Try not got get lawn jobs over 5 or 6 miles away from home if you can. Gas will eat you alive. Unles.... you have at a good numbet that you can do in one day, and not have to go back the next day to finish them up. I had 2 jobs about 12 miles from the house and it was a PITA that cost a lot in gas just to get there. Only 40 bucks a pop. The 3rd job was even lower and after two mowings I told the cheapskate I was done... get someone else or put your lazy kids to work mowing your lawn. My minimum for a .25 acre lawn is 50 bucks.... mowed and trimmed like I'd do my own yard. Edging is more depending on how much needs to be done.
For equipment, get everything that will run on straight gas. No mixing of 2 cycle oil in a can for a special piece like a trimmer or blower. Get a 4 cycle trimmer like Craftsman has, and attachments. Trimmer, blower, and edger should hold you over for just about any job you get.
If you buy a lawn tractor to mow with, also get a snowblower if you live where you get significant snowfall. People would rather have someone come in and use a snowblower to clean their driveway than a snowplow. Snowplows will chew up lawns and most do not like that at all. That's how I get my jobs cleaning driveways in the winter. In my neighborhood I can make 300.00 or more in one day if we get 6"s of snow or more, using my 50" snowblower on my G2000 Kubota.
For equipment, get everything that will run on straight gas. No mixing of 2 cycle oil in a can for a special piece like a trimmer or blower. Get a 4 cycle trimmer like Craftsman has, and attachments. Trimmer, blower, and edger should hold you over for just about any job you get.
If you buy a lawn tractor to mow with, also get a snowblower if you live where you get significant snowfall. People would rather have someone come in and use a snowblower to clean their driveway than a snowplow. Snowplows will chew up lawns and most do not like that at all. That's how I get my jobs cleaning driveways in the winter. In my neighborhood I can make 300.00 or more in one day if we get 6"s of snow or more, using my 50" snowblower on my G2000 Kubota.