Small Field Mowing Business?

[JJZ 109]

Well why are you making assumptions about us small time guys saying we cant compete?? Im not a bad guy because I can under bid you and my tractor doesnt shine as nice as yours. So far all Ive done in repairs is a water pump. Ive plowed, disked and planted 5 acres with no issues. New equipment and a higher fee doesnt mean better quality. Not around here anyways. Believe me if I had a choice between doing this or having a regular job with benefits, the tractor would be in the barn. But its all good.

Not a knock on you at all if you do it out of necessity. Gotta do what you gotta do to keep your household running.
However, the knock isn't about guys undercutting others' rates. Maybe we've got to charge a little more because we're dealing with other costs of business like insurances, advertising, accounting, software to keep track of expenses & income, fuel bills for hauling the equipment further and to more jobs, etc.
In many cases a fly by nighter pays none of those costs, sweeps in and does low quality work on an unsuspecting customer and then disappears. That's what guys like jenkins and I have a problem with. All we're saying is that sometimes you get what you pay for with the low budget price.

 

[Ford tractor]

Cultivating good customers??? You mean finding suckers that are willing to pay crazy money for a good service that I can provide for less. Im a Lowballer with a older Tractor that stays busy all the time. I have a good group of returning customers that I work for that pay me good. But less than you charge, Ive been layed off from my job for a year and feed my kids just fine being a "Lowballer" and provide quality work at a great price.

It's not about low ballers or finding suckers. It's supply and demand. Obviously his area of Miss is willing and able to pay for the service he provides. And just as obviously, your area is not. Around here, there are plenty of guys with small equipment that do tillage, etc on small plots for little money. That keeps the supply up and the demand is always filled (cheaply).

Typically, the people that under charge for the service will be out of the game when they figure out that they are paying the customer for the privilege of mowing his weeds. Sadly, that's usually after they get caught by the IRS for not paying taxes or get sued for breaking a window / chipping paint on a new car, or even when the tractor breaks in the field and they can't afford to get it hauled out and fixed.

Heck, one guy I know got over $2000 in DOT fines because he broke that total weight 10,001 pound barrier. Had not done a DOT inspection, did not have USDOT number, no commercial insurance, no drivers log, no safety equipment, bad brakes on 4 axles, overloaded trailer, blinker out, 8 tires with too little tread and the list went on and on. He didn't have some ratty old big rig, it was a pretty new F150 and an older car hauler trailer. But the truck, trailer plus load was close to 11,000# on the scales. WI requires USDOT numbers plus all the same stuff a big rig needs if you are commercial and 10,001 pounds or over. A tid-bit he may have leaned had he gotten commercial insurance

Hope your customer base keeps you with food on the table until you get that day job back!

 

[knightrider955]

It's not about low ballers or finding suckers. It's supply and demand. Obviously his area of Miss is willing and able to pay for the service he provides. And just as obviously, your area is not. Around here, there are plenty of guys with small equipment that do tillage, etc on small plots for little money. That keeps the supply up and the demand is always filled (cheaply).

Typically, the people that under charge for the service will be out of the game when they figure out that they are paying the customer for the privilege of mowing his weeds. Sadly, that's usually after they get caught by the IRS for not paying taxes or get sued for breaking a window / chipping paint on a new car, or even when the tractor breaks in the field and they can't afford to get it hauled out and fixed.

Heck, one guy I know got over $2000 in DOT fines because he broke that total weight 10,001 pound barrier. Had not done a DOT inspection, did not have USDOT number, no commercial insurance, no drivers log, no safety equipment, bad brakes on 4 axles, overloaded trailer, blinker out, 8 tires with too little tread and the list went on and on. He didn't have some ratty old big rig, it was a pretty new F150 and an older car hauler trailer. But the truck, trailer plus load was close to 11,000# on the scales. WI requires USDOT numbers plus all the same stuff a big rig needs if you are commercial and 10,001 pounds or over. A tid-bit he may have leaned had he gotten commercial insurance

Hope your customer base keeps you with food on the table until you get that day job back!

Most of my business comes from Amish folks fortunatly. So I dont have issues with chipping cars lol. I originally wanted to stick to grading drivways and spreading gravel but ended up getting into field work. My advantage is that I dont bite off more than I can chew just because I want the job. My Tractor is older but its 60 horsepower so it usually does whatever I need it to quite easily. And I have Draft control which alot of newer machines dont. I have seen guys with much smaller tractors trying to do big jobs and end up overworking thier tractors, taking too long, and running into breakage problems. I know what my limits are and wont bid a job if I know its more than I can handle in a timely manner. Times are tough up here in Michigan. We have the highest unemployment rate in the nation. There are alot of guys like me doing what we have to do to get by. And my tractor and trailer with implements is well over 10,000 pounds. The weight adds up quick!!!

 

[jenkinsph]

Well why are you making assumptions about us small time guys saying we cant compete?? Im not a bad guy because I can under bid you and my tractor doesnt shine as nice as yours. So far all Ive done in repairs is a water pump. Ive plowed, disked and planted 5 acres with no issues. New equipment and a higher fee doesnt mean better quality. Not around here anyways. Believe me if I had a choice between doing this or having a regular job with benefits, the tractor would be in the barn. But its all good.

If you undercharge by very much you can't make enough to stay in business. Having been in business for most of my life I have a good idea of what the costs are. Most lowballers are in it for the short term, just like yourself by your own admission. These people don't impact my long term business plan much, so "I don't worry about the lowballers".

About the equipment, good tools enable a person to work faster and more efficiently. You still need to know what to do with these tools and the operator or person using these tools can make all the difference.

Mowing is an incidental part of my business and is not something I am trying to cultivate and grow. I don't have any customers that I provide only mowing or landscape maintenance services. My cultivated customers are people who have me take care of all their property needs whether it be construction, plumbing, electrical or landscaping. You know you have their confidence when the lady of the house want's you to pick the paint color.

I should also clarify that I don't have a problem with people trying to make a living and feed their families. Atleast these people are trying to work and provide for themselves. That said there are some jobs that should be left to insured and licensed professionals such as gas work and electrical work. Poorly done this can endanger other people now and in the future.

 

[RDrancher]

Well why are you making assumptions about us small time guys saying we cant compete?? Im not a bad guy because I can under bid you and my tractor doesnt shine as nice as yours. So far all Ive done in repairs is a water pump. Ive plowed, disked and planted 5 acres with no issues. New equipment and a higher fee doesnt mean better quality. Not around here anyways. Believe me if I had a choice between doing this or having a regular job with benefits, the tractor would be in the barn. But its all good.

I hate to hear of anyone losing their job and I understand that feeding your family anyway you can is job #1. Can't blame you for that.

Around my area the unemployment rate is a lot lower. Most (but not all) of the guys undercutting prices have a regular job. When I saw a guy down the road from me loading up his tractor and brush hog during the week I figured that he must have lost his regular job, so I stopped by to chat. After finding out that he's not comfortable doing anything but mowing with his machine I ended up making a deal to subcontract all of my mowing work out to him. He's fine with his rate (for now) and I can still make a small profit running him under my insurance, keep my customers happy and spend my time performing more profitable services.

I may be cultivating my own competition in a way, but mowing is a very small part of my business and like Steve, it's mostly incidental to my other services. To tell the truth...I'd be fine with never having to mow another property myself again. The other services I offer are a lot more fun!

 

[knightrider955]

I hate to hear of anyone losing their job and I understand that feeding your family anyway you can is job #1. Can't blame you for that.

Around my area the unemployment rate is a lot lower. Most (but not all) of the guys undercutting prices have a regular job. When I saw a guy down the road from me loading up his tractor and brush hog during the week I figured that he must have lost his regular job, so I stopped by to chat. After finding out that he's not comfortable doing anything but mowing with his machine I ended up making a deal to subcontract all of my mowing work out to him. He's fine with his rate (for now) and I can still make a small profit running him under my insurance, keep my customers happy and spend my time performing more profitable services.

I may be cultivating my own competition in a way, but mowing is a very small part of my business and like Steve, it's mostly incidental to my other services. To tell the truth...I'd be fine with never having to mow another property myself again. The other services I offer are a lot more fun!

Ive done the same as you but going the other way. If theres a job thats bigger than I interested in, I pass work on to another guy that does large field jobs. To my suprise, he had a 1/4 cow delivered to my house. Real stand up guy.

 

[Cranky]

OK....See how this pencils out;

1. Liability insurance.
2. legal commercial licensing (and insurance) for truck/trailer (work for money and you're a commercial vehicle.....)
3. fuel. maint, upkeep on tractor/mower
4. depreciation on equipment
5. advertising
6. professional license (as required by locality)
7. taxes, taxes, and more taxes
8. Administrative cost.

Now, You need to turn a enough "profit" to cover those cost before ANYTHING goes in your pocket. It takes a steady flow of work to offset the above.

One bad day of mowing can wipe out a dozen good days.

I can refer you to dozens of guys who found out that "bottom line" is more profitable standing at a drive up window handing out bags of french fries. (and there's a LOT less risk involved @ McDonalds)

While I agree about making more money at McDonalds, I think the CDL requirement is based on the weight of the vehicle and/or whether you are being paid to move (deliver) something.

Anyone driving to a job is "working for money".

Does a painter driving a van full of paint and ladders need a CDL?

How about a maid service that brings her own mop and vacuum cleaner?

How is a tractor any different if the trailer + tractor is under 10,000 lbs?