With my retirement coming up in just under a year and a half, I am contemplating what I am going to to after the Army. I am mulling several types of jobs in my head, and also considering a couple of self employed things such as running a lawn care service in the Central Texas area.

The start up costs are not an issue, as I can easily purchase a zero turn and push mower, and trimmers and such. I can also pick up a trailer no problems. So, getting started is too easy.

I have an idea of what I want to make a month, as I want to put my military retirement straight into savings, and my wifes pay too. I want to use this venture to make enough for a mortgage payment, utilities, food and spending money. So, that will equate into having to service X amount of yards/jobs a week while charging Y amount.

So, for those who use a lawn care service, how much do you pay, and what is the approximate time your service takes to complete to job of mowing, edging, and blowing? Thanks for your info.

In Spring. $40 for 6 guys who take about 20 min.

Fort Worth
$50
Less than an hour, one Mexican with his own equipment.

Those are pretty much the amounts I was hoping for. I plan on it being just a one man operation, being me. I think knocking out 5-6 a day minimum for four days would be pretty close, and use Friday as a maintenance day. I think the most important thing is to find and build the clientele, which means not starting this business in an area already saturated with this type of work.

NW Houston. $50 - large yard and county ditch. 2 guys 1 hour. Mow, weed eater, and blow only.

Just doing lawns is fine but eventually you will get sucked into general landscaping and that eats up your time

aggiedent said:

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In Spring. $40 for 6 guys who take about 20 min.

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Sounds like you have a sizable yard to get done. I would have to develop a good system for estimating costs on properties that are out of the norm for the average homeowner.

SteveBott said:

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Just doing lawns is fine but eventually you will get sucked into general landscaping and that eats up your time

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That is what I would fight to not get into, as I have no intent on hiring help and all the things that come along with it. I might expand into brush or tree trimming/removal during the late fall and winter months, but that would be the extent of what I would want to expand into. A chainsaw and a wood chipper probably would not cost too much to add to the equipment list, but that would then mean I need a container bed truck for all the chips. That would probably be the max of any expansion.

I wouldn't bother with a chipper just load your empty trailer and haul off to dump or recycle place.

I pay 200/month. I know it's a crew of guys but I don't know how long it takes them. I would strongly encourage you to do a monthly program that is year round. That way you have steady cash flow and your clients get their leaves raked in the fall and their sidewalks and drive way swept every day. You could also hang Christmas lights in the winter. I would also suggest you use Monday as a maintence day because most people are going to want their yard mowed as close to Saturday as possible. If they are having people over they won't want their yard shaggy. One last thought, I would try and do more than 5-6 a day, once you've mowed a yard a few times you figure out the fastest way to do it. Also your overhead will be more than you think. Good luck, I had 26 yards in high school and got them all done on Wednesday's and thursdays in the summer but the rest of the year I worked on them pretty much every day because of school.

Northeast suburbs of Dallas. $25 for a 2 man crew. They mow, edge & blow. They come twice a month.

EnglishElhew07 said:

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I pay 200/month. I know it's a crew of guys but I don't know how long it takes them. I would strongly encourage you to do a monthly program that is year round. That way you have steady cash flow and your clients get their leaves raked in the fall and their sidewalks and drive way swept every day. You could also hang Christmas lights in the winter. I would also suggest you use Monday as a maintence day because most people are going to want their yard mowed as close to Saturday as possible. If they are having people over they won't want their yard shaggy. One last thought, I would try and do more than 5-6 a day, once you've mowed a yard a few times you figure out the fastest way to do it. Also your overhead will be more than you think. Good luck, I had 26 yards in high school and got them all done on Wednesday's and thursdays in the summer but the rest of the year I worked on them pretty much every day because of school.

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That is all good advice, thank you. Never really thought about the monthly route for services.

As for the amount per day, that was a quick off the top of my head number, but you are right, once you get in a rhythm you can knock out more per day. I am not trying to kill myself making money, just a good steady amount in the spring/summer/fall. Thank you again for the ideas.

Living in the DFW burbs, about $25 weekly for the average suburban sized yard (mow, edge, trim, blow). Those mentioning $40-50 must have large yards. When I had a 1/3 acre cul de sac lot that backed up to an easement (back was huge), I paid $38/wk. Crew if 4 that takes about 15 min, is there the same day/time each week like clockwork, and pretty much rain or shine. Takes a gullywasher to stop them, and even then, they'll be there later that day once rain calma.

They'd start in mid-March and the first mow would be more of a scalp with bagging/cleanup. They charge a 2x price premium on that one. Then a week off afyer the scalp/bag, then weekly until early Oct, every other week during Oct, and done in early November.

My neighbor and I cut each others grass all the time. Yards aren't very big, and once you get the mower/trimmer/blower out and going, another 15 minutes/one more beer ain't no big deal. You might see if you can swing a deal with several houses in a row. Save you a trip and a mob/demob

As far as equipment, I think I could get going with around a $6000 initial outlay for the following, which would be paid with cash up front, no financing:

$3000- 34-42 inch zero turn mower. It needs to be small enough to fit through the average size gate to get into the back yard, yet big enough to still cover ground quickly.

$1200- 6x12 utility trailer with ramp.

$200- good quality gas weedeater.

$200- good quality gas edger.

$200- good quality gas blower.

That leaves $1200 for supplies and things that I am not thinking about right this second.

$35 for 4 guys in about 20 minutes.

In CS. I pay as needed. $35 for small 6000 sq/ft size suburb lots. Up to $50 for 11,000 sq/ft. Two guys, maybe 30-45 minutes max with all the right equipment.

If you can provide good communication and customer service, ask for referrals, and you'll have all the business you want.

I've had two good lawn guys in the last 7-8 years. Both were starting from scratch and we're bigger than they wanted to be within 2 years.

$60 / week in Southlake. Half-acre lot. Includes trimming and edging.

Cleaning beds and trimming shrubs is $250. Adding mulch is another $300.

Thank you to all for the information. I have been building a spreadsheet with ideas and information for a while, and this will help tremendously with making a decision in the future of what I want to do.

I am open to more suggestions on anything related to this. Thank you.

clarythedrill said:

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As far as equipment, I think I could get going with around a $6000 initial outlay for the following, which would be paid with cash up front, no financing:

$3000- 34-42 inch zero turn mower. It needs to be small enough to fit through the average size gate to get into the back yard, yet big enough to still cover ground quickly.

$1200- 6x12 utility trailer with ramp.

$200- good quality gas weedeater.

$200- good quality gas edger.

$200- good quality gas blower.

That leaves $1200 for supplies and things that I am not thinking about right this second.

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You'll need a walk behind mower as well.

Yard mowing is like oil changes for car service places - a way to get you in the door and keep the lights on. You will find there is so much competition for just yard mowing that the price is dictated by the market. Landscape companies make their money on installs/renovations.

A one man gang will max out the amount of money you can make in a week pretty quickly based on how many yards you can do in a day - and it won't be near what you think.

Buy commercial equipment:
Toro walk behind - new, about $1400
Stihl Blower - $400-$500 varies on CFM
Stihl Edgers and weedeaters - $300-$350/each

Get your Chemical Applicators Lic and Irrigators Lic and apply fert, preemerge, kill weeds, and fix irrigation. If you do that one day/week you can probably make as much or more net as you do mowing yards for 3 or 4 days.

It is a lot harder business than most people think. That being said, I have a small side business with one guy that does all the mowing, etc and I do the chemical apps and small irrigation jobs and we could have as much business as we want, but labor is the issue. My guy has worked for me for 20 years and I don't have to even check up on his work - but, I also give him most of the money for the mowing services. I won't take on any more business because I don't think I could find somebody to trust like him.

Maybe add power washing to services offered in winter time when things slow down lawn wise. Driveways and walks.

Och26-58-87 said:

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clarythedrill said:

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As far as equipment, I think I could get going with around a $6000 initial outlay for the following, which would be paid with cash up front, no financing:

$3000- 34-42 inch zero turn mower. It needs to be small enough to fit through the average size gate to get into the back yard, yet big enough to still cover ground quickly.

$1200- 6x12 utility trailer with ramp.

$200- good quality gas weedeater.

$200- good quality gas edger.

$200- good quality gas blower.

That leaves $1200 for supplies and things that I am not thinking about right this second.

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You'll need a walk behind mower as well.

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I already own a good push mower that does not get used since we get free lawn care on base. I also have a weedeater with the detachable ends for edging, trimming and blowing, but figured a separate one of each of those would be better than wearing out the power head on the interchangeable one. I would probably get a new push mower though, since many back yards probably do not have gates wide enough for a 42" zero turn.

Larry S Ross said:

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Maybe add power washing to services offered in winter time when things slow down lawn wise. Driveways and walks.

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That is a very good idea, had not thought about that possibility. I have an electric powerwasher now and a brand new gas generator that would work great for that. I could also clean the brick facades of houses too.

But let me ask, if you were paying for that service, would you let me use your water or expect me to have a small water trailer? A small water tank would be easy enough to put on equipment trailer when not using the lawn equipment though I guess.

TMfrisco said:

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Yard mowing is like oil changes for car service places - a way to get you in the door and keep the lights on. You will find there is so much competition for just yard mowing that the price is dictated by the market. Landscape companies make their money on installs/renovations.

A one man gang will max out the amount of money you can make in a week pretty quickly based on how many yards you can do in a day - and it won't be near what you think.

Buy commercial equipment:
Toro walk behind - new, about $1400
Stihl Blower - $400-$500 varies on CFM
Stihl Edgers and weedeaters - $300-$350/each

Get your Chemical Applicators Lic and Irrigators Lic and apply fert, preemerge, kill weeds, and fix irrigation. If you do that one day/week you can probably make as much or more net as you do mowing yards for 3 or 4 days.

It is a lot harder business than most people think. That being said, I have a small side business with one guy that does all the mowing, etc and I do the chemical apps and small irrigation jobs and we could have as much business as we want, but labor is the issue. My guy has worked for me for 20 years and I don't have to even check up on his work - but, I also give him most of the money for the mowing services. I won't take on any more business because I don't think I could find somebody to trust like him.

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Do you have your own trailer with a water tank attached? If so, what size of tank would you recommend?

Use their water and buy a gas 3000psi and stick to driveways and walks. You can put a lot of money into bigger rigs w water tanks and using cleaning chemicals. My suggestion was just a supplement to your original plan in months when grass quits growing but still keeping customers happy.
Gutter cleaning as well.
Your getting so much work ideas thrown at you maybe you shouldn't retire and just keep working

Larry S Ross said:

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Use their water and buy a gas 3000psi and stick to driveways and walks. You can put a lot of money into bigger rigs w water tanks and using cleaning chemicals. My suggestion was just a supplement to your original plan in months when grass quits growing but still keeping customers happy.
Gutter cleaning as well.
Your getting so much work ideas thrown at you maybe you shouldn't retire and just keep working

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LOL, I will be at 30, I have to retire. Ya, these are all great ideas, which will help me decide what I eventually want to do. Nothing listed above is hard, but would definitely require planning to work into a viable money making venture.

I am fairly certain that working for a boss is not in my future. I do work for a boss now, but I have unlimited freedom to make decisions and make things happen and do not have a nose looking over my shoulder, and haven't for decades. So not sure how that transition would work. I know that I do not want an office job, I want to be out working with my body. I farmed before the Army, so hard outside work is something I have done since I was 13 when my granddad stuck me on a tractor in his cotton fields.

I ain't paying someone to power wash with my water

MookieBlaylock said:

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I ain't paying someone to power wash with my water

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Price just went up $8!

MookieBlaylock said:

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I ain't paying someone to power wash with my water

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I feel the same way, hence the question above if that poster would expect them to have their own water source, or utilize the owners faucet.

I had a one man business to earn extra money that I quit about 15 years ago. I invested around 5k on a Texas Bragg trailer, 32" Scag walk behind, an Echo back pack blower, an Echo edger, and a Shindaiwa trimmer. I had a church and an average of about 6-8 yards. I would cut one evening a week and all day on Fridays and I earned about 1200-1400 a month during the growing season. With the exception of the church property, all of my payments were in cash. I have since sold the mower, but still have all of the other equipment and it operates the same as the day I bought it. Invest in high quality, commercial equipment!

BTW...your estimate on the ZTR is about 40% of what you want to invest for a business. My commercial walk behind was a little over 3K, but well worth it.

clarythedrill said:

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MookieBlaylock said:

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I ain't paying someone to power wash with my water

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I feel the same way, hence the question above if that poster would expect them to have their own water source, or utilize the owners faucet.

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ETA Geez my spelling sucks but glasses broke and I'm drinking. Hope you get my point.


I think kookier was joking if not my bad. Big diff in cost if you want to hire a commercial power washer w all the gear for a driveway and some sidewalk or a guy w a Lowe's peer eager to bring his over to do a four hour job.
If you hire a remodel to come do some work at your house are you expecting him to bring generator or does he use your power outlets in house.

I live in south tx where water is far more valuable than electricity

But depends in the job

MookieBlaylock said:

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I live in south tx where water is far more valuable than electricity

But depends in the job

Got it.! Just expect to pay more than cost of water out of your faucet.

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Apologies to op. Getting in the weeds here. Good luck to all.