Any advise

[bentleypusherjim]

Hi,
Me and a college friend of mine are tired of working in an office.
We have saved up a large sum of money and we are hoping to start a lawn care business that the two of us will run. In the beginning we will do everything with no other employees to help. I was wondering how much money do you think is reasonable to spend in order to completely start a business up. What basic equipment would i need. Any advice you could give me would be most helpful.

Thanks

Jim

[Bulldog26]

We need more info, do the two of you have a truck, any equipment, any work in this field before........ more information and we can help. Have you included money to get you though your first winter?
bt

[bentleypusherjim]

Thanks for responding

We do not have any equipment right now or a truck but we have alot of money saved to spend on equipment. That being said we would still like to start small and work our way up. We really do not want to spend more than 10 thousand a piece if possible. Do you think that is enough? also we dont (at least not at first) want to do anything but maintain (cutting blowing trimming that kinda stuff).

Now for the winter we were thinking we should possibly get jobs to pull us through the first one. or is there some complementary jobs for a lawn care business that work well in the winter months that you do.

Or i guess what do you think i should do.

[dwyman]

I won't be the only one to say this but since you are just starting, do it alone. It sounds cool to start a business with a friend but 90% of the time it will cause problems in the friendship. Who is going to have the final say? Do you want to be in charge or does he? You both probably do. That would be my bit of advice for you. By the way, I speak from experience. I was lucky enough to have ended it before we were really deep into it. It was with a cousin and not a friend but same difference.

[Getter Done Lawn]

I agree with dwyman 110%.. you need to do this one on your own. If you have $10,000 to invest, that will be plenty..

7x12 trailer - $1,000
36" walkbehing - $3,000
21" push - $300
trimmer, edger, blower, etc.. - $1,000
misc.. - $250

Total....... $5,550

This should be the most you will need during your first season.

As for that other money, invest it in advertising. Try a direct mailing campaign using postcards or put up several thousand flyers in targeted neighborhoods.

[gobblet]

PLEASE READ MY LAST THREAD!
Any question please ask.

[Scaper-S2k]

Don't put all your money out there on equipment. Borrow at first and keep your extra money in the bank. That way the equipment can pay for itself.

If you are just starting, spend more time/money advertising.


What type of experience do you have in business or this industry?

[JakobHarper]

Getter done- You're forgeting he needs a truck.

But don't worry $10,000 is plenty. I started my operation last summer and I spent right at 8,000 for start up so that gives you an extra 2,000 for misc. expenses that WILL come up.

Here's my breakdown

New 6x12 utillity trailer $850

2 mowers (used) I bought them from another LCO in the area that had moved on to bigger and better (and more costly) ZTR's
44'' Toro Walk-behind /w sulky $1200
36'' Toro Walk-behind $700

98' Chevy Cheyenne 2500 $3,800 (super great deal on truck I knew a friend that knew a friend)

New Echo Backpack Blower 300
New Echo Hedge Trimmer I forget but probably around 300
2 New Echo Trimmers 600 give or take
New Echo Edger 250


Total $8,000 give or take

I bought more stuff as I needed it down the road. Like when you've done a few pruning jobs and realize oh' **** I can't reach the top of this bush I need a step ladder for the business. Then Fall comes around and it's "Can you get on my roof and clean it for me?" Oh **** my step ladder can't reach the roof I need an extension ladder now. All the little extra's add up but you'll have what you need for now to get started. Hope this helps. Keep reading these threads a lot of knowledge from these old geezers that lay down at night and still hear the mower goin.

[Getter Done Lawn]

Getter done- You're forgeting he needs a truck.

My bad.. I thought he said that he already had one..

[JakobHarper]

Nice Website Getter Done.....If you don't mind me asking how much that baby runs you a month? I like the idea of making one for myself or having one made w/e. Are you having any success with it?

[Getter Done Lawn]

Nice Website Getter Done.....If you don't mind me asking how much that baby runs you a month? I like the idea of making one for myself or having one made w/e. Are you having any success with it?

The website costs $35 a year to have it registered and then $15 a month for hosting through register.com

I also pay $30 a year for my email with the web address..


Other than that, there hasn't really been any costs. The website was a template but it had a lot of problems with the layout that took a while to work out. As far as it being a marketing tool, I think it is working really great. People can't find it on a search engine unless they look up the name so when it gets hits I know that most of the time it's a potential customer that had to get the address from some type of advertising I have out.. So it helps sell you to the customer before you say a word.

[JakobHarper]

That sounds like pretty reasonable prices. I might hit up register.com and look into that. I had a company called "website pros" give me a call the other day saying "we are partnered up with vistaprint.com and we saw that you ordered some business cards...do you have a website??? For just $80 a month you can have a professional website..." At that moment I almost bit my toungue off.

$80 bucks a month better get me a link on www.google.com or something. I just thought that was ridiculous. $15 bucks a month sounds a lot better.


Oh and Bentleypusherjim don't forget about the commercial liability insurance. I think mine runs about $175 quarterly for a million dollar policy. And you'll be wanting to do some improvements on your trailer like getting some good trimmer racks and some signage on the truck. Putting an ad in the paper daily in the classifieds. Etc. You'll find a home for that additional $2,000 trust me. What I would do if I were you (and this is what I did) is write out a budget for each thing you need and go to market. Happy Hunting.

[Sammy]

Don't forget, u need more than just a mower and a trimmer:

Oil
Grease
Filters
Shovel
Rake
Scraper
Gasoline
2-Cycle oil
Gloves
Hand Clippers
Pruneing Shears
Blade Grinder
Fire Extinguser
Safty Cones
First Aid Kit
Flash Light
Wrenchs
PB Blaster
Air Compressor
Screwdriver Set
Rags
Deck Lift
Jack Knife
Pliers
Baleing Wire
Hammer
Bigger Hammer
Small Socket Set, 6-point
Large Socket Set, 6-point.
Spare Belts
Gas Cans

[Darrin A.]

I won't be the only one to say this but since you are just starting, do it alone. It sounds cool to start a business with a friend but 90% of the time it will cause problems in the friendship. Who is going to have the final say? Do you want to be in charge or does he? You both probably do. That would be my bit of advice for you. By the way, I speak from experience. I was lucky enough to have ended it before we were really deep into it. It was with a cousin and not a friend but same difference.

I agree 110% If you both really want to do this together, maybe start 2 businesses and work together on larger jobs. Partners come and go, bills just keep coming. Either way, good luck.