Anyone ever started a lawn care company?
 

I'm getting tired of workin for the man, I'd like to work for myself. I Have a truck/trailer/mower ( although i have been eyeing a zero turn) yadda yadda. I used to mow a few yards around the neighborhood when i was a kid. I had a push mower i paid 40$ for, it paid for itself MANY times over ( still have it too). so the equipment is not a problem, What i'm not sure of , is rates? how much is fair, I don't want to undercut the other guys, but i don't want to charge out the ass either, And how to find the work? Advertising? word of mouth?

Throw me some ideas here fellas! ( I'll put a diesel Bombers decal on my mower/trailer if this thing flies!)

Jayme

I don't know what it is but a buddy of mine started one and when he was starting out found a forum on lawn care business, he said the people on there were really helpful.


Just found a couple for ya.

http://www.lawnsite.com/

Lawn care and landscape forums powered by lawn care and landscaping professionals!

Thanks , I'll check them out. Went and looked at a couple ZD kubotas tonight.

Look for teh big $$$ guys, the dude making 50k a year aint gonna pay you to cut his grass, get in some of teh "gated" developments. Be ready thoughbecause some of them make you show an example of your work before your approved to cut grass in there development.

let me tell you what.....I make 90K a year and would pay someone to cut my grass if my dad didnt do it......i hate mowing.....

no se jose

I had my own small land and yard buisness about 8 years ago.I enjoyed it.I did it for 12 years when i was younger.You can make a killing sometimes.I did it for older people to, so i didn't charge to much.I retired from it because i was getting burned out with a full time job,that on saturdays and working for a friend on sundays.OH,and the zero turn mowers are nice.

xmark? seem to be the zero turn of choice

X mark, Hustler, and Dixie choppers are all good mowers, probably better priced than a Kubota

The ExMark brand is built tough. I have a 60" zero turn for my properties.

It seems like everyone in my area that gets laid off, starts their own lawn cutting biz and has messed up the billable rates. This is right from my friends in the trade.
Did you ever think of getting into spraying the lawn and tree chemicals?
Most states require an applicators license for all chemical sprayers and this seems to weed out the riff raff. You can make a good chunk of change selling mostly water with a small controlled amount of high dollar chemical.
That's my two cents.