Here is another 10 mistakes made by Contractors Starting their own Lawn Mowing and Gardening Business:

1. Collecting and Bagging Grass Clippings:  If you can, mulch the lawn clippings back into the lawn. If not, make sure the customer agrees to you disposing of the clippings in their green waste bin or compost heap.

2. Not getting Paid for any extras and add-ons: Don’t be the hero and do extras for customers without them paying. Be sure to have an agreement in place (verbal or written) that says charges will apply for any additional work completed.

3. Not having Clear Goals for the different Seaons: In the Australian climate we have distinctly different seasons. The warmer season is around 6 months long, and a sort of slow period in the winter. Once you recognise the seasonal patterns, you can plan your work and set goals for the year.

4. Inadequate Experience in the business: This is easily rectified by starting off small, and starting in the easier part of the business. By Small, I mean just do as much as you have to without compromising on Quality & Workmanship. By Starting in the Easier Part of the Business, I mean lawn mowing. As you go along, you will accumulate experience with the more challenging Gardening side of things.

5. Quitting job security too soon: There is a lot to be said for planning, planning and planning. Then quit the old job!

6. Launching yourself into the business without a business plan: This is taken care of by subscribing to The “Zero To A Hundred K in 30 Days” Blueprint. This Blueprint is effectively a Business Plan that shows You how to build a $100,000 a year Lawn & Garden Business in 30 Days, and for less than $300. The Blueprint will “hit the shelves” so to speak in the next month or so.

7. Inadequate Cash Flow, or in other words ”running out of money”:

8. Partnerships: Why bother with partnerships, unless the partnershiop is with your wife! Just work on your own with help from subbies and employees.

9. Lack of selling and marketing know-how: Goes without saying!

10. Expanding too rapidl: This alos ties in with Cash Flow issues, subbies etc.

The list of the Very Basic Gear required to start work include:

• Motor Vehicle Utility (or as the Americans say, a Pick Up)
• Tow Behind Trailer (if you have a Motor Vehicle Sedan)
• Lawn Mower, catcher & mulching attachment
• Brush Cutter (whipper snipper) and 3mm trimmer cord
• Vacuum Blower
• Two (2) Petrol (Gas) Cans – 5 litre volume (2 & 4 Stroke Fuels)
• Wool Bags or similar to collect of grass clippings
• Spray Bottle / Roundup non-selective herbicide
• Rake, Shovel , Spade, Garden shears, Plastic garbage bin
• Security chain
• Timber Ramps
• First Aid Kit
• Information Folder containing OHS documents, MSDS, References
• Optional – Hedge Trimmer

The above list is pretty much all you need to start mowing lawns and gardening.

Most of what is on the above list is what you would need to mow your own lawn at home. The only thing on the above list that would not be necessary is the Motor Vehicle Utility.

Used (that is, second-hand) Motor Vehicle Utilities can be purchased and sold with fairly stable prices being the norm. So even with a relatively large outlay for something like the Ute (Utility) you can be fairly sure you won’t be out of pocket if your business goes belly up.

So the up-shot of all this is that You can Start a Great LawnMowing & Gardening  Business without any real risks.

If things were to go the way you didn’t plan, then you can sell all the above equipment and be reimbursed nearly 100% of what you paid.

Sounds like a great Business to be in! – especially if someone were to tell you How You Can Grow a Successful Lawnmowing & Gardening Business for a Low-To-No Risk investment.

Now, that someone is Us!

We will contribute to this Blog /Website every week with Excellent Ideas that will help You Start, Grow and Prosper in Your Own LawnMowing, Gardening and Landscaping Business.