This is Why You'll Never Mow 25-30 Lawns a Day
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
- Want to start your very own lawn care business with an easy to follow and proven business plan?
Or, are you a few years in but need help taking your business to the next level to make more money?
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Starting a lawn care business can be challenging. You can use a basic setup to start your lawn business without spending thousands of dollars on the best zero turn mower. In this video I'm showing you the basic lawn care setup I used in the beginning to keep costs down and make money right from the start.
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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.
www.turfprosacademy.com is live for everyone who has been asking! Do it! 🚀👍🎯
I am a high school science teacher. As soon as school is over, I get in my work uniform and hit it until it gets dark. Who needs a gym membership. I like the physical work. I appreciate your channel.
"Get rid of your push mower. Throw that thing in the trash and as quickly as you can, get a 36" stand-on that'll fit through the gate. Stop slowing yourself down!" Those words hit home.
Thank You!
Yes sir that's my goal
@@Cutmasterjay2050 Did you get that stand-on?
Also, the energy spent pushing a mower in a back yard for thirty minutes will catch up with you by the end of the day/week. Think about your longevity and the next season, not just the job you're on right now.
Been looking into this business for my children to carry I'm getting it started and hopefully they will be taking it over.
To only have 1 client... lol lol
I just started my own business and follow this channel like it's the only thing on TH-cam
I appreciate all the advise you give on your channel. This is my 2nd season. For the most part modeled my business after yours. My route density is not a tight as I would like, but we still manage to do 30-32 yards a day. We work 4 days a week. May God continue to bless and prosper you.
30 lawns is a lot! Making good money.
@@FloridaTurfPros definitely making good money and able to pay my team members a decent wage.
And how many hours did work that day? All 24
Probably 12-14 hour work days with 2 or 3 guys working
Don’t know why people feel the need to brag about how much grass they cut in response to a video. Dumb lookin
I bought that dang mower on your advice... one of the best decisions soo far 👌 Keep bringing us that good information 👍
You are so right about crews because the time spent on a property is determined by the weakest link. I'm solo and have timed each task for a few years now and have figured out assignments and tasks for a 2 man crew but a 3 man crew is daunting.
Hint.. on a 3 man crew I find that using two mowers is many times the most efficient way to service the yard.
Thank you for the insight! This is my first real season, and im solo. Still part time. Im on my way to purchasing a 36” grandstand end of season. I also do 2 outside passes with grass Shute facing grass. I edge what I need to edge lol.
Great content as always! Thanks Jonathan!
Great info, thanks.
Great stuff bro
Great info. Watching from Antigua and Barbuda.
I'm 13 woke up at 10 went out and busted out 82 yards solo and was done by 3:30 and charge $90 bucks per mow
lol
I agree 100 with most of this advice. For you and I its just natural to think efficiently but not everyone does that. I see people string trimming edges unnessessarily all the time.
I’m guilty of outlining the property with a trimmer but you’ve opened my eyes and will now rely on the mower to take care of concrete areas. Thank you!
Go for it!
I eyeball whether it looks like it needs it. If it isn't level, or the deck couldn't recede over the grass line, than it gets string trimmed.
You the man!!
Thanks bro 💪🏻
The biggest factor regarding how many lawns you can cut in a day, aside of the equipment that you have access to, is route density. You can mow 30-40 6,000 sq ft homes a day if you have homes next door to each other etc. I have found that windshield time is the largest deterrent for total profit.
You should make a video about string trimming and the way to do it to keep
Minimum of clippings off the pavement
My wife says the same thing. We’re supposed to finish at the same time but I’m always getting done early 😂
Giggity!
All good tips. One thing I think that’s most important to profitability that a lot of guys don’t think twice about is route density. I only work in one neighborhood. Drive time is your biggest expense. Every minute you’re on the road you are spending money but you also can’t make money during that time so it’s a double hitter. I hear of guys traveling 10-15 miles to mow a small yard and I just don’t understand it.
I hear ya - sometimes I see other guys doing the exact things you talked about and I just shake my head
I wish it was as easy to use a stand on here in New Zealand. There is fencing around and between every property, usually a narrow entrance to the lawn at the rear of the house. We often are forced to use push mowers on the majority of relatively large lawns (500m/2)
We have 148 clients bag our clippings work 5 days a week mowing each day. Our base price is $30 but these lots are 1500k to 5000k lawns. Quick and easy
nice video man- im super OCD about these things. 2 man crew is my absolute favorite on reg yards
When I started out doing lawns as an employee, I was on a 2-man crew, and whoever finished up first would do a walk-around to make sure no details were missed, because it was multi-million dollar homes. Me and this other guy were so efficient that we were knocking our route out and going to help other crews, and getting lots of compliments. We asked for a heavier work load and the boss' response was to split us up and give each of us 2 guys to babysit. The result was basically that we had 6 guys doing what the two of us could have done, and not doing it as well.
Excellent advice. I’ve always scratched my head on the bevel thing and people claiming string trimming edges is faster. It’s not.
I’d like to see your written safety program in reference to working in extreme temperatures and hydration breaks…..
More good stuff 💪
I feel lucky having none of these headaches! I’m solo for 5 years. Small turnovers every year! Postage stamp yards and plenty of them. Have fun big property dudes and gals
I am just starting out but I got into trying this because I really like it and have done it on the side alot in this video where you talk about seeing guys on break all the time that's definitely not me I have people seeing me work so long during the day outside on about anything they come up and stop me by wanting to talk just so I take a break in the hottest part of the day
My dad's pet peve was inconsiderate people blowing grass onto the roads and not cleaning up the mess!
Mines too just trifling
Going rate in my area is $20 for a 10,000 square foot lot. That's cray cray !!
Very helpful advise! I am a solo operator at this time but still have wondered how some guys are finishing so much faster. I need to upgrade to a commercial mower from my hustler 36. That would help a lot. Also there are some properties I shouldn’t be edging first because I smash down the edge I just make with mower.
Mow edge weedeat blow 👍
Usually what i do so the edges don't get smashed is starting with the deck half on drive way ,half on the grass before placing the complete deck on the grass
Good video
Thanks
I do 8 to 10 per day Mon thru Thursday. Solo. Maintenance on Friday morning then 3 day weekend! 50 year's old. Only break is in between houses. I have alot of 3 houses on 1 street. Tight route! I eat when I get home usually about 3PM. BEAST MODE! Lunch breaks? Lol you must be under 40 years old. I laugh when I pass a restaurant and see a mowing trailer in the parking lot.
That is awesome!
That’s a really good schedule. I’m also solo operator. part time. Mow 5-6 lawns in the evening mon-fri. Saturday landscape maintenance.
Yes it's a great business for someone who doesn't mind physical work
Hi Jonathan, it’s Andy from Australia. I have 2 2 30 inch Scag walk behind I’m a sole operator
Hi brother,
Good point on the string trimming. I was thinking the same thing whenever we are edging a yard and string trimming. I will definitely look into doing this what you are saying.
Thank you 🙏🏼
No break lunch between jobs
I’ve never used high lift blades. Use gator blades. Do they make a big difference?
Got 2 30 inch Scag walkbehind alternating regularly
I can’t mow 30 lawns because my help quit and I can’t find someone willing to work lol
Said every lawn guy ever 😂
Too true. I hope you find the right help for your season.
Whete are you located
Run indeed ads and get a new helper. It’s hard but there are 100% people out there man. Just keep working at it and control what you can control! Best of luck!
Just put a sign on your truck that says “worker needed just ask “
Do you think the 32 inch Gravely is too small? Its the only one that fits through gates here in Australia
This year we went with 3 one man crews and each employee does an average of $600 a day in grass cuts and all three are paid one third of their weekly sales.
This works out great for me and the employees.
They upsale more and we don't have to chace after any employee.
Are u running a budgeted hour
@@cmamsler
No
I quote all the jobs and employees make one one third of the labor charges.
@@ronmatthews2250 what
One person should make 12000 a month
@@cmamsler
No ,all three grass cutters working on their own do a total of approximately $ 12.000.00 and one third of sales goes to each one of the three.
So each one makes approximately $ 1,000.00 a week for grass cutting type of jobs.
Also if they upsell any services they get 35 % of the labour charges.
If you pay employee that you can't keep an eye on imo don't pay them hourly because they will probably not work very hard or fast.
One third of labour and they will likely work harder,faster and will actually try to upsell customers because they will make more money.
Everyone finishing at the same time is ideal...
I watch a lot of your videos.
One one of them,you talk about a course you offer??!.
How can I see what your offering?.
And purchase it??!.
As a stater solo, I am effective, but not to the point of efficiency of a 2 man. I've only got a 52" zero turn, and a 20" self propelled for mowers atm. My pricing is a little on the high side at times, but it's because of man hours spent soloing. Eventually I'll get to the point of having a 2 man operation and, pick up another zero turn of smaller size, which will help a lot.
@6:13 this is true. I've worked at high end golf courses and we never bevel cut sidewalks cartpaths etc I've also worked on large lawn maitenance crews and we never did this as it's unnecessary with bermuda grass in my area. Now as a lawn care provider I don't ever do it. Furthermore no customer has ever requested this from me. Definitely a waste of time. Good call Johnathan.
Thanks for the insight/perspective.
I don’t see a way to avoid beveling the edges on common Bermuda that’s cut low. You’ll see seed heads popping up around the edges if you don’t. I’ll never bevel st Augustine, fescue, zoysia and most turf type Bermuda. .
@@jamiepippin3892 I don't know what you are talking about with seeing the seed heads on Bermuda grass. That's never a factor on my lawns or on any lawns around here. I don't think you know what you are talking about and your last sentence doesn't make sense.
One day this year I did 37 lawns sole in one day from 7am to 8:30pm. No breaks. All 1/4 acre lots to 1/2 acre.
Lies
@@jamiepippin3892 lol it actually isn't a lie. It rained 2 days straight and I had no choice I didn't exactly want to do that many in one day.
37 lawns in one day solo? how much per yard $25-$30? We do about $800-$900 per day and we never hit more that 15 lawns in a day
@@rayrayslawnlandscape2008 40 dollar minimum. Most are in the 40 to 45 range
Must have been an hoa with 37 postage stamp lawns. Unload and work all day at one spot. No fencing, just mow from yard to yard. I took care of a townhome complex for many years with 85 units and each had a small lawn. Me and one guy could mow, edge, blow weed eat it all in 7 hours but I wouldn’t say we can mow 85 yards in a day.
Don’t you dare talk about my push mower. 😂….. I’ve gotta work my way up to a stand on.
Thanks for the tips though really good stuff. I stopped going back over grass (most of the time) after I edge because like you said in most cases it doesn’t make that much of a difference appearance wise. Definitely a time saver.
My problem is most of my accounts are scattered. I’m trying to get accounts in the same area maybe 2 miles apart to lessen the drive time.
Whats a break? Lol i fuel at start of day grab any drinks and or food for the day. Driving from yard to yard is my break.
Just curious what caused the switch? I know in one of your previous videos, you mentioned edging first then mowing to blow the debris back into the lawn. Did you time both the old/new method on one yard to see which was faster? Thanks for the solid advice either way.
“ What causes the switch” it’s called content. He has to make a video or he don’t get paid.
If the edging is maintained on a weekly or bi weekly basis always edge after mowing
@@Dustin922 i always edge first
@@rayrayslawnlandscape2008 if I edge first it makes the dirt/clay stick to the concrete when it gets ran over by the mower tires.
I run a prostance 52 and a prostance 36 here in central Florida. I'm a solo operator. What is you thoughts on a mulch kit?
I don’t know how y’all’s grass is, but we can so much rain here that we have got to be able to discharge that mess from out the deck. If it were drier, I would def run mulch kits year round
I’m in NY and mulch kits have saved us tons of labor and debris costs.
Maybe try on one of the mowers and mow on the taller side. The kit should only cost about $400-500. If it doesn’t work, then you can sell the kit or just eat the cost. The upside is worth the risk imo
Well I did 34 lawns 3days out of the week the other days were just 30 a day by myself . The girls did 20 a day . Most guys just do not invest in there equipment. I’m glad I stopped doing yards 82 now and things are changing .
lol
We push mow a ton 12-15 minutes a lawn 2 men crew
Looking to add 36
I've been solo since I started back in 2004.
Just started any tips?
You have to blow the driveway either way so how does that speed you up i blow as fast as i walk if its a little grass or alot
I guess I should have clarified... When we mow early morning there is wet grass and dew on the ground until about 10am... we've already cut 10-12 yards by 10am and if we're discharging wet grass onto the sidewalks it creates a mess that is time consuming to clean up. It's better to just not blow debris onto hardscapes as a general rule of thumb in my opinion.
Came hear to read all the comments from guys mowing 30+ yards a day.
Pay employees a commission/percentage, efficiency suddenly takes care of itself.
I have diabetes and have to take quite a few pee breaks so im thinking of getting a closed trailer to have for emergencies.
I’m a sole operator still knock out 9-12 jobs in a day six days a week
Good morning, I have a question about your comment on equipment. i just formed my business last May and this is my first full year in the business. I use a Honda 21-inch 200cc push mower. This is because I can not afford a bigger mower yet. My credit also is not good enough to get a loan. So I am trying to grow it organically and save as I go and move up in equipment as I go. I have a Honda CRV 2015 that I use to haul my mower and Stihl weed eater and blower. I also do a lot of small landscaping jobs where I make good money. My per hr rate is $100 and my minimum mow is $50 wkly and $60 bi weekly. What are your thoughts on this and thank you for your time. Also, I do 1/8 yards up to 1/2 acre
I'm releasing a video on this today to answer your question, Chad.
A crew leader should be capable of making all those calls. if he's not, then give someone else a chance.
agreed
Rather than adding another person to the crew, what do you think a kr chariot device would do ?
I don't know what this is.
@@FloridaTurfPros do a tube search. He had two at gie 2019 , quiet ever since.
Dude one thing I've noticed is you guys have very flat lawns with loads of space. Push mowers are required on hilly or tight lawns on slopes. Whether it's a back area with limited access or whatever, ride-ons are great but not a silver bullet
Yes, our entire area is very flat.
Just get a rear discharge mower for residential too bad the companies don’t make one that’s 48 inches wide. They would sell a lot of them.
Roundup is the continual time saver. Use it.
This is the definite truth..
We trim every other cut.
Lunch break?
We dont need no stinking lunch break!
In a video in 2020, "Mow faster w/speed tips" you say edge first. Here you say mow first. Can you clarify the difference in the two approaches for a newbie?
Always start with edger. My edger was down so I had to use my string trimmer after I mowed to edge and trim. Edger is def the way to go.
Bit of a challenge doing 25-30 as a sole operator per day
I went with a company instead. They have benefits, salary and if you get sick you can take paid tike off.
At vest going from 1 to 2 people in ideal world a yard is done in half the time, 3 people third the time. Issue Is they all spend the same amount of time going *between*jobs so you can never make double a solo guy with 2 guys
Johnathon, I wonder do you have trouble keeping help ? Because the way you time and micromanage Everything. It seems it would make the job very unenjoyable.
👍👍👍
I don't know why people like to blow grass on the driveway and roads with the mower. It's just a mess after you have to clean it..
This was my worst year in business because the grass was so dry I wasn't cutting any grass.
Hey, I have a client that wants me to text beforehand prior to her bi-weekly visits. Is this something you deal with? I hate this because sometimes I forget to text her. I don't like the responsibility, but didn't know if what I'm feeling is bad on my part.
If your day and time are consistent maybe ask if you can text if you're not going to be there versus having to text every single time you cut.
@@jjdiddle7150 I only guarantee the week, never the day or time.
I tell all my clients weekly or every 2 weeks what day I will be there.
The only ones I text day of service is if they have a gate to get in back lawn. If this customer just wants you to text before you come just for the sake of texting before you come, in my experience it opens the door for the customer to say the lawn doesn't need to be cut, and after 2 weeks with regular rain it for sure needs to be cut. I get rid of customers like that quickly, because I'm not letting a lawn longer than 2 weeks without mowing it. I tell them go get your own mower and do it yourself.
Three man crews will cost you more money then the extra work you pick up twoam crews are best
I have a client that added a fire pit and 6 chairs. I have to move them off to mow, then put them back afterwards. Should I continue doing this for free?
No
mow around it...just like toys..home owners responsibility to move it....
What are you guys doing for urination? Pee in a bottle or what? I agree on minimizing gas station stops but that's the only place to pee in town.
I hired an "experienced" worker, at first it nearly doubled our efficiency. Then he began slowing down, when we stopped at a job he was finishing a text. A few other guys would put an empty trimmer back in the rack and grab a full one rather than to refill the spool. I will not hire another worker, solo is my m.o.
That can definitely be frustrating but you have to create systems and expectations. I’m preaching to myself here as well. Most employees won’t know unless they’re told
This all sounds great but If you are not actually in the truck with them then they are going to do what they are going to do. The work force that we are pulling from is bottom of the barrel for the most part. I do like your ideas though.
I do 25 yards a day no problem lol
Take lunch with me eat between jobs no down time
2 not 22
Did I see something about a course…..
Haha, good eye. We've been working on one since the beginning of the year and just finished it last week. I'm working though the user experience for the web page, but really excited to share with those who have asked for it.
@@FloridaTurfPros I want more info
Sound like a tyrant with the bathroom break thing 🤣
Standardized sh**ting?