Here’s an idea for those of you who don’t like sitting behind a computer all day.  I did this as a kid, you may have too, and it isn’t that hard.  In fact, it’s quite a bit of fun.  Mow yards.

Here is what I’m suggesting.  I know this works because I’ve tried it and my phone won’t stop ringing. Buy yourcitymowing.com domain names and get ready to roll.  Of course, you are going to need mowing equipment, but my guess is you already have it. 

So what did I do?  I bought all kinds of mycitymowing.com domains, got them to rank because that’s what I do, and now my phone rings constantly.  I’m serious with the phone ringing bit.  It literally rings constantly.  Almost to the point of annoyance because I am trying to run a real business and this mowing thing was an idea I put into place to help out some of my friends.

Here’s the plan:

1. Buy yourcitymowing.com, or yourcitylawn.com, or yourcitylawncare.com, yourcitylawnservice.com or something like that.  You get the idea.
2. Build out a website.  I suggest a simple WordPress template with a keyword-rich homepage.  Add a nice picture and a phone number and you are off to the races.  Note: Get yourself a Google Voice number if you want to screen your calls.  They also allow for some nice vanity numbers like 222-333-MOW1 or something like that.
3. Implement basic SEO and web marketing tactics.  Check out the links on the previous sentence if you need help.  You can also call my agency, but that is going to be a bit pricey and doesn’t warrant the expense for a mowing business.

Bonus #1: Don’t forget to set up your business on Google Places.

Bonus #2: If you live in a large metropolitan area, buy the names of the suburban cities you want to service as well.  In most instances, when people search local, they will utilize their suburb anyway.  I know that is my typical search behavior and it’s likely yours too.

Bonus #3: Remember that brand is not as important as the keyword targets in this particular instance. Go for the keyword-rich domain names and you will be better off. You can always run your brand in the footer or anywhere else in the website copy.

Here’s a few domains I bought.  You are welcome to check them out.  There’s nothing pretty or sexy about the websites, but they work.  Also keep in mind that most people don’t think of these things.  That means the domains are available and nobody is competing with you on the search engines.  You can easily be the first company there.

My Mowing Domains (This is only a few of them. Yes, I live in Kansas City.):

• OverlandParkMowing.com
• OlatheMowing.com
• TopekaMowing.com
• LawrenceMowing.com
• LenexaMowing.com
• LeawoodMowing.com
• SuburbanLawnService.com (The brand. And it’s keyword rich in it’s own right.)

Bonus #4: Mowing is one of several services you can easily offer and market online.  You should also consider landscaping, snow removal, sprinkler systems, tree trimming, mulch, topsoil, etc.

How profitable could this be for you?  You will typically add yards in proportion to your metro/suburb size.  Keep in mind that yards go anywhere from $20 on up and typically get mowed every 5 – 7 days.  This happens for about 30 weeks/year in middle America.  You can mow year-round in the warmer areas like Phoenix and southern California.  These key statistics should help you estimate the opportunity for your own area.

So five yards roughly estimates to $100 of billings per week on the low end of the scale.  I would shoot for better neighborhoods and bigger yards.  This will generate a better return.  Ten yards at $30/mowing gives you roughly $300/week in billings.  Five to ten yards should be child’s play.  I get multiple calls per day and you should too.  You should be able to add 5 – 10 new yards per week.  It doesn’t take long at that pace before you will need some help and you will have a serious business on your hands.

If you really want to be a mowing tycoon, then you target multiple cities at once.  Add multiple lawn service offerings.  Get yourself a crew (cuts down your profitability, but allows for scalability).  You take the calls and handle the logistics.  Let the crew(s) mow.

If you want to take it a step further, you can hang flyers, buy yard signs for busy corners, run adds in the paper, do direct mail, etc.

Bonus #5: The peak season for creating new business is early in the spring.  This is when people start looking for lawn service because it is starting to warm up and they don’t feel like coming out of hibernation themselves.  Strike while the iron is hot.  Answer the phone when it rings.  Return calls promptly if you miss them.

Final Bonus: Reinvigorate your marketing efforts during the dog days of July and August.  Those people who thought they were going to handle their own mowing are now more likely to call and let someone else handle it.  The heat rids them of their desire to mow.