Starting my own business.

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Originally Posted by JHayesLS1

Well guys its official. I have almost all the equipment to start my lawn care business. I have about 8 people now I do it for at $70 per yard per week. After gas costs its not that wonderful but the cool thing is nobody is above me and it's my business.

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Do i get a discount because im on your friend list?

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Originally Posted by JHayesLS1

Well guys its official. I have almost all the equipment to start my lawn care business. I have about 8 people now I do it for at $70 per yard per week. After gas costs its not that wonderful but the cool thing is nobody is above me and it's my business.

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You've made the Great American Leap JHayes. Good luck and remember to always keep an open mind towards additional opportunities to make money that may present themselves in the course of running this business.

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Originally Posted by gwballin

Since others seem to be giving advice, I’ll throw my $.02 in.

Make sure you have all of the appropriate business licenses, tax id numbers, etc. You would hate to have an otherwise successful business brought to its knees because you didn’t cross your T’s and dot your I’s.

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All that and take advise from no one. Everyone will tell you "you can write this off and deduct this", "your not responsable for this if it happens". I learned everyone is full of shit.

Find a good CPA, Lawyer, and insurance agent. My wife has her CPA and we still have someone else sign off on all our tax returns.

The insurance agent was the most informative. I don't care what stories anyone tells you, you are liable for everything.

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Originally Posted by doberman 152

Do i get a discount because im on your friend list?

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Damn right.

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Originally Posted by flash

What does the 70.00 include.Thats seems awfully high for cut,edge,and weedwacked.

Just wondering.

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Cut, edge, weedwacking. I called like 4 different places to see what they charged in my area. Most were $100 for just that. I also asked if they had a blower to clear driveways of leaves and pineneedles so that they could run them over with the mower to get rid of them. They all did, for an additional cost.

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Originally Posted by JHayesLS1

Cut, edge, weedwacking. I called like 4 different places to see what they charged in my area. Most were $100 for just that. I also asked if they had a blower to clear driveways of leaves and pineneedles so that they could run them over with the mower to get rid of them. They all did, for an additional cost.

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that's a lot, but i'm used to western PA pricing which was like $30-$50 depending on lawn size. Hell, it might have gone up due to inflation and seriously the best part about it is that your demographic NEEDS your services. They are either businesses or old people who just can't do the work themselves. Of course you'll score some bitchin yuppie yards from time to time too =)

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Originally Posted by NJ 666

All that and take advise from no one. Everyone will tell you "you can write this off and deduct this", "your not responsable for this if it happens". I learned everyone is full of shit.

Find a good CPA, Lawyer, and insurance agent. My wife has her CPA and we still have someone else sign off on all our tax returns.

The insurance agent was the most informative. I don't care what stories anyone tells you, you are liable for everything.

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:yup: last thing you want is to mow over some ones dog or have a rock fly out and break a window and get sued with out coverage... they sue the insurance company instead of you...

*btw... life of agony kicks ass... haven't heard them since early high school...

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Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

that's a lot, but i'm used to eastern PA pricing which was like $30-$50 depending on lawn size. Hell, it might have gone up due to inflation and seriously the best part about it is that your demographic NEEDS your services. They are either businesses or old people who just can't do the work themselves. Of course you'll score some bitchin yuppie yards from time to time too =)

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ehh... depends on the amount needed to be mowed... my buddy who owns an excavating company mowes business lawns... he makes between $75 - $250... the houses he does between $30 - $75... just for the mowing/weed wacking/ and edging...

fuck, i meant western PA.

I think my bro did something like a pay-it-ahead thing, where you'd pay more for your lawn maintenance but wouldn't pay for shrub trimming and mulch installation at the time it occurs.

also... try to get a contract with the people you mow for...

Definately instill a "pay up front" method, at best for a monthly basis.

My neighbors lawns that I mow got $100 from the other people for 2 acres. I figure $70 is good for that size, and less for smaller yards

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Originally Posted by Spaz

:yup: last thing you want is to mow over some ones dog or have a rock fly out and break a window and get sued with out coverage... they sue the insurance company instead of you...

*btw... life of agony kicks ass... haven't heard them since early high school...

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It's not even that direct. My insurance agent told me if a friend called me and said he was going to a parts store and then stopping by my shop. If I asked him to pick something up at the store(that he was already going to) and he got into an accident that I was liable because he was acting as an "agent for the business". Doesn't matter if he is an employee or volunteered to get parts. CYA!

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Originally Posted by JHayesLS1

My neighbors lawns that I mow got $100 from the other people for 2 acres. I figure $70 is good for that size, and less for smaller yards

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$ 70 is low, but then you are starting out and I can see why you'd do this. Just keep a close eye on the bottom line, remember you have a lot of $$$ in equipment, advertising, and insurance.

You can always raise it for new customers.

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Originally Posted by JHayesLS1

My neighbors lawns that I mow got $100 from the other people for 2 acres. I figure $70 is good for that size, and less for smaller yards

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Hell I thought you were talking for the typical 1/4 lot not a 2 acre lot.Thats probaly pretty cheap for that much property.

Equipment wise we live on 4 acres of property and we have a few mowers that need work. I'm in the process of fixing them and cleaning the old equipment up to get them rolling. I already ordered a bunch of business cards to stick on people's doors in housing developments. The only thing I really need is a trailer and I'm saving for one so I will be able to start this thing with no money owed.