Lawn care for money can be a profitable business. Many grass cutting and landscaping businesses net over $100,000 annually. And, start-up costs are relatively minimal. So, if you enjoy working outdoors under a variety of weather conditions, this business venture may be right for you. After all, there’s really no shortage of lawns in most parts of the country; and, that means there’s potentially plenty of work out there for those who want to make a living with lawn care services.
Know some basics about caring for lawns
Cutting lawns professionally means you need to educate yourself on some specifics of the job, For example, you need to know the correct way to cut a lawn. Let.s say you’ve been asked to start cutting new lawns–grass that has never been cut. You’ll want to mow high. That means the grass should be about three inches high after the mow so the root system can become strong and healthy. In fact, unless the customer objects, it’s a good idea to mow grass to a height of three inches on every mow because it helps keep the yard looking green and lush.
Mowing lawns should always be done with a sharp blade. If the tips of the blades of grass look white after a cut, then a lawnmower is tearing the grass. This can lead to root damage and destroy new growth, Keep In mind, you should sharpen your lawnmower blade after every fourth or fifth cut if you are caring for large yards. If you are doing a day’s worth of small lawns, then you can sharpen the lawnmower blade at the end of the working day. Not only will this be good for the grass; but, it will help keep your new lawn mower in good working order.
Professional mowers know it’s important to change mowing patterns each time grass is cut. That’s because grass mowed in the same direction all the time tends to lean in that direction and you want the grass to grow up straight. Additionally, if you cut grass in the same way continually, then you run the risk of your wheels packing the soil and leaving ruts in the ground, This can prevent water and other nutrients from working their way to the roots. Therefore, experts recommend changing mowing patterns 180 degrees on each cut. Additionally, if your lawn care services include putting out a fertilizer to make the soil nitrogen rich and provide a healthy growing environment for the lawn, you can keep the fertilizer from doing its job correctly by failing to change directions each time you mow.
Marketing your services
Now that you know a few mechanics about lawn care services, you should get together a business plan. And, that plan should include a marketing strategy. In the past, many lawn care services relied on word of mouth recommendations from friends and neighbors to help grow their businesses. And, that’s still a way to get new customers. However, a successful marketing strategy going forward will need to include online exposure with a website. Research shows that more than 80% of shoppers now go online for recommendations, Yet, building a website can be an expensive, arduous process. Therefore, you should consider renting a website. The cost is reasonable; and, with rental, you can have a website available in a few days without the high initial costs you would usually have with a standard developed site. So whether you are in the initial stages of your lawn care business or you have started your business and are looking to grow with an online presence, we can help.
Call us. We are in the business of helping businesses like you. We’ll listen. We’ll talk about possibilities. We’ll show you how we can help you get the customer referrals you want to make your life’s work a fulfilling adventure.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!