where's the landscapers under 20!

[lucky]

Iam 19 and looking for advice from someone in my position who knows how hard it is for people to take you seriuosly and how hard it is to get insurance and other fun stuff you got to get to legally run your business. Help me out.

[Sammy]

Re: where's the landscapers under 20!

Originally posted by lucky
where's the landscapers under 20!

In School ?

[blindarrow]

I'm lucky enough to do business in the South, where if you can grow a beard, you're considered a man :p

Act like a professional, talk like a professional, BE A PROFESSIONAL, and people will take you seriously.

You can get a business license easily. Insurance you can obtain easily as well, it just may cost more (it depends).

Everything is easily attainable except for a cold beer at the end of the day.

BTW, I'm only 18.

[Really Well Cut]

I have never really had a problem with ppl not taking me seriuosly due to age or appearance. I am glad but im 19 and look much younger and i dont think i have ever been asked age or been turned down due to age. Maybe its that profesional way of business talk!?

[Phil Nilsson]

Put the business in your parents name until you reach 21

[mselainius]

I'm 18 running a solo gig and.......can anybody say insufficient credit?! you cant get credit until you have good credit which you cant establish because no one will trust you with financing or credit....agh!

[Scott]

one of the 1st things I did when I was 18 was to get a signature loan for $500; put the money in checking and setup automatic withdrawl and set it up to pay off in six months. Then I did another for a $1000 and did the same thing. I lost out on some small change in interest rates but got things moving much faster than any other 18/19year old I knew. Next thing I knew I financed a new car with decent rates at 19/20. Since then, I've been golden.

[TTLC603]

Im 20 and took over my dads business when he passed away working overseas for his other job. I started my credit by getting a card at 18 and used it for gas...then an ATV...then I bought my first truck by myself. Its not so much the customers I have problems with...its people I hire that are 30+ years old and dont always take me seriously. I grew up around landscaping...I fix the equipment myself as well as work right next to my guys. Since my dad passed away I have taken his part-time business into fulltime this is my second summer and I went from doing 15 lawns on weekends to having 45 residentials 12 commercials and I have added irrigation as well as walls walks and patios. I have brought our business from my dad myself and his friend to myself my best friend who is now a partner a 26 year old GM who knows his stuff and 12 guys working for me. We work 6-6 monday-friday and oftens times saturdays if the guys want money. We have 6 dumps 3 inclosed trailers...bob cats, 2 loaders, and a 3 bay shop. I have a company truck my partner does and so does my GM. Next year we have gained 3 condo complexs as well as a bunch more residential and commercial. Take the advice you get here to heart all of these guys know what they are talking about...well most of them. a key word of advice I can give you is not to base how much you made this year to next year. A guy i knew had a huge landscaping business here as well as 2 nurseries. he cheated on his wife lost the nurseries and lost alot of money. He is Currently selling equipment and laying people off because he lost all of the huge plantings that he used to recieve from the nursery. So always remember Dont cheat on your wife...save money....and Prenumbtual Agreement lol

[suzuki4life]

well im 16 and im often not taken seriously over the phone because of my voice. Its not exactly high pitched but i do sound younger on the phone. I like to talk to people in person though so they can see that im serious. Respect isnt handed out, you have to earn it. But as for running a business the only hard part for me is dealing with the bank. They wont let me have a debit/ atm card but thats pretty much it. Also when i go to the store alot of times im not allowed to buy stuff. Like spray paint, total bull**** when a 16year old business owner cant buy 2 cans of spray paint at walmart.


-zach

[South Florida Lawns]

I am 12 and had a hard time getting my little tyke bubble blaster mower covered under the simplest policy.

[KLC]

TTLC603 -

How did you go from part time 2 years ago to where you are now? Would really like to hear how you did it.