I believe that if you are lucky enough to find something you love in your lifetime, you should make it your job. What better business is there to be in than one you are passionate about? I know that many of us take great pride in our lawns so when do you know if your lawn care hobby is something more? In my humble opinion, you know when you go to sleep thinking about ways to improve your yard and wake up wanting to put those ideas into action. Or it's when you are backing out of your driveway but stop right in the middle of it just so you can marvel at your pride and joy. If this sounds like you in any way, shape, or form, maybe you should think about turning your hobby into a lawn care business. Here is some advice:
1. Kick-start your brand! Find someone with artistic flair (maybe it's you) and brainstorm an eye-catching logo. You want it to be relevant and current, but also classic and tasteful. Once you have a logo, you are ready to set up a website. Keep your website easy to navigate but fun at the same time. Your website is likely one of the first times your clients are going to come in contact with your lawn care business so you want it to reflect your personality, which, in turn, should be your business' personality! Then, develop your print materials to get your brand even further out there.
2. Don't be afraid to hire help if it will help your business grow. I know it can be tempting to think that you need to do as much as you can when starting up your own business. You'll want to save as much money as you can but remember that it takes spending money to earn money, especially in the beginning. Hiring others to help you grow your business is a way to succeed and also a great lesson in delegating. Not only will they provide extra hands but they will also give you fresh ideas and a new perspective. Sometimes we can all get caught up in the excitement of a new project and unintentionally put our blinders on to the bigger picture. A few extra sets of eyes will enable you to see that bigger picture a bit more clearly.
3. Get equipment and software that will help you to be more efficient. Not only will a few extra people help you to be more efficient, but equipment and software will as well. The most important component during this crucial start-up time of your business is time. You don't want to waste it and time does equal money. Getting the right equipment and field service software will eliminate the extra stress that you most likely do not want. Embrace the age of technology and let it help you grow your business!
4. Pay attention to your cash flow. During the beginning stages of your brand new business its inevitable that the cash going out may be exceeding the cash thats coming in. Don't sweat it. However, pay attention to how long this ratio sticks around. Eventually you want it to even out and, if all works out, to tip the other way. But you already know that. It just helps if you are keeping tabs on the cash that you are spending and earning.
5. Don't try to do too much too soon. If you end up biting off more than you can chew it's not going to end well. Starting a new lawn care business is a delicate process not only because you want it to succeed but also because you do not want to place to much pressure on yourself and your employees.
