How to Start a Home-Based General Contracting Business for Gutter & Lawn Cleaning
Everyone with a home needs the lawn taken care of and the gutters cleaned. Often owners are too busy, do not wish to handle this job on their own and are more than willing to hire a contractor to take care of their lawn and gutters. A home-based general contracting business for gutter and lawn cleaning provides a regular service for the home owner.
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Instructions
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Work for a gutter and lawn cleaning business. If you first work for a reputable gutter and lawn cleaning business before starting your own, you will get ideas of what works and what doesn't. You gain experience and build a foundation for doing your work quickly, efficiently and with a good attitude. Working for another company gives you time to save money to start your business.
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Start small. Start by taking care of the lawns and gutters for a few elderly neighbors or family members who need the work done, but can't afford to pay. Volunteer your services. Treat these jobs with as much integrity as a paying job and you will gain experience, credibility, positive words to later use in advertising and the satisfaction that with your skills, you helped those in need.
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Check state and city requirements. Once you have experience and are getting known for the work you do, it is time to set up your business. Check with the city and state about regulations regarding a start-up business, any business license requirements and apply for a state sales tax license.
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Buy the right tools. In the beginning you may need only a good mower, gloves, ladder, clippers, hedge trimmer and a set of tools to repair equipment. This equipment will help you get started in your home-based general contracting business for a gutter and lawn cleaning business. As your business expands or you get work for larger lawns and more gutters, you might consider a rider mower and purchase a gutter cleaner wand. Along with having the right tools is the need to keep your equipment repaired and clean.
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Keep good records. Without good records you could easily mow the wrong yard or clean the gutters at the wrong time. Keeping good records is crucial to conducting business in a home-based general contracting business for gutter and lawn cleaning. Be considerate of the those who hire you, do the job you've contracted for and more and in the time frame you promised. Repeat work is built on gaining a reputation for good work, competitive pricing and integrity in business.
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Advertise your services. Design business cards and/or a brochure about your business and make sure your family and friends are willing to pass them out. Talk to places that sell lawn care items as well as home and garden stores about your business. Let the media know about your new business with a press release or interview. Put out the word online.
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Expand your business. Many home-based businesses become family affairs. A general contracting business for gutter and lawn cleaning is no different. A husband and wife might wish to work together and teach the children as they get old enough to tend lawns. As the business grows beyond what you can handle alone or with your family, you'll need to decide to add helpers or limit your business to maintain your expertise with customers who contract for your business year after year.
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References
- Photo Credit grandfather and grandson mowing grass image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com
