Читать книгу Start & Run a Landscaping Business - Joel LaRusic - Страница 34

You are a landscaping professional, so it is important that you select equipment made for professionals. First of all, you want to look the part of a lawn care expert. Would an expert show up at a jobsite with a tiny, 0.5 horsepower, electric weed whacker? No. Leave that for the kid next door, who will cut your lawn for five bucks. To separate yourself from that kid-next-door image, you must purchase professional equipment.

Second, you’re going to be giving your equipment a thorough workout day after day, which means you need commercial-quality equipment. The equipment made for the average homeowner will simply not stand up to this use and in the long run will end up costing you more money, more frustration, and more downtime.

You may not need all the equipment listed in this chapter for your own business; what you need will depend on what services you are planning to offer. As well, you may not have the cash to buy everything you want right away. However, I wanted to provide information on all the essentials, as well as advice on which items can wait until you have cash coming in regularly.

You will notice that I recommend specific brand names for many of the tools of the trade. Generally these are the biggest manufacturers of each of the major pieces of equipment. That is not to say there are no other reputable companies from which you can buy, but the names supplied will help you get started. Check out the companies’ websites to see what they offer. Then, when you visit your local dealer, you will have an idea of what you need and what you are talking about.

Choosing a Dealer

Become familiar with your local equipment dealers. If possible, talk to other landscapers and see where they shop. As you investigate equipment suppliers, ask yourself the following questions:

• What lines of equipment manufacturers do they carry? Do they specialize in one line of equipment or do they offer you a choice?

• What type of clientele do they have? Do they deal strictly with commercial companies or are they also a retail outlet? They will probably be more helpful to you if they specialize in commercial equipment.

• Do they service equipment as well as sell it? Do they have loaner equipment that you can use if yours is in the shop? (This may not necessarily be a free service, but it is a useful one.)

• If a shop has a service department, talk to the mechanics. Are they experienced? A good mechanic will know the equipment inside and out and will be able to tell you technical pros and cons of different models, what types tend to be higher maintenance than others, and what breaks down the most. Your mechanic can be an excellent source of time- and money-saving advice, so put a high priority on choosing a good one.

• Was the staff helpful in advising you on what equipment to buy? Do they offer demo models so that you can test an item before committing to the purchase?