18/09/2023
🌱💼 Running a Lawnmowing Business: Beyond the Green 🚜💰
Hey everyone! 👋 As many of you know, I've been running my lawnmowing business for a while now, and I wanted to shed some light on the costs that go beyond the lush green lawns you see and the hours of preparation which goes into each day!
🌟 Equipment Maintenance:
Keeping our mowers, trimmers, trailers, vehicle and tools in top shape is a must. Regular maintenance and occasional repairs can really add up, but it's crucial for efficiency and safety.
💼 Insurance:
Safety first! We invest in liability insurance to protect our clients and ourselves. It's a necessary expense to provide peace of mind. Insurance runs into the $100s per month depending on number and type of jobs.
💡 Fuel & Supplies:
Lawnmowers don't run on smiles! Fuel and other supplies like blades, oil, and trimmer line are ongoing expenses that keep our business rolling.
Trimmer line, Fuel, Oil and blades account for $9.00 of each operational hour.
📢 Marketing & Advertising:
Getting the word out and reaching new clients involves marketing costs. From flyers to online ads, these efforts are vital for growth. Luckily I'm able to market mostly through Facebook and Word of mouth however I do advertise in the local Pingelly times at $5.00 per week, plus $500 dollars of sponsorship for local events.
🧹 Uniforms & Safety Gear:
We want to look professional and stay safe on the job. Proper uniforms and safety gear are part of our business expenses. Boots, clothing, glasses, earmuffs wear out very quickly and I have worked this out at $2.80 per operational hour.
📑 Admin & Licensing:
Behind the scenes, there's paperwork, accounting, licenses, and permits. Staying compliant with local regulations is essential. Website and Hosting, accounting, memberships, business registration and tax prep is roughly $94 per month.
📈 Investments & Savings:
Setting aside funds for future equipment upgrades and unforeseen expenses is a smart business move. When I buy equipment I'm given a Life cycle cost (LCC) for each machine I buy. This gives me an idea of maintenace costs over its life and a replacement guideline for the entire machine. Each asset varies greatly in its operational and replacement cost, my commercial ride on Mower as an example is as high as $33 per hour based on 700 hours of operation across its life. Currently operating the rideon 8 hours a week so I will be looking at a replacement mid 2025.
To provide you with top-notch service, I've invested a whopping $40,000 in our arsenal of equipment. Here's a glimpse of what that investment includes:
Commercial Push Mowers: These beasts are the workhorses of our operation, ensuring precise and efficient lawn cutting.
Commercial Ride-On Mowers: For larger properties, our trusty ride-ons help us cover ground swiftly and with precision, these are both cut and catch and also slash only.
🌾 Whipper Snippers: They're the fine-tuning artists, making sure every edge and corner is immaculate.
Plus!
Commercial petrol leaf Blowers
Hand tools
Chainsaws
Polesaws
Ladders
🚚 Trailers: To transport our equipment safely and efficiently to your lawns, we've got reliable trailers in our fleet.
Now, here's the kicker – this hefty investment doesn't even cover the cost of our tow vehicle! 🚗 Our vehicle is the unsung hero, responsible for getting our equipment to your doorstep.
I'm sharing this to emphasize our commitment to delivering the best service possible. Quality equipment means quality results, and we're dedicated to maintaining these tools at their peak performance to keep your lawns looking their finest.
Thanks for entrusting us with your lawncare needs! Your support means the world to us. 🌿✂️
