Cheryl Kimball - Start Your Own Lawn Care or Landscaping Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success

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ebook ISBN: 978-1-61308-342-0

Table of Contents

Contents

F rom 2000-2011, the number of non-farm proprietors grew by 10.7 millionfar exceeding government or private employment, the latter of which actually declined by 1.26 million during that same period (www.newgeography.com). Self-employment and business ownership clearly continues to be a preferred means of wage earning.

Whether youre ready for a career change, are tired of working for someone else, or just interested in making a few extra bucks every month, a lawn care service business is a viable way to achieve your goal. Theres plenty of work for even a new business owner in most parts of the country. The initial investment in equipment and the monthly overhead is fairly low. Plus the pay is greatand you get lots of fresh air and exercise while you earn it.

While this book contains all the advice and tips you need to be successful in the green game, you wont get instructions here on how to mow lawns, sculpt magnificent topiaries, or winterize your weed whacker. Those are basic skills you need to develop on your owneither by practicing on unsuspecting clients lawns or by studying turf grass basics at your local community college. What you will get, however, is a solid background in what it takes to run a successful business. Although you may not realize it now, you need to be a pretty shrewd businessperson in addition to a mowing maven to make this whole gig work.

For instance, you have to know how and where to find new clients because clients = work = taxable income (which will of course be of particular interest to Uncle Sam). You have to know how to balance your books and develop sideline businesses to keep yourself busy when the snow gets too deep to trim the rose bushes. And you have to know enough about turf and weather conditions in your part of the country to become a true Grass Master.

Heres a sampling of the major topics covered in this book:

Estimating lawn size and setting your price

Deciding which lawn care services to offer

Determining who and where your best customers are and how to market to them

Setting up a viable business structure and naming your fledgling business

Writing a business plan (and you thought all you needed was a riding mower and good weather!)

Finding the right business professionals to advise you

Selecting the right lawn maintenance equipment, vehicles, and supplies

Hiring employees as your business grows

Learning from industry gurus, trade associations, and other sources