Think of starting a lawn care and pressure washing business with a buddy to make some money while we are in school. Any advice from someone who has done this? What all legal documents would I need to be legitimate?

Business and friends don't mix well.

^^^

I own a pressure washing business. I wouldn't recommend doing both. It's not easy. If done right you won't have time to do both. I do sometimes 12 to 15 jobs in a week in peek season. Same with guys doing grass. Some do 20 lawns a day. I'm just shy of 28 and some nights when I come home I ache. Just do your homework. I like you started in college to make cash. Graduated college, got a desk job for a couple years and hated it. Got back into pressure washing and it kind of took off and now I make a respectable living doing it.

Decide if you want to dive into or if it's just going to be a "side" business. If done right (legit) there is overhead. You think that it's just gas and whatever equipment is, but it ain't. Quarterly taxes, workmens comp, general liability and commercial auto, advertisement, local taxes, LLC formation, etc. gets expensive in a hurry.

I did it in Florida prior. Go to sunbiz.org to declare/form LLC, fictitious name registration (assuming it's not John Doe Lawn). In Leon County I had to do pay an annual occupational tax, register for tax id, then open up business account. Once again , seriously just consider doing it on the "side."

Each county/city could have unique regs. Talk to an accountant to if you have one.

PM/email me with questions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

get good at AC repair. one truck and one guy do pretty good. Just a thought

It would just be more of a side gig cause school is top of the priorities. Pretty much what you're saying is avoid taxes and keep it unofficial? I'm just trying to find a way to make 2-300 a week haha. Not trying to make a killing but make enough to put gas in the boat/truck and eat haha.

Only reason we were thinking of doing it together is because we are both responsible when it comes to that stuff, both have equipment, and we're both looking for a new job. I've also thought about doin a small engine repair since I do all my friends four wheeler, mud boat, etc repairs anyway.

That being said, go for it you never know what somethng will turn in to. Maybe have your buddy do one of the businesses and you do the other then help each other out and share profit?

Good to see people wanting to start thier own thing and work hard, just remember that friends and family are important be careful to not let money effect that

College business.....run it all cash. No tax, no tracks.

My only reason for wanting to be legal is for my resume. But at the same time I don't know the hassle is worth it.

If you're just trying to make a couple hundred a week, go be a bar tender. It's WAY less hassle than starting a business and less initial start up expense. Typical Thursday night in a college town you can go home with $200 in cash.

If you start a new business be absolutely certain you incorporate it. If somethimg goes wrong you wil be personally liable for your lifetime or until you file bankruptcy. Note that your personal insurance on your vehicle will not cover you in an at fault accident if you were using it for a business purpose. You must obtain a commercial policy. If you do none of this and nothing bad happens then you'll be fine, but if a bad thing happens such as an automobile accident or someone trips on a hose......

Be legal from the start. It may cost more but in the long run, it will just be better. And other business owners in the same business will respect you more, looking at you as an equal rather than someone trying to steal from them by having too low of prices and what not.

Then go to those competitors and become friends. Ask them for any overflow and tell them if you have any overflow you cannot handle you will give it to them. You can take it under your name or go under theirs so to speak. But if you do that, be 100% respectful to the guy that helped you. In other words, if you are under his name for a particular job, do not try to get jobs for yourself but for him. And he will respect you and throw you more jobs if they have overflow. You just never know how it will all work out.

What is wrong with so many people today is that they will "steal" clients from someone that is feeding them those jobs. We need to start being fair.

Lots of good advice on here. Heres a good piece: im not condoning or saying go cash but if you decide to take on that liability and risk make sure you dont post it on here...my personal advice is make the investment to be legit

Yeah the more I think of it I want a legit job even if I don't make as much. I've been under the table at a mechanic shop for a couple years and i want something on paper in case I need a loan or something I'll at least have a history of in come. I'll take to a few guys a know in town and see what all they have to say since they've been doing it and have a feel for the market around hear

Here

I just figured anything would help me with getting started but after I graduate I'm gonna be doing engineering so I don't think I'd have 3 years of being profitable anyway. But I reckon it should help just to have it on my records when I do get a full time job and plan on buying a house.


I appreciate all the advice

If youre talking college, full time college counts as work experience, went through the same thing when i bought my house. Vehicles loans are easier to get but you still need legit income and thats what will build your credit so you can buy a house. You are thinking along the right lines, not as common these days. Setting yourself up for success

It's a part time cash grab. Treat it as one. If it gets to be a full time business then treat it as one once it gets there. No need to incorporate or worry about other business owners if all you want to make is $200 a week. Plus stick with residential customers. They will most likely not try and deduct the money paid to you for washing their house. No tax, no tracks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I can see that but doesn't it look good to future companies if I could put it down that I set up and ran a success business while maintaining grades?

It is primarily to make some cash but if I could do both that be awesome.