Starting up?????

[dragon174]

I've been throwing around the idea of starting a lawn service business here in the metro-Detroit area for several years.

I have a full time job and can't affort to quit until the business is up and running full time. I was thinking about hiring a two person crew for right now and I would do all of the advertising, scheduling, invoicing, etc.

Can anyone provide any sugguestions for someone just starting out?

Thanks

[MGO]

If you can't do the work yourself starting out....even part-time....then don't do it.

I have a full-time job as an Engineer and started my Lawn Care Business part-time this year. I have (10) weekly customers that I take care of Mon-Wed after work. I also do one-trme jobs on weekends (i.e. mulching, aeration, clean-ups, etc.)

You need to do the work yourself (even if yuou hire a helper) so you will know what is involved for pricing....so you can set a standard for the quality and pricing of your business....also, how will you know how long a job should take.....how will you know if your employees are bul****ting you if you have never done the work yourself...etc..

The only reason I have only (10) weekly customers is because that is all I can handle for now.....my plan was originally to go full-time by 2006.....however, I have already exceeded all of my business plan goals that I had set through 2005....so I am planning on Full-Time in the Spring of 2005.

I will not add any employees (other than a part-time helper) until I have more work than I can handle by myself.....then I will begin training someone to be a foreman based on MY STANDARDS and OWN EXPERIENCE doing the work.

Do what you can for now part-time after work and on weekends.....WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN!

[perenlawn]

I totally agree w/MGO. We started out part-time and my dh works f/t job and does the lawncare/scaping p/t. He has built the business and increased his customer base each year... we are now at the "busting" point and will implement a plan to start f/t either 2005 or 2006. He started totally by himself w/me (I do billing, accounting, and some labor) and just hired a part-time guy last year and this year to help him with his mowing/scaping jobs. This was because it has gotten to be too much for him by himself.

You must be hands on in all areas. If you don't have the relationship w/clients and are not part of the "crew" doing the work, I would think they are not going to have the respect for you. After all, it will be your name and company they are paying or contacting.. so if you are not directly involved in every aspect, the respect is just not going to be there. Also, you will not have the knowledge as MGO mentioned for bidding, pricing and other areas to experience you for future growth and larger accounts.

Start in small steps, work hard, provide top quality work and go the extra mile on every client and you will be successful!

Good luck.

[Lehighscapes]

Exactly. out of sight owners more often fail. you are building a company that is by your name! Be there, If you cant dont take the job. start a work load that you and you alone can do. A helper is fine.