[Lanelle]

I agree that you have to run your business the way you want to run it, but the IRS has some pretty rigid ideas about how you should do business and keep records when tax time rolls around, which is more than once a year unfortunately. Once you've been in business for a while, you have to pay federal taxes quarterly. And that's just the start so find a good accountant who understands small business and get yourself set up properly from the start. If you don't pay in when the IRS wants you to, the penalties and interest will eat your profit and rob you of peaceful sleep.
As you go along, you will develop policies about how to conduct business with clients. Common sense and an understanding of human nature will serve you well.

[landscaperpro]

Ryn, treesmiths hit it on the head as did everyone else. We started out slow and easy, at one point we were maintaining 160 residential accounts a week. They sure were some long days. I think the best thing I ever did was naming my business. I was raised old fashioned and believe in those values, hence that is how my business is run. I incorporatedmy name in the business, and have gotten to the point now that the comeercial customers are knocking at my door. I found that though there is defintely a lower hourly rate, these are generally a 12 month contract, providing you guaranteed work all year. As a result we have weeded out alot of our residential work. Something else to consider, once you are up and running, always look for new services to offer your customers. we got heavily into hydro seeding, and are now moving just as heavily into pavers and retaining walls. I guess the best advice is start small, grow as you need to , but treat your customers as you would want to be treated if you were them. If it takes you an hour longer than you expected to make it right, then so be it. It serves 2 purposes, you learned to figure contingency time into the next job, and your customer will see that the job being done right is what was important to you, not just making a quick buck. You will get word of mouth advertising that way, the best there is.

[cutntrim]

Join your state landscape association, register your business, find a qualified accountant from day one. Actually find them before day one, saves headaches down the road.

Stay in school, don't do drugs, drink your milk.

[cutntrim]

Hey, wait a minute. I just saw when this thread was posted. Why'd I bother replying. The dude hasn't posted anything since a year ago...

[Bill Schwab]

Ryan:

Welcome! This is the site where you will get the most from your time over any of the other landascape related sites.

We did quite abiit of commercial maintenance at one point, and the other posts are as usuall right on.

As far as billing goes, Paul hit it. What can help you with cash flow is simple. At the beginning of the month, send out a bill for that entire month. It's due date, as in in your hand, is on the 30th of that month. So, your first vist will have been net 30, second net 21, third, net 14, and last visit will be net 7.

That way, you aren't providi9ng services for a month, then waiting another month to get paid. Be very fourth right about why you bill the way you do. Yoiu are not a loan institution, nor a lending company, or Visa. You are a small business, entitled to your profit.

Good luck, hope to see more of you here.