Being realistic

[okie]

Would it be hard for a person to obtain enough business in a first year of business to generate 20,000 to $30,000 of business a year?

[Phil Nilsson]

No ... not at all (except) in a case where there is no market ... or a depressed market ... try selling ice cubes to Eskimos ...

[Allan]

I have a new goal for you. Yes, it is realistic. $500k take home within 5 years. The money is out there if you are big enough to take it.

[Scaper-S2k]

$500k isn't too realistic within 5 years. I know companies that make over 10 million and the president of the company doesn't make that.

[Phil Nilsson]

I know of a company that grosses 3.2 million and the owner takes home $500,000 a year ... it's a commercial grounds maint biz. Within 5 years? ... yes! if you do the sales volume ... why not? Is it typical? ... NO! most green guys stay very small ... under $500,000 in sales with less than 5 employees.

In the right markets, with the right attitude and drive it can be done. Many, many success stories out there.

[Scaper-S2k]

Is it typical? ... NO!

Uhhhh, not sure if you are trying to argue.....but that's what I said.....'it isn't too realistic.' It's not typical.

[jfishenter]

Heres realistic. I made over 60k my 2nd year out. That's with me and a part time helper. A lot of days, we were done by mid afternoon.
This year I'm looking to make well over 100k. I'm planning to put on a full time 2 man crew doing just the mowing while I consentrate on landscaping and chemical apps.

PS...It's not normally my nature to disclose my financial situation, but this is realisam. What you can make is limited to your personal determination and commitment.

[Scaper-S2k]

Again, I'm not saying it can't be done. But take home is true actual take home pay. I'm not talking about gross, or even biz profit. I'm talking about the ACTUAL bottom line # on the 1040 personal tax return.

Not the "Well I made $150k, but after my deductions I only paid tax on $30k". Well, in reality, you only TRULY made $30k spendable personal income.

[KCM]

Would it be hard for a person to obtain enough business in a first year of business to generate 20,000 to $30,000 of business a year?

One man operations make 3-4 times more then that

[Allan]

Back to your original question. If you are content with $30,000 then yes, it can be done.


$30,000 per year / $30 per lawn = 1000
1000/36 mows per year = 28

If you can get 28 customers to pay $30 per mow and do that 36 times per year, then you have made your goal.

[Phil Nilsson]

The average green guy has less than 5 employees and (nets) in the wallet take home pay after all expenses of (under) $75,000 ... many face intense competition and can't seem to get ahead of the pack ... or come up with ways to exceed those numbers ...

[wrestlingcoach]

Yes, 20-30K can be done. But make sure you have the just enough equipment in place and ADVERTISE.

[wrestlingcoach]

Also 36 mowings a year is a kinda big in OKlahoma in my opinion. From my past years, the weekly lawns are around 24-28 times a year the bi-weekly yards are half that amount.

Remember in OKLAHOMA, "If you don't like the weather wait 20 minutes, it will change!" quoted from Will Rogers (i think)

With that said look at last year, rained 8+ inches in JUly , hardly anything in the mid-August to the 1st week of Oct.

So sales will fluctuate

[mariner]

sales will fluctuate

Yes they will. Mother nature is ultimately in charge!

[headstrong]

The big picture here is not your gross figures... it is your net. If you plan on build a business, you need to figure in all of the overhead expenses of operation. To say 30k a year is doable, no problem. $30,000-insurance-fuel-maintenance-labor-depreciation/wear & tear-phones-etc= $10,000 net. What do you want in your pocket? Also, don't forget you may want new equipment during the season if you feel your copany has growth potential. Your first year running you shold shoot for gross figures in the 80-90k in maintenance alone. Easily achievable with some dedication.