Help! I need some Professional Green Minds.

[JakobHarper]

Hi everyone this is my first post and I really like reading these forums. I have found this site to be very helpful. I am currently deployed in Iraq and I have been here for almost a year now. Soon I will be returning home and I have put a lot of serious thought into what I want to do once I get back home since I will be returning back to college and needing a part time job on the side. I believe a small lawn care business will suit me just fine and fit into my college schedule since I can control my own hours and not deal with a boss. I will graduate with my degree a year from now and I want to expand this business to a full time money making machine like some of you professionals on this forum have done and congratulations.

So please give me the low down on equipment. I need everything from a Truck & Trailor to mower and right on down the line. I have a good bit of funds since I have been saving all my money sitting in Iraq. But please try to keep a $10,000 budget in mind if you decide to help me out. I live in southeast georgia and the terrain is flat. I need a truck that will get the job done but not cost me an arm and a leg.....same goes for the rest of my equipment.

As far as dealers go in my town I have a store that sells Toro and stihil brand equipment and I want to keep the local dealer for parts and maintenance. So specifically I will be after toro mowers and stihil equipment. I get lost very easily when I read about other people's equipment because they abbreviate brand names and model #'s and everything so keep it simple for me. Again if you decide to help me I would be most grateful and can't wait to see what you guys come up with. Thanks!

-JakobHarper

[cjm2783]

welcome to the forum,

this seems like a familiar post. i was also in iraq and now i'm in school. this is my second year in the business. when i got done with a year tour i had about 12k saved up, but i didn't use it all on the business.
i started out with a honda (home owner) one trimmer, one blower and a pressure washer for side work. if i had it to do over again i would have gotten commercial equipment to start with.
i now have 45 yards and about 20k in commercial equipment. go with toro, exmark, sthil, echo, red-max. do some research.
all i can say is grow with the busniess, advertise as much as you can, get a good company name, logo, get some shirts made up with your logo and you'll have more business than you can handle in a couple of years.
Just to try and answer your question, i really think you can get started with 10k, matter of fact i know you can, spend it wisely, dont use the dealer payment plan,, interest is too high. get a personal loan if you have to.
BTW, what unit are you in? I was in the 82nd and active for 8yrs.

good luck to you bro, be safe and hurry home. we support you guys.

cjm