Starting My Lawn Care Business: The First Year was HARD! [numbers and details]

[@MikeAndes]

*_Did you start your lawn care business part time?_*

[@cowboycody27gaming93]

Nope, I do full time as I am still in school and just need money to put food on the table and invest a little.

[@MikeAndes]

That’s great!

[@augustosandoval3171]

I’m currently doing exactly that part time for my business. Not easy but I’m not stop anytime soon! Looking to go full before summer ends.

[@jasonhoman3973]

I am only 17 so I can’t do anything crazy because of the rule in pa having to be 18 to do all of the legal documents etc. though I do mow about 30 lawns

[@cowboycody27gaming93]

@@jasonhoman3973 Nice work man!

[@blakebryck]

Sometimes it feels really tough not having anyone to discuss business details with. Having people like you on youtube to watch while i procrastinate is a sanity saver.

[@loganmraz3511]

Started mine part time while working for another lawn care company. My boss actually helped me start mine and until this day we do work for each other and it’s worked out great for us.

[@MikeAndes]

That is awesome!

[@cleancutslawncare]

Wow. That must have been a huge stress relief, I cut down to 3 days a week at my job and run my business the rest of the week. My job hates it, but it is what it is.

[@robertsmalls2599]

I took one day off too and its a problem i know it

[@jacobshandymantreeservicel2522]

@@cleancutslawncare hahaha! So what?! They want your quality work and time and they’re not willing to pay more? So you have to do what’s in your own best interest! They don’t necessarily care about your wife/life/goals… that reminds me of what I need to do again. Have the flexibility to work with someone who is cool with me doing my own thing as well. And hopefully both of us profiting from it and having great lives! ❤️💯🙏

[@AlbertoGonzalez-yu3pe]

Your testimony is real prove that hard work pays off I hope someone gets inspired to accomplish something in there life. God bless you

[@maleficentz0623]

I am a 50 yo physician, in the middle of an MBA, who is sitting here getting motivational advice from a “lawn care guy” (who gave up a chance of medical school after evaluating the pros/cons)….and I’m here for it. Seriously people, listen to this guy. He’s SPOT ON.

[@MikeAndes]

That’s awesome! Best of luck with your MBA and career change!

[@maleficentz0623]

Thanks, it’s not so much a career change as, like you, branching out and making new opportunities. For such a young man (I mean that with all respect) you are well above the curve…and your take on your future in medicine was spot on. ;)

[@grassman8684]

I started my biz part-time and actually by accident. I've been doing lawn care since 1986. I also work a 40 hr. job at an auto plant. I'm 61 years old and still run solo

[@tankslawnmaintenance5230]

Just saw this video a year after it was posted. I started my business this year as a part time business. It is very stressful juggling a full-time job, part-time job, and family life. I'm in Augusta GA and I see your trucks all the time. Thanks for the encouragement sir.

[@meshachfoster749]

Honestly I needed to hear this. I just started a maintenance company on Trinidad in the Caribbean. I'm on week 2 and I've only have one customer. I'm advertising but I've got no more yet and I feel frustrated. I'm not about to give up or anything but it feels good to be reminded that all great successes start somewhere. Thank you truly.

[@xbebe]

How’s it going now?

[@meshachfoster749]

@@xbebe Honestly, pretty nice. I have had several different customers and a lot of repeating business. I made money to upgrade my equipment and even started printing t-shirts on the side. I have far to go still but progress feels good.

[@cBetweenTheLines]

the best piece of advice is that there is absolutely enough grass for all of us, we need to clean up the way local lawn care companies view competition. we should see all of us as a team, we make our living doing the same thing!

[@brandosbackyard]

Great video, and awesome tips. I am coming into my second year of lawn care on the Gold Coast of Australia and am starting to pick up a lot more work, will definitely need to hire an employee at some point in the near future. Nice to see so many people in the comments having a solid crack and sharing different experiences and thoughts. You have really created a community here where people in the lawn care industry feel they belong. Keep it up Mike, and everyone else!

[@randomrojas589]

I had a great first year but it was a learning process

[@MikeAndes]

Great job!

[@isaacartavia6278]

Started my business back in 2016 as part time while I worked at the bank got married in 2017 had my first daughter born in 2018 and that's when I decided to quit my bank job and go full time on the lawn and landscape business. I'm into the point where I'm being stretched and I'm ready to get a new truck so I can have my two guys take care of lawns while I start to build a landscaping crew. Will be great if we could have a face to face convo through zoom or something.

[@eliasG303]

I started during covid. I got laid off and didn't want to be at home all day. As soon as I closed on my house in May last year I decided to go full time. Still learning as I go but I've got two work trucks and two trailers so far

[@PhilRuybal]

I'm late, but definitely needed to hear this today!

[@nicholasreed514]

Thanks you! This video is great at shifting ones perspective from short to long term thinking

[@expresslawnmowing5969]

Humble beginnings, great to see how your business has expanded so successfully! Keep up the good work!

[@augustosandoval3171]

Thank for this brother!! Really appreciate all your advice! It’s Gold !

[@GrassCutterPinoyTV]

Thank you so much Sir Mike for this video, You are a very hard worker👍👍 thanks for sharing of your lawn care business from start until now,

[@lbslawncare6627]

I’m addicted to mowing lawns as I would always watch commercial companies if they came on my street. Last year I got my first trimmer from Lowe’s and already had a blower so I decided to start my part-time lawn business as a 11 year old kid. This year is my 2nd lawn care season.

[@MikeAndes]

Go get em! Good work!

[@cowboycody27gaming93]

Same but I am on my first year

[@dafyddlewis89]

Good luck!

[@JJ-pv9rf]

Good stuff. Watch all the KZbin landscapers/gardeners like Keith Kalfas.

[@freshlycutlawnservice]

That’s crazy!! Nice job Mike !! You built a empire in lawn care! I can’t think of anyone that’s as big as you lol

[@loganparnell6247]

Thanks for your videos. They’ve been very helpful. Ironically enough I’m located in the Augusta Georgia area where the masters course is located.

[@PCGonline]

my first year i broke even. all that hard work pays off the next year. lets just say i had to eat my shoes for winter year one.

[@MikeAndes]

Been there ✅🌟

[@alfonsobernabe4291]

You should do a video on how you bought the gym and the process to owning and running it

[@MikeAndes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4OuhGVprL54jck

[@alfonsobernabe4291]

@@MikeAndes your super smart man

[@dirtysanchez4145]

Your content is honestly the best I’m starting a company soon and all these videos have been so informational!

[@davidtomato1607]

Can you do a video on how to get and when to get first employee.

[@MikeAndes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3Wme5mir9SDg68

[@davidtomato1607]

@@MikeAndes ty mike

[@pousis101]

Great video Mike, Thank you. 👍

[@denvercrites983]

New guy here, just in the research phase: Is mulching all the clippings just not industry standard? I see comments about having issues with dumping clippings and leaves etc. but why not just use mulching blades and be able to leave it all in the yard? I’ve read that is healthier for the soil too. Thanks!

[@floridalawncareexpertsllc2817]

Thank mike!

[@sechabalebitsa5519]

This video is very helpful to us newer guys in the business. I hope to grow in this industry at some point in time👌

[@JMAN97712]

Dam it’s hard for me right now. I past out flyers and still no one has called

[@thejidiots6420]

Wow dude that’s awesome

[@upscaledyards]

Very inspiring thanks for the awesome content once again

[@familyownedlawncareservices]

You got 16.7k in subs picking up a little speed I remember when it was like I think it was 500-700 subs when I first started watching. Great Hustle, Great content. Be trying to model my business off of yours ever since.

[@MikeAndes]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@BillyGoatLawnService]

Awesome video!

[@geoffl]

could you take the clippings to cattle farms? They eat a lot of grass

[@bladesofglorylawncarellc559]

So far my story is similar. I was part time year one and now I am full time year 2 trying to I figure out what the heck to do with all of my clippings and where to store my truck and trailer. HOA doesn’t allow trailers to be parked in driveway and the dump is 25 minutes away and cost $40 minimum. There literally are no storage units available or that I can back a trailer into. They stack the units parallel with each other and do not leave enough room to back a trailer straight in. It’s super frustrating. I’m still trying to figure out what to do. Year one - $15,000 (working only Friday and Saturday) Year two - on pace for $55,000+ I have a running a list of things I hate about my business and want to change during the off season. Do you still do coaching calls? Thanks mike.

[@dankanchovy1963]

Buy land, buy a car port or shed or small garage to store your stuff in there & dumb clippings in an open area & then burn them

[@mattheauvillarreal5635]

Blades of Glory! I love the Name ! God Bless you

[@rayeckert9425]

If space for gear and grass clippings is a concern consider renting a unit at a nearby storage facility.

[@dannyknapp515]

Good job mike hard work has payed off well for you thanks for sharing all your info keep em coming 👍

[@lawncaremonster1024]

Hey bro! Hope you doing well!

[@ItsMeJonnyD]

i just made the leap full time and not gonna lie it was scary at first but i love a challenge. how did you start getting customers? im currently subcontractor with lawnstarter

[@livinginmontgomeryalabama]

Thanks Mike for these videos. Love the content. An area I struggle with concerning growth and hiring is trusting guys with the equipment that we pay so much for - taking care of it, leaving it out to get stolen, the whole bit. I would love to see a video that addresses this. Thanks again.

[@MikeAndes]

Good idea ✅🌟

[@chadpersing5596]

Did this ever come to fruition?

[@andrewrobinson1664]

Thank you for this information.

[@MikeAndes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeremiahalvarez1500]

You kind of give me graham Stephen vibes

[@cowboycody27gaming93]

I have a lawn business, I see profits but I feel as I under charge. It's my first year, and I don't wanna charge by hours I put on the lawn I wanna charge by how many spare feet I have to do but I have no clue what to charge. Please tell me how to charge right. For a normal residential lawn I do 55 to 45 should I charge more or am I good. I don't do commercial or big lawns yet as I have a push mower and I just want to start going.

[@MikeAndes]

Start with tracking how long the lawns take you to mow every time.... do that for a couple months.... then determine the hourly rate you want to achieve. Multiply that by the time it takes to do the lawn and that is the price it should be at.... you will need to raise prices and tell the clients. We do it quite often. At LandscapeBusinessCourse.com the letter we have used for years is available.

[@cowboycody27gaming93]

​@@MikeAndes I understand that, but I want to not do it off time I want to off of how much I have to mow or would it be more successful to do it off time, like you business?

[@MikeAndes]

Or figure out a good production target based upon square feet.

[@dr8614]

Times easier to measure than square footage. Square footage isn't even the whole picture when it comes to lawns; some are big and wide open, some are small but a hassle to mow and have much more weed whacking. Some lawns are right on your route and you can take a little less for them just because you're already right there. Others have you going out of your way, so you have to price that in.

[@ddarkmanz]

I wanted to start one but in the process of trying to get flyers made I didn’t want to put my personal cell number. Is there a way to get a business number without buying a whole other phone and plan??

[@daniramirez3798]

I'm a pro landscaper for 13 yrs I wanna start my own company but if you're looking for a full time employee let me know

[@MILKERMK]

Hi mike, i have 2 zero turns, a truck or a trailer. both are residential zero turns. the husqvarna is a half and half. should i use them for commercial?

[@MikeAndes]

Nothing wrong using residential to get started... all day use usually requires commercial grade equipment

[@ShaunBurke-r8f]

How much it cost to franchise.and do you do payments.

[@jamesdrake5829]

How do you have the confidence to go full time??? Did you have other money coming in to pay your bills?? I haven't ever heard of someone's reasoning behind their decision to go full time. How do you cut loose and go full time...and still grow the business. What was your plan for income if business dried up??

[@MikeAndes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4usYZuOlLakptU

[@jacobbradstreet1622]

Man it's hard I started my company a month ago I work 14 hours a day at my normal 9 to 5 or should I say 4am to 6:30 pm 4 days a week then work tell 10 on my business.

[@joshuahughes6550]

I’m just now starting I’m from McDonough GA, got a bobcat 61’ all the equipment I pretty much need and my question is how did you get your property’s from the start ? What was a way to get your name out ?

[@MikeAndes]

Hi Josh! Checkout my channel. Lots of marketing ideas from knocking on doors to FB ads

[@alfonsobernabe4291]

That’s where I’m from too

[@seanmckay3392]

need to start small

[@ericstinnett9182]

Great video, thanks so much for the tips. I have a question for you Do you think your business degree helped you structure your business in a lawn care? Thanks

[@blacksmokematters4521]

Lol every 1 trying to start a lawn business now a days

[@youngswagg3420]

I get your video but how did you make $160,000 your 2nd year ? Was it just mowing ? How many yards were you cutting .? You touch on the basics but yet not the very basics

[@MikeAndes]

About half of revenue is from mowing

[@MikeAndes]

$190K second year.

[@MikeAndes]

I had about 90 mowing clients

[@band-itdesigncompany3673]

Mike, I went full time this year and am now running a full solo route. I’ve been slowly buying equipment that I need in order to have another solo set up ready to go for next spring. A fear I am having when thinking of hiring an employee and building a route for them is what if all of a sudden they quit or leave me hanging and ive got customers relying on me to get their lawns done and I wouldn’t have a way of servicing them since my time would be full running my route as well? I hope that makes sense? If so I’d love your thoughts. Thank you!

[@MikeAndes]

1-3 employees is the HARDEST because of that vulnerability. Thats why I encourage to speed through that time.... and if you need to save some $$ so you can accelerate through that period, that is fine.

[@MHrfffdssswqqwuuu]

How were you getting an mba at 18-20

[@MikeAndes]

Skipped grades and did years together, then Started college at 13

[@MHrfffdssswqqwuuu]

@@MikeAndes are you 20 years old?

[@lalobahena5612]

Wuz up mike how much meney did you start with..iam trying to start my landscape business..i been working for companys running crews for years iam young an want to run my own..

[@MikeAndes]

I sold my personal car (Mitsubishi Lancer) for $6K and that's what I used to get started... I had done lawn care since I was 11 years old though to pay for college

[@mattheauvillarreal5635]

Mike ! Can you be my Job coach?

[@Indianadoordasher]

Did you have business insurance when you fist got started? Cuz I can't seem to get more business

[@mjh2044]

Got $6,000 in PPP funds from the SBA couple weeks ago. Bought a 50” 2007 troy bilt mustang zero turn for $800. Getting it out of the shop tomorrow after maybe a $300 repair. Started November 2020 with a push mower in the trunk of my 05 equinox. Really hype to see how much faster I can get these $50 yards done (hoping 30 mins tops) Biggest challenge right now is getting systems in place so the business can run without me being there. Mostly cuz I cant stand talking to customers lol. We have soo many customers calling all the time but backed up until ZT gets out of the shop and contractors show up to work when I schedule them or I do it myself. I’ll have to hire more lawn tech contractors/office/sales staff for sure so they can run the business eithout me being always there. I had some ideas that might work. Maybe you could offer some advice?

[@MikeAndes]

Try to avoid hiring a full time office person until you have at least 3-4 employees. Maybe part time office help? It dramatically increases overhead, especially if you have to rent an office too

[@mjh2044]

With putting systems in place I mean like trying to figure out how we’d collect cash payments without employees stealing from the company if I am not present. How do you address this?

[@paulnicoli9455]

You were doing an MBA at 18?

[@paulnicoli9455]

Can you explain how? That’s crazy

[@RayWilliamJohansen]

Damn, this video showed me how much I suck.

[@xrptrumpcard3119]

Keep your head down and dig deep

[@nicholasnonya9199]

Mike let me work for you please I'm tired of the company I'm with. I live in Rhode Island let me know ASAP I'm willing to relocate.

[@MikeAndes]

Just go to AugustaLawnCareServices.com/careers OR the individual locations career page and you can apply.

[@caseyporter499]

Mike “and all of the rest of it” Andes

[@MikeAndes]

True 😂😂

[@jonhutchinson2902]

You said 8 hours a day 5 days a week, technically that's 40 hours a week and would be considered fulltime to some, not partime.

[@zacharykinglovesyou2212]

Good stuff bro! Is Augusta Lawn Care a LLC or what entity do you have that under? I switch to LLC because I added snow plowing .

[@MikeAndes]

Started as LLC and switched to S Corp

[@liamcourtney3084]

👍

[@traceydefoe5233]

I was enjoying it until you said you were getting your mba when you were 18..

[@jacobshandymantreeservicel2522]

If you’re making $1,000 a day and maybe $500 a profit why not stay there maintain that? You said “and then” you have to continue growing and buying more trucks trailers and equipment… that’s like a 150k a year. But then I guess you’re capped at that if you don’t grow huh? I guess you can be happy with it and live a good life there or make your entire life about it and keep expanding right? Just trying to see what’s the truth and pros and cons of the always growing mindset. It’s never enough right?

[@MikeAndes]

Depends on the goal of the owner. If someone wants to keep working in the field, then yes $150k-$200k revenue is a great place to stop growing