Starting a lawn care business

[exotion]

For $1500 you won't get much new. You would definitely want to look used.

For 1500 i would buy a Honda hrx for 800 echo weed eater 125 echo edger 125 and echo hand held blower 200 with a couple hundred left over for business cards and flyers

 

[davbell22602]

Vistaprint.com is the cheapest way to go in getting car magnets, business cards etc.

 

[exotion]

Vistaprint.com is the cheapest way to go in getting car magnets, business cards etc.

Definately I use the free business cards thing all the time I order magnets yard signs and my wifes business cards to

 

[Ric]

Im not looking for top of the line equipment. Just something to get started. Would like to get a decent toro mower and a ride on or something. If i were to get both i can change my budget. Money is not really a problem, just dont want to spend more than im going to make.

For the money your looking to spend your not going to get much in the way of any type of ride on mower and anything on craigslist ( Stander, ZTR ) in the 1500 range will most likely have a lot of hours. Using a push mower to do a quarter acre your not going to make a lot of money either when you consider the time involved to mow between 7000 - 11000 feet. Your best bet for a ride on if you want new would be a Cub Cadet LTX 1040 Lawn Tractor you can get that for around $1300 and even then you'd be looking to expand your budget to purchase a trailer, push mower and handheld equipment etc.
Depending on whether your serious about the business or not should determine how much money you need to drop. There are other considerations to the business beside equipment like a license, Insurance, advertising just to name a few. If your going to do it right your not going to show a profit for probably two years, It will take you that long to get out from under your start up cost.

 

[exotion]

For the money your looking to spend your not going to get much in the way of any type of ride on mower and anything on craigslist ( Stander, ZTR ) in the 1500 range will most likely have a lot of hours. Using a push mower to do a quarter acre your not going to make a lot of money either when you consider the time involved to mow between 7000 - 11000 feet. Your best bet for a ride on if you want new would be a Cub Cadet LTX 1040 Lawn Tractor you can get that for around $1300 and even then you'd be looking to expand your budget to purchase a trailer, push mower and handheld equipment etc.
Depending on whether your serious about the business or not should determine how much money you need to drop. There are other considerations to the business beside equipment like a license, Insurance, advertising just to name a few. If your going to do it right your not going to show a profit for probably two years, It will take you that long to get out from under your start up cost.

I disagree... I'm on my first full year ( second total last year I did it part time ) I'm showing profit... I was showing profit along time ago if you budget good and stick to your business plan ( don't have one? Write one now find suppliers estimate business expenses and home expenses make sure you know as much as possible) you can do just fine there is so much information out there this site is one of the sources use it. And don't listen to ric... He doesn't come down from his high horse very well

 

[Ric]

I disagree... I'm on my first full year ( second total last year I did it part time ) I'm showing profit... I was showing profit along time ago if you budget good and stick to your business plan ( don't have one? Write one now find suppliers estimate business expenses and home expenses make sure you know as much as possible) you can do just fine there is so much information out there this site is one of the sources use it. And don't listen to ric... He doesn't come down from his high horse very well

He can listen to who ever he wants and I really don't care if you disagree or not because I really don't consider someone like you to be or as a professional. I told him what it takes to get in the business the right way and be a professional about it, which professionalism is something you have always lacked and never understood.

 

[exotion]

He can listen to who ever he wants and I really don't care if you disagree or not because I really don't consider someone like you to be or as a professional. I told him what it takes to get in the business the right way and be a professional about it, which professionalism is something you have always lacked and never understood.

Yep that's how I mow 50 houses a week and 3 commercial properties.. lol your version of professional and mine are similar our views on this business are completely different maybe different areas of the country means different ways to run our business but here I see my self as sucessful and professional and it doesn't matter what you think because I keep my customers lol

I am saying someone could start up with 1500 of equipment and advertising no this does not include a truck or licences both of which will need to be taken care of. 1500 will get you your equipment, aggresive advertising and bidding will get you customers, and professionalism quality and reliability and experience will keep them. My biggest advise from someone who just started out is budget careful and keep stashing away as much savings as possible don't need to spring for top end equipment now save that for when you can afford a 1500 dollar lawnmower doesn't seem like a lot.

 

[jakesteel22]

Yep that's how I mow 50 houses a week and 3 commercial properties.. lol your version of professional and mine are similar our views on this business are completely different maybe different areas of the country means different ways to run our business but here I see my self as sucessful and professional and it doesn't matter what you think because I keep my customers lol

I am saying someone could start up with 1500 of equipment and advertising no this does not include a truck or licences both of which will need to be taken care of. 1500 will get you your equipment, aggresive advertising and bidding will get you customers, and professionalism quality and reliability and experience will keep them. My biggest advise from someone who just started out is budget careful and keep stashing away as much savings as possible don't need to spring for top end equipment now save that for when you can afford a 1500 dollar lawnmower doesn't seem like a lot.

Thanks a lot. Your tips are definitly useful!

 

[jakesteel22]

For the money your looking to spend your not going to get much in the way of any type of ride on mower and anything on craigslist ( Stander, ZTR ) in the 1500 range will most likely have a lot of hours. Using a push mower to do a quarter acre your not going to make a lot of money either when you consider the time involved to mow between 7000 - 11000 feet. Your best bet for a ride on if you want new would be a Cub Cadet LTX 1040 Lawn Tractor you can get that for around $1300 and even then you'd be looking to expand your budget to purchase a trailer, push mower and handheld equipment etc.
Depending on whether your serious about the business or not should determine how much money you need to drop. There are other considerations to the business beside equipment like a license, Insurance, advertising just to name a few. If your going to do it right your not going to show a profit for probably two years, It will take you that long to get out from under your start up cost.

I already have most of the equipment (2 different trailers, weed eater, small backpack blower) Just looking to get whatever kind of mower i will need to get the job done.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

For 1500 i would buy a Honda hrx for 800 echo weed eater 125 echo edger 125 and echo hand held blower 200 with a couple hundred left over for business cards and flyers

That is the equipment I would choose also (since it's what I use), but he says he may do 1 acre lawns, so he'll need some type of rider, or start off with smaller yards.