Need input on catch/hook for my new lawn mowing business

[chuk77]

Hey, I'm starting a lawn mowing business in the neighborhood I just recently moved into. I don't know any of my neighbors. It's an upscale neighborhood and the houses all have large lawns. The hook i'm using for my business is that i'll take on all fuel expenses for their lawn mowers, whether they be riders or walk-behind mowers. I'm hoping customers will like this considering the high price of gas and recessing economy these days and every dollar counts.I won't be using a mower of my own, but theirs. I've researched gas tank capacity on lawn mowers and have found that I can still make a good profit while paying for customer's lawn mower fuel. I need advice on whether this is a good or bad idea, if customers will go for it. I'd really appreciate any advice and/or input.

Thank you.

[JLeezer]

It isn't the capacity of the fuel tank that is of concern to you. It is really the fuel economy of the mower's engine. I can tell you that a walk-behind non-propelled is going to get better gas mileage (but much harder on the person mowing) than a self-propelled mower (also walk behind, but the person really just steers it). The riding mowers will most likely get the worst gas mileage since it'll be carrying your lazy bum (just kidding) around for you.

[rejoice]

The Only Time You'll Ever Thank Anyone For Cutting Your Grass (get it?)

[Doodyps]

well, just remember that it wont take a full tank every time you cut the grass (unless its a rider and a huge lawn) so your expenses from gas wont be so bad. You're biggest concern is whether or not your neighbors have long standing relationships with other lawn crews. Those ties could be very hard to break if people have been getting reliable service for a while. (people will always pay for reliable service) If you want a better chance at winning customers, think about implementing a "Satisfaction gaurentee" along with maybe even a first job - free type plan. Sure, it will make it alot harder for you to make money right away, but if you are planning on doing this job for over a year it would more than make up for it. Thats another problem...to get people to let you offer a service to them, you will need to be able to do it more than a few times. You cant get bored with the job three months from now and expect them to not be angry that they have to call the old lawn guys back or start mowing their own yard again. Make sure they know you will be doing it for a while...if thats the case. People are very particular about their lawns...as I'm sure you know.

[Aletheides]

All lawn mowing businesses I've seen just show up and run their own mowers as people are undisturbed inside their houses. You might want to think about just getting your own mower, as using theirs would be an inconvenience to your customers and would therefore put your business at a disadvantage.

[emd5005]

I agree with the fact that you should get your own lawn mower- its easier, as it doesn't disturb the customer and makes you more professional, instead of just being "the neighborhood kid that mows our lawn." It seems like you're in an ideal area for this type of business- my brother has a more advanced landscaping business so I'm familiar with this area.

I think you need more of a hook. I think most landscaping companies pay for their own gas when cutting others lawns, as they use their own mowers. Maybe advertise something like "when gas prices go up, ours won't." But I personally think you need another area of expertise. A service that no other landscaping company has- then people will use that service and others from you too. What type of special skills / landscaping training do you have or could you be trained in?