Starting a lawn care business is not
that difficult. Just look at how many young teenagers are running around with a
trailer and some pretty nice equipment. It's not rocket science, but you do
need to have some direction. Choosing the right direction takes some knowledge
and that is what we are going to give you.
What
do I need?
The first thing you
need is a desire to start and run a successful lawn care business. If your heart isn't in
it, then you might as well go home. The next thing you need is write up a business plan for your new
venture. This includes coming up with a name for your business, listing your start-up expenses, writing a mission statement, and creating a list of
short-term and long-term goals. Develop a list of several
points that will be key to your success. Finally, you need to lay out
the steps you need to take to meet your short-term and long-term goals.
What
should I name my business?
Obviously,
one of the easiest names to pick is your own, but some people like to get
creative and choose names like Razor Lawn Care business or Above the Hedge.
What equipment should I get?
This is one
of the most important steps to the success of your lawn care business. It is
the difference between being professional and well... not. You need to get a commercial grade equipment if you want to succeed. The
amount of use and abuse your equipment is going to have is very substantial.
I'm sorry, but Wal-Mart brands are not going to cut it. You need brands like
Toro, Husqvarna, and Exmark or you can search the internet for some other strong brands. To start out with, you are going to need a good walk-behind mower, edger, trimmer, and blower. As your
business grows you can add a zero-turn radius
mower and other
equipment as needed.
How
do I get clients?
Ok, so you have your business plan, your
equipment, and a will to make things work. Now what? Get some clients. Starting
out is the hardest time to get clients. The key is to display
yourself and your equipment in a professional manner. First
impressions are everything. Once you have established
yourself, you won't have to work nearly as hard to get more clients.
The
easiest and cheapest way to get started is to exhaust your circle of influence.
That is family members and people that you know. Then you can make some
business cards, signs, and flyers. They aren't that
expensive and you can pass them out pretty easily. If you're still not getting
enough clients, then you may need to start going
door-to-door. Remember to present yourself and your
equipment in the most professional way you can.
What
price do I charge?
Pricing is
a sticky issue. Nobody has a set formula that is easy to apply. It all depends
on your location, competition, customer, and the job. You can charge $25 minimum for extremely small yards that
take 15 minutes or less to finish. The price can go up to as
much as several hundred dollars depending on the size and difficulty of the
job. The key with pricing is to get the job and charge enough to make it a
profitable job.
Do
I need accounting software?
If you want
to make things a hundred times easier, yes, you need accounting software. I use
and recommend Quickbooks Pro. It is pretty easy to setup and
makes keeping up with your finances a breeze. You can also create really
professional invoices to send out to your customers, keep up with when you
receive payments, and who still owes you money.
How
do I deal with trouble customers?
Everyone
ends up getting a trouble customer and there is nothing more annoying than
someone who is never pleased with your work and basically demands something for
nothing. You should always treat these customers with the same respect that you would any
customer with one exception. I think they should be charged more. If
they accept your higher prices, then youbget paid for dealing with them. If they
decide to stop using you, you got rid of them without a bad taste in their mouth
because you was respectful. It is a win-win way to handle them.
Keys
to Success
Finally,
let's discuss the keys to your success in starting up a lawn care business.
Always do more than is expected of you. Going the extra mile
always pays off. It means higher customer retention, referrals, and ultimately
more money! Present every aspect of your lawn care business with the utmost professionalism.
Your image and reputation are everything to your business. Do not do anything
to hurt them. Last, have fun and enjoy your work. Take pride in the job you do
and you will succeed beyond measure.
You can learn more about lawn care, grass types and ways to increase your lawn business at: www.bladeslawncare.com
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