Farmwithjunk
Super Member
BRUSHTAMERS said:If you've got a part or full time job with flexible hours, and the ground is good 10 months out of the year for mowing, I think you'd probably do O.K. for purchasing a tractor and mower for commercial work. Farmwithjunk and I are on the same page entirely with the exception of new/used equipment. I started my Brushcutting business with the motto, "Old fashioned experience, Cutting edge tools". and had the resources to buy a new tractor and mower at the time. Have done O.K. with the business, upgraded to a Cab model 4x4 tractor last year, and replaced a broken brush hog the fall previous.I do all kinds of mowing, but with mostly 5' to 7' mowers. There's a private outfit locally that has a Cat Challenger with flex wing mower,has a buttload of property in the county, and about 200 guys and girls working for him. Don't see myself getting into that market. This big owner can work any larger property, and absorb any loss, without going under. I've been diverse in implements, and bring the mower to suit the terrain and offending grass or brush. I own a 6' brush hog,6' offset rear flail, 7 1/2' finish mower, 10' boom flail, 6' box scraper, 6' landscape rake,4" chipper/shredder, and run a 4 in 1 bucket on the front of the tractor. Oregon law prohibits me from any subsoil work unless I have a contractors license, so I don't have a backhoe yet, for rooting out stumps. But I could purchase one for personal use. See how that works?Don't get discoureged quite yet,If your're willing to put in the hours, you can make this work, IF the demand is there in your area. Sidey BRUSHTAMERS
On using "older" tractors..... We also have a brand new Deere 6430 (w/cab) and a brand new Bush Hog 2615 batwing for bigger work. Johnny (my son) farms on a small scale just like his ol' man did. The tractor's cost will be split between the two enterprise's. On the smaller jobs, with the level of competition around here, the work just doesn't pay a high enough price to make buying all new tractors a viable alternative. There just flat isn't enough money in it..... The "older" tractors I have are all in relatively "new" condition. I refuse to use junk. (Got a couple competitors that don't mind using garbage)
We have one of those "mowing tycoons" here too. Lots of new (read EXPENSIVE) trucks, fancy uniforms replete with logo's, several "supervisors" riding around from job to job, an office that would satisfy Donald *****, and enough overhead to rival our federal gov. In good times they have it going on. When times get a little leaner (as they appear to be now) they have their hands full trying to make payroll and pay for their equipment. I'm "old school" about that. I'd rather have money in the bank than a yard full of high tech tractors. I'm not opposed to replacing worn out equipment with new, IF....IF there's enough work already contracted to pay for it, but I won't "speculate" and buy on the hope that I will someday garner enough work to make it pay off. I never did that with my farm, and I won't do it with this mowing business.
I'm getting along in the years myself. Under normal circumstances, I'd just mow my own ground and let someone else have all this big fun. My goal is to start up a "family business" to keep my son-in-law (hence my daughter and grandkids) fed. My son will be involved too, but he's an industrious type who would make it on his own with no help from me. (SIL is quite a different story) As much as anything, I'm trying to drive home a point. The point is, don't spend what you don't have. Buy what you NEED, not what you want. We won't have one single piece of equipment that carries a payment book. Everything is paid for from the get-go. If work gets slow, there's no collection agency pounding on the door. I've raised the point with both of them that when you're finished and gone home, no one (except your banker) will know if you mowed their property with a 2007 cab tractor or a 1970 plain jane utility if you're equipment is in decent shape. Also keep in mind that this is a start up business, NOT one with a 20 year accumulation of dedicated, loyal customers. Don't dive head-first into the pool until you know just how deep it is.