowing leaves in forward motion is an issue.