What Equipment and Supplies You Will Need to Start a Lawn Care Business
Start a Lawn Care Business Guide
Equipment You Will Need to Start a Lawn Care Business
Before you embark on your business venture, you have to figure out what equipment and supplies you will need. These could be the very basics required to mow lawns, trim grass, and rake and haul away the waste. Initially, you might simply have a truck, a lawn mower, a pair of clippers, a rake and a wheelbarrow. If this is all you have and all you need to begin with, it is fine for going along with. Lawn businesses have started out with less than this before moving on to acquire material and machinery as the growth and the need demanded.
If you do not have a truck, you will probably have to purchase one. This is a necessary capital expense. Do not buy one, however, if you are not serious about making this work. Do not purchase a truck if the indicators of your decision-making process reveal a lawn care business is not feasible at this time. Fortunately, you can always turn a truck to other advantages. It can haul away debris and junk. In winter, you can use it for ploughing snow.
A brand new truck is not always the way to go. It must, however, look capable of doing the job. The truck must be reliable. It has to be able to haul the equipment you require around from job-to-job. Nothing will work against you more than failure to show up or complete a job because of unreliable transportation.
The truck must also fit into your new professional image. If you can afford a logo or deco on the truck, do so. It will heighten your visibility. It also acts as an inexpensive form of advertising. Make sure everything is spelled correctly. Include the name of your lawn care business, phone number, web site and/or e-mail.
As you expand, you may want another vehicle. It is not a good decision, unless you can make an extremely good deal, to purchase immediately a larger truck or van. Instead, you can rent one temporarily to see if your customer base is actually growing or if it is simply a glitch. You can also make the more practical decision to buy a trailer. Remember, for every vehicle you purchase, you will have to increase business liability insurance. A commercial vehicle license is also required.
Other capital expenses involve the actual lawn maintenance equipment. If you have a lawnmower, you must consider such things as power source. This relates to fuel efficiency and your clientele. If you have an energy efficient machine, it will reduce your costs. If you use a cordless, electric mower, it will help you maintain good relations with your customers in a number of ways. The quieter lawn mower will not upset neighbors or disrupt sleeping children or adults. An energy efficient lawnmower may also help you gain environmentally conscious clients. A push mower is also a possibility. The problem with this type of machine, however, is it is impractical for larger lots.
It is not advisable to purchase a large rider mower immediately. If you already have one, use it when applicable. If you do not have one, do not purchase one unless it proves to be necessary. If you are doing the lawns of estates or large commercial properties, such a machine is requisite. If you are mowing the average lawn, it is not. Save its purchase until you require it as you grow.
If you decide to increase the customer base, you will need to hire people to carry out the work. Keep this in mind when you purchase new equipment. Not only will you need to understand how to operate the equipment safely, you will need to teach them how to use it wisely and carefully. Be aware, as well, your liability may also increase with the purchase of new equipment.
You will require different types of equipment for your business. Some will make it easier for you to keep up with the customers? needs. You can find further information in various literature on the subject. Periodicals and internet sources can provide you with further information on make, style, performance and suitability for your requirements.
One thing you should not neglect is maintenance. You need to treat your tools with care. Do not neglect them or they will not serve the purpose for which you intend them. Take good care of your equipment and your business will benefit from it. It also means that you will be able to resell or trade in to your own benefit.
There is one further point for you to consider before ending the basics on equipment. Always research thoroughly before you make a decision to purchase any piece of equipment. Talk to others in the business. Read the trades. Look at the specs and analysis the pros and cons of the gear. You also need to consider several factors. These include your financial situation, your current needs, close future requirements and the necessities of your clients, present and future. Do not buy frivolously. Make sure you are focusing not on the hottest new lawn toy, but are looking at the realities and near future business needs.
Supplies You Will Need to Start a Lawn Care Business
Besides equipment, you will have to purchase a variety of supplies. These include office materials, a computer ? if you do not already have one, stationary and a separate telephone line or cell phone.
? To facilitate such things as billing and accounting, make sure you have the right programs for your computer. There are several good programs out there capable of handling your accounting. Computers also make your letter writing and book keeping easier and more professional. In these early stages, a quality computer with the right programs will save you time and money. Make sure your computer is capable of expanding as you grow. If you need to upgrade your current computer to handle the extra tasks, do so. Save hiring an accountant for the future.
? You will require business cards and other promotional material. You can have these designed and printed by a professional. You can also run the material off on your computer. It depends upon your skills, your computer and your printer. In many instances, is just as inexpensive and convenient to present a simple design to a printer and have them run it off.
? A separate telephone is essential. You can choose either a landline or a more flexible cell phone. This will prevent your children, roommates or significant other forgetting or losing messages. It is also far more professional for you and not your 3-year-old child to answer the phone. Always keep records of these calls for personal and business reasons for a year. It will help you show the amount of interest annually. It will also help jog a finite memory.
? Other business supplies such as paper, envelopes and similar material require less thought. If you do send material out, make sure it looks professional. Also, ensure it is not on cheap paper or in cheap-looking envelopes. Store these and all other equipment in a separate room or space. If you are working out of your home ? which in the early stages most small lawn care business do, make sure this space or room is not utilized for anything else. You need to keep all records and material pertaining to the business separate from your mundane life.
In your vehicle, you can carry your cell phone. If it is programmable, you may be able to keep all records on the specific job on this. A day planner ? paper or computerized is also a possibility. If you have something comparable to a Blackberry already, it will come in handy for storing and recording required material. If you do not currently own one, do not purchase it. Wait until it becomes a necessary investment. Until then, you can manage the old-fashioned way ? clipboard and papers.
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Source: http://www.e-self-help.com/what-equipment-and-supplies-you-will-need-to-start-a-lawn-care-business/
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