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who has time for a breakdown?
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When you're busy with your lawn mowing business, it can seem like it's go-go-go all the time. Lawns to mow... Quotes to do... Days to plan. Who has time for a breakdown? It's certainly never something that can be planned or scheduled... And it always seems to come at the worst possible time. My number one tip here that can save you hours of running around is a simple one. I used to pack up and take my machine straight to the mower shop when it broke down. Then after a few years (yes I'm a slow learner), I noticed that the first thing they always did was replace the spark plug. So I started carrying spare spark plugs for all my gear. Nine times out of ten a new spark plug gets the machine going again. One trip to the mower shop saved. But what happens when replacing the plug doesn't work? Sometimes when you run it to the shop it's a quick fix and you're back on the road half an hour later. The real problem starts if the shop needs to order parts to get the job done. If you're just starting off and only working a handful of lawns... This won't present a massive problem. Just tell your customers you're running a few days late, and there won't be too many issues. However... If all your days are fully booked, you will have a problem. You can't sit around and wait for that call to say your machine is ready. This is why we always have a backup machine available at home. We didn't go out and buy new machines for this job. We use the machines that we put aside when we buy new equipment. It's a good idea to keep your old machines and take them out for a day every now and then to keep them in good working order. I always try to buy the same make and model every time too. This can help when your mower shop needs to order parts. It's not uncommon for me to shoot home and pick up a dead machine to cannibalize for parts to get back on the road again. New lawn care guys think one mower is enough. Then it breaks down during their busiest week.
Smart operators have backup systems for everything. Not just equipment... backup plans for weather, staff, and scheduling. So if you want to build a lawn care business with backup systems for everything... Join our free community, where we share contingency plans, equipment strategies, and how to keep your business running no matter what breaks down: [Join the free Lawn Business Builders Pro group]Stuart P.S. The time to buy your second machine is when the first one is being fixed and you can't afford to wait. Then once the initial machine is fixed, you have your first backup. |
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Build a Six-Figure Lawn Care Business in Your Spare Time. Stop trading time for money. Get one short, actionable tip delivered to your inbox every morning to help you work smarter and scale faster. Privacy Note: Join 5,000+ pros. 100% privacy, zero spam.
There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." This also applies to starting your own lawn mowing business. You may be thinking that the economy isn't that great right now... And maybe you should wait for a better time. Honestly... If you keep waiting for that perfect moment, it is never going to happen. Even if you're working part- or full-time at another job... There's nothing stopping you from creating a side...
All too often I drive past a job and wonder what the lawn guy was thinking. The edges are poorly done... And there are random chunks of grass on the lawn. It looks horrible. I often walk my dog past a local business, and I've commented to my wife about the state of the lawns. I figured that it was because the business got a worker who didn't know much about lawn mowing to do the lawns. I was shocked to walk past the other day and see one of the largest landscaping companies doing the lawn....
Let's say I had to start my business all over again today. No equipment... No vehicle... And no money. I wouldn't even bother chasing mowing jobs straight away. Why? Because mowing requires gear... And most of it isn't cheap if you're starting from scratch. Instead, I'd go after garden cleanups. Most garden jobs can be done with a pair of gloves... A shovel... A bucket... And a bit of effort. You can tidy up weedy gardens... Remove green waste... And make things look good without spending a...