How To Take Small Lawns From Loss
Many, many lawn care business owners see small lawns as the price of doing business â they get your foot in the door for upsells that are actually profitable.
Thats only true if your business model and pricing structure arent fine-tuned to handle them.
The way to make little lawns work for you is to sell that work in tight clusters. If youre driving 15 minutes to one little lawn and then 15 minutes to the next little lawn, it seriously cuts into your profits at each of them. It can even put you in the hole!
BUT â if you have 4 or 5 or even 10 lawns all in a row, you get to greatly reduce drive time. If they are only separated by a house or two, you get to lose the wasted time of loading and unloading equipment.
THIS is how you make small lawns work for you â you aggressively own the neighborhoods with postage-stamp-sized lawns. You park at one end of the block and mow to the other.
The best part of this strategy is that most lawn care business owners are writing off these neighborhoods as a waste of time or, at best, a pathway to money later â not exactly a huge motivator to spend marketing dollars and sales effort!
Because you see the value in the neighborhoods, you can pursue them as the very valuable clients they are. You can direct a juicy offer right at this neighborhood â for real, use the name of the neighborhood in the marketing materials.
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Does A Lawn Mowing Business Make Money Over Winter
I personally like to follow the lawn mowing season and work hard from March until October and then take the winter off for holidays and other projects. This obviously limits my earning potential from the business, however I set money aside in the summer to continue paying my salary over the winter months.
Last year, my annual revenue by season is broken down as follows:
Saying Thanks To Your Parents
If youre planning to use your parents equipment and building compost in their yard, you should make it up to them, even if they say its totally fine.
You could do this by pledging to do their lawn as part of your run for free, and to use some of the compost in their gardens. Keep spreading that love, baby!
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How Much Should I Get Paid For Mowing A Lawn And What Is The Current Hourly Rate
This is an age old question and one that is not easily answered. Lawn mowing has traditionally been seen as a low-skilled occupation that is only worth minimum wage and if you enter the industry with this mindset, you are likely to only ever achieve that.
When dealing with customers, I often liken running a lawn mowing business to delivering three separate services:
A tool-hire business as you take thousands of pounds of equipment to their door.
A taxi service as you deliver labour to and from their property.
A labour service as you are on-site for a period of time.
Unless you give serious thought to how you are going to get paid for each of these services and only end up charging for your labour, you will not make the most of your opportunity.
As a lawn mowing specialist, I often work at larger properties alongside skilled gardeners that charge an hourly rate for a set day or half-day each week. By doing so they limit their possible earnings to between £80 and £160 per day.
My approach is to agree a fixed-price to fulfil a fixed specification in a period of time that I determine. This means that when the grass slows down in summer and autumn, I get paid the same to mow the lawn as when the grass growth is at its peak in spring. Equally, if I choose to invest in a larger mower and cut 40% off the time it takes me to mow the lawn, the amount I get paid stays the same.
How To Start A Lawn Mowing Business
When thinking of starting your own business, you must consider the services you can provide. So consider how you can maintain your customers lawn, the size of the yard you will be able to mow, and learn how to repair the patches where the grass is damaged.
For mowing grass, a gas-powered lawn mowing machine is better than an electric-powered machine because an electric machine requires an electric cord, and you may run into the problem of there being no available power outlets at the location. A gas lawn mowing machine eliminates power outlets need as it runs on the gas tank installed. You may need to buy yourself a tractor-style mower to accommodate for larger acres of land with time.
You will also need a larger vehicle, like a truck, to transport your equipment to the desired site. If you dont have money to invest in a truck, then a small trailer attached behind your vehicle is suitable. This is a crucial part of setting up your business because if you cannot transport the necessary equipment to the location, it will be problematic.
After starting your business, its important to promote your business as much as possible to increase the number of customers. There are several ways to do this. You can use social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, create your website or blog or advertise through your local newspapers. You can also contact your local real estate office and ask them to promote your business through their property management division.
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How To Find Yard Work Jobs In Your Neighborhood
Start by walking around your neighborhood, seeing what lawns are long, and then knock on the door or ring the bell. Carry some fliers with you to give to the homeowner that has your contact number on them. Ask them for referrals in the neighborhood if they tell you no. Leave your flier tucked in the doorframe if no one answers the door. Dont leave your flier in the mailbox because that is actually illegal.
Talk to your parents about getting paid for mowing your own lawn or referrals to their friends who would be willing to hire you for yard work.
Ask neighbors when you see them outside or hang fliers around your neighborhood to advertise your services. If you go to church or the local community center, ask adults if they need your services or know someone that is.
Seek out community job boards. My local automotive shop has a corkboard in the lobby with jobs posted or local service providers business cards. If you have a business in your area with a job board, check it to see if someone needs help with their yard or hang your flier.
Social media groups for your area are a perfect place to find potential clients! Check for ads asking for yard work help or make a post of your own with your flier and your contact information. Give specifics on what neighborhood you are working in so customers know whether or not you can provide them service for their area.
Other Services You Can Offer
Hedging and pruning is a no-brainer because you can move this equipment around more easily than a mower, whip and blower. Make sure you check out my pruning section to learn how to do it properly.
Another service that your neighbours probably dont want to do is dog poo removal. You can charge an additional fee each mow as an upgrade. While youre at it, why not also offer to offer a dog walking or washing service to squeeze as much work out of every client as possible.
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First Set A Price For Lawn Mowing Services
Wondering how much lawn care costs, including mowing? Short answer, it depends. Here are a few factors that can influence what you charge:
Your experience: Seasoned lawn care professionals can charge more for their services. But when youre building your customer base, you may need to start with a lower price point. Then, once you get a few customers under your belt, you can raise them incrementally.
The location of your business: Theres an amount that people in your area are willing to pay for lawn care services. Do some research to find out that amount. Higher-end neighborhoods and businesses will often pay more. Meanwhile, lower-income neighborhoods usually want lower pricesor they might not need your services at all. Call a few lawn care companies in your area. Ask their prices. Then use those numbers as a starting point on how to price your lawn care services.
If you work with businesses or residents: Most commercial businesses who value quality are willing to pay top dollar. Homeowners, on the other hand, may be more budget conscious. Caveatall of this depends on your area, of course. Poke around. Do some research. Find out which clients are willing to pay more in your area.
Lawn Care By The Numbers
How to make $40,000.00+ dollars in your first year mowing is a break down of the numbers to reach an income of $40,000 for the owner of the business. We look at customer count, the average price per service and the number of services per season to get our revenue number.
Once we know our projected revenue, we will go in-depth looking at the expenses to operate your business including variable, overhead, and 1-time expenses.
Once all of the income and expenses are known, the calculator will break show the results and you will have a better understanding of what it will take to make money in the lawn care industry.
If you would prefer, please feel free to watch the video I made on this topic. I would highly recommend that as this blog post is a condensed version and there is much more in the video! I also wrote the book on how to start and grow a profitable lawn care business if you are interested in that. I am confident you will find great value in it if you are not currently making $100,000 or more as the owner of your lawn care business. Visit our products and services to see what we have to offer to help grow your business. We are forming partnerships with the companies that we found valuable in our business to get you the best of the best for lessa perfect example is the Proslide XT. We have the lowest price anywhere in the world on the best velke
Video Link:
Run Hypothetical Numbers
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Can You Make Money Mowing Lawns As A Kid
Mowing peoples lawns in the neighborhood is one of the best ways to make pocket money as a teenager. You can make money mowing lawns if you have extra time after school or during school holidays.
Most people would be okay getting their yards done by kids, as much as you do your work well for the amount they pay.
Inform your parents about it and use their yard tools with their permission to start your business. Build a good reputation around your neighborhood and become the go-to kid for lawn mower services.
Making money mowing lawns is possible. Start and work smart to earn a good income from your lawn mowing business.
References
Every Business Starts With A Passion
I know we all have to work to make a living, but Im sure you knew that.
When most people think of work, they think of mowing lawns, janitors, plumbers, and every other job that requires you to get down and dirty.
When they think of passion, they think of chefs, art, and all the other fancy things that the world has you thinking is a dream job.
Screw all that.
Doing yard work is and requires the same passion that you would have for every other job out there.
If you are simply looking to make money mowing lawns because you know you can make a couple of bucks here and there, thats about all youll get.
Now, if you treat it seriously and actually enjoy it, you will make thousands of dollars more than you would if you treated it like a regular old job.
When I mow lawns, I like to sit back and admire my work.
I like to see every little detail and clean every little corner within that yard.
The person or company you are working for will see that as well, which will allow you to keep that contract as well as get some recommendations.
So if you think that you cant be passionate about something like yard work, think again.
If you dont have that passion, youre better off looking into some other kind of work.
Now that we got that out of the way lets get a little further into the business.
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Pros And Cons Of Starting A Lawn Care Business
If you love working outdoors and enjoy being your own boss, starting your own lawn care business could be a great way to mow and rake in money. If you hate being at the mercy of Mother Nature or dread stepping in dog doo, lawn care may not be a good choice for you.
Starting a lawn care business has its pros and cons.
Pros:
Well help you sort through the advantages and disadvantages below so you can go into your lawn care business with your eyes wide open. Along the way, we will show you some of the ways LawnStarter can make it easy to run and grow your lawn care business.
Lets get started with the pros of starting a lawn care business:
Does Mowing Weeds Spread Them
The wind generated from the blades as they ruthlessly mow down your leafy foes can actually help to spread those seeds across your yard, sometimes as far as five to ten feet away from the original spot. This means over time, your weed problem can keep growing and spreading, causing you major head aches.
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The Easiest Way To Make Money Mowing Lawns
There are many ways to make money mowing lawns, but some approaches are easier than others. In this post, we are going to discuss how to make the most money mowing lawns, in the simplest way possible. Keep in mind, that mowing lawns for money is not just about mowing lawns, but building up the confidence and trust of your clients.
Of course, you can enlist many tactics to make money mowing lawns, but, by far, the easiest way to make money mowing lawns is to sign yourself up as a provider on LawnGuru.
How To Have An Awesome Lawn
You know an awesome lawn when you see it a dark greek that its almost blue, defined stripes in the lawn, and it stands out among the entire neighborhood. If you want to have a great lawn then you need to know exactly what to do at the right time.
No matter what your experience level, you, too, can have a beautiful lawn. Arm yourself with the tips and resources outlined in this post, and download our free guides and schedules to get yourself an awesome lawn next year!
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Is It Ever Illegal To Mow Lawns For Money If Im A Kid
Short answer, no, its not illegal, but you need to make sure youre paying your taxes if you need to. According to the IRS, lawn mowing counts as a kind of self-employment, and you are required to pay income tax. Not only this, but you also need to pay self-employment tax if your earnings are $400 or more. Its also important to keep in mind that some cities or counties have different rules about mowing lawns for money, although this is quite rare. Its always a good idea to look it up on your state governments website.
Establish Your Pricing Structure
Most lawn care companies base prices on the size of a lawn.
To come up with a competitive rate, calculate the total square footage of your lawn. Then, get estimates from a bunch of companies in your area. Have family and friends do this too so you can set your prices that arent too high or low.
Make sure you factor in the cost of materials, labor, equipment, and business overhead.
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Why Would A Client Hire You A Teenager
At first, it might seem unrealistic that a person would hire a teenager with basically no experience instead of a professionally trained gardener. But if you think about it for a second there are actually some benefits that you can offer them that nobody else can.
Firstly, youre going to be cheaper than an established business because they have a lot more costs than you have, and lets face it: theyll probably do a better job more quickly than you can due to the fact theyve been doing it for years.
Another reason why you might win a job over an established business is that it just feels good to help a teenager out. Everybody remembers what it was like to be your age and its a beautiful thing when a teen puts their heart and soul into an endeavour such as this, especially if theyve known you for a while and have watched you grow from a child.
This means that youre going to have the greatest success with people you already know such as neighbours, friends and relatives so try there first and then ask your existing clients to refer you to their family and friends.
You can also do a letter drop around your neighbourhood in Australia, just avoid mailboxes with “No Junk Mail” or “Aus Post Only” signs.
Another thing you can do is suck up your pride and go door-to-door. Let them get to know you, and have a business card or flyer to give them. Fridge magnets are more expensive to print but are likely to be kept for longer on the clients fridge.
