[Dale Wiley]

Ive realised this was a mistake to ask for help and advice, all I got from the majority was slashed and ridiculed.

No... what you got was real world advice. There was no ridicule... there never will be on here. You will get good solid, uncensored business advice.

Family friends, paid or un paid, you have to have w/c insurance. You have to have contracting liability to protect your clients.

It is probly as simple as having them sign a release form.

Most releases are not worth the paper they are written on. It is still a litigiously (sp??)matter, release or no release.

I have looked and looked and looked and there is no other company/business around here just laying sod.

I wonder why... probably because you cannot make a living and legitimate business "just" laying sod. If there was, another company would have started that model. It would be a volume production business and not diversified enough to hold up under an economic slowdown, which trust me, will come in the next 5 years.

The landscaping companies around here are charging almost double to lay the Sod as well.

Again.. I wonder why ??? Because that is what it takes to run a business... if you gain your market share strictly on a price point basis, you find it hard to retain that business when you actually have to pay employees, and you will find that your rates, "may have to charge double" what you are now.

Who will I be hurting to do 2 or 3 lawns on a saturday?

Absolutely no one. But be prepared to deal with what ever happens if you do things that go against normal business practices and laws, and a legitimate landscape business calls you out on it.

and make sure you can't get in trouble if someone gets hurt.

He probably won't if he has minimal assets, but the dirt bag lawyers will go after the home owner, the home owners dog, his cat, his uncle, his uncles cat, if they think he can get money for an injury on the property they are working on.

I think it is great that you have this ambition at such a young age. No many in your age do, so I commend that. I was very similar at the same age. But I am merely making you aware of what could happen in the scenario you describe.

If you came into my market, and were doing some of the things you have described, I would hammer you to every regulatory agency I could.

That's business. Nothing personal, just business.

And if you were in my market and asked me for advice, I would give you everything I possibly could to help you out, and avoid the mistakes I made 28 years ago.

If I tolerate some one doing illegal things to gain a competitive advantage, then I am negligent as a business owner. I would expect with your ambition, you would develop a similar attitude after someone eats your lunch a few times. Your young, and energetic. I wish I had that level of stamina.

But I have raised 5 kids, the youngest a bit older than you. After you have had to feed and clothe those young bodies, you get pretty damn defensive about your business, and that is called survival.

If you want spreadsheets, my budget, estimating spreadsheets, hourly rate calculators, PM me with your e mail address and I will send you a lot of stuff to help you out.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask for advice... this is a great site...but be prepared to accept the wisdom of the ages if we feel you are about ready to step in .

Good Luck... I wish you the best.