lawnmowers

[Bush0102]

Im bored, so...

whats everyone running this year? these are toros, one is a 2002 (Z253), the other is an 04 (Z557). the 2002 is 23 HP 62" and the 2004 is 27HP 60". Right now the dealership is working on getting a price on a Z590 (60", 27HP Diesel) for me. I also have a 52" Exmark metro HP walkbehind in the garage. I run Shindaiwa T-230 and T-260 trimmers, Shindaiwa EB-630 blowers, and Stihl chainsaws and hedge trimmers. Whats everyone else got?


by the way, that's my friend's ram. the picture was from the day we bought the new trailer (upgraded from a 12 footer) and we hadn't put on the racks yet.

[honduh440]

daym!

dixon for me

[YFZ450Ridr]

you must have alot of land to mow!! i have an old old snapper, but it has been running strong for many years.

[Bush0102]

Originally posted by 250EXridr
you must have alot of land to mow!!

about 70 accounts per week- hopefully should be about 100 by spring...this year we'll probably have 2 three man crews out mowing and a 3 man crew out landscaping every day. That is if i meet my goals and the marketing plan goes right.

[theTman]

i got a push mower:cool:

[JUSTINcredible]

Originally posted by theTman
i got a push mower:cool:

self-propelled!:macho :blah:

[jltld]

I use Ferris.

[Jonesy]

i got a good ole Cub Cadet, and a push mower.

[mike02ex]

john deer, hustler, and a wheel horse

[brian-250]

john deere rider and a farmall cub.:D

I have a riding MTD with stock YFZ graphics.:chinese:

[QuadRacer041]

heres mine

[250rpilot]

Lou, you ever need any digging done, gimme a call....

my new toy for this year- just got a one ton dump too, but i dont have any pics yet.

[QuadRacer041]

Originally posted by 250rpilot
Lou, you ever need any digging done, gimme a call....

my new toy for this year- just got a one ton dump too, but i dont have any pics yet.


sweat

[Bush0102]

i like the walker. they had one at a company i used to work for, it gave the best cut i've ever seen.


is that a bobcat walkbehind? a friend of mine had a bobcat ZTR once. all in one week he destroyed two spindles, burned out a hydro motor, and blew the motor.


edit: i just saw the redmax stuff... absolutely the best products around, too bad i dont have a dealership that sells them around here. Is that the 7000 series blower that has air conditioning for your back?

[RideRed250ex]

250rpiolet, That is the perfect jump builder! :eek2:

[mrusk]

I have a 03 exmark 60in liquid cooled lazer. I also have a 18 ft enclosed trailer that should be in any day and will be heading right down to the auto grafics place!

Matt

[cknox88]

Originally posted by QuadRacer041
heres mine


Yea i have the same question is that a bob-cat on the right?

i think it is looks just like mine.
Those little pushmowers kick butt for a push mower.
mines got a 4horse briggs with wheel drive. also i have a old Allis-Chalmers 716 Hydro. its a pretty good ole tractor. we got a international tiller on their that we put a 5hp tecuseh(sp) (junk engines)

[Bush0102]

Originally posted by cknox88
Yea i have the same question is that a bob-cat on the right?

i think it is looks just like mine.
Those little pushmowers kick butt for a push mower.
mines got a 4horse briggs with wheel drive. also i have a old Allis-Chalmers 716 Hydro. its a pretty good ole tractor. we got a international tiller on their that we put a 5hp tecuseh(sp) (junk engines)


i was talking about the green walkbehind

[QuadRacer041]

lol that bobcat is like 12 years old, its a 36" belt drive walk behind.we hardly use it. i have a few jobs that i need to use it to sneak inside fences.cuts decent
i love my walker like you said it has the best cut ive ever seen, hands down.thats a 48" ferris hydro walk behind, that machines an animal too.
i love my redmax stuff too, i replaces the blower on the right and have 2 7000's, they dont have air for your back as far as i know.

My brother has his own bussines and he has alot of yards. We use onme kubota zd21 zero turn and a lazer zero turn. he just got a golf course this year so well be pretty busy:ermm:

[oldschool]

do you guys make a decent amount of money in the lawn business? i was thinking of starting one myself, just afraid to get so involved that i would nee dto quit my job, then not have any income during the winter....etc. any tips or experience would be appreciated...i just want to get a few accounts for the first season, then step it up, but we`ll see?

[Bush0102]

Originally posted by oldschool
do you guys make a decent amount of money in the lawn business? i was thinking of starting one myself, just afraid to get so involved that i would nee dto quit my job, then not have any income during the winter....etc. any tips or experience would be appreciated...i just want to get a few accounts for the first season, then step it up, but we`ll see?

it depends on your market. my hometown is a wealthy upper class suburb, and i'd say 30-40% dont cut their own grass. Unfortunately, since the market is so good here, competition is firece. You need to offer something unique to your customers so some mexican who doesnt understand principles of business doesnt come in and swipe your accounts for a cheap price that won't make him enough money to pay off his debt.

I'm an exception- i started this business when i was 14 and slowly grew it, so i didnt aquire any debt. Making a leap into the business is tough because you have to incur a lot of debt to get started- commercial equipment isn't cheap. This can be really stressful, especially if you don't have any experience.

There are three types of people in the industry.

First is the people who start with a plan, take a risk, but gain customers because they can offer something special and stick to their goals. Personally, my clients like to "help me out" because they see me as just a kid- but they don't see that i sold over $100K (of course not all of that went into my bank account) in work last year, have uniformed employess, labeled trucks, and have employees that are 20 years older than me. Every winter i set some goals and push myself to acheive them. This year my goals are to have 110 weekly mowing accounts, sell 800 bucks in landscape maintenance a week, and sell 5000 dollars worth of spring fertilizer. I know i'll meet these goals because i have knowledge of the industry and really good sales skills, so i will push myself extra hard to attain them.

Second are the idiots who fail. They finance an $8000 ZTR, and start the year with 8 yards. They wear cutoff shorts and no shirt, have no knowledge of turfgrass or plant material, dont offer anything but mowing, and view earning 30 bucks per yard as earning $30 per hour- they dont understand the concept of profit. These people usually last a year or two before they go broke or just quit altogether.

Last is the lowballers. They'll cut your grass for 20 bucks with their 15 year old craftsman mower. They dont have any interest in making the yard look nice, and they don't carry insurance. They usually go door-to-door selling work. I've lost a few accounts to these guys, but they allways come calling back when the lowballer bails on them.


I'd say start out with a cheap used commercial mower and do 10-15 yards on the weekends, and keep your regular job. Test the waters, but don't be afraid to go the extra mile to create a professional image.

hope this helped.

[2002400ex]

We have a Craftsman and a White.

[oldschool]

thanks Bush, that was a good insight......i looked at a 1999 ferris HydroCut walk behind, 52" deck, guy wanted $900 firm, sounds like a good deal, i might pick it up this weekend? appreciate the insight!!

[300ex13]

i have a Murray rider and its kind of a paintball base now!!!!! looks weird im my woods. i also have 2 push mowers

[jltld]

Hey oldschool where do you live in St.Louis. By the way if you don't end up getting that Ferris let me know. I need a back up 52" Ferris. That's a good price. Just watch it if it's a 14hp they're dogs as far as power on a 52.