Posts Tagged ‘landscape professional’

How to Grow Your Landscape Business for 2018

Tuesday, December 19th, 2017

For most landscape professionals, December and January are slow months. If you live in one of those cold weather states, the good news is you have plenty of time before mowing season hits. Use it to plan for growth in 2018.

Advertising and Marketing

You already know to contact clients about renewing their contracts for the next season. When you do so, take the time to request their feedback on services provided. Ask them to leave reviews on your Facebook, Yelp and other social media pages. (Don’t have Yelp or Facebook pages? Take the time to get them set up.) And consider rewarding customers who send referrals your way with a discount on services.

While you’re thinking about deals, are there service add-ons that you can get clients to sign up for, like twice yearly aerating or over seeding? Think of it as the equivalent of “Would you like fries with that?” – not everyone will sign on, but a percentage of your customers might not know that you offer additional services.

No one likes a price increase, and everyone likes a bargain. If you’re raising your rates, consider having a tiered system, where people who renew contracts by a certain date get a smaller increase than if they waited until just before the season starts. That way, you reward your loyal customers.

Staffing

Get your staff lined up well before mowing season. Whether you rehire last season’s operators or need to look for new staff, doing it early will give you a much better idea of how much work you can complete in a given week. If your marketing efforts bring returns, then you’ll have time to line up additional help before mowing season swings into high gear. This will mean less time in the office interviewing when you and your crew could be out earning money.

Maintenance

Take the time to check all your equipment maintenance logs from last year. Were any maintenance tasks missed? You should also create a schedule that will allow you to complete spring maintenance on all your mowers before the start of mowing season. If you need to take mowers in for repairs, winter is an ideal time, as your repair shop may be slow and willing to offer deals.

Equipment Upgrades

While reviewing and completing maintenance, consider whether it’s time to replace any of your mowers and other lawn care equipment. And look over your book of business for the coming year: Does it look like you’ll need additional mowers? You should also consider whether trading in a mower and buying a larger or faster model would allow you to take on more work. You should also consider if mower leasing is a better option for your business than purchasing outright.

Business Plan

It’s also the right time to think about how to expand your business later into the fall (or even into the winter). Leaf and snow removal are good options if you don’t already offer them, but what about tree pruning or outdoor winterizing? Think broadly: There’s no reason you can’t expand to other outdoor chores if there’s a market for it in your area. Consider creating an online survey for your clients, polling them on what additional services they’d be interested in.

Taking the time to plan now, when your business is slowest, will position you for greater success in 2018.  Partner with your local Exmark dealer on any equipment needs, and you’ll deliver an exceptional quality of cut that will keep customers rebooking, year after year.

Going from Lawn Maintenance to Landscape and Design

Friday, September 29th, 2017

One of the best ways to grow your lawn maintenance business is to expand your services beyond mowing and maintenance. These days, people want more out of their yards than just basic greenery—they want an outdoor living space, an extension of their homes that they can enjoy all year round.

That’s why so many lawn care professionals are including landscaping and garden design into their list of services. If you’re interested in helping people plan and plant their borders, here are some steps you can take to get started.

Learn Your State’s Regulations

Lawn maintenance and landscaping may be treated differently by your state, so check whether you need additional business licenses or have to be certified. And check with your city, too; they may also have regulations you should be aware of.

Fill in Your Knowledge Gaps

If you know a lot about trees, shrubs and other plants, but don’t have a lot of experience with design, it may be a good idea to get some basic training. Many community colleges offer certificates and associate’s degrees in landscape design, so check the ones in your area. Another place to check for short courses are local botanic gardens; they frequently offer certificates and weekend training workshops on select topics, especially planting. And university extension programs may also be a good source of training.

Connect with Others

Consider joining a professional organization like the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Professional groups are great for networking, providing continuing education, and if they offer referrals, can be a source of customers. The APLD also has a certificate program.

You’ll also want to make connections with garden suppliers, nurseries and people who offer special services, like tree removal. Since grading lawns, installing irrigation systems and building features like patios and retaining walls will require different equipment than lawn maintenance, you may need someone to rent machinery from until you can invest in it.

Start Small

Begin with smaller projects, like designing yards and patios and doing the plantings, rather than large, complicated projects like creating water features and terraces with retaining walls. As you grow in confidence, you can tackle new skills. Similarly, begin by offering services to your existing clients, then use those projects as examples of the type of work you can do. And be sure that you don’t focus so much attention on growing your new landscape design business at the expense of your maintenance services.

Balancing Productivity and Mower Cost

Thursday, June 8th, 2017

The math is easy: if you have a riding lawn mower with a wider deck and greater speeds, you’re going to cover a lot more ground than you would with a push mower or smaller model. More coverage means you can mow more lawns in a day. More lawns in a day equals better income for your business.

However, when it comes to long-term financial viability, running a mowing business isn’t that simple. A high-end mower requires a greater up-front investment, but it also has the potential to push your business to the next level.

Mower Productivity Charts

Before you go through the trouble of calculating your own mower speeds and deck widths against the amount of terrain you have to cover, we suggest you take a look at Exmark’s mower productivity chart. This will allow you to gauge the difference between your current mower and other options currently on the market.

For example, just moving from a 42” deck to a 48” deck might not give you a huge change in acres covered, but making that leap – while also choosing the top-speed mower – could result in a significant improvement in productivity. Not only can you cover more area, but you’ll spend much less time doing it. If you have the workload to support increased capacity, then upgrading might make sense.

Match the Equipment to the Terrain

Anyone who’s spent a lot of time mowing knows that a bigger, faster, more powerful mower isn’t always going to be an improvement. You also have to factor in things like operator skills, the terrain you’re working on, and site conditions—not to mention the time needed for loading and unloading the equipment, and travel to job sites.

That’s why any productivity calculation should also take into account the different types of mowers in your fleet. Many business owners find that instead of buying more of the same type of mower, it makes sense to diversify: a walk-behind mower for quick and easy precision, a powerful zero-turn mower for lots of coverage, and a stand-on mower for the hilly terrain.

Creating a tracking system for acres covered and time needed for transit can help you determine if an upgrade or addition to your fleet makes sense. If the bulk of your operator times are being spent on the ground covering large areas, then a faster and wider mower could make a difference to your bottom line. However, if you spend a lot of time driving to small city lawns, you may want to consider a lighter, more portable walk-behind.

Additional Benefits of Enhanced Mowers

When you upgrade to a newer or larger mower, you also have to factor in the other operational costs that contribute to your income. For example, an older model mower may have difficult-to-find parts or need continual maintenance that could end up costing you more in the long run than a newer model.

Other benefits to a new mower (or fleet of mowers) can include:

  • Lower repair costs
  • Easier maintenance
  • Higher resale value
  • Greater employee comfort
  • Improved client satisfaction

Many of these things are difficult to quantify, but should still be included in your overall look at your productivity.

Knowing When to Upgrade

In an ideal world, larger decks and greater speeds would automatically increase your revenue and make your investment worthwhile. However, it’s important to remember that speed and deck width aren’t everything—especially if you’re still growing your business. All the speed in the world won’t help if you don’t have clients to serve.

As soon as you’re ready to move to the next level, meet with your equipment dealer to determine what’s right for your needs. By choosing a faster, larger model that will grow with you, you could end up seeing your income grow over the life of the mower.

Heat and Sun Safety for Lawn Care Professionals

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
Lazer Z Sun Shade

Exmark mower sun-shades block direct sun rays and reduce the impact of direct sunlight.

One of the best ways to increase productivity in your lawn mowing business is to take care of your team and your equipment no matter what the weather.

Lawn maintenance is very much a seasonal business, and you probably count on the summer months as some of your most productive. By protecting your workers (and yourself) from the direct rays of the sun, you can reduce many of the most damaging aspects of direct sunlight.

Seasonal Workers and Sun

Outdoor workers may face an elevated risk of developing skin cancer and related complications. Although using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher can help reduce skin damage, it isn’t 100 percent effective. Encourage employees to use a combination of sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and hats to help reduce sun exposure.

Heat-Related Illnesses

More concerning for daily productivity are dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion can lead to headaches, cramps and vomiting, and heat stroke needs proper medical attention. Both are most common in the summer months, especially for people who are working in direct sunlight during hours when the sun is highest in the sky, and temperatures are likely to be hottest.

Steps to limit the impact of these heat- and sun-related conditions include encouraging adequate rest and water intake, modifying work schedules, and enhancing workplace conditions. Inform your employees of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and encourage them to stay hydrated while working.

According to OSHA, working in full sunlight can increase the heat index by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. In the hottest times of the year, or during prolonged heatwaves, it may be impractical to mow only during cooler parts of the day. However, as a business owner, you don’t want your employees suffering from heat-related illnesses on the job with their resulting downtimes, costs and other concerns. Installing sun-shades on riding mowers can provide relief from the worst impacts of the sun, protecting both your employees and your daily productivity.

Exmark mower sun-shades work in conjunction with the existing Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS). Composed of heavy-duty, water-repellant canvas, they create a canopy above the operator. They block direct sun’s direct rays, reducing the impact of direct sunlight like sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Sun-shades are available for Lazer Z, Radius, Quest and Pioneer models. Use our accessory finder to see if one is available for your mower.

Awareness, education and prevention can go a long way in keeping your employees (and yourself) healthy and your business productive. Start planning now for the long hot days of summer. For more information on sun safety, the Centers for Disease Control and OSHA can be a good place to start.

 

What to Do Now to Grow your Business this Spring and Summer

Thursday, January 19th, 2017

As the winter weather settles and the lawn care jobs slow down, it’s a good idea to consider what you can do to grow your business for next year. By spending your downtime focusing on growth and upcoming changes, you can hit the ground running as soon as the first thaw hits.

Human Resources

Winter is an ideal time to go over your personnel files to ensure that everything is up-to-date and that you have enough staff to get you through the busy spring season. Because many lawn care professionals aren’t working right now, you have time to organize your log books, assign updated training, and hire new staff.

This practice can streamline your efficiency in several different ways. By moving the interviews, background checks, and other HR issues to winter, you can free yourself—and your team up—to focus on lawn care come spring.

Equipment Maintenance

Many of our lawn care specialist clients use the winter months as a time to maintain and update their equipment. It’s never a good idea to let a lawn mower sit unused for months on end, so make a schedule that allows you to rotate your maintenance needs throughout your whole range of equipment.

Whether you prefer to do this maintenance yourself or if you take your equipment to a technician, now is the ideal time to get on it. In fact, many technicians offer winter savings since this is a slow time for them, as well.

Radius Xseries Zero turn mower

Mower need replacing? We have quite a few new mowers including the new Radius X-Series Zero-Turn Mower.

Upgrading to New Mowers

As you go through your regular maintenance schedule, keep an eye out for mowers that may be in need of updating or replacement. Although Exmark mowers are designed to hold up for thousands of hours of usage, we’re always striving to improve features like comfort, accessibility, speed, and balance.

You should also use this time to appraise your equipment with an eye to what might need replacing and contact your distributor to learn what’s new and upcoming. We have quite a few new mowers that might catch your eye, including the new Radius X-Series Zero-Turn Mower.

Advertising and Marketing

Chances are you’ll be much too busy with incoming clients and outgoing lawn care teams in spring to worry too much about anything else. That’s why winter is a great time to consider your advertising budget and plan for next year.

Take the traditional route and put print or radio advertisements into circulation, or consider your social media strategy for the upcoming year. By making the decisions now, you can reap the benefits of great advertising all year long.

If you live somewhere with snowy winters or weather conditions that make lawn care unnecessary, it’s a good idea to create a year-round plan of action. Do the behind-the-scenes work in winter and spend your summers out in the field. Not only will you run a more efficient business, but you’ll stay busy and active no matter what the season. g or replacement. Although Exmark mowers are designed to hold up for thousands of hours of usage, we’re always striving to improve features like comfort, accessibility, speed, and balance.

You should also use this time to appraise your equipment with an eye to what might need replacing and contact your distributor to learn what’s new and upcoming. We have quite a few new mowers that might catch your eye, including the new Radius X-Series Zero-Turn Mower.

How to Turn Your Mowing Business into a Year-Round Business

Friday, December 30th, 2016

Your lawn care and landscaping business doesn’t have to end with the growing season. With a little innovation and the right tools, you can carry your entire team through the winter months. Whether you’d prefer to spend your time coming up with a great business plan for next year, or heading out to clear driveways and parking lots until spring, here are some great ideas for extending your business into the winter.

Off-Season Income Options

The most common type of winter revenue-builder is to expand your fleet of lawn care services to include snow and ice removal. Large parking lots, private driveways, and even city streets need to be cleared in the winter, which means you can offer your services year-round to help keep these surfaces clear. As autumn winds down, be sure and let all your clients know that you also provide winter upkeep, as this can help keep you in business without a huge investment in marketing.

Of course, if you don’t live in a snowy area, there are still options available to you. Some of the most common off-season income generators include:

  • Tree Care: Although much of tree care needs to be done during the growing season, you can offer tree removal, stump grinding, and other cleanup services.
  • Landscape Design: If you have a flair for design, you can expand your mowing and lawn care to include landscape design. Put your knowledge of plant growth and lawn upkeep to good use and help your clients in the process.
  • Spring Prep: There is usually plenty of work to be done getting a lawn ready for spring. Dead plant removal, yard waste cleanup, gutter work, and everyday maintenance can still be part of your routine.
  • Holiday Lights: Many families can’t get outside and on the roof to hang holiday lights, but they’d still like to celebrate the season. Offering holiday light hanging and removal can be a real boost to your business.
  • Multiple Locations: It’s not snowy and cold everywhere in the United States, so consider picking up some seasonal work in a newer, warmer location.
  • Equipment Maintenance: You’ve already prepped your own lawn mowers for winter, but what about the average homeowner? Since you already know how to change spark plugs, replace oil filters, and prep your equipment for winter, offer this service to others.

Other options include working on your own business plans for the future. Many companies use the winter months to work on branding, marketing, social media, website development, and community outreach—all of which can boost your income in the coming year and help sustain you during winter.

The Right Lawn Care Equipment for the Job

Mowing Business snow removal with Exmark Rotary Broom

With an Exmark Rotary Broom, your mowing business can offer Snow and ice removal. The Exmark Rotary Broom makes quick work of clearing virtually any concrete surface.

The best part about extending your lawn care routine through winter is that you don’t have to purchase all new equipment. Some machines you already use and own can be adapted for winter use.

For example, the Rotary Broom, which is ideal for clearing turf or removing grass clippings, can also be used to break up snow and ice particles on the sidewalk. You also have the option of adding a broom snow cab or tire chains for winter use. Additional options include rotary broom attachments that you can mount to some zero-turn mowers.

With some creative thinking, you can expand your business beyond the lawn mowing season and set the stage for stronger growth in the coming years.

Now is the Time to Plan for Spring Mowing Season

Tuesday, December 13th, 2016
EX16_Radius_E-Series_InUse_2

Now is a good time to look into upgrading your equipment. Contact your local Exmark dealer to learn more about your options.

For many landscaping companies, winter is often the time when everything gets packed up and closed for the season. Instead of trimming lawns and seeding fields, you may be looking at months of slow traffic and low income.

While there are ways to diversify your business (especially when it comes to snow and ice removal), you can also use this time to grow your business for the coming year. Plan ahead for the spring mowing season so that you’re ready to hit the ground running—or mowing—as soon as the first thaw arrives.

  • Research the Competition: Any good business will have an idea of what services area competitors offer and how much they charge for them. Now is a good time to explore what other people are saying about your competitors—and to look into what they’re doing in terms of promotions and expansions. This doesn’t always have to be a negative thing. Many landscaping companies band together to provide more comprehensive services or to center on specific geographical areas. By getting to know the other landscapers operating nearby and putting out feelers, you can start building a stronger business.
  • Make a Social Media Strategy: For good or for bad, social media is here to stay. You might not think tending lawns and posting on Twitter go hand-in-hand, but they do. Since you’ll have more time during the winter, start building up profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, YouTube, or any other sites you deem relevant. You might be surprised how quickly a few informative YouTube videos on lawn care can boost your visibility and expertise.
  • Teach Classes: Most landscapers have a lot more knowledge at their fingertips than they realize. Put that knowledge to good use by teaching others what you know. This can be done via YouTube videos (as mentioned above), by finding a local urban gardening or lawn care group that might want to hire speakers, or even by keeping your own team up-to-date on the latest techniques. Now is also a good time to take classes, if you need them. Learning more about the production cycle can help you become a better landscaper.
  • Find New Suppliers: Are you getting the best deal on your seed and sod? Does your lawn mower dealer provide year-round customer service that puts you at the center? A winter lull in business means you have more time to network and build the kind of relationships that could lead to discounted supplies and deals on equipment.
  • Scheduling/Staffing: There are lots of great tools and software out there for streamlining the way you schedule and staff your team. Look into your options and test a few of them out. Anything you can do to cut overhead and make it easier on your team will be a windfall come spring.
  • Work on Your Brand: How well is your business branded? Does your team have matching uniforms and shirts? If someone sees one of your trucks, do they immediately recognize your company name and tagline? These questions are important—as are ones related to marketing. The business side of running a business isn’t always fun, but it is vital to attracting new clients. Work on things like company image and advertisements so you can run a strong campaign as soon as the spring mowing season starts.

Another great option is to look into upgrading your equipment. You’ve probably already made plans for winter maintenance and repairs to your lawn care equipment, but have you also considered upgrades? If you’re on the fence about upgrading to a new fleet of propane mowers, or if you’d like to expand to include seeding and spraying services, now is a good time to think about it. Contact your local Exmark dealer to learn more about your options and how upgraded equipment can take your lawn care business to the next level.

Rebuilding After Natural Disaster Strikes: Tips for Lawncare Businesses

Friday, November 11th, 2016

Everyone knows how devastating natural disasters can be to homeowners. Flood, fires, droughts, tornadoes—these catastrophic events force people out of their homes and wreak havoc on their lives.

Exmark EFI propane

Stay on track and come back stronger after a natural disaster.

They can also impact local businesses. This is especially true for landscaping companies. Because your business depends on homeowners and building owners having outdoor features to maintain, you could be dependent on other’s ability to repair and rebuild before steady work comes your way again.

While a natural disaster can be a setback, it doesn’t have to mean the end of your business. These tips for coming back even stronger can help keep you on track and even play a supporting role in the rebuilding process.

  • Know Your Area: Where you live and work will determine what kinds of natural disasters are most common. In this instance, forewarned is forearmed. Do your research to find out what kind of events are the most likely and how long the rebuilding process takes afterward. This way, you can be prepared with the right tools and equipment to help homeowners and business owners get back on track.
  • Invest in Insurance: If flooding or seasonal fires are a threat to your area, see if Business Interruption Insurance is an option. Although not every insurance company will provide automatic payouts for your loss of business due to flooding in the area (as opposed to flooding to your actual facility), there may be options for you to expand your coverage to include this.
  • Adapt Your Offerings: You might be more accustomed to mowing lawns than repairing them from a flood, or you might specialize in seeding and spraying rather than windstorm recovery, but now is a good time to adjust the work you do. After a disaster, many homeowners and businesses need manual labor and hauling services to clear away debris and damaged items. If you can adapt your team and trucks/trailers in the short term, it may help tide you over a slow patch.
  • Create “Disaster” Specials: We know, it sounds bad to take advantage of a natural disaster to make a profit, but this is one time it’s okay to advertise and adapt. Cleaning up after a catastrophic event is an expensive business for everyone, so if you’re able to slash prices for those most affected, do it. It’s a great way to reach out to your community and drum up future business—and keep your own business afloat in the meantime.
  • Donate Time/Support: If possible, donate your time, services, and equipment to the cleanup process. We know this isn’t financially viable for everyone, but if you’re able to donate some time to the immediate clean up, it’s a great idea. People tend to remember those who help them, and if your business is a visible partner in recovery, they may be more likely to recommend or hire you when they’re back on their feet.
  • Provide Time Off: Don’t overlook the impact the devastation of a natural disaster has on your own employees and lawn care team. They may have homes damaged by the event, or they may be busy pitching in to help their own neighbors and friends recover. Consider providing additional vacation/sick days, as needed.
  • Think of Next Year: One thing that remains true of every natural disaster is that people recover and families rebuild. Know what people will need to do for their lawns next year, and put together a “Post-Flood” or “Post-Fire” recovery plan. Make sure you have all the tools and supplies you need to help them get their lawns, farms, and exteriors back to normal.

Above all else, be as much of a partner as you can during this time. Everyone will be struggling and looking for ways to cut back on costs, so anything you can do to support them will go a long way in building your brand and reputation.

Keeping Track of Hours Mowed

Thursday, August 25th, 2016

A lot of lawn maintenance companies start out as just one or two guys with a lawn mower and a desire to set their own hours. Although you can begin a landscaping company with a more concrete business plan (and many people do), it’s not uncommon for businesses to start out small and grow much larger as demand increases.

This kind of growth is exciting, but it also means you’ll have a lot more paperwork and maintenance to do. That’s why we suggest tracking hours mowed from the very start. It doesn’t matter whether you have two clients or two hundred—this kind of smart record-keeping will help you with billing, lawn mower maintenance, legal settlements, and more.

Hours and Billing

The reason most landscape companies keep track of hours is for billing and invoice purposes. Some companies charge their clients by the hour, which means you need to know exactly how long your team spent at the work site. Other companies bill at a flat rate, but only know what to pay their own employees based on the hours they put in.

By keeping careful logs that include time spent on maintenance, loading and unloading equipment, drive times, lawn care, and regular breaks, your whole company can run on a tighter schedule. You’ll make better business decisions when you have data to base them on. Additionally, a log of times and places worked will be helpful in case of disputed payroll or complaints about work.

Methods for keeping these kinds of records depend on your business style. While you can opt for keeping paper logs or designing your own spreadsheet, more and more companies are choosing automated GPS systems and apps that allow remote employees to log their activities from their smartphones.

Preventative Mower Maintenance

We all know that mowers need regular maintenance and tune-ups the same way a car does, but not everyone remembers that total hours of run time and heavy usage impacts longevity of your equipment. Unless you keep exact records of when, where, and how long each mower was used, chances are you’re greatly underestimating the usage it undergoes.

Although these estimates vary depending on the make and model of the mowers you use, most maintenance schedules follow these general guidelines.

Oil and Oil Filters: Most mowers need an oil change every 50 to 100 hours. Filter replacement can be done less frequently, at about every 100-150 hours.

Air Filters: Because large amounts of dust, dirt, grass, and other debris are kicked up when a mower is in use, air filters need to be replaced fairly often. Depending on the type of air filter, this may need to be done as often as every 25 hours, or as infrequently as every 100 hours.

Spark Plugs: Most mower manufacturers recommend new spark plugs every 100 hours of use.

Blade Sharpening/Replacement: Mower blades take some of the biggest hits when it comes to commercial lawn care, with sharpening and/or replacements required every 8 to 20 hours. For those who perform lawn care full time, this may mean daily maintenance.

With all of these varying maintenance schedules, tracking hours mowed will help you keep on top of whether your machines need just an oil change, or a couple of different types of maintenance. Since proper maintenance is key to keeping mowers running, the benefits to your business will outweigh any hassles.

These logs also let you know when your mower might be approaching the end of its warranty or when it’s time to purchase new equipment. This can be a great help as you budget for the new equipment, since you’ll have a firm idea of what your average cost per hour is—and what you can spend to improve that outcome even more.

The Advantages of Stand-on Mowers for Lawn Care Businesses

Tuesday, July 19th, 2016

All the landscape training and experience in the world won’t matter if you don’t equip your team with the right tools for the job. Lawn grades, landscaping, and other factors you can’t control will always have an impact on your job, which is why you need the equipment necessary to handle each challenge that comes your way. Not only is it safer to match the right mower to the project, but choosing the best equipment can also be more cost-effective overall.Vantage X-Series stand-on mower

Depending on the type of business you run and the volume of clients you serve, a stand-on mower could be the best investment in your future. Here are the main considerations:

Property Size: The number one factor in determining which type of lawn mower to invest in is the size of the property (or properties) you tend. If you serve lots that are more than an acre in size, a push mower will take hours to get the job done. For lots that are half an acre or smaller, a riding mower will lose its precision. That’s why people who tend variable-sized lots often go for stand-on mowers. They get the job done faster than push mowers but also allow for precision in those hard-to-reach areas.

Property Type: Wide, open spaces are often best served by a riding mower, but when you’re working with tight spaces, small lawns, a lot of landscaping features, like shrubs and irregular plantings, a stand-on mower provides better maneuverability.

Transportation Needs: Traveling with one (or more) riding mowers can be a logistical nightmare, especially if space on your trailer is limited. Stand-on mowers are smaller and easier to transport, making them ideal when you don’t want to spend too much time figuring out how to get from one client’s property to another’s.

Less Turf Damage: Although zero-turn mowers have come a long way in detailed turf care, many pros prefer stand-on mowers for their precision. When a picture perfect finish is your goal, you may want to downgrade the technology for more user control.

Visibility and User Control: If you ask your team, you might find that they have a preference for stand-on mowers because it gives them more control over their work. Not only does a standing position offer better visibility, but the ability to quickly hop on and off can be instrumental when working around a large number of obstructions.

Safety: Although there is always a possibility of falling off of a stand-on mower, many businesses prefer them over riding mowers for safety reasons. This is especially true if you’ll be working with steep or slippery grades that aren’t ideal for riding mowers.

Steep Lawn Grades: Most stand-on mowers have greater hillside stability than their riding mower counterparts. Not only do stand-on mowers have a lower center of gravity, but users can shift their weight in order to counteract a slope’s incline.

Price: Money is a consideration for any lawn care business that wants to stay in the green. Stand-on mowers tend to be 10 to 20 percent less expensive than riding mowers, which can make a big difference to your bottom line—especially if you run a fleet of lawn care specialists.

While stand-on mowers can provide greater flexibility, you should remember that they typically require greater strength in the legs and back, and they tend to be slower than riding mowers. If stand-on mowers fit your business model – mainly small to mid-sized properties, hills, or yards with a lot of features — an Exmark Vantage stand-on mower offers industry-leading options in a variety of deck-sizes.