You SHOULDN'T Start a Lawn Care Business...
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- STARTING A LAWN BUSINESS? RESOURCES HERE👇
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⬆️ rate increase letter: www.turfprosacademy.com/rate-...
THESE PARTNERS MAKE RUNNING MY COMPANY A BREEZE
⚡️ Yardbook; schedules, invoices, organizes my business: www.yardbook.com
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MY STORY:
In 2016 I had been in law enforcement for 7 years.
I was not in control of my schedule, I was hardly making any money, and I was away from my family working nights and holidays. I was capable of more, and I was silently suffering. I knew I was selling myself and my family short.
I started Florida Turf Pros as a side hustle in 2016 before going full time in 2017.
My lawn business changed my life.
I control my own schedule, control my own income, and I am proud of what I have built; a business that supports me, my family, and some employees.
If you are a lawn care business owner, this channel will be a valuable resource for you.
This really is a great industry to be in, and I hope that by documenting my journey it will help you.
-Jonathan C. Christian
I love it when the noobs buy a bunch of new stuff in spring and then try to sell it all when it gets hot out here. 😂
Every. Year.
I see it every year!
The price of everything has doubled except mowing lol. I do charge more now days $50 min, but In this economy I feel like $75 is about what a guy needs to justify showing up!
$75 is what you need to make per labor hour to pay a guy (or yourself) like $18 an hour when you factor in all payroll taxes, overhead, etc.. your senses are telling you right my friend. If you wanna pay a guy $20+ dollars an hour, you gotta be in the $90+/hr range..
90% of guys in our industry are not even close to understanding this and just aim for "$60 an hour" like we're in the 1990s. My dad told me that's what they were taught back then lol..
And truthfully, no disrespect.. that's the problem. Too many old dogs still in the game and charging what they did in 2000. And that's the truth.
The most real channel around. Really enjoy the info.
Hey Jonathan, thanks for all you do! I would hope that everyone here can apprciate a video about the details of efficiently completing and Scheduling routes. Also about hiring processes. Thank you!
How about tour of your new 2500 Chevy truck. 😁
Been in this industry before the reason I started a lawn business is freedom and I like the smell of fresh cut grass
Any advice for how you handle scheduling shifts due to rain? This may make a good episode. Thanks Jonathan.
Love the channel Jonathan. Would love to see you over on Williams Family Lawn Care commenting! Your channel inspired me back in 2019.
Wow!!! You nailed it!!!!!!!!!!
I just started my lawn care business 3 years ago at 43 y.o. I have to work on my long-term plan because I know once I get to that age, I will not be able to crank out 10-12 yards a day during those hot summer months.
Harsh facts!!!
Doing this business is so awesome. Being self-employed, making local clients happy, and communities save money, and there's money to be made.
I used to work at warehouses, so to me this is easy money!!
I used to mow lawns as a teen and even maintained a 27 acre cemetery in my twenties. I finished college, raised a family and have been in another industry as a branch manager for going on twenty years. I love my job but began to realize all my staff are retiring in the next ten years or less! With the corporate world and employment climate today, I decided I wanted to make a “ten year exit plan” for myself. I just started this spring and currently have about 8-10 clients I work for. I have a helper and am currently caring for my accounts on Saturdays weather permitting as my “real job” is Monday through Friday. I hope to have enough growth and current knowledge in the next 10 years to be able to walk away with 30 years at my first career and hopefully be somewhat established enough to be comfortable mowing and perhaps drive a school bus for insurance until I reach retirement age. I am having a hard time justifying this decision because I make nearly six figures at my full time job. Hopefully it will work out and I am definitely watching your videos and learning as much as I can. Thanks for your help. Btw can you do a video on what you do for your customer journal? I noticed you say you kept logs of basic customer and lawn requirements for each account to quickly reference. Could you share that please?
Also, I am vacationing in Pensacola this September and would love to meet you if possible and perhaps learn a little if time permits.
These are fantastic videos, but very often the music is far louder than your speaking. That said, please keep up the great content!
Noted!
I have heard many say " I was thinking of starting a lawn care business" and I bite my lip. Easy to start, sure, but it is a business like any other with regulations, requirements, etc. I want to tell them, just as you've said in this video, if you're not ready or able to commit to running a business, don't start! I started lawn care many, many years ago (before string trimmers) having my dad drive me around the neighborhood doing yards for $3.00. My first "job". A lifetime later, I had returned to lawn care, applying what I've learned from running businesses for other people to my lawn care business and have been growing and going strong at 62yo solo. A pain in the butt? Yup! Hard work grinding all day in 100 degree heat? Yup! Would I willingly give it up to go back on a W2? Bucket full of nope! Bottom line, if you're not familiar with how business works, learn that first! I appreciate the honesty of this video and your insight and opinions. Ours is an industry with so many benefits and just as many downfalls.
well said man. great vid
I absolutely love the content you put out. I have the same feelings about everything.
All I've ever done is hard work, that involves customer service, so I truly believe I can make a profitable business out of this, and all the tips you give are absolute gold... Thank you so much.
You can do it!
Viewer / subscriber from Australia here. I've been thinking about starting mowing business as a side hustle because I bought acreage and had to get a good mower to stay on top (2nd hand Exmark Navigator). I realised I could offset some of the costs of ownership if I was using it in business and get it earning for itself. I've also got some early 20's / teens kids looking for more ways to earn money for savings (1st cars etc) so figured if I got it up and running they could do some of the work. It's good to get some reality checks so thanks for your content. Not rushing in.. planning and thinking.
A very important “4th point”. If you are not self motivated and willing to sacrifice your personal life when needed, do not go into business for yourself. I have tried to help several guys by feeding them my overflow work to help get their business off the ground and they all failed because of lack of follow through and poor customer communication.
62 years old. In business for 15 years. Do it because I love it. Have a small retirement from a long ago corporate job. Never been able to get the business super profitable, and definitely didn't plan for long term retirement. Guess I thought I could do it forever! Ha! Would appreciate any tips to help turn that around over the next 5 years. Feel like it can keep it cranking for at least that long
My father has a youtube channel and he has just retired... I'm going to share his info with my subscribers because I think it would be incredibly beneficial for the guys in their 50's & 60's.
Lawn care was wat i did for 15 years in 95 plus degrees thats when was in late 20sto mid to late 30s now im retired n miss doing it but thinking about doing it again
How do you pay employees? Hourly or by the job?
I'm mowing on the side right now. Keep a full time job. No intentions of quitting my job (yet😂)
Keep the videos coming. Good stuff 👍🏼👍🏼
Hard to hear you with the music in the background. I usually turn off the video when music is played in background bc the person is too hard to hear.
I love mowing…..nice yards that stripe; however, in this economy if we were to go through anything similar to another pandemic we know that lawn guys are the first to get dropped which is why I unfortunately still work my regular job.
Many always say mowing contracts pay the bills, but it's the other work like landscaping, irrigation, pruning, fertilizing and weed spraying you provide the same customers that result in profit.
There’s money in mowing you just have to be really strict in the lawns you take on…. And mow a lot of them
@FloridaTurfPros definitely, but diversity keeps you fresh and allows you to aquire the big desirable contracts.
Hi Andy from Australia do charge cancellation fees?
Hey man!
Love you content as usual. The music in the background is pretty loud. On the edits try lowering a little.
Great info otherwise
Yes, I've got that feedback from a few people now. Thanks for letting me know, and I will make adjustment on next video.
It's only hard work when you don't love doing what you do. I've been doing landscaping all my life, and I would say I was born with a shovel in my hands. But the hard scape took a toll on my back. Long story started doing auto glass. Then depression started cause I'm not out there taking care of God's land, so now I have started my own business, Everlasting Lawn & Garden LLC . I am also still working in the auto glass company until I know I can do it full-time . God bless brother
I reckon another reason retired guys cut grass etc is cause they want something to do and it gets them out of the house and time away from their missus.
I have a good comment, question for perhaps some new content for you. This is my first year and I made an excel spreadsheet to track my time, ( both windshield time and on the job time) takes all the overhead and maintenance out of the equation automatically, figures out the costs of mpg and at the end I end up with what actually goes in my pocket, the bottom line. What’s a good % for a business in your opinion to say it’s doing good or it’s not enough profit margin to grow. Hope Im making sense. I’ve talked to a couple of guys out here around my area and they have no idea what % is their margins. I understand there’s a lot of variables but would like something to aim at. Thank you and as always, good information Jonathan .
Ill do a video on this
@@FloridaTurfPros Thank you. Many people go into business without any business background. So not having any idea what are the costs behind all of it and getting profits it’s hard. Also would like to point out when getting a business started , open a business account and never ever mix your business account/ or expenses with your personal. Many people can start a business, not many can run it well / manage it Or make it grow. I track as much as I can . My old boss used to always say, “ if you can’t track it , you can’t improve it “. 👍
@@FloridaTurfPros. In regards to this question. The person asking should know the profit margin before quoting the job. On mowing I shoot for 50% profit margin. It is harder to get clients as your price will be higher but that’s when you explain how your quality is better.
@@user-ks2jt4fp8p I agree , we have a 64% profit margin, but there’s many out there that go into it not even knowing how to figure that out. It’ll be a good video.
what land plane did you buy ??????????
Blue Diamond. It’s solid.
How do u hire new employees or par time help ??
I’ll do a video
Bro hahahaha. I'm entering year 4 and I'm just now "paying" myself legitimately.. and it's 4,000 a month 😂☠️ wouldn't trade it for the world though. You gotta be committed though, and do everything LEGITIMATE..
Wanted to ask where you got your schute blocker for your gravely? I have a 32" pro stance and the one you got looks compatible?
I ordered it when I ordered my Gravely's... it's Gravely's OEM.
How are you able to edge trim so quickly??
Having the right equipment and doing it for a very very long time.
@@FloridaTurfPros My echo SRM 3020T has a rounded head. Is yours flat?
I am not naturally wired for organization and sticking to a plan.... but that is precisely why I know I need to do this.
I am super excited for the challenge. Also, I hope it will help me sweat a few pounds off. I need the hard work.
You can do it!
@@spartakos3178 where there’s a will there’s a way. Reach out to people in the business. There’s lots of them that are willing to help, don’t get discouraged by the ones that don’t. Go for it.