Lawn Mowing Business Equipment
Lawn mowing companies typically offer a wide range of services. You need to decide exactly what services your company will offer and ensure that you have the skills and equipment to perform those services.
To be successful in this industry you also have to maximize the productivity of yourself and your crews. Commercial lawn mowing equipment can help you to run your lawn business in a way that is more productive and more profitable. The right gear can not only help you to get the job done faster but can also help you to preserve your energy.
In this article I look at some of the equipment that you will need if you decide to start a lawn care business.
The Right Vehicle
It is possible to start out by hauling a push mower around in an SUV or station wagon. However, in order to carry the volume of gear that is needed to run a professional and productive mowing operation you really need to invest in a trailer or small truck as soon as possible.
One good idea is to decide on your major equipment purchases before you choose a vehicle. You can then check the dimensions of the trailer or truck before you buy to ensure that all your equipment will fit.
Once you have made a purchase consider having some racks installed so that all of your gear can be stored securely and in an organized way. As you will be carrying around a lot of expensive equipment you should also give some thought to security and have an alarm installed.
Lawn Mowers
There are a huge range of lawn mowers available to lawn care professionals. As different kinds of mowers are suited to different lawns some professionals end up buying more than one so that they always have the best lawn mower for the job.
Firstly you have 'walk behind' mowers. These include the basic variety that many people have for doing their own lawns, but they also come in larger commercial versions. 'Walk behind' mowers are easy to maneuver and are suitable for most residential lawns. You can purchase a small platform on wheels called a 'velke' that is able to be attached to some commercial 'walk behind' mowers. A velke enables the operator to be pulled along by the mower rather than having to push it.
For larger lawns and commercial contracts you really need a larger ride-on mower to get the job done efficiently. These mowers are best for maximizing productivity on large lawns with relatively flat terrain but are not suited to hills and smaller yards with lots of obstacles. The best 'ride on' mowers are the ZTR (Zero Turn Radius) mowers as they are incredibly easy to maneuver.
Safety Equipment
Depending on your work for the day you may need safety glasses, ear protection, sun block and a pair of steel-toed work boots to protect your feet. Gloves can also help you to get a better grip on equipment handles, particularly when you have sweaty hands.
Other Lawn Mowing Business Equipment
Other lawn mowing business equipment can include a mulching bag (for collecting mown grass and avoiding mess), an edger for neatly finishing off the lawn edges, a good wheelbarrow, a blower (for leaves and grass clippings) and a measuring wheel.
Lawn service companies also have a great opportunity to offer additional home and yard services to customers such as fertilizing, removing leaves, pruning trees and hedges, pressure washing, pest control and simple landscaping jobs. Some of these service can require sophisticated machinery but can be worth it if they are profitable and in demand.
Uniforms
To make yourself and your employees look tidy and professional consider having some uniforms made up. A polo shirt and a cap with your business branding on will make a good impression on your clients.
Home Office
Lastly you need to think about setting up some kind of base where you can run your lawn mowing business from. This will most probably be your home and you will need storage space for equipment as well as a home office set up.
Office equipment that you will have to consider purchasing will include furniture, a PC and printer, a telephone and answering machine, a photocopier, a fax machine and stationery.
In my book, "How to Start a Lawn Care Business a Whole New Way", I expand on this topic and many others. If you're curious, check out our website here. But don't forget to bookmark this website so you can devour some more articles!
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Now find out which lawn care business guide I recommend above all of the others. For details CLICK HERE