anyone own a lawn business here? thinking of opening a lawn care business?

Question

need some good pointers to open a lawn business

Answer 1

I have not but do have some resources that could be handy for you.

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Start Your Own Lawn Care Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Eileen Figure Sandlin
* Start & Run A Landscaping Business by Joel LaRusic
* How to Start a Home-Based Landscaping Business, 4th by Owen Dell
* Lawn Care & Gardening: A Down-To-Earth Guide to the Business by Mickey Willis

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

Don't spend too much on big equipment until you have an established client base. You should concentrate on establishing your name through the residential side and as you grow start to look for commercial contracts. A good way to grow residential sales and get your foot into the door for larger jobs is to market and try to sell to neighborhood associations. You aren't likely to wrangle existing contracts away from competitors just yet (I wouldn't even attempt to outbid established companies) but there are always new neighborhoods that are in need of landscape services. Here is a good article on some of the basics http://www.home-business-expo.com/wiki/LawnService.asp.

I also recommend reading and learning as much as possible about lawn maintenance. Go to workshops. Those will not only increase your knowledge but also provide a great networking opportunity.

Answer 3

I live in a nieghborhood of old people so I can do it for $20 a pop. They pay cause they don't know any better.

Answer 4

Depends on your age? Location? If you will do mostly Mowing and trimming, people look to younger kids to do that for $10 a pop. If you're an Adult and talking more about "Landscaping", please do try so people will quit hiring illegals to do it!