best lawn mower under $500 image
poka5940
OK, so I have an undisclosed job at a local business. I've had it for several days, and I hate it.
Everyone swears. Period. Like, the F bomb is dropped on average 500 times total. I am not even kidding, it is every other word that I hear, and it is seeping into my own life. It's caused me to become more lax with swearing, and I generally have a bad attitude more. There's also sexual harassment against young females, and berating from the managers. This has all negatively impacted my spiritual growth, mental growth, and general self confidence (I suffer with major depression and Asperger's, so any insult is taken seriously, even if it was supposedly not meant).
I mowed lawns before I got this job, but I only did a few. Upon reflection, I realize that I liked doing that, and it pays REALLY WELL compared to my current job if you look at hourly work.
My question is, what should I charge? I mow lawns, edge them, and blow off the clippings from their driveway and sidewalk (many communities actually require this). I also would be willing to spread ant poison, put new mulch on flowerbeds, and learn to effectively kill weeds.
I don't believe in charging by the hour, because it can frighten the customer. They may become worried that I am a slacker and will bump up the cost. So before I was charging about $35 for mowing lawns as well as edging and cleaning up. I would like to amp this up a little bit, and care for lawns instead of my current job. What would a good flat rate be for all of these items individually?
Answer
The guy who does the next door neighbor's charges $25. This city's population is around 450,000 and the market has a ton of competition. So you gotta ask around and know what the market will tolerate.
This guy tows a little trailer that carries his riding mower. Mows the front and back yard (in this case about 5000 sq ft). He trims around and edges the sidewalk and blows the sidewalk clean.
He doesn't bag the clippings but blows them and all the weed seeds onto my lawn -- then comes to my door asking if I want to pay him to spray for the weed problem in my yard. *facepalm*
That's really sucky about your crummy job. You could complain about the harassment, but sometimes the law is slow and goes nowhere anyway. Makes you wonder why the laws are on the books if they won't be enforced except under the most extreme conditions.
I say go for it, mow in the summer, shovel snow in the winter.
The guy who does the next door neighbor's charges $25. This city's population is around 450,000 and the market has a ton of competition. So you gotta ask around and know what the market will tolerate.
This guy tows a little trailer that carries his riding mower. Mows the front and back yard (in this case about 5000 sq ft). He trims around and edges the sidewalk and blows the sidewalk clean.
He doesn't bag the clippings but blows them and all the weed seeds onto my lawn -- then comes to my door asking if I want to pay him to spray for the weed problem in my yard. *facepalm*
That's really sucky about your crummy job. You could complain about the harassment, but sometimes the law is slow and goes nowhere anyway. Makes you wonder why the laws are on the books if they won't be enforced except under the most extreme conditions.
I say go for it, mow in the summer, shovel snow in the winter.
What is a good starter mower for a small lawn buisness?
TheDeco
I am starting a local lawn mowing business 20-30 yards and am wondering what kind/type of mower will i need to get.
I am starting a local lawn mowing business 20-30 yards and am wondering what kind/type of mower will i need to get. I am 16 and am looking to by a truck too. For the lawn mower price range up to $1200. For the truck up to $8000. Also if i were to charge per sq. ft. what is a good unit price?
Answer
If you are planning on starting a lawn business, I assume you plan on making this a long term venture? If this is so, purchasing "cheap" equipment is a No No! If your gonna commit time and effort into doing a good job for your clients, you need to have at least a mid-priced, commercial grade mower, one that will last more than the 2 months you will get by purchasing a cheaper one. 20 - 30 yards a week is alot of wear and tear on the engine, power drive, cables, and pull string as well as the blade shaft. One week of this wear and tear mowing is as much as the normal homeowner would put on a mower in a "years" time. To keep from having to fix this cheaper mower when it breaks down you need a good one. If the mower isn't cutting, you aren't making any money, and not to mention having to deal with a few irate clients complaining that their lawns are looking scraggly and unmowed because you couldn't mow it that week. You need to at least spend $375.00 - $500.00 smackers on a semi-commercial mower. There are many brands that carry heavier built mowers and these include, Honda, Toro, and Snapper. These 3 are my only choices. Check out each brand and make sure you get one with at least 3.5 horsepower with 4.0 - 5.0 being even better yet. Make sure that you get one with a "rear" wheel power drive. The front wheel drives really suck and are hard to keep straight when putting "stripes" and "designs" on the turf. Mowing the tree wells (circle around base of trees) is more difficult as well. Always bag the clippings when mowing. The customer is paying for a clean, manicured yard and that is just what you should provide. Get a quality lawn edger as well. A sharp edge on the walkways and driveway gives that added clean cut appearance after you have left the property. And make sure to blow or sweep off the concrete walks, driveway, and patios of the spent clippings that have been thrown out from under the deck before leaving (this needs to be done lastly). And when you get the mower be sure that it is a 4 cycle engine (straight gas, no mix) it makes for faster and easier work not having to mix oil and gas all the time. Hope this has been helpful and good luck on your new venture. You will get a great sense of accomplishment from this type of work, not to mention a whole bunch of knowledge about turf, trees & shrubs, diseases, and insects. The best part is the $money$ that can be made if you get good at it...
...Added Info: You don't want to charge by the sq.ft. for your services. It's better to charge by each individual property. Naturally, the bigger the square footage of turf, the more you will charge (time is money). The local economy and the type of neighborhoods you will be working in will have alot to do with your price range. Naturally, higher class homes will bring in more cashflow. A standard price would be $100.00 a month for edging, mowing, and blowing off of the property. Tell the customer that you will spend 1 hr a week doing the work, 4 times a month, which comes out to to 4 hrs total work time. Which means that you are working at a $25.00 an hour rate, which is pretty good money for a 16 yr old. This of course, is for an average size yard with around 2,000 sq. ft. of turf. If its less or more you can adjust the price accordingly (up or down).
...$Billy Ray$
If you are planning on starting a lawn business, I assume you plan on making this a long term venture? If this is so, purchasing "cheap" equipment is a No No! If your gonna commit time and effort into doing a good job for your clients, you need to have at least a mid-priced, commercial grade mower, one that will last more than the 2 months you will get by purchasing a cheaper one. 20 - 30 yards a week is alot of wear and tear on the engine, power drive, cables, and pull string as well as the blade shaft. One week of this wear and tear mowing is as much as the normal homeowner would put on a mower in a "years" time. To keep from having to fix this cheaper mower when it breaks down you need a good one. If the mower isn't cutting, you aren't making any money, and not to mention having to deal with a few irate clients complaining that their lawns are looking scraggly and unmowed because you couldn't mow it that week. You need to at least spend $375.00 - $500.00 smackers on a semi-commercial mower. There are many brands that carry heavier built mowers and these include, Honda, Toro, and Snapper. These 3 are my only choices. Check out each brand and make sure you get one with at least 3.5 horsepower with 4.0 - 5.0 being even better yet. Make sure that you get one with a "rear" wheel power drive. The front wheel drives really suck and are hard to keep straight when putting "stripes" and "designs" on the turf. Mowing the tree wells (circle around base of trees) is more difficult as well. Always bag the clippings when mowing. The customer is paying for a clean, manicured yard and that is just what you should provide. Get a quality lawn edger as well. A sharp edge on the walkways and driveway gives that added clean cut appearance after you have left the property. And make sure to blow or sweep off the concrete walks, driveway, and patios of the spent clippings that have been thrown out from under the deck before leaving (this needs to be done lastly). And when you get the mower be sure that it is a 4 cycle engine (straight gas, no mix) it makes for faster and easier work not having to mix oil and gas all the time. Hope this has been helpful and good luck on your new venture. You will get a great sense of accomplishment from this type of work, not to mention a whole bunch of knowledge about turf, trees & shrubs, diseases, and insects. The best part is the $money$ that can be made if you get good at it...
...Added Info: You don't want to charge by the sq.ft. for your services. It's better to charge by each individual property. Naturally, the bigger the square footage of turf, the more you will charge (time is money). The local economy and the type of neighborhoods you will be working in will have alot to do with your price range. Naturally, higher class homes will bring in more cashflow. A standard price would be $100.00 a month for edging, mowing, and blowing off of the property. Tell the customer that you will spend 1 hr a week doing the work, 4 times a month, which comes out to to 4 hrs total work time. Which means that you are working at a $25.00 an hour rate, which is pretty good money for a 16 yr old. This of course, is for an average size yard with around 2,000 sq. ft. of turf. If its less or more you can adjust the price accordingly (up or down).
...$Billy Ray$
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