Best Mower for Your Lawn Care Business ($500 to $12000 Budget)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 มี.ค. 2021
- Sometimes choosing a mower can be intimidating, even for experienced lawn care business owners. So today, Mike discusses the different tiers of mowers when it comes to budget. So it doesn't matter if you are just starting out, or you have been growing your business for a while, this video will hopefully be helpful for you.
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I have just started my lawn business at 11 years old. I have taken your tips and tricks and am having great business throughout my neighborhood. I am currently using a 22 inch, self propel push mower, and a Echo 17 inch Gas-2-Stroke weed wacker. Keep working hard!
I'd advise you get a leaf blower and hedge trimmer next.
@@michaelnienaber8263 Thankyou for the information! I recently got an electric Toro leaf blower (which uses an extension cord) which is a pain to use. I am hoping to get a gass one soon. I am not currently thinking about getting a hedge trimmer cause my dad owns a very nice one.
That's great. You started a little late in life but keep it up. I been mowing since I was 4 years old. 6 years in the business.
@@cincy_prodz99 It is never too late to get into lawncare. I started my business when I was six. thirty years later I am still cutting grass.
🔥🔥🔥
We just picked up a toro titan and I’m beyond impressed with it. Built like a tank, 10mph cutting speed, tons of power, heavy duty deck, and it grips hills like it’s nothing, serviceable hydro’s with spin on filters. All for under $6000. I highly recommend looking at a titan as a first mower.
Started two years ago with a Gravely Pro Turn 52" which I still use full time. So far it has been very reliable but often very uncomfortable without the suspension seat included with the higher models.
I started with a cheap 21 inch push mower then move up to a tractor and lexmark after and now I have 2 Wright stand on mowers they're great for residential work to open gates, pick up toys or hoses
For the past 7months we have been using a hustler raptor residential 52 inch we just upgraded last week to a scag 48inch commercial zero turn
I have an old Gravely Pro Walk 40. It just fits through my 48" gates. It's a stamped deck and stripes like crazy. I bought it used and abused for $500 and put another $500 into it about 16 years ago. I like it a lot. Once you cut with even a used commercial grade it's hard to go back.
I began with a used zero turn, and old push mower from Sears. Never look back, and have grown in to my 19 th year now, and just doing lawn, and landscaping on the side. Excellent video Mike. Thank You!
Okay so what you make a year mowing lawns after taxes?
@@rmac6420 okay so why do you want to know? It's very profitable, I would not be doing for so long if it wasn't.
@@williamwallace4879 I'd like to know what you make in a year just out of curiosity....
I run a crew in the mountains ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 ft in elevation.
We have one EX-Mark (series-x I believe) Zero turn 52 inch that we can only use on about 10% of our yards.
We have 3 Ex-mark 52 inch walk behinds, and they are ABSOLUTELY phenomenal. They are great for hills. For flat ground, we use a Z all day but everything we mow is basically vertical, so we stick to the walk behinds with a hefty weight kit on the front to keep us grounded.
For reliability, durability and overall performance, the Ex mark walk behind is the best mower I've ever used hands down.
Slightly harder to learn but is so much more useful for any tricky job.
Sorry for such a long response, but I really love that mower.
And also, the stripes you get from one are better than any other mower, with the trailer wheel the weight is more evenly distributed and it's a lighter mower by 200 lbs or so, just something to consider, hope this is useful!
im waiting for kubota bring there walk behinds to canada so i can buy one
A lot of good information for starting off.. even for us lawnguys.
Hey Mike my favorite mowers that are uses a Toro timemaster 30 and a walker 48 t25i with a ferris 32 Hydro walk behind
I love that you represent the fact that you don't need big zero turns to make good money. I wish I would have stuck with a walk behind and push mower in the bed of my truck
I'd just updated my Hustler Raptor 42" I've run for 7 years too a 2020 Fast track 54" rear discharge. So far I love it 🤘🌱✂️
Very informative. Thanks Mike. Great quality video Danny.
*Slaps the mower*
"Not with this bad boy"
LMAO
My papa just passed away december 18th 2021 and I promised I’m gonna put his inheritence to good use. Always wanted to start my own lawn care business. Although he was a john deere guy so i might have to honor him that route ;).
Thanks for the advice, subbed.
Nothing runs like a deere😎
I hope you were able to follow that dream and have a successful lawn care business currently!
X mark 36 in turf tracer, parts and service, also has a welkie and bag cause in spokane wa, people expect you to bag the clippings until mulching season. Also may be able to get into backyard gates .
When Mike was talking about the first mower and had mentioned the quality of it of it, I wanted to buy one. Mentioning how lightweight it was that it would be possible to pick up and set on your truck, had answered my question as to which would be a great first mower for someone with no trailer. Great content, had to subscribe. 💪🏽
Some time is what kind of high grass you dealing with because I deal with most of the time high Grass and my mower barley made it thru I believe getting the best mower out there for all day long job
Love your videos, keep up the great work.
Nice video. I like my Honda HRC216 over the Exmark. My 36" Scag zero turn is awesome and has made me tons of money. The biggest reason is it fits in most backyard gates. That 48" stander won't even come close.
We run a gravely 160 and compact pro 34. 34 is great for gates and the 60 knocks out our acre property's in no time.best of both worlds. I ran a basic proturn 48 when i only had 1 mower
My properties are about 1/4 to 1/3 acre I have a exmark 30s and it works perfectly for the amout of customers and size lawns they are
I purchased a Gravely Proturn 260. It was close to $12k I had a slight discount on it. Going to be purchasing the bagger soon. It's a 60" deck. Most of the yards I have in Iowa are 1/2 acre and bigger. Three of the customers that I have. Have 2-3 acres so got alot to do at one time
Really like your idea of using the ramp rack and smaller mowers. Before I saw it I was thinking I needed a zero turn. But really that's too much considering I'm just getting started towards having a professional lawn maintenance business.
im a retired truck driver. decided to buy a zero turn this yr and make a little extra cash mowing. ive been usiing a new john deere on a 3 acre bed and breakfast owned buy a friend. i found a 2004 scag 42 inch commercial zero turn for less than 2000.00 hasnt been used much almost no scratches. looking forward to mowing.might eventually move up to a new one.
Great content Mike! I have ran the Gravely Pro Stance 36" for the past two seasons and I love it! I Recently traded in my ZTXL 42 for a Walker T23 with a 42" deck. Kind of wish I had started out with a Walker! The thing costs more than my truck and prostance combined but it's once beast of a mower!!! What is your experience with the brand Walker Mowers?
That 1100 walk behind is almost as nice as the 5hp mower I used in the 90's to cut my dads and neighbor's lawns that cost about 200 bucks. That old mower wouldn't die, and we had to continually patch and wield the handles because we had used it so much the thin metal handles would fail from stress. Even that that 1100 price point, there is still no engine speed control, which is such a weird concept to me. Understandable with the low-end mowers.
Thanks Mike love your information
Have run exmarks with the sulky wheel big zero turns from exmark and John deer.. I'm not a fan of the zero turns at all. Love the sulky wheel exmark. Have never run a stand behind would like to try one
I currently run a used 21inch commercial hivac snapper push mower (bagging/mulching) that runs around $1300 and a residential ariens icon X 52in Z turn that runs $2000 for weedeating I use a husqvarna 525LK (combi-trimmer) $419 and husqvarna 525XB blower ($289) and all of them have lasted me more than 3 years so far with heavy summer use for about 15 lawns
Good stuff Mike keep it up
Thanks for the informative video, like you said you make money when the blade is turning.
I’ve got a gravely 60 zt-hd & a gravely 60 pro-turn zx. Love them both so far
I got used gravely pro turn 66 inch commercial sorta odd year think its 2009 or 10 i used a 50 inch cub cadet before that has 1700 hours on it and still runs good that kohler command the gravely has a kawi engine its quiter i just like the way the kohlers sound !
I have a 30 in Toro turfmaster HDX! The size is defiantly efficient for houses here in Texas! A lot of customers don't like the tire marks from the bigger mowers. I still want a 32 in ride-on! Things can get done a lot faster!
Did you end up getting the 32 inch stand on mower? I’m in the same position as you.
Thank you for this information 😎
I seen the ad. Thank you man of God.
Thanks Mike, great info as always, I'm looking at adding a stander mower to my 2 push mower setup, I've been looking at Wright and Scag as they seem to have decent servicing and parts here in Australia.
Saving my pennies right now so I can afford a 36” pro stance and likely a 30” push. Some of the gates around here are just too narrow for the big machines, but most folks still have 1/4-1/2 acre lots. Then my residential clients only have 1-3k turf. Oh well.
The 30s are overrated thier is a cavity that fills full of grass and burns the belts
Those gráveles are badass! That mower has an anti scalp which is really nice.
Nice video I have exmark 30 inches and a scag 52 like ur videos
I just bought a wright stander this weekend super excited
Did you buy? It’s been 3 years. Let’s hear the review!! I’ve been thinking about a standup lately, don’t know which one to choose yet
I have that Honda mower I bought it last year to cut my grass at my house cause I have a small yard it's awesome cuts like a dream and starts first pull even on its second year
Gravely all day. I've ran many of them and Gravely is my favorite plus my dealer is awesome amazing customer service.
Very helpful. Thanks.
If you can maintain the engine don't sleep on the toro Timemaster but keep back up parts
Crazy how much mower prices have increased since you made this video
NO KIDDING!!!
Currently using a Toro 30 and a Scag 30. Sole operator
I’m using a cub cadet zero turn 54 inch deck
I like Mike because you can really tell that he came from the mud and grinded every day for years to get where he is.
i use the walker mower because i can use different sized decks on the same tractor. 42" for residentials and 62" for large properties with multiple acres, no need for multiple machines. 30" toro for anywhere the 42" cant get into
for your 30inch walk behind, you really need to check out the scag SFC30. Far more powerful engine compared to the exmark
I started with a Bad Boy MZ 48”. It was a great mower for starting out until we grew. Then ran a 54” Gravely for a year,but didn’t like our dealer plus they were 45 minutes away. I now run a Snapper Pro S200 with a 61” deck have had it for 3.5 years,and a dealer 5 minutes away.
@Kyle Lawnsodlandscape a 36” is really versatile. I wouldn’t mind having a 36” stander
@@jonboysprowash7845 where are you located, and have you purchased a 36 stander yet?
@@firstname6208 Southeast TN. And no I never bought a 36” stander. I have what I need for my mowing properties right now and I’m focusing more on the washing side of my business.
I would buy the small mower for the trim work and all riders. I would never buy a fleet of push mowers. Takes too much time . Thanks for sharing.
I’m Using the same mower you started… now I’m trying to buy a stand on.
If you are starting out go for a cheaper honda 21inch mower and find the newer constructed homes with tight small yards. Alot of those type of accounts will go on a yearly maintenance plan too.
If you buy a rider starting out you can absolutely wreck yards if you dont know what you are doing. A lot of customers don’t want riders on their lawns. Just a heads up to the new buyers.
You’re the man, thank you very much
Great info mike! Just saying for those who are starting out and mow big properties, if you dont have the say 5-10 thousand for a new zero turn dont sweat, look at used options! Especially someone who doesnt mind finding a mower to fix up. Parts arent crazy expensive its labor that bites you so if you do the labor, you can get a nice mower for cheap! I got an exmark vantage 48 inch for 3000 plus about $100 in parts and a little elbow grease and i love it! Those mowers are 9 thousand brand new! Find the right people and you can get a nice exmark 30 inch for around 1000 too.
That’s exactly what I did! I’m 15 years old and I just started my lawn care business and found a used ex mark metro 36 inch for only $500 it’s a great mower I love it so far
@@drake.rorabadger2955 The metro mowers are wonderful starters! I'm 15 as well and started on a push honda for the longest time, then found a 42 John deere tractor for $350 which blew up 2 months later. Then I went to commercial mowers. I started on a Gravely pro walk 48G which is essentially a metro but with a floating deck. I recently hit some money and sold that and bought my current exmark vantage and exmark commercial 30. What fantastic mowers! Hope you enjoy your mower as well!
I was thinking about getting a walk behind and just hauling it in the bed if my truck. Like a 36”. Build from there. Once I scale up get a trailer and a second mower with a bigger deck
@@derrickhenry8620 I actually haul the vantage in my truck, the only problem is I can't haul any other mowers when I have it in there. A walk behind is best for in bed hauling, the stand on mowers tend to high center pretty easy.
@@gdcatalyst7812 these little utility trailers are sky high
I forgot to mention Mike I was running a Sears tractor and a Cub Cadet zero turn from Home Depot I upgraded to my Walker it's saved me a ton of time quality of cut is much better customers like the job much better and it's cost me 3:11 a month and for the last two years I've made 7000 to $8,000 with that mower
I absolutely love the walkers. Even their 14,000 price range but hey I see 20 year old models on Craigslist still selling for $5,000
Exmark 36 WB(walk-behind), Scag 48 WB, Toro Timemaster 30. Exmark had a new 5-speed tranny recently, Scag was swapped out with new engine this year, Both 36 and 48 are over 20 years old and still solid with minimal rust.
I also have worked in commercial irrigation for 10 years so it's no big deal to work on residential irrigation systems when mowing is slow.
Been thinking of getting a 48 inch from toro but hear mixed reviews. Lookin for good brands
Hi there!!
I want to start a mowing business here in Zambia (Africa) please advise me on the equipments i can use as a beginner.
I've been in business for close to thirty yrs. Most of my lawns are 1/4 to 1.5 and I use a 60 inch ride on. 52' walk behind for hills and 21' for the real small stuff . I run my 60' on all most ever lawn . Definitely a bagging system is a must for spring and fall clean ups.
How much do you charge and what do you average per year?
4:18 does anyone know if you can get standard high lift blades (not the toothed blade) for this mower? I live in Australia and have the Toro version. Where I live the grass is wet 8 months of the year and with these toothed blades it just clogs up extremely fast.
Apart from those useless-outside-of-perfect-dry-grass blades, the mower is brilliant.
1 year I nursed an old Troy bilt pony I bought for $200...the dime a dozen 42" rider...fixed it every other weekend. Then bought a troy bilt mustang ztr with 250h on it for $800...stamped deck doesn't handle commercial use...spent multiple weekends repairing the deck/spindles and straightening it out. Then I bought a hustler raptor SD 42" ztr for $4k. I've put 260h in 2 years with no downtime. I don't know how I got by with the other machines before. I mow about 60 yards a month, between a 10th and a half an acre lawns. Lots of small gates, so a 42" with a sturdy deck is perfect. A lot of guys do go and finance a $5k ztr and then find out it takes a summer to build up a decent customer base.
I’ve been looking at various mowers for mowing backyard properties and keep going back and forth on rather to get a 30in push mower or a 32/34 inch stand on. Any opinions?
How large of properties will you take on only using the 30” mowers? We use two 30” Toros for our business model. We top out around 6-8k square ft. I’ve found we can’t charge enough to cover the time it takes us at slightly larger properties. I’m curious to know how you guys determine what properties you do with the 30” mowers. Thank you.
Our average is similar to yours... however we do also have much larger properties... we just have to bid more for them and don’t get as many
Thought the gravely pro stance would've been in a different category, I believe it's more like the 7k-8k range. Could be wrong. You the man Mike, keep the videos coming. Need all the advice I can get, knowledge is power.
This, I believe the 32's are like 6500.
Those engines are close to $3500
16k NZD and we get paid less for lawns than than the US
Is there anyway to purchase the 2nd exmark you showed for 1200 after the Honda really want one
Thank you sir 😊
Most of my yards are 1-5 acres so I run 3 identical Exmark laser z’s with 60” series 6 decks
You need that 96"
G er done
9:50 i use to think i had to finance these mowers myself but then thats when i realized nah auctually ill just find someone whose already leased it and They Can Share The Mower on Terms and guess whut half of the ppl wouldnt even charge me upfront, i only deal with commercial clients like were talking square miles of landscape care
I too have started my lawn care business, I use that same mower with and echo trimmer and electric blower just because i don’t have to worry about gas for blowing. I am wokrsing hard to upgrade to a stand on mower which i am close to, i was thinking a toro grandstand but if any of you guys have suggestions for that please lmk. i dont want to spend more than 5k
i have 40k to start this buisness. and i def want a sit down zero turn to start out for 5-6k but my problem is im going to be doing houses in neighboorhoods and such. im not to sure a zero turn would fit through the gate.. any suggestins?
Do you have a video or can you make a video on front throw reel mowers please? For nice and tight clean cut, short grass? Not a fan of rotary unless im chopping down tall grass and we just don't have tall grass species in our area:/
Look up GCIturf on here. I believe he has several reel mower videos and one where his favorite is picked.
I've used McLane 25in reel mowers on residential lawns with Zoysia grass. Absolute must keep reel blades sharp, and belts/chains, bearings will be a constant maintenance issue. Any end-play in bearings can negatively affect the precise cutting quality. I had to constantly keep doing maintenance on a reel mower, it's a never-ending hassle so I'm not doing that now. Too much maintenance and parts expense compared to rotary mowers.
Tbh then bad boy zero turn works great as a starter I think I payed 3-4 thousand for it used and this one goes for 7,000 new
Are you going to buy the Carl's lawn mower business? I think he should sell Wrights and Scags there....I would drive there from Sumas and buy a nice Wright Stander.....
Multi-tasking Edge-men attaches to the walk-behind mowers in seconds. (Cobo video multitasking, @ ) Edge-men's name should be called the beast! Edge-men cuts through an asphalt driveway.
Hi there I'm just starting out I have got me Is a Aaron zoom 50" deck 0 turn. It's on the same line as the gravelly . I'm trying to get a 42 Fabricated deck. Is residential a pinch of commercial. L o l.. Is having a hard time getting some money up just starting out.. SMH.. My zoom went down and is 3 weeks out In the shop.. SMH.. So now I have to wait and I'm pushing mowing.
Bought a gravely similar to the 100 series last year with the bagger on it. Ran me $8300 after tax and all. Was a great mower and put 350 hours on it in one year. But i can tell wasn’t fast enough for me since i was using it all day every day. Going with a toro z master 6000 series to increase my efficiency this year. Hopefully this mower last longer.
Have you got it yet ?
Good video for newbs Mike. I still like the old video you did tho with that gravely or hustler, think it was gravely EV tho. Your like most EV’s don’t have alotta battery life so to test this one ima stay on here for oh I dunno like 24hr maybe and let’s just this bad boy lol, that’s a Mike term.
Hey ,Mike which honda lawnmower is ideal for pacific northwest weather ???
Commercial 21
What do you use for payroll
what would you recommend for 138 acres brodie
Walker mower is #1
I’m on my 4th toro recycler 6.25 this season
😂😂😂been there done that
Got a recycler for free from a client and it is solid. Big yards, overgrown all that.
Been fine with a Honda push for 40yrs. Might put feet up on a stand-up 😆
Im starting off with my Toro Super Recycler. Very heavy duty build, buttt not a commerical unit. Wish me luck!
Awesome!
I appreciate you being so interactive. Definitely a role model in this industry! Wish you nothing but the best.
Best of luck on your business 👍🏻💯
Why don't people start out with a lawn tractor? You never see the pro guys talking about 42" riding mowers? Is a speed thing? Curious cause I could find a used one in good shape for around $500 in my are.
Hey mike have you seen the new SCAG 30” ? It has the biggest engine in its class and it seems like a solid mower
So I have been in the industry for about 15 years and I have never seen the quality and performance that Kohler provides before. When I was younger everything was a Kawasaki engine and the power just wasn't there nor the durability even today every machine I see with a Kawasaki engine has had much more problems then the Kohler engines.
Where is the best place to buy a used zero turn to start with
I'm in central Arkansas, several business owners have moved to a commercial snapper push mower and zero turn. In recent years, the reputation of the Snapper mowers has decreased so I was surprised to hear commercial business owners moving back in that direction. What are your thoughts on the commercial snapper mowers, push and zero turn? Thanks!
I haven’t used Snapper unfortunately
@@MikeAndes I have a old rider from the 90's that looks like the one Forrest Gump used in the movie. It's hilarious! I have the hat, too. Bubba Gump Shrimp!!
biggest issue i have is on riding mowers is I like them but most residents gates you cant fit a riding mower in 2nd your gonna damage sprinkler systems, lawn and anything in its way. i thought about about a standing riding mower any thoughts?
I've seen a lot of landscapers on YT who love stand on mowers, esp the 30 in because it fits through the gates and they can get the lawns done so much quicker. They really are fast mowers and cut quite well.
Weed eater one for the win!.
I love how old he was when he fist started lawn care always changes
Started Andes Lawn Care at 11. Started Augusta Lawn Care at 18. Never changes
I’ve never heard someone say bag like that before.
Can you use a regular riding mower to start out then save to get a zero turn?
For sure!
1st year here..... my current setup is a 52" Ariens Ikon 52 ($2400 out the door) and a 21 Cub Cadet self propel with caster wheels ($550) currently in the market for a 36" stand on unit (I don't really care what brand.... my smallest gate is 38.5" I'll be happy if it clears that....) My situation is a little different than most though.... I have 10 clients and I should clear $50k.... all my clients called me (no advertising).... I have 1 large commercial account that kind of set everything in motion so it carries the company.... and I work full time (truck driver) so all my bills are paid..... My focus first year is getting the correct equipment to handle any task that comes my way
Hey man im thinking about starting myself this year hows it going for you so far where are you from?
@@grasser82 last year was pretty good.... hope there's big things to come this year
@@robinhoodahm good deal
Great info here but, where can I get a Pro Stance for 5-6k?
Prices have gone up substantially 🤦♂️
I'm chosing the Hondas just cuz that's what I have