What I Hated About My Lawn Business

www.turfprosacademy.com is a mirror image of the business model Jonathan used to build Florida Turf Pros. If you're looking to start your own lawn care business, or if you feel like your lawn care business should be more profitable than what it is, this is the course for you.
My 3 Favorite Lawn Care Tools:
For Pruning: Dewalt Hand Saw amzn.to/3hCWYPJ
Best Multi Tool: Leatherman Skeletool amzn.to/34n8YlV
Best Boots: Merrell Foresbtound amzn.to/3sXaCoo
My Story:
In 2016 I had been in law enforcement for almost 7 years.
I was not in control of my schedule, I was hardly making any money, and I was away from my family working nights and holidays. I was capable of more,, and I was silently suffering. I knew I was selling myself and my family short.
I started Florida Turf Pros as a side hustle in 2016 before going full time in 2017.
My lawn business changed my life. I control my own schedule, my own income, and I am proud of what I have built.
On this channel you will learn the steps I have taken (and am still taking) to have a lawn care business that serves ME and my family’s needs.
We are a small owner operated company (2 full time mowing trucks/crews, and now a sod installation division).
If you are interested in starting a lawn care business this channel will provide the direction.
This really is a great industry to be in…
And I hope that by documenting my journey it will help you too.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

www.turfprosacademy.com is live for those who've been asking! We're having a great time in there... or just grab a FREE download here: www.turfprosacademy.com/hiddenmoney

[@trigatupp]

True story, today had this yard now for over two years always pushed mowed back because of gate, gate was open was on 48” stand on and noticed it fits right through gate. Helper was on the way to push mow it.

[@ParrishHomestead]

I’m in Florida also and I HATE push mowing yards. I bought a 36 stander this year and it’s made life easier.

[@davidmaco1]

pure Gold thank you so much for sharing

[@curbappeallawncarellc4263]

thanks man. your vids are always informative. They are usually also emotional and motivating. And i dont mean emotional in the bad sense. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@timothyrichardson512]

You always have the very best info brother. 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@BoneYardLawnService]

You had to be in year 3 like I am 😂…great vid a few guys told me to watch your irrigation vids ✂️💯

[@mohamedagha5289]

thank you so much for this video. you answered my questions. im in Orlando and is to much hard to work under raining.

[@daveeborgllc3975]

Great video, I am in Florida and the things you touched on I have had or have the same things. Thank you

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rhettvaughan1937]

for rainouts i got all my clients on level billing contracts. always get paid for that week even if i don't mow. there are pros to pay as you go but some cons. as well as there are some cons with level billing. however level billing has been less stressful in my experience and the forecast doesn't scare me as much anymore. as long as the lawn does not become a jungle my clients do not care how often i show up. the one's who are petty and get caught up in the number i just let go.

[@clevercloverlawncare5066]

Thank you.🍀

[@FloridaTurfPros]

You bet

[@ravanderveur]

Good stuff.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mikehardaway11]

This is my 1st year as a llc. And my biggest stress is taxes as of now. I have a cpa but it still gets me. Lol. Love your content. Keep it up brother.

[@jordanlabre]

I dont know why I feel terrified to make the moves to make my business my business. I have the ideas to implement and know where I need to raise my prices but o am worried I'll lose alot of my business for some reason. I never get complaints ,always get complements so feel like I'd be ok but the unknown drives me crazy.

[@SteveMysticalNinja]

You just have to do it, just remember that there is always more customers out there to fill your schedule with.

[@clevercloverlawncare5066]

@@SteveMysticalNinja simple great advice.

[@jasons5607]

Charge accordingly to what you think you are worth. Also you can call other companies in the area you are in and get estimates on properties you service just to see where your prices sit.

[@Bennet4623]

Something else you can try is raising rates a few properties at a time. I know jumping blindly is difficult, but seeing a few people's good reactions will give you the confidence to implement a better price.

[@blackbeardlawncare7811]

I have a few of those "tough" yards.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

I still have a few... but they're priced really really well so I'm ok with it.

[@jrenfroe565]

Would you be willing to do a video on how you started your 2nd crew? Or is that covered on in the academy?

[@DoyleBros03]

Great video. Excited to make improvements and trim the fat this off season. Pumpkin plan🎃

[@jartarriustapplin4607]

I agree 💯 % in everything you said

[@beloved1654]

I love the realness of the list especially when you talk about push mowing. Push mowing is keeping me in shape lol… I feel you though… my little 22inch push mower has made me an insane amount of money.

[@FloridaTurfPros]

I'm going to have to do a video on when I definitively threw away my push mower lol... I got so mad... like a little kid.

[@beloved1654]

@@FloridaTurfPros I have a good amount of customers who don’t want anything heavy on their lawns which I can understand. It’s a challenge in those hot summer months though as you were talking about in this video. Eventually I’ll move away from it I’m just not ready right now 🤣…. I’m also thinking about getting something like the surfer pro that hustler makes and selling them on its small size.

[@levischroeder4676]

If you can replace all your push mow lawns with riding lawns, you can make the same money ALOT faster save some energy while including a lot more yards on the schedule. Quitting Push mowing was the best decision ive ever made

[@beloved1654]

@@levischroeder4676 The problem is that most of these yards are in the same neighborhood so it cuts out a lot of drive time. It’s kinda hard to beat $40 yards that take 25-30 min on average. But I definitely see what you’re saying. 👍🏾

[@horticology9343]

Do you pass the transaction fee onto the customer?

[@VladlenKogan]

Do you guys not trim a clients bushes on the same visit while mowing Mon-Thur?

[@brandonrickbornponyexpress6574]

I do

[@FloridaTurfPros]

Yes, we will if it's not a big job. If it's a substantial job we bring a separate rig on Friday and group multiple hedge trimmings for the same day.

[@calbertkensill148]

My problem so far is buying tools to go fast and end up going slow

[@caseydavis6935]

I am sure you have a video that discusses this.... But, did you start your business with a second person ? If not, at what point did you come to the realization that it was time to take on a second guy ? Youre a numbers and analytics guy, so I'm sure you had that to back the decision. Thanks as always !

[@FloridaTurfPros]

This is a good question... I'll make a video on this very topic soon.

[@WizeguyGaming]

I did the same thing. Wrote down what I wasn't happy with and then implemented change. I would have lawn people that wouldn't do things the way I wanted. I would address it and if it happened a 2nd time I immediately fired them. Average lawn guys are a dime a dozen. I don't have time, and am not paying money, to not have it done the way I wanted.

[@calbertkensill148]

I'm definitely not going to throw my 1400$ push mower in the trash

[@bobafettfan32]

I work Han Solo. My payment options are cash, check for the old timers or just in general. PayPal and Zelle. Never done card on file. Probably never will. I simply address all new clients at the beginning of the season or any I pick up along the way, if you don't get paid until such and such day, I will service you, but I expect to be paid one of forms of payment by end of the week or before next service. If I have to constantly chase you for my money or you flat out don't pay me, and let's say they owe me for 2 cuts, that's my limit without payment for ALL residential lawns, I tell them those are on me, buy don't call me back because I'm done. And do anyone else a favor, and buy your own mower and do it yourself. The only time I use a push mower is for a few lawns that have a small back lawn. I'm talking 5 laps and done. Anything more than that and I can't get my zero through the gate, I pass on the lawn. Shrub trimming I do as needed and when I'm done mowing for the week. Usually on Friday. Winter I get work because it snows and I have a walk behind snowblower for driveways and walkways and very small parking lots.