39 Tips to Make More Money in the Lawn Business
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- čas přidán 26. 10. 2015
- Learn 39 Lawn Care Tips for your business. This video is packed with lawn business advice to help you if you are wanting to learn how to start a lawn care business, or if you have been in the industry for a while and are looking to improve. Learn how to make more more in the lawn business by learning from my experience.
I give tips on maintenance, marketing, and many other lawn business topics that can help you as you seek to start and grow a lawn service,
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Great tips Jason, I'm 17 and I own my own lawn care business and I'm currently making between $4000-$5000 monthly thank you for all your tips and videos!
+Chris Iker great job on building your business
Chris Iker 2 year later update?
@@tobyknows3021I heard he retired
I agree with you Jason about having Sundays or down time. You can be so busy that it effects your work and in turn make for sloppy work. We all need time to renergize to be at our peak performance.
I love your videos Jason! Such a humble guy who really takes the time to get the point across. Love it! Keep em coming
Thanks for the encouragement. Glad you enjoy the videos.
Jason, I just would like to really thank you for your videos. I find them very informative with very practical and "real" advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to help people who are interested in being successful in the lawn care business.
Me and my brother started with a push mower and now it's built up into having 2 zero turns on the trailer and we are slammed with lawns. The way I started is by knocking on doors, you pick a neighborhood and keep a clipboard and write the street name down, then knock on each door of a house that has high grass, tell them your in the neighborhood cutting people's lawns and noticed their grass might need to be cut, then tell them you usually price a lawn like theirs at $30-50 depending on how long the lawn is going to take you. If they don't answer the door, write down their house number and make a note to come back later. Within a few weeks the business was making $700 a week. We tried flyers but for every 500 we put out, 2 would call us. They do work, but nothing like actually talking to the person. Your not just selling lawn care, your selling yourself.
I must say you speak from the heart and have a lot of sound advise...
Fantastic stuff. Always great info in your videos. Keep em coming!
In my area we have a gas station that has a no ethanol option gasoline. I use is for my small engines and older car. The mid grade gasoline still has ethanol that could clog your small engine especially when winterizing even if using a gasoline stabilizer. Great video!
I have watched only 2 of your videos and you have answered almost all of my questions as well as opened my eyes to questions I should be asking. Thank your for your videos... Sub and a like!!!!
youre a blessing fam. keep it up.
lots of good advice!
Inspired me enough to actually design some door hangers just now - Now just 38 more things to start working on.
Thanks!
Another good tip, and I do this one is reducing the time spent at the truck when pulling up to the yard. When I get a new spool of trimmer line, I spend an evening pre cutting the line to around 12-13 feet. I then roll up and use black(electrical) tape to hold it in a spool. You then just need to grab a spool and go, not having to spend extra time unrolling and then trying to find the cutters. Also one thing we do is if there is one or two guys standing around with nothing to do, we have them refuel the equipment so it is ready to go when you arrive at the next job.
+david flippin thanks for the comment. Efficiency is a huge part of the lawn care business
I pull off 4 lengths of arms extended, hand to other hand measurements which is about 18-20 feet which fills my Echo speed-feeder with minimal effort. I always have one of these sections in my back pocket for when I run out and I am away from the trailer so that I don't have to head back to the trailer for string. I am 5'6', so I realize that everyone's arm distance is different and an individual just needs to figure out what works for them.
Thats a brilliant idea, as I have a client that has a 700 metre driveway, I have to service (being on a farm with very undulating and rocky which also limits machinery access)and my trailer more often than not is a very time consuming walk.
Thanks for your advice, God bless you
Some really good advice in there... Thanks :)
I'm actually in the middle of starting a new lawn care company going into next year. When starting this past summer I've always striven to continue to grow. Came across your videos last week and have watch quite a few. Great videos with great advice. I look forward to all the new advice and information that will help me out a long the way.
+Anthony New Glad to hear you are starting next year. Let me know if I can help.
Thanks for the tips very helpful.
Hi I'm from England I like watching your videos and listen to you talking about the business I learn a lot from you thanks green miles garden services
excellent advice man, I don't disagree with a single thing you mentioned here.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIPS!
Jason. thanks for the video. Good, Solid, Advice!
+Jerry's Lawn Service Glad to help. I hope to be able to give helpful tips this upcoming season to help us all have a better 2016
Great video. Thank you for making this brother. God bless you and your family!
Thank you
All great tips. Number 12 is good. Its no wonder God has blessed your business.:-)
+Moses Hall thanks for the comment. Best wishes as you begin your business
Thank you for the video very helpful
Jason, thanks for the tips. Very helpful!
+Brian Carlisle Glad to help. Hopefully we can have success in 2016
Picked up the yard book app good stuff thanks for the info
Great video thanks for the info! Another thing, if your business starts to grow, I recommend getting or upgrading your equipment. For example, if you have a handheld blower, upgrade to a backpack. You can probably find a used backpack blower on eBay or at a local lawnmower repair shop near you. I recommend, If you get a backpack blower that you get a red max blower. Those are what the commercial landscape companies use. They are durable awesome and reliable blowers. I also recommend upgrading your trimmer such as, A commercial grade echo trimmer.however, there is no need really to upgrade your mower. Just saying!
Love the tips, i run only amsoil products now. Also able to buy bulk cheaper, therefore getting better products at the price or lower than the average local store for regular conventional oil
Thanks for the good advice
Great video Thank you
Thank you. I got some good tips and some reassurance on thing I'm already doing.
+Jason Harris Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the comment
Great Tips. Thanks
Great advice!!
THANKS FOR THE INFO BUD
Hi,what a great source of information you have on here. I'm also planning on starting a tree care business and general yard care just going there all the legal stuff now.
Glad the videos have been helpful. I hope your business goes well
thanks for the video man
I have discovered your vids about a week ago.This vid I have mix feelings about. I totaly understand your advice on buying slightly used lawn equipment. But employees are an investment, just like your equipment. If you expect to get good help and keep them. Then you need to hire them young/green and mentor/train them loyalty goes both ways. Some experienced guy just move company to company based on pay will always be looking for more money or easier work.
+Torpedomtb good point. I do think a good employee is worth paying to keep because they are hard to find. Thanks for the comment. Glad you found my channel
dude you've got some great videos much appreciated
+Patrick Rigby Glad to hear you like them. They are better now than we I started a few year back.
God bless us in our business!!🙏🙏
I started sending out invoices first of the month before the service is done and it works out great.
I like your invoice strategy. Thanks for sharing
Love the videos. Lot of great info.
+Ben Her glad you enjoy them
Great video with great ideas.....just starting out here in the UK.....good to know how to do it right to get the work. Keep up the great vids.
+Trevor McLaren glad to hear from you over in the UK
Absolutely love #12
Hello, I just want to say you done a great job explaining the 40 business tips. Very helpful.
Thank you. Glad it was helpful
Also I forgot you can add to your tips. Don't get too busy with your mower and neglect you trunk. Your truck has to be taken care as well. They go hand in hand. I have witness truck neglect.., Tks.
Ya I spread to thin trying to do everything I'm really thinking about doing just mowing but after harvy hit all my customers needed so much help getting back on there feet that I started yard clean ups tree cutting fences it's just to much to keep doing
Very helpful
Great video... Really good advice!
+Chris Smith Thanks. Glad to help
Great tips and great video:-)
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks.
I've been subscribed for a few days, but once I heard that you base your business on Christian principles, I couldn't help but to hit the "notifications" bell. I appreciate any business that runs by Christian standards, and it will ultimately profit you greatly in the end.
Blessings,
~Tim
Eagle Lawn Care
I ran across your videos a few days ago and I am really liking your content. I have had a rough start to my life and upon turning 34 I have to better myself. For about 2 weeks now I have been doing a lot of research and have got a logo made for myself and postcards are in the mail. I am running a 21 inch self propelled honda mower, echo srm225 trimmer and an echo blower. I set some small goals for this first season as I still have a full time job I would love to leave, but one step at a time. Any quick advice? Today I drove around my neighborhood of about 100 houses and saw at least 20 houses that have yet to get cut this season. Should I just knock? I personally hate door to door people for ANYTHING and respect flyers/postcards way more. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Has that strategy worked out? I've been wanting to do the same, but haven't been able to sit down and draft up door hangers. I have biz cards but that's it.
thanks for taking the time to make these videos
no problem. I enjoy it
+Lawn Care Business You and geek to freak inspired me. I've started my own business and am appreciative to the "veterans" in the fields guidance. ...subscribed
gracias compadre
Hey man thanks
I do payment upfront with my customers to avoid payment issues and I keep a targeted area to keep all my customers in close proximity to my residence and minimize my drive time.
+Perry Schmoll those are good strategies. Thanks for the comment
Thanks for the tips. I been in business for 3 years part time. I definitely can use some your tips to better grow my business. I do not have any employees yet but, I will keep your tips handy when the time comes. Since you have had employees in the past, I would really like to see some content about things to consider before hiring your first employee. Things you need to know from a legal standpoint, workers comp, unemployment, added taxes and such. It is not as easy as just paying a helper $10 per hour under the table. I have not come across any videos over the past 3 years with someone posting detailed content on this subject. I even bought my fair share of ebooks before I started my business and most never mentioned it or they just gave insight on the subject. Maybe you can be the first?
+Billy Goat Thanks for the input. I'm not sure I will create a video on the subject since it is not really my expertise. I simply let me accountant handle those items.
Good guy.
I downloaded the link and thank you for putting this together. and I may not be looking deep enough but is there a way I can purchase this book or get it sent to me. thank you so much for your time. I'm ready for spring. you have helped me out a lot more than you would know. I'm new to this and you have helped organize my approach to things. you are one of the 3 people I watch on here and have subscribed and follow. thanks again Jason for your time.
I am glad you find the videos helpful. As for the book, I recently took it off my website and have replace it with a video course which is more up-to-date. The link for the course is here. www.start-lawncarebusiness.com/lawn-business-master-academy/ I hope you have a great 2017 season
I have been watching a lot of your vids as well as a couple other youtubers. I am saving my money to start my own lawn care business in the spring and hope to move into landscaping, sod and tree removal eventually!
Have you tried or had success hanging christmas lights during the winter? I'm working for a friend's quite successful company this winter on tje side to save more for my business and gain experience. I was intending on doing christmad lights for my customers during the winter.
I have heard there is good money is christmas lights but I have not tried it
great video!!
+Skyler_7485 thanks, glad it helped
Read a Stihl Owners guide, small engines are designed to run on 91. Your Pistons overheat if you don't use 91
Thanks for the great video. I am starting my lawn care business this year. I currently only have a 38" ride on mower, 2 push mowers a trimmer and a blower and a trailer. Should I try to find a zero turn?
+Ken Behl A zero turn is much better. It depends on your financial situation and the number of customers your have. If you have 5 customers, then a zero turn wouldn't be necessary. If you are planning on being in the lawn care business for a long time and growing your business, then a zero turn mower will greatly improve your efficiency. You can get a fairly good used commercial zero turn for 3-4k.
Thanks were gonna B lawn care friends. One question. I have a 4×4 sign available to me on a street on a street that has 20.000 cars that pass a day. Is it worth it to have signs made 4 that spot ? Thanks
Hell Yeah Man, Get your name out there, make some money!
on tip #2 i would not use a mid grade gas on equipment you want to last. i use ethanol free on all equipment. my last stihl blower I used lasted just under 12 years.
You forgot the most important, balancing the blade , save the deck and keeps a level cut
I am so thankful that you do these videos. I'm just now starting out and trying to decide whether to buy a Toro 36" walk behind with a sulky or a Hustler 36" riding mower. Any advice would be much appreciated
+drew beisly I would almost always prefer a riding mower unless the territory is very hilly.
That being said, I am not a big fan of 36 inch zero turn mowers. If I were starting out I would try to buy a 48-inch and just use a push mower on small Gates. I think the benefit of having a 48 inch mower is greater than the few backyard gates that you will not be able to access
+Lawn Care Business thanks for the advice and quick response! 👍🏻
Very helpful videos. Just started my own small business in my hometown. Starting young only 15.
Thanks for the comment. Keep me updated on how things are going. I think lawn care is a great job for teenagers (and adults for that matter)
+Lawn Care Business
Hi Jason I was wondering if you could give me some advise on how to work my business and do schooling?
+Lawn Care Business Hi Jason my business has been growing a lot over the past few weeks. I just wanted to tell you that your videos really help me out and I will never forget your tips in lawn care.
Your Moms Hitachi I'm doing pretty good I just bought a zero turn.
Your Moms Hitachi That's great. And good luck
Always keep a spare drive belt and a Deck belt on hand onsite
Ethanol Free Gas ONLY. ... in my opinion. Love your videos.. From Hawaii , Aloha
That is a good tip. I use ethanol free in my small engines
Hhmmm I was curious that you did not mention an equipment dealer relationship. It sounds like your saying the equipment dealer is not that important, since you buy online etc, I just found that surprising and interesting. Thanks for these videos!!
I have not had great experiences with dealers but I admit, they are part of the lawn care business and sometimes I need them
As you know, be careful when buying used items such as backpack blowers or trimmers. A lot of often times what happens is lawnmowing companies use these things so much that they blow the engine out. Scammers on eBay will try to sell you a product that looks great on the outside but has a blown or damaged engine. I recommend buying a new red max blower, off of a different website or going to your local lawnmower repair shop and buying one there.
I myself always buy brand spanking new gear from my local mower store.
Buy local
What do you think about quality verse quantity when it comes to hiring a employee? What i mean is do you hire the guy who does the job right and makes your company look great but takes an extra few minutes per lawn while not beating on your equipment? Or hire the guy who just pumps out the work but doesn't care how it looks, if he misses anything, and is beating on your equipment? For me this has been a struggle... as not enough people want to pay for the perfect job done every time, but expect it. Call it o.c.d but i feel doing every job a certain way is the image you portray of yourself and business. I feel some times i care almost too much that i loose out on money. I've been doing this professionally since 1993, for myself and my twin brother as bowerlandscaping since 2000 till he wasn't able etc, and since i met my wife in 2014 i opened jrb landscaping&snowplowing but this year and decade it's that time. I'm about to be 39 and i still struggle with doing i guess you can say tooooooo good of a job.... what's your thoughts I'm evolving as a person and business. Starting this 2020 my whole life is based around my church and God's will also. Thank's so much sincerely james &melissa bower jrblandscaping&snowplowing. Check out my CZcams channel. Maybe you can give me some pointers brother.? Thanks and God bless.czcams.com/channels/-Z0vdBFeX9JqNZUcsZSoxw.html
How do you distribute postcards in a neighborhood?
how much do you carry in liability insurance?
So I'm just starting I'm torn I can only have 1 zero turn for mowing and leaf clean ups do I buy the bagging system and just bag all year round or do I just mulch all year? Or just get both mulch all year then bag when leafs start to fall?
Tyler Thrash get a bagging unit , and usually you can change blades for mulching, and stuff the exit hole where it bags the leaves , gator blades and a 1x6 can bolt or clamp over the shoot to create a mulches , keep your speed slow for a proper mulch
Tyler Thrash your moving speed not your blade speed
I've always had a problem of everyone person wants there yard mowed on Thursday or fri.wants it to look good for the week end
So I bust my but thru and fri and off rest of the week how can i solve this
Perhaps you could charge a premium price for Thursday and Friday mowing
This guy is funny too lol not laughing at you your information is very valuable but I mean u said your trimming a bush u got 12 coming at ya and get popped 3 times lol
We use no alcohol unleaded gasoline in our equipment
what oil do you use mobil 1 ?
+Brandon Murphy yes
Are you looking for help? I've been doing this for a season up north and am a beast weedwacker and blower, plus copilot. I keep up with two guys on cheetahs going as fast as they can. They never get off the mower and when they do their two lawns I'm standing there waiting on them. They don't want me to learn to really run the mower because they are afraid of me becoming as valuable as them. That's why I've turned to these videos. I've gotta teach myself. I really like your style, where my boss is a total lunatic. If you hired me you would not be disappointed.
+jsslandro sorry, I'm not hiring at the moment
That's what I figured. Thanks anyway my friend.
Buy everything on line , then expect your local shop to fix your equipment when you walk in with it !! I choose to support my local shop , helps keep him in business.
Support your local dealer. If you don't support them then they won't be there when you really need them.
The way I look at is simple. If you can't work on your own stuff to a degree you don't need to have a lawn service.. It's my business why would I or anyone want to pay almost double for parts I can buy online.
Looks like we found the local shop owner.
Fall & Winter money making tips?
I may do another video on that soon
Keep me posted on that
what should you charge for a mulch service of delivery and labor to spread it?
I think 4 times your cost is a good price. For example if you paid $30 for a yard of mulch, you can charge $120
yeah but here in california the mulch is free from the dump
Mulch from the dump is full of trash.
Are yard shoes something that can be expensed come tax time?
Yes
GREAT ADVICE ..i AM STARTING MY COMPANY ,,WOULD YOU HAVE THIS RULES WRITTEN.IF NOT CAN YOU EMAIL THEM TO ME IF POSSIBLE ..GOD BLESS YOU
you can get them here www.start-lawncarebusiness.com/ There is a link at the top for 39 tips
So, there is a common misconception that higher octane means higher quality. The higher octane fuels are less volatile and can be compressed more. If your engine is high compression it will say so in the manual and require high octane fuel to get peak performance. If your mower engine is not high compression it does not need high octane fuel. Since the fuel is less volatile it has less energy than lower octane fuels. Less energy means less power. To make this explanation short and sweet; put the fuel that your manual requires in and mow on my brother.
+JRM Landscapes good point. I now use 87 octane with no ethanol
Yeah buddy, hey thanks for putting these videos up.
Glad you said something, I knew he was throwing money away when he said that, octane rating just means how much pressure the fuel can be under before self igniting. If your engine piston doesn't compress higher then 87, then your just throwing money away.
Skilled labor isn't cheap, cheap labor isn't skilled
heres tip. go to linkedin lawn care groups for advise and questions
thanks for the tip....good advice
I had to fire my best customer this year. it was an older lady that paid good money. she called all the time. she wanted me to call before I sowed up. The last thing is that she wanted to call me as a as need basis.
+Don Abraham I understand. Sometimes it is for the best to part ways. I don't remember ever regretting a decision like that
Ethanol free gasoline is absolutely the best to run through a small engine, ethanol is horrible for small engines
Nothing worst than an inexperienced lawn guy in 105 degree houston sun 😲
+allen mccall that sounds miserable for experienced or inexperienced
I was a little disappointed that you put 40 tips and not 39 but I think I can forgive you this ONE time only...
How come know one is talking about plants that safe for pets? There are a lot of plants that are out there that are posionus to pets.
Why don't you use RedMax weed eaters
the BIGGEST and MOST THING YOU DID NOT MENTION AND THE MOST IMPORTANT is that you cannot be financing everything and have no reserves UNDER CAPITALIZED this is the biggest cause of GUANTEED failure 100% most people in this business is are ar in this situation. admit this
It is ungeath to force anyone to work 7 days a week. Every human being needs rest. I worked 7 days a week for years until i got hurt. My doctor showed me why humans need rest.. Even the military knows they can work the snot out of soldiers.
I use 87 octane gas. Higher octanes grades contains more ethanol, that's how they get the higher number by putting more ethanol in the fuel. Best is to find 0% ethanol fuel stations. Go to pure-gas.org to find a station near you.
+A&S Lawnscapes good tip. Thanks for the info
+A&S Lawnscapes ,
In my area, there are several gas stations that sell the ethanol-free, but it's the high- octane. Much better for long term.
It's best to use "TrAil gas" ethanol free
A&S Lawnscapes I have never heard this logic, have always heard that higher octane has less ethenol.
Ethanol-free fuel doesn’t exist in Delaware... we use high octane with enzyme treatment, and we only buy enough to last a week or two because it will spoil. “Treat it like milk’” is the concept here.
I'm thinking of starting a small lawn care business I am 59 just want to start small until till I can retire then get bigger send me your email so I can get more information
+David Wilson I don't give out my email on here. What info do you need?
Lawn Care Life Need to go to your website and check out your list thanks
I'm 60 just started 5 weeks ago and business is booming I'm shocked at how well its doing
speed feeds are garbage
What would you recommend then?