Ask a guy that owns a successful Lawn Care business anything

[Spartan#x]

Go.

[Beast2Be]

How much money are you bringing in? How did you start the business?

I would love owning a lawn care business but when it comes down to $, it just won't be enough

[Swamp Dog]

Shouldn't you be cutting grass right now?

[backinbusiness]

How many illegals do you pay under the table?

Cuz I'm lookin for a new job.

[Mike_Hock]

"lawn care business"?

So.. You mow peoples lawns yeh?

[stubhub]

hey, i do to, you seen the technology to get about 60 mpg on your trucks?

[Spartan#x]

How much money are you bringing in? How did you start the business?

I would love owning a lawn care business but when it comes down to $, it just won't be enough

For JUST MOWING, and not including any labor (landscaping, leaf cleanups, laying sod) I have 60 accounts, average of $35/account. All cut weekly, ~34 weeks in the mowing season out here...if you do the math that comes out to $71,000 before expenses. Last season I think I billed out ~65k.

Shouldn't you be cutting grass right now?

I tried, it has been raining all last night and this morning. Showed up to my first client this morning and it was way too wet..would have torn it up.

How many illegals do you pay under the table?

Cuz I'm lookin for a new job.

None, I did just hire one guy (white guy) that works for $10/hr.

"lawn care business"?

So.. You mow peoples lawns yeh?

Yes.

[backinbusiness]

Whats the best way to cut a lawn?

[Swamp Dog]

Will you remind me to give you reps for hustlin' when I recharge?

[Duality987]

What kind of mowers do you use?

[Spartan#x]

Whats the best way to cut a lawn?

On your knees and with a pair of scissors.

Will you remind me to give you reps for hustlin' when I recharge?

Absolutely, cuz I be hustlin'

[Spartan#x]

What kind of mowers do you use?

Wright Standers.

(2) 36's
(1) 52"

[314_fo_sho]

65k at 18. good job dave man

[Chuck Norris]

Have you considered forming an S-corporation to (1) Have liability protection (2) lower your risk of being audited (3) avoid the self-employment tax?

If you haven't, you should look into it.

[Spartan#x]

65k at 18. good job dave man

That did not include expenses.

[Spartan#x]

Have you considered forming an S-Corporation to (1) Have liability protection (2) lower your risk of being audited (3) avoid the self-employment tax?

If you haven't, you should look into it.

I decided to go "legit" this season and am in the process of becoming an LLC. Also picked up 1,000,000 liability insurance this season.

[yusuf_ali]

how would i improve the drainage on my lawn...?

[Chuck Norris]

I decided to go "legit" this season and am in the process of becoming an LLC. Also picked up 1,000,000 liability insurance this season.

Make sure you file the Form 2553 because an LLC is still subject to the SE tax.

[7Happy7]

how did you build this business?

[Spartan#x]

Make sure you file the Form 2553 because an LLC is still subject to the SE tax.

Are you for hire?

[Chuck Norris]

Are you for hire?

lol no I am in the process of trying to get my CPA but the accounting firm I work for has a lot of small business clients.

[Spartan#x]

how did you build this business?

Started when I was 11, cutting a few yards on my street with a 21". Started reading books on the green industry a year later and started passing out some fliers all around my house. Got several more clients. Next season I bought a cheapo truck and a Bunton 52" walk behind. Had 17 or 18 customers at this point. chilled for the next couple seasons slowly adding on clients. Got to about 27 clients and decided to spend some big money on advertisting, sent out 40,000 Newspaper inserts all around my area to different zip codes. Sold the bunton that season and bought a 36" Stander. Been steadily growing ever since. Bought another 36" and a 52" then bought a new truck.

[PatProject]

A cop once told me criminals are the ones who start and work for landscaping companies. My two friends who where in jail, both do landscaping lol. You a criminal?

[Spartan#x]

lol no I am in the process of trying to get my CPA but the accounting firm I work for has a lot of small business clients.

Thats awesome man, my older brother is working on getting his CPA right now. He still has another year to go, he took two semesters off to Intern for a firm around here. As we speak he is actually over in Italy studying abroad. Good luck on getting your CPA, and have fun making baank.

[Spartan#x]

A cop once told me criminals are the ones who start and work for landscaping companies. My two friends who where in jail, both do landscaping lol. You a criminal?

idk...you a cop?

[anonymous123]

Who does your accounting? Do you have a degree in business administration? How did you start this? How do you have the balls to start a business knowing most businesses fail? Where did you get the money to finance operations?

[Spartan#x]

Who does your accounting? Do you have a degree in business administration? How did you start this? How do you have the balls to start a business knowing most businesses fail? Where did you get the money to finance operations?

I do all my own accounting and billing, using ********** to help me out.

I do not have any kind of degree, I just graduated HS. I took Accouning 1 & 2, and a Financial Management course.

A few posts up tells briefly how I started.

You never know if you don't try, and I started as a kid just trying to make some summer cash, it has taken off on its own. I am so glad that I started it though. It beats working for somebody else, which I honestly don't think I could ever do. In the corporate world, your boss doesn't give a **** about you...In this business, you are #1.

I started using an old 21" craftsman that was in our garage. My mom would haul me around in the van from lawn to lawn. I started some advertising, saved up money, and bought my equipment.

[bukshot]

Good job OP

[JAGERBOY]

Are you going to do this forever?

[Spartan#x]

Are you going to do this forever?

The Green Industry, yes.

As far as going out every day and cutting grass..probobly not. The ultimate goal is to hire a few guys (LEGALS) and have a couple crews running that will take care of the actual labor. I get to sit back, take customer calls, and ensure the quality is there.