LAWN CARE business!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Markywalberg]

So im finally starting to think seriously obout starting my own lawn care/ snow removal/ and  maybe property management business. I have 4 yrs lawn care business and 2 years snow removal but no plow experience. I am going to be getting out of the military soon and I am thinkng of starting my own business on the side in lawn care and snow removal. I have a decent job lined up when i get out and would like to start this on the side to make some extra cash with the help of some employees (aka probably family for first one or two) and I have some experience managing my own properties but now sure If i would like to combine all of these businesses. Just wondering if anyone else has experience in this or just general thoughts on the topic?

[khizr]

Just going to throw in some exp as a user of these services :)

If you are a responsible person whose team does quality work you will crush at least 90% of the businesses out there. I can't tell you how many times lawn care / snow removal just doesn't show up when they say they will. They didn't even ask for payment for months when they did do something. And, they have no quality control to make sure they actually did it right :).

good luck!

[SeattleCPA]

Agree with Khizr...

Also want to say this your business will basically a job-like "service" business where you get paid largely for your time and by working hard. Nothing bad in that. (Most CPAs run same type of businesses!)

But such a business lacks scalability and you'll need to operate really smartly in order to make a true profit probably. (BTW, also true with small CPA firms.)

[Fishindude]

I think the lawn mowing and maintenance business is an excellent idea and ran properly you could do quite well.  Keep your customer list small and provide more services than just mowing; fertilizing, tree and bush trimming, landscape bed upkeep, roof and gutter cleaning, power wash decks and siding, etc.

Regarding snow removal, I would steer clear of it.  We did this for several years to utilize our construction equipment during the winter months; backhoe, skid loaders, etc.  Were also thinking this would keep guys working during slow time.   It wasn't a money maker for us.  Snow removal wears out tires, transmissions, cutting edges on blades and buckets, etc.  It requires crazy odd hours, working all night at times, and the business is unreliable ... no work if no snow.   About the time you think things are going good, you will slam into a curb or parking bumpers concealed by the snow and wind up costing yourself more in repair than you made on that account all winter.

[Smokystache]

I think the lawn mowing and maintenance business is an excellent idea and ran properly you could do quite well.  Keep your customer list small and provide more services than just mowing; fertilizing, tree and bush trimming, landscape bed upkeep, roof and gutter cleaning, power wash decks and siding, etc.

Regarding snow removal, I would steer clear of it.  We did this for several years to utilize our construction equipment during the winter months; backhoe, skid loaders, etc.  Were also thinking this would keep guys working during slow time.   It wasn't a money maker for us.  Snow removal wears out tires, transmissions, cutting edges on blades and buckets, etc.  It requires crazy odd hours, working all night at times, and the business is unreliable ... no work if no snow.   About the time you think things are going good, you will slam into a curb or parking bumpers concealed by the snow and wind up costing yourself more in repair than you made on that account all winter.

Perhaps you could also add putting up Christmas lights. Seriously:

Starts around Reply #120: https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/antimustachian-wall-of-shame-and-comedy/overheard-over-the-fence-(antimustachian-neighbours)/130/

[CTlawnguy]

A friend of mine and I just started a lawn care business 3 weeks ago utilizing two walk behind mowers, two edge trimmers, a backpack blower, and tools we already had ourselves. We are also doing it on the side since we have other jobs, so typically its after 5pm mon-fri and weekends if we have jobs lined up.

We are starting slow but steady, just hit $500+ in services a few days ago which we were happy to see. Splitting it down the middle and sharing costs for gas, bags, marketing, etc.

From what we have done, the biggest learning curve is doing estimates. The first two weeks we underestimated most of the lawns and ended up being there 30+ minutes longer than expected. We are adjusting and so far so good.

Id love for it to get to the point where this is my day job and we will be our own bosses making and exceeding our current salaries.

Also at the end when you think you are done, always walk the property and ask yourself if you would be satisfied with the result if it were your home, would you feel good paying for the service. We had a house yesterday where we missed a few spots and I had to go by with the trimmer and hit all of it because I didnt feel good leaving it that way.

[SC93]

Do you just mow? Mowing is really easy and really easy to find people to just mow. Not much to it.... just mow. Lots of customers could be had and you could get to know some others in the field and get a commission for a referral on anything other than mowing.

Doing it all..... lots of different equipment to buy. Lots of training. Hectic

It's kind of like comparing New York City to Des Moines, Iowa. In New York you can get anything at any time and it gets hectic, in Des Moines it's a slower easier type of life.

It seems as though you've never heard of a guy nick named The Lawncare Millionaire. Go to Youtube and spend a week watching his videos.  No need to buy anything he sells but watch his videos. And when you do make the leap, check out Yardbook.

On a different note, I know a guy that used to do lawncare and just this year he went totally in to stump removal. As with mowing only, he said it is easier because you only have basically 1 service and there is so much work he can't keep up. He started by renting some machine to do it with.... I have no clue how to remove a stump.

[FIREby35]

I love this thread because it demonstrates what I believe about business: "Simple" businesses are untapped opportunities out there for anyone who wants to get ahead.

I have seen many allegedly aspiring entrepreneurs, sometimes called "wantrepenuers." These people are worried about the newest app or some other fancy business they think is going to make them an IPO billionaire. Most of these people sit on the sidelines, planning, dreaming and never acting. A few unlucky souls put up big money they earned while working as an employee into their first business and are surprised to see it fail. To these people, a "simple" business isn't sexy. They think, "You can't just walk across the street, mow a lawn, collect cash and call it a business."  When you meet them for the first time at a party they say with an unsure tone, "Oh, so you mow lawns?"

You answer with a calm confidence they don't really understand, "Oh, yeah. We'll mow your lawn while you are on vacation. That's what we do and we love doing it." Then you hand them your card.

Why the confidence? Because you know the art of small business is much more than mowing lawns. The people who can mow lawns are a dime a dozen. But the person who can answer his calls, return missed calls within 24 hours, bid jobs, confirm contracts, perform good work, do it on schedule, manage  employees, have a second crew (or more?), ensure quality across all crews, eat a bad contract when your bid is off, follow up on accounts receivable, do payroll, prepare tax return, have the money to pay tax returns, get an online review, maintain referral relationships and give back to your community - that person is special. To the world, he "mows lawns." But to the discerning eye who can see the beauty of a "simple" business, he is a hero and a national freaking treasure!

So, OP are you mowing lawns or becoming a national freaking treasure?

[SwordGuy]

I love this thread because it demonstrates what I believe about business: "Simple" businesses are untapped opportunities out there for anyone who wants to get ahead.

I have seen many allegedly aspiring entrepreneurs, sometimes called "wantrepenuers." These people are worried about the newest app or some other fancy business they think is going to make them an IPO billionaire. Most of these people sit on the sidelines, planning, dreaming and never acting. A few unlucky souls put up big money they earned while working as an employee into their first business and are surprised to see it fail. To these people, a "simple" business isn't sexy. They think, "You can't just walk across the street, mow a lawn, collect cash and call it a business."  When you meet them for the first time at a party they say with an unsure tone, "Oh, so you mow lawns?"

You answer with a calm confidence they don't really understand, "Oh, yeah. We'll mow your lawn while you are on vacation. That's what we do and we love doing it." Then you hand them your card.

Why the confidence? Because you know the art of small business is much more than mowing lawns. The people who can mow lawns are a dime a dozen. But the person who can answer his calls, return missed calls within 24 hours, bid jobs, confirm contracts, perform good work, do it on schedule, manage  employees, have a second crew (or more?), ensure quality across all crews, eat a bad contract when your bid is off, follow up on accounts receivable, do payroll, prepare tax return, have the money to pay tax returns, get an online review, maintain referral relationships and give back to your community - that person is special. To the world, he "mows lawns." But to the discerning eye who can see the beauty of a "simple" business, he is a hero and a national freaking treasure!

So, OP are you mowing lawns or becoming a national freaking treasure?

Look in the mirror and pat yourself on the back.  Bravo!  Well spoken, thoughtful post.

[SC93]

I agree, 2 pats on the back!

I had a friend about 15 years ago that owned a large janitorial company. His wife was a big-wig at a company and they always had big dinners. People would ask him what he does for a living and he would say, "I'm a janitor". Little did they know he was making as much as they did. My wife works at a museum and is known all over the world and when someone asks me what I do for a living she tries to give them an answer before I tell them, "Well, I cleaned toilets for 19 years and now I sell used washers and dryers". She wishes I would have never met him for him to give me that idea of saying things like that. :)

Having offices in every city world wide isn't all it's cracked up to be. My old company was once in 3 major cities... if I had to do it all over again I would never do that. The business I'm in now has HUGE (with a capital HUGE) potential for growth but after thinking about it, I will stay real small. I've had the wanna be big-time headaches before and I swore I'd never do it again.

[FIREby35]

Thanks for the pats on the back friendly internet strangers.

"I'm a janitor." I love it.

Also I agree there is a sweet spot for how big to make your business. I'm in the process of trying to grow my business. This particular growth is going to make it better and easier to manage. But, I'm vigilant for the moment when it's grown to much and it's not fun anymore.