Start Your Own Lawn Care Business : Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success

by ENTREPRENEUR PRESS

• ISBN13: 9781891984754
• ISBN10: 1891984756
• Edition: 31st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Entrepreneur Press

Summary

Lawn Care Services Generate Plenty of "Green." Here's How You Can Reap the Rewards.The Lawn care business of today is a far cry from the days of the kid down the block with a push mower. In fact, the lawn care market is a $17 billion industry. With all the homes, business parks, apartment complexes, shopping malls and hospitals that need landscaping. It's easy to see why this is one business where you can really rake in the green. Your business can be as simple as mowing and edging lawns, raking leaves, and clipping hedges to applying chemical and fertilizers. Our book will tell you everything you need to know to get started in the lawn care business. Topics covered include: How to target your market What equipment you'll need How to hire and manage employees Record-keeping and accounting Where to find working capital How to estimate jobs And moreIf you like working outdoors, you owe it to yourself to buy this step-by-step guide and start building your own successful lawn service business.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
The Green, Green Grass of Home	1	(6)
The Green Scene	2	(2)
Reality Check	4	(1)
Industry Snapshot	4	(3)
Turf Talk	7	(10)
Business Basics	8	(2)
Grass Attack	9	(1)
Spreading the Wealth	9	(1)
``Guesstimating'' Your Worth	10	(3)
Establishing Prices	11	(2)
Start Your Engine	13	(4)
Mowing Down the Competition	17	(12)
Defining Your Audience	18	(1)
Conducting Market Research	19	(7)
Primary Research	19	(3)
Surveying the Market	22	(1)
Cash as Bait	22	(1)
Calling All Lawn Owners	23	(1)
A Job for the Pros	24	(1)
Secondary Research	25	(1)
Economic Environment	26	(3)
Your Budding Business	29	(12)
Naming Your New Baby	30	(2)
Registering Your Corporate Name	32	(1)
Your Corporate Structure	32	(2)
Sole Proprietorship	32	(1)
General Partnership	33	(1)
Limited Liability Company	33	(1)
Corporation	33	(1)
The Home Zone	34	(1)
Other Licenses and Permits	35	(1)
The Business Plan: Your Navigational Chart	35	(6)
Cutting-Edge Help	41	(10)
Your Legal Eagle	42	(3)
Money Managers	45	(1)
Covering Your Assets	46	(5)
Types of Insurance	47	(4)
Tools of the Trade	51	(20)
Lawn Maintenance Equipment	52	(6)
Truck	53	(1)
Utility Trailer	54	(1)
Vehicle Alarm System	54	(1)
Storage Facility	55	(1)
Uniforms and Hats	55	(1)
Lawn Mowers	55	(1)
Safety Equipment	56	(1)
Spreaders and Sprayers	57	(1)
The Final Four	57	(1)
Office Equipment	58	(3)
Furniture	58	(1)
Personal Computers	59	(1)
Software	60	(1)
Telephones and Answering Machines	60	(1)
Copy Machines	61	(1)
Office Supplies	61	(1)
Business Services	62	(9)
Turf Tenders	71	(8)
Diving Into the Labor Pool	72	(1)
The Chase Begins	73	(1)
Giving 'em the Third Degree	74	(1)
It's Not My Problem	75	(4)
Planting the Seeds of Success	79	(8)
Industry Associations	80	(2)
Associated Landscape Contractors of America	80	(1)
Association of Professional Landscape Designers	81	(1)
Landscape Maintenance Association Inc	82	(1)
Professional Lawn Care Association of America	82	(1)
Industry Publications	82	(2)
Trade Publications	83	(1)
Consumer Publications	84	(1)
University Courses	84	(2)
Online Resources	86	(1)
Spreading the Word	87	(14)
Timing Is Everything	88	(1)
Your Plan of Attack	88	(2)
SWOT Analysis	88	(2)
Read All About It	90	(11)
Yellow Page Ads	91	(1)
Business Cards	92	(3)
Fliers	95	(1)
Direct Mail	96	(1)
Word-of-Mouth	97	(1)
Newspaper Ads	97	(4)
Increasing Power with the Internet	101	(10)
A Phenomenal Resource	103	(8)
Your Cyber Salesperson	105	(1)
Back to Basics	105	(1)
Building a Better Web Site	106	(1)
Romancing the Home(page)	106	(1)
Selecting a Domain Name	107	(1)
The Host with the Most	107	(4)
Blowing Your Own Horn	111	(8)
Newsletters	112	(2)
Writing and Producing a Newsletter	112	(2)
Feature Articles	114	(1)
Submitting Your Manuscript	115	(1)
Home and Garden Show Promotions	115	(2)
Networking	117	(2)
The Green Stuff	119	(14)
Income and Operating Expenses	120	(3)
Phone/Utilities	120	(1)
Postage	121	(1)
Wages	121	(1)
Advertising	121	(1)
Insurance	121	(1)
Transportation/Maintenance	122	(1)
Office Supplies	122	(1)
Online Service Fees	122	(1)
Other Miscellaneous Expenses	122	(1)
Receivables	122	(1)
Paying the Piper	123	(1)
High-Tech Bookkeeping Solutions	123	(1)
Where the Money Is	124	(9)
Uncle Sam to the Rescue	126	(1)
Do-It-Yourself Financing	126	(7)
Your Green Piece on Earth	133	(14)
Business by the Numbers	134	(1)
Why Businesses Fail	134	(1)
Weathering the Storm	135	(1)
All in a Day's Work	136	(2)
Unexpected Company	136	(1)
Making the Grade	136	(1)
House Call	137	(1)
Your Formula for Success	138	(1)
Appendix
Lawn Care Resources	139	(8)
Glossary	147	(2)
Index	149