thinking about starting a lawn care business

[deltadukman]

4dawgma....I'm an Insurance Agent....please dont talk to me about competition....the majority of my business is construction based and I do a ton of landscapers....from one man operations, to some of the biggest operations in the Jackson Metro area. Some of those guys are very good friends of mine. I am completely versed in the lawn and landscape area. What I am asking is...and I get this from alot of the "bigger" guys....why such the "elietest" attitude? How can you really fault a guy who wants to make an honest dollar? The nature of the lawn care business(and most trade jobs) is that you can start to work now, with no formal training, and make some money. I do agree that some people have no business getting into some of the side projects, but alot of the times its the homeowner who buys the plants, and has them waiting on the yard boy when he gets there. And as far as you "having" to fix their problems....well thats a personal issue. You are most likely going to "fix it" because you want to step in there and show a potential new customer that you are the best and they should use you...no one is holding you to it. It was their mistake to hire a jakeleg in the first place, and your decision to step in and fix it. Those guys will weed themselves out of business....but the hard working, one man, part time lawn care guys, who dont have alot of overhead and do a good job...truth be told, they are probably keeping alot of the big hot shots in check. Back when I was cutting...pretty much all the way through highschool, many people said my little light 21" cut lawn boy did a better job than those bigger mower...even a 36" Metro. You can treat a yard like its your own, instead of running over it and moving on to the next one because of overhead.

[4dawgma]

Ignorance or they just don't give $#!+. or just want their yard mowed. Take from example the Walgreen's in Starkville, right there at 12 and 25. Anybody know the one I'm talking about? Monthly maintenance is $100! How is anyone going to compete with that? And it's all a pissin' match between two firemen that has driven the cost down. Then the owner of Walgreens and the Bank president are playing golf one day and Bankerman finds out what Walgreens guy is payin' and goes "Daaamn nicker, I need to renegotiate with my guy!" Next thing ya the phones are ringing and the Fireman ends up with that new boat.

[deltadukman]

I'm not trying to fault a man for making some extra money, hail I could use a second job. I'm here at 6am and after meeting with clients after work, I don't get home til 5 or 6pm. What can I do, "@#$%#" Lowe's, McDonalds, maybe a convenience store is hiring . Maybe I should have never gone to school in Landscape Architecture and put in 15 years worth of construction experience to get to were I am now. I should have just been a fireman, then I could have a real landscape company.

Jealous that you wasted a career decision? Sounds like it. Maybe he should get your address and tell the firemen that are stationed close to you that you are so good, that you dont need their services. I figured you might have been a LA...elietest and cocky attitude gave it away...most LA's are like that....guess its a trait. I have many friends of mine who are LA's, that did all of that schooling, and now are barely making do. I saw the writing on the wall when choosing my degree in school. There were a ton of LA guys and more applying. Doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize that the market would soon be flooded.

[deltadukman]

Ignorance or they just don't give $#!+. or just want their yard mowed. Take from example the Walgreen's in Starkville, right there at 12 and 25. Anybody know the one I'm talking about? Monthly maintenance is $100! How is anyone going to compete with that? And it's all a pissin' match between two firemen that has driven the cost down. Then the owner of Walgreens and the Bank president are playing golf one day and Bankerman finds out what Walgreens guy is payin' and goes "Daaamn nicker, I need to renegotiate with my guy!" Next thing ya the phones are ringing and the Fireman ends up with that new boat.

Sounds to me like you need to lower your imput costs...or move to a city bigger than Starkville Who are you to make decisions for everybody? Thats between the business, the lawn guy, and if anyone of the two ever get sideways, then its your chance to step in there and show them why your more expensive service is better. I dont think you'll have a valid argument when putting in a bid by saying "choose me, I'm more expensive". If they have that job, I am certain they have a certificate of insurance naming Walgreens additional insured. Just saying, as long as they are both happy, why would they choose you for more?

[4dawgma]

Delta, I keep a list of the one man operators and use them when I'm wrapped up. It keeps them busy doing what they do and allows me to concentrate I what I do. I only use the ones I trust though as my recommendation is a reflection on my company. I do not however recommend the any of the the fireman around here no matter how good their work is. They've got a job, insurance, retirement and half a week off. Like I said, shouldn't have wasted those years in school, just should have been a fireman. Guess I'm just jealous.

[4dawgma]

WOW! Delta, I had no idea you were such a know it all. I'm alittle old for a career change at 36 and yes I'm sure the market is flooded now with your "friends". Probably the same ones that went through after they changed from 5 years to a 4 year program. All those computer jockeys that cant form a slab, build a deck or a house for that matter and couldn't tell you difference between a holly and a hawthorn. I think you should stick with insurance because everyone loves an insurance salesman. Do you get satisfaction from screwing over your clients? That's about insurance has every done for me.

[deltadukman]

I guess you dont do enough work to have ever had a GL claim...or a WC claim either. Thats your choice if you like us or not, the job has to get done and your gonna have to need our services. Im sure that your not singing that same tune when you fluck something up and have a claim..but I forgot...your too good for a mistake. And I think at that age, you probably went to school with alot of them. Attacking the credibility of them...we'll i'm sorry I struck a nerve, but you'd be suprised at their skills. I'm out of this...

[4dawgma]

Come on man, I'm thinking about being an insurance man on the side. Can't be that hard right. Can you help me get started, I have a truck and can get some cards made. Hell everybody sends me money every month and when something happens, hail, I'll just refuse to pay or raise their rates suckers! Kinda like 2 years ago when a tire I was fixing on my tractor slipped (and yes I was a dumbazz for trying to catch it) and fractured my finger. Insurance wouldn't cover because it was only $997.56 and not $1000. So I paid it out of pocket. Then a week later, with the cast on, I backed into a tree turning around in the yard. Yeah it sucked. Cost $2700 to fix ($500 out of pocket). Then my insurance goes up $50 a month for the past 2 years and will stay that way for 1 more year , I'm no Insurance man but damn! I'm 36, NO tickets and that's the FIRST accident I've ever been in my life! WTF! Let me do some math---$50 x 36 months= $1800 + the $500 out of pocket= $2300. That's pretty damn close to just paying the whole thing out of pocket??? Just what the hell do I pay ya'll all that money for every month anyway? Ya'll don't seem to cover anything?

[Jelly]

Come on man, I'm thinking about being an insurance man on the side. Can't be that hard right. Can you help me get started, I have a truck and can get some cards made. Hell everybody sends me money every month and when something happens, hail, I'll just refuse to pay or raise their rates suckers! Kinda like 2 years ago when a tire I was fixing on my tractor slipped (and yes I was a dumbazz for trying to catch it) and fractured my finger. Insurance wouldn't cover because it was only $997.56 and not $1000. So I paid it out of pocket. Then a week later, with the cast on, I backed into a tree turning around in the yard. Yeah it sucked. Cost $2700 to fix ($500 out of pocket). Then my insurance goes up $50 a month for the past 2 years and will stay that way for 1 more year , I'm no Insurance man but damn! I'm 36, NO tickets and that's the FIRST accident I've ever been in my life! WTF! Let me do some math---$50 x 36 months= $1800 + the $500 out of pocket= $2300. That's pretty damn close to just paying the whole thing out of pocket??? Just what the hell do I pay ya'll all that money for every month anyway? Ya'll don't seem to cover anything?

Dang, I wouldn't buy it if I were you, I'd call immediately and cancel it all. that sucks

[deltadukman]

Notice I said WC and GL...not a dang thing about health insurance ...I hate it. That does suck.

But on a positive note, the way your twisiting my words and taking them out of context, you shouldnt worry about being an insurance man, or a fireman...but you'd make a dam good lawyer.

[4dawgma]

Well, lawyerin' IS the family business, but I've always been the black sheep.

[blackhawk0718]

dang can we get back to the subject of who gets their yard cut or who doesnt, and i am not trying to start a big operations.

[4dawgma]

Fug it dude, let's go bowling

[The Delta]

this is cracking me up. Ya'll keep it up, i've already passed 25 minutes of my time reading this garbage.

[quack_a_tack]

I do agree with 4 Dawg night I understand what he is saying. I have no problem with someone mowing a couple yards in there free time. I do have a problem when that turns into some dumb ass getting in to deep and taking on landscaping and undercutting reasonable prices. I live in memphis and I have lost countless design/build jobs to a car load of meximelts, or a high school kid that will get half through and decide he realy just wants to play x-box. I believe what he was trying to say is that this is some folks, myself included, livelyhood. I count on this work to pay my bill, by diapers for my son, and have a roof over my head. There have gotten to be way to many part timers who have a full time job with benefits takin work from full time, insured, tax paying companies. But in good spirit I think you could likely get 8-10 yards and be able to make some money. I wish you the best. By the way I own my own co. and I still do all my mowing with a 23" JD walk behind because I like that jingle in my pocket instead of a 0-turn payment.