How to go about doing this....

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Mar 29, 2005 | 09:59 PM

Mudder

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 589

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From: Rochester, MA

How to go about doing this....

Hey guys,so ive decided this summer/spring im gonna go ahead and try to be my own boss to earn some extra money.Im thinking about offering services such as yard clean ups and maintenance like mowing etc etc. and attic and basement clean-ups. Now there are alot of mainly eldery towns surrounding me,and id love to target them as a opportunity to offer them a much lower price on keeping there lawn maintained then if they went with a larger landscaping company.

Im not looking to get rich off this by any means,im hoping for 100-200 a week,just enough to pay my bills and such. Now i dont have anyone really to ask about this,so im hoping someone here could help me out,Whats the best way to get my name out there besides the obvious flyers at the grocery stores. I have never really done landscaping and lawn maintence professionally,but have done many yards for family friends so i have a few references i can provide as well. So any help or advice you guys could gimme would be greatly appreciated as i hope to get this rolling in the next month or so.thanks in advance!

Mar 29, 2005 | 10:32 PM

Greywolf

Fleet Owner

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 29,941

Likes: 46

From: Drummonds, TN USA

One thing you need is a tax ID number. Likely an "Employee Identification Number".

You call the IRS for that (same as for a subcontractor).

You'll be filing your own taxes, and dealing with your own insurance and stuff as well -

It gets complicated

Mar 29, 2005 | 11:16 PM

bigredsbronco

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 104

Likes: 0

From: Idaho

you don't need an employee id number ( the description implies it) unless you are planning on hireing employees, and as small as you are talking it is considered a home based business, so you will need to check with your county to find out if you need a business license. the best advertisement is word of mouth. I used to work partime for an auto repair facility in southern ca. while in the Air Force decided that it was too much hassle so when I retired from USAF moved up here, bought a house with a small bit of land and started my own auto repair shop right here at home. started with neighbors asked them to tell friends and family if they thought my work was good enough, it worked 4 years later I went back to college got 2 associates in automotive technology, anyway I have a home based business that is constant enough to pay all the bills and a bit to spend on my bronco. it stays busy for me even when the local shops are scratching for work and ONLY from word of mouth, I have never advertised and probably never will. also when people find out I don't advertise it sells them even more.

Mar 29, 2005 | 11:23 PM

aerocolorado

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 3,818

Likes: 3

Unless you are self insured and bonded many of your most lucrative clients will not use your services for fear of being sued if you are injured on their property. Insurance isn't cheap so check beforehand. If you get it, say so on your business card. Word of mouth is your best advertising - one good customer leads to another. Don't practice predatory pricing, e.g. undercutting the local rates. This seems counterintutive but people who can afford to pay for lawn services expect to pay the "going rate" and are suspicious of someone offering to do it "a whole lot cheaper". These people are more concerned with the quality of the job rather than the price paid and will be your best customers if you understand this going in. Trying to undercut prices only hurts you in the long run.