Anyone here started their own lawncare/landscape business?

[barman]

One of my earliest business mentors (in 1985 in Dallas) - a man who was worth several million from his own years in running a manufacturing business - gave me perhaps the most useful advice I ever received.

He warned me that the most common mistake made by people who want to open and operate a service oriented business is that they are fooled into investing into all kinds of overly expensive "veneer" because that's what they see many other businesses doing and they conclude that it can't be done otherwise.

So - in the manner accurately described by WHALEWAGER - they go out and get a loan from a bank or family - and before they've even been paid for their first job they're 10, 20,000 in debt.

They've got the newer truck, the bigger sized machines, the trailer, the shirts with a company logo, four-colored trifold advertisers.....And they're facing a monthly overhead of $2-3000 before they've even fired up their first job.

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Speaking of low-paying jobs...I better get this late night moderation done so I can get some sleep. Working a noon to 6pm outdoor shift Wednesday

 

[punter]

I was in the landscape irrigation business for years. Worked in distribution and for a manufacturer wound up with my own contracting firm did everything from lawns to golf courses.

One thing you have to consider in that kind of business is that if you dont get big enough to support full time employees you will be out of business when you get too old to do it yourself. I found that out in the mid eightys. When things went south I had to let everyone go and then when it picked back up. I found it easier to find something else to do.

 

[Willie99]

uh barfriend, there are some things you talk about, not even on an anonymous message board.

 

[jonsucks]

Yea, true. That is where i live. Does direct mail work in advertising? newspaper ads?

I grew up out that way. Out in the Peninsula off Wichita

 

[XXXylic]

I grew up out that way. Out in the Peninsula off Wichita

Nice! I live over by the Wellington Tennis courts/pools- nice neighborhood here, i love it.

 

[XXXylic]

One of my earliest business mentors (in 1985 in Dallas) - a man who was worth several million from his own years in running a manufacturing business - gave me perhaps the most useful advice I ever received.

He warned me that the most common mistake made by people who want to open and operate a service oriented business is that they are fooled into investing into all kinds of overly expensive "veneer" because that's what they see many other businesses doing and they conclude that it can't be done otherwise.

So - in the manner accurately described by WHALEWAGER - they go out and get a loan from a bank or family - and before they've even been paid for their first job they're 10, 20,000 in debt.

They've got the newer truck, the bigger sized machines, the trailer, the shirts with a company logo, four-colored trifold advertisers.....And they're facing a monthly overhead of $2-3000 before they've even fired up their first job.

===
Speaking of low-paying jobs...I better get this late night moderation done so I can get some sleep. Working a noon to 6pm outdoor shift Wednesday

Hey man, shot you an email, feel free to shoot me back.:toast:

 

[whalewager]

Barman...I basically think you are full of shit...good night

 

[TheWolf]

I've been doing landscaping for years now, it's not a bad occupation your outside all day, working hard, and it's good money. NOTE: If you own a pickup truck it doesnt mean you should do landscaping. I see it happen too often. Oh yeah and if you do decide to open a landscaping business, do not buy your gas from regular gas stations. The Ethanol that's in the gas will kill your machines, not so much ride on mowers as your smaller engine machineary. Just my 2 cents.

Heard this too from a dealer......still waiting on an answer. What kind of gas should you use in mowers & trimmers? and where can you buy it?

 

[arizonacubs]

Barman...I basically think you are full of shit...good night

Why would you say this Whale? He's trying to be helpful, and you're just playing devil's advocate. Do you have any concrete reasons why you feel this way, or why his business model is flawed?

 

[Kornholio]

AZ Cubs-- I'm not trying to argue with Barman about this, just trying to give an educated response. He is bullheaded and stuck in his ways so he will argue 'til blue in the face that his ways are the best. I'll just say this to offer a different point of view.

His business model is flawed. Now there is nothing wrong starting out with as minimal expense as possible until you get going...in fact it is the only way to go. No point in investing on equipment until you are making money. Now for one you need to get insurance and whatever licsensing you need to be legit. Also can not easily get customers unless you spend $$$....and It takes time to build clientele unless you are lowballing the piss out of everybody just to get business. Also it is extremely competetive, there are many lowballers out there who work for next to nothing. And there is only going to be more startups with the bad economy(people needing extra money)and lest customers (people trying to save money)

As far as equipment I'll just say he's walking all day long w/ homeowner equipment when he could by some decent used commercial equipment and be twice as efficient. Making 30-40/hr is terrible. For example a used belt drive 36" walk behind you can find them good stuff for under 1K. Cheap and easy to maitain. Get a sulky and you can mow at 6-7 MPH all day long without walking...with machines that are made to mow at said speeds. Not only is he going to end out spending more on machines over the long haul, he is doing it much less efficiently and working harder= being able to take on less work= less money.

You have to be efficient in this business, and you can't underbid.

Now there is the other extreme of buying 12K ZTR's to mow 30 lawns. Some guys are all about equipment and get in to debt up to their eyeballs and never recover it. Somewhere in the middle.

 

[barman]

uh barfriend, there are some things you talk about, not even on an anonymous message board.

You're right HFan...just saw your post

We've taken further discussion off forum into private email

 

[barman]

Heard this too from a dealer......still waiting on an answer. What kind of gas should you use in mowers & trimmers? and where can you buy it?

Just saw this post and I'll try and reset in a friendly manner that I've used regular gas/10% ethanol for as long as it's been on the market in a variety of 4cycle and 2cycle motors with no ill effects

 

[barman]

KHolio retorts: His business model is flawed.

B: Interesting since you know very little of my "business model"

K: Now for one you need to get insurance and whatever licsensing you need to be legit.

B: Never had either in 25 years. I've also never had a single experience that would have been better served by my being "insured".

But I do respect that if someone is using bigger machines on residential properties that some insurance coverage might be useful since there is an increased chance to damage property.

---
K: Also can not easily get customers unless you spend $$$

B: Getting customers is the easiest part of the business as long as you're only needing sufficient work for one to three people. If your ambition is to run a larger operation, then yes you will need to invest more in advertising and marketing.

K: It takes time to build clientele unless you are lowballing the piss out of everybody just to get business.

B: Again, never a problem for me. Though I do again acknowledge that if your ambition is to create work for multiple people (a crew or more) it will take that much longer to build sufficient clientele to keep all those people working.

K: Also it is extremely competetive, there are many lowballers out there who work for next to nothing.

B: It is a competitive business, yes.

Any business that offers a service that's in demand from hundreds of thousands of people (in my region with a population base of almost four million) will be competitive.

There are lowballers in many industries. But I've never worried about them because they can't stay in business charging lowball prices. And customers who are seeking out the "lowest price" are not the ones for who I want to work anyway.

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K: As far as equipment I'll just say he's walking all day long w/ homeowner equipment when he could by some decent used commercial equipment and be twice as efficient.

B: Without posting publicly how much volume I do, all I can say in response is that I don't "walk all day". On my busiest day I might walk for all of 90 minutes.

Again I think the differences in perception might be that KHOLIO is operating (or planning to operate) a business doing a lot more volume and supporting a lot more people than do I.

If I or my crew were seeking to mow 10 to 15 residential yards a day, I can agree that bigger sized machines might be helpful depending on the properties being worked.

But if you're only making four to five stops a day and doing more than mowing on at least half of them, you'll only "walk" for maybe an hour.

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K: Making 30-40/hr is terrible.

B: If you believe that, then I certainly won't argue with you on that point.

 

[arizonacubs]

Well said Barman!

 

[barman]

I want to reset that I completely believe KHolio's personal testimonials to be honestly reflecting his own experiences.

 

[OccamsRazor]

When I was 12, I started my own lawn care business. Charging extra if there was dog crap to be picked up. I also walked the dogs for more cash. I got up to 15 houses on the block a year later. I saw there was more money to be made dealing weed so I sold my business and route to Alberto (Beto) Salazar, a Mexican kid on the next block over for $2,000. The business became huge as Beto also started servicing the MILFs on the route. Beto got stabbed to death by a husband who came home early.

Moral of story: Deal weed. Cutting lawns is too dangerous.

 

[whalewager]

^^^that is a good post