The Grass Doctor

Besides equipttment what do you need to make a good sturdy lawn care buisness?

Ive got the equiptment,ive got the labor,and ive got the yards,but what i dont have is facts on the buisness aspects of it.(I.E. what kind of taxes are there on lawn companys,do i need any sort of license for anything in landscaping? Whats the most effective way to get the companys name out. What yards are targeted most in the field,and do you think pressure washing and lawn care will go hand in hand?

Public Comments

1. Marketing stratety.
2. a financial plan
3. you pay the same taxes as any other business. Permits and license may be required by your city, county or state. a chemical applicators license liability insurance and bonded if your pressure washing houses or vehicles, using power mowers and edgers.
4. You'll need a business license, liability and workers' comp insurance, a basic written outline of services (do you fertilize, weed & feed, trim hedges, clean up fallen leaves and branches, or just mow the lawn?) and charges for same, a legally binding contract for the customers to read and sign (if you want them to know THEIR responsibility as far as paying the rate(s) you plan on charging). My brother and his first wife tried this for a while and the heat and humidity drove them out of the business within 3 months (of course they did live in south Florida at the time).
5. This will start you out. Be sure to check into licenses, insurance, accountants (for taxes). Best place to start is your City Hall's Inspection Department. From: http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-maintenance-care/landscaping-and-gardening/starting-your-own-lawn-services-business.php "Let's take a look at the steps you need to take to start your own lawn services business. Starting a Professional Lawn Services Business Identify Your Market. To market your professional lawn services, you need to identify the individuals or businesses that will require and pay for your services. A simple drive in your neighborhoods should give you this information. Advertise. Send out fliers, postcards, business cards, or brochures that describe your lawn services. AllAboutLawns offers their own affordable advertising program, which brings you customers on demand. Make Appointments. Contact the people interested in your lawn services and give them an idea of how you work and the pricing for your lawn services. Charging a fair price for your lawn services will get you customers. Hire Some Help. When your lawn services business grows, you should hire additional staff and equipment that will allow you to provide lawn services to a greater number of clients."
6. I think you may be looking for a Legal consultant and a book keeper for your taxes or a CPA. Also I never heard of a company going out of Biz for Advertising, you will need a marketing company for this. Also don't short change yourself with Local cable companies to Market and advertise for you. The most important is to be fair and Honest to the customers. They will pick up on your trust and advertise for you for free. I did landscaping when I was younger and we tore out driveways ahead of the cement guys all on the side. maybe you can check with the real estate people for doing sidewalk and driveways and decks and siding so that they can show a good clean house to sell.
7. short and sweet! have pashionts! any business takes time to build! do a good job and word of mouth will take you a LONG LONG LONG way! if you plain to spray chemicals check with your states branch of department of aquaculture they will be more than happy to let you know what you need as far as licenses and all that they will take VERY good care of you! other that that do the best job you can as soon as you can and remember getting the job doesn't always mean you want it, you will be competing with people that do it part time and in some parts of the country illegal aliens willing to work and brake the law for nothing! tell them some one ecle can always do it cheaper but you acutely do it right and show you care and they will most often go with you and if they don't you dint want them, they'll always want more for less. be as honist as you can and dont go for the quick buck! People rember that! as far as presher washing the pumps you use for lawn care (lest in this state) call for low presher so a new pump might be in order, and your rig needs to be able to agatate the chemicals as your spraying to keep it uniformaly in the watter, (some of them settle out) but it shouldnt take much of a chaing over