Lawn Mowing Business: Tools and Tips

Many homeowners are on the hunt for a reliable, skilled, reasonably priced mowing company to take care of their lawns on a regular basis. Lawn care is not just required for aesthetic reasons, but also to stay compliant with the laws of the town. Both adults and young kids alike can start a lawn mowing operation (also called a landscaping business) very easily with a few key tools.

Mower

The first investment you need to make in order to start a mowing business is a good gas, electric, or manual mower. Gas mowers, require you to fill up regularly, so you'll need to purchase gas frequently. Manual mowers are powered by you. An electric mower is probably the best choice for a mowing business because it is more environmentally friendly, doesn't require gas and can cover a larger space in a shorter time as compared to a manual mower. Electric mowers commonly cost anywhere between $150 to $350 or more.

Since you are just starting out, get a push mower first then upgrade to a riding lawn mower as your business grows. Push mowers are also easier to maneuver, especially when you're cutting a customer's lawn that has a lot of hard to reach corners.

Finally, you should always have one or more backup lawn mowers if you will be doing this for a business. Your clients will come to count on you, so you need to build up your equipment supply.

Edger

Your customers will probably want to have their lawns edged. This makes the lawn look cleaner and more professionally maintained. An edger will even out the area where the lawn meets the sidewalk. Expect to pay about $60 to $100 for a decent edger.

Weed Killer for Lawns

If you want to go the extra mile with your lawn mowing business, bring a few large bottles of weed killer for lawns with you (the cost ranges from $17 to $30 per bottle). If the customer's lawn has a patch of weeds you can use this product to kill them without affecting the grass. A customer will appreciate any attempts that you make to keep his lawn looking green, healthy and weed-free.

Business Cards

Have business cards printed for your mowing business to pass out to your neighbors and homeowners in other areas. This is an important tool that will help you build up your customer base. Be sure to list your name, cell phone number, pricing and information about the quality of service that you provide on the cards. You will only pay about $20 for a set of business cards.

Sources:

All About Lawns; Deciding Between a Gas or Electric Lawn Mower; Allison Beatty; Aug. 22, 2006 http://www.allaboutlawns.com/lawn-mowing-mowers/deciding-between-a-gas-or-electric-lawn-mower.php

Madison Gas and Electric; Manual and Electric Lawn Mowers http://www.mge.com/Home/appliances/mowers.htm