Sandy asks…

Dont know where to start to open landscape company?

I am located in Palatine IL and am very excited to start a new faze in my carrier. My brother and I want to open a lawncare busines, starting in residential and eventually graduate into commercial. I do not know the first step about starting this type of business and whats required (other then the equipment). Can you help me out or point us in the right Direction? I have already incorporated and we have the company name and logo with flyers and cards and also have a friend setting up our website.

I do not know a thing about pricing, insurance requirements, pay for FTE's (full time employees) or what I actually need to open the door. This will be a home based business. The only expierence we have is cutting lawns growing up and maintaining our family and our own lawn's and garden's today. They have told us that we do such a good job, we should start our own business...and you know what? We are ready!

Thanks a million!

mr e-mail is Harleydavidsonguy@comcast.net

landscapeliving answers:

Use this basic checklist to make sure all the important steps are taken before you launch your new venture. This business checklist will make sure that you cross all your t's and dot all your i's before your business launch.

Steps to Starting a Business -

http://www.developer-resource.com/starting-a-business.htm

Other sites you might find helpful are:
SBA - http://www.sba.gov/
SCORE - http://www.score.org
Small Business Resource - http://www.small-business-software.net
Business Link - http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home

Goodluck!

Laura asks…

About how much would it cost to start a landscaping company from scratch?

All the equipment, building to store everything in etc.

landscapeliving answers:

Can't give you an amount, but you should ask the following questions. How big or small are the landscaping jobs you'll be handling.
Will it be mostly Dad/Mom type house lots (3bedroom/2car garage & small yard), or Bigger say 1/2 Acre Lot or maybe Government Contract Bids and is it just you working or will you use hired workers?
I would think you would need a hand grass power mower (tractor type mower for Large Lots), gas powered weed cutter and edger, shears of different sizes, tree pole cutter, Tool Shed, etc. To get a rough estimate on the cost, walk through a Hardware Store like Home Depot, etc. And write-down the different prices of the tools
you'll be using and find out if you need Government Permits and how much they cost. Do you have a Pick-up Truck or do you have to buy one and Office supplies to Bill your customers, etc.
Hope this gives you an idea of how much it will cost.

Betty asks…

How bad is exposure to gas fumes?

I work in an office attached to a shop where all of the equipment/vehicles are kept and maintained for the company (landscaping). The fumes from the shop are really overwhelming not to mention we share the same heat so we get the smell through the vents and the door leading to the shop.I'm wondering, Just how much of a threat are these fumes to my health?
The equipment and vehicles are not running that often. And there is sometimes spilled gas that adds to the smell.

landscapeliving answers:

It would depend what the fumes are - carbon monoxide? You've got problems. Methane? Stinky, but not so damaging.

Sharon asks…

I want to quit my job but if I do I will screw my company over...what do I do?

I work for a landscaping / snow removal company. I am currently doing snow removal and I'm running a crew of 2 people and I'm in charge of making sure 9 commercial lots have their sidewalks clear. I am only 19 years old and I absolutely hate my job. It is too stressful for me. I have thought about quitting but I promised my company I would work all throughout the winter. I am the only one in my crew that can operate the machinery and equipment and if I quit, my company would probly abandon the contract worth about $7,500 per month. I feel too much is on my shoulders and I can't take the pressure. What should I do?

landscapeliving answers:

Tell your boss that you're really feeling overwhelmed and need some help. It sounds like they value you quite a bit so if the boss has any sense at all he/she will take the time to talk with you and see if something that be worked out to take some of the pressure off you. Remind the boss that you are only 19 and this level of responsibility is freaking you out. There should be something they can do to help you. Believe me, I know how you feel...I'm in a job that I really really dislike but I have to stay in until next August due to some specific financial reasons and benefits. I find some short-term goal to think about, like, Christmas is only ten days away and then I'll have a 3-day weekend, I can hang on until then. Then I find another one, like I have a vacation coming up in 2 months, or whatever.

Just talking to someone you can trust about how you feel can make a world of difference. There are very likely some changes that can be made that will help ease your feeling of being overwhelmed. My hunch is, your strong sense of responsibility and integrity are a big part of why you were hired for such a responsible job at such a young age.

As much as you hate what you're doing, if you stick it out, you will be proud of yourself afterwards and you will have a valuable reference for your next job. Also keep in mind you are performing a very valuable service--people would be stuck in their homes (or worse, at work!) if not for you, couldn't get food, medicine, etc. Good luck!

Sandra asks…

Can your employer force you to sign a contract?

I work for a landscaping company in the state of Ohio. The company is well established and has been in business for over 30 years. I was hired in May of this year.

Recently I was working at a residential account and accidentally kicked up a small stone and broke a window on the house ($225). About 3 weeks after the incident my boss handed me a paycheck and said "Yeah we took the money out of your check for the window! I of course told my boss "you can't do that, unless I agree to it, you are required by the state to be bonded and insured....you took the money out of my check so you don't have to make a claim in your policy"!

I still have not been given my money back. In addition I hung up a copy of the Ohio Revised code by the time clock for others to read, (and who had been taken advantage of in the past) the code states that your employer cannot withhold earnings for profit or any other type of benefit. Upon seeing this posting by me, my boss typed up a letter and put it in everyone's recent paycheck. The letter basically says all employees are responsible for any and all damages to residential accounts and or company equipment, and it further states you are to sign the letter or you will not receive your next paycheck.

Can my employer force me to sign that contract?

landscapeliving answers:

No he cannot force you. However, unless you already have a contract he can make continued employment conditioned on your agreement. If you do not have a contract then employment is a new contract every day and if you do not like the contract that is being offered tomorrow, you can reject and walk away or you can try to negotiate a better contract. BTW, your claim of accidentally breaking the window is clearly a lie. Some lies can be detected even in writing.

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