My Favorite Tool Also Happens to Be a Liar


There is a tool that I use quite often in my lawn care business.

It saves me time, gas, and the hassle of driving all over town just to give someone a quote.

It also lies to me.

That tool?

Google Maps.

Don’t get me wrong — it’s incredibly handy.
You can zoom in, measure lawns, and get a ballpark figure without leaving your chair.

But here’s the thing most people don’t realize:

That satellite image you’re staring at might be years out of date.
(Pro tip: You can sometimes find more up-to-date images on Google Earth.)

I’ve looked up a job, measured everything out, crunched the numbers —
And then shown up to find a whole new subdivision built since that photo was taken.

Or trees hiding half the lawn.
Or steep slopes you’d never spot from above.
Or grass so long it looks like a paddock.

That’s when I learned:
Quoting from a screen is part science, part guesswork, and a whole lot of instinct.

Now I give “tentative quotes.”

I still use Maps — I just don’t trust it blindly.
I jot down my area size, do the math, then mentally adjust for all the unknowns.

Because there are always unknowns.

You can’t smell the grass from a satellite image.
Can’t feel the slope.
Can’t hear the customer say,

“Oh, by the way, the back gate’s locked — you’ll need to carry everything around.”

It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn the hard way.

Technology helps — but it’s no replacement for experience.


Here’s a free video of how I measure lawns using Google Maps:


Until next time, get out there, mow lawns, and have fun.
Stuart
Lawnmowing101


P.S.Need a website for your lawn care business?
I’ll build and host it for just US$199/year — no setup fees.
Reply and I’ll send you the next steps.

Hi and Welcome to my page

Start and grow a six-figure lawn care business in your spare time. Increase your income every year by working smarter, not harder. Tips and tricks to your inbox each week. We care about our subscribers and we will never spam you or pass your details to anyone.

Read more from Hi and Welcome to my page

Profit isn’t just about what you charge. It’s about what you keep. When fuel prices started climbing, I saw how fast it ate into profits, especially if you’re running a lawn care business. I’ve been there. And I didn’t want to raise prices just to stay afloat. So, I made a few smart shifts to protect my bottom line: ✅ Optimized my routes using free tools like RouteXL and Google Maps → Less driving. Less gas wasted. ✅ Maintained my equipment with clean air filters, sharp blades, and proper...

When you're just starting out, it's easy to feel like you're already behind. The big guys have flashy trucks, commercial-grade gear, and full-time admin staff handling their bookings. You? You're loading a mower into your personal car, hoping everything fits. But here's the thing most people miss: You can beat the big guys by being faster, leaner, and hungrier. You don’t need to spend tens of thousands just to get started. Top-end domestic mowers will do 90% of what you need without the...

Spring Is The Time to Clean House (and Lawns) As the weather warms up, it's not just the yards that need pruning; our business does too.After scaling our little business to over 450 lawns and then downsizing Nowadays, when we get close to 200 lawns, we hit pause and ask ourselves: Do we want to grind this hard again? The answer is always a clear nope. So, we start trimming not the hedges, but the client list. We let go of: Late payers Trampoline obstacle courses Difficult-access backyards And...