This is the first comment in RU-vid for me,I neeeever comment, but this video really motivated me to make a comment. This guy is so transparent and I really can relate with him I have my own landscaping buisness, and so much things that he has gone through happend to me,I started like that , door to door knocking !!!! everybody ( with no buisness ) apperantly knew how to do better my job...crazy. I was strugling so much at the time. but I always wanted my own buisness and little by little I´ve been growing. I worked for a workers visa in US, there I got the love for landscaping, Im from Mexico. Hope Keith Kalfas can say hi !! Saludos!
You sir, are the definition of the American dream. When I try to explain to my daughters what makes our country so great, it's people like you that I point towards. How with hard work, sacrifice and ambition, anything is possible.
Keith Kalfas you really changed my life I started watching you videos in 2018 and I took your advice then and I ran with it, I was 16 and thinking about something I could do to make money and I’ve always loved cutting grass and doing yard work, I’m 18 now out of Highschool cause the Coronavirus but this past summer I managed to grow to 25 lawn care clients and I get a bunch of landscaping jobs I have a 2003 f-350 a zero turn a bunch of equipment that I never even thought I would get to, I started with push mowers and a crappy battery powered weed whacker, you really changed my life Keith
Go to car auctions in my area you will pick up an F-150 like that for $500-1000 CAD. I literally picked up a 2006 F-350 diesel for $4700. I wont buy another vehicle any other way.
Hi Keith I decide to quit my job for 17 years and started my Landscaping Business after advertising on social Media I finally got a decent contract that is giving a great profit after all expenses. thank you for sharing your experience in the business world it had made the difference as a father of 5 I keep pushing each day by the grace of God I have started to see paying off.
I’m about to be 30 in December. Been a mechanic ever since I left high school. Took a lot of decision making. Bought an old tbar for $300 off cl, found a weed trimmer on large pick up day(someone threw away) put $15 into it and it runs. Bought a brand new back pack blower off cl for $150. Picking up a tandem axle trailer this Friday for $700. I figured 2 Seasons part time until I gain enough traction and customers. This video has brought clarity and enforcement on my thoughts to why I need to make a career change. Thank you for your uploads. Amazing content
Watching these videos from day 1 and finally plucked up the courage and bought a shitty van for £600 bought cheap tools for 100 pound then my first 2 jobs that took me 9 hours made me £490 more than a weeks wage ...if I never watched Keith's videos this wouldnt have ever happened thanks alot man !!
Keith! We are a small cleaning company and I’ve been following you for many months now. Your teaching videos really can be applied to any small business out there. Don’t limit your teaching videos to only landscaping. I appreciate your honesty. Stay healthy 🙏
Keith, I'm starting my own lawn care business and all I can say is THANK YOU! Thank you for telling us your stories, giving us tips, ideas and most importantly advice. You are truly an inspiration. Your bad experiences will, hopefully, lessen mine.
I live in a small town Hope B.C. 8,000population.. everybody knows everybody and already 2 lawn care businesses in town..I've slowly bought and acumalated ..dump trailer, ride on lawnmower, leaf blower, Weed Wacker, hedge trimmers, rake , tarp. Dump cart..walk behind lawnmower over the past year..I've been watching your videos for the past year bud..it took me alot to even write this to u..I'm good at the lawn care side of things.... I feel the time is now to do this ..I dont know why I feel hesitant to go ahead with it..everyone is making money around me.i just need to pull the trigger already..like I said it's been last summer since I started to believe I can do this..just havin trouble screwing up in a small town...Thanx Keith if u see this
This is one of the best videos I have seen on RU-vid. I'm in a position right now where I'm not broke but will be in about a year if I dont get something going. No one wants to hire me for lack of experience even though I went to trade school for plumbing and auto mechanics. I already have two trailers a truck and tons of tools and equipment all paid for. I was just telling my girl if no one will hire me I have to make my own job but it seems like no one believes I can make it happen. I was thinking of doing what you do but dont what to charge?
Im doing everything the way this guy said and yep yes yes is not hard like I used to think thanks for the motivation sir . I’m on the business yes yes and I love it
NEVER get a loan - then you don't owe ANY fu**er! That's what I'll be doing - starting out slow but when you get there, YOU'RE the one that did it, no one else.
Quit my job last year to start my own lil lawn care business. Been hard can't lie. Been battling myself mostly. Come back to these videos to motivate me. Hopefully I can keep kicking my ass to do these winter projects.
@@MiguelRodriguez-dr2jo this is my second year. I'm still figuring out how to make bids on jobs. And how to price leave clean ups. I did some mulch jobs last year but not a lot, competition is harsh here. Some people do mulch pretty much for free here I don't understand how they profit.
I’m not looking to build an empire or hire people. I just want to make what I make what I make now so I can get out of where I’m at. I want to be my own boss and make my own schedule
If you're gonna work for yourself you need to make more then you can make working for someone else. Work isn't guaranteed and things happen. You're responsible for it all when you're the boss even when an employee messes up it's ultimately on you. Been in biz 4 yrs learned a ton. Used to want to make like 1000 a week and now if I make 1000 for a full week I'm posted off
I love the whole message this video sends but one tip from the beginning of the video, tell whoever was filling the equipment with gas to never do it over grass, it causes issues
I love all your videos. I feel the same way. I busted my ass to get my business to where it is today. And I still work a full time job. Yes I am crazy but I just can’t give up my job. And now it’s spring and I run around like a nut after work 5 days. Cut grass landscape. But I have 4 guys that work for me. Two buddies and my son and nephew.
Your book helped me get started into my landscaping company back in 2016. Now I'm watching your videos and reading the book again because I want to start an FF&E company and you always provide with that positive mentality that you need for growing a business.
you are the man keith! Been following you the past few years, awesome to see you become more successful. 2021 my year, time to speak success into existence! No more slaving for these customers gonna stand my ground
Tell me about brother fear! I quit my job after 20 years this guy Keith made it possible I have family as well But best decision ever!! We have to take it slowly and have a plan I’m not out of the woods yet but we can do it , add slowly and grow slowly , work hard is the secret Blessings!!
I'm doing it. This spring I'm printing out the flyers. I got a great truck, & I've been collecting the tools over the past 5 years. Just need an edger & some small stuff like a rake, tarp, shovels etc. Thanks for the advice on charges. 👍
Man your a funny guy😂 everything you said I felt a 100%. Im starting my landscape business now and i can relate to it all. Keep making these videos there very informative and motivating
Dude I appreciate your hardworking toil and resiliency to put up with everything you have so far. It's like they say "I'd rather learn from someone who's failed and gone through trials and hardships than someone who didn't have to work for their success. I appreciate your authentic story and I'm looking forward to learning about starting a business from you Keith!
One of the downsides. Had a 3,800 landscaping job lined up. Truck started leaking around the timing chain cover. Had to tear everything apart on an old 460. You have no idea. How many bolts are in the water pump. Got it all back together about 8 am the next day. I dragged ass all day.
I started with a 1975 rear engine snapper riding mower that belonged to my dad and a sears craftsman blower and then worked up to a Toro 36" walk behind and Stihl trimmer and blower cutting yards for $25. all on the back of my truck.
Dude, I've come across to your channel after watching your day with Brians lawn maintenance, your positivity is amazing, I have been gardening for a couple of years and everything you have said in this video is what I have done. It has taken a while to get the jobs coming in, but right now I have that much work for my self I have had to hire someone to come and work with me, ( I would say for me, but I like to think of us as a team.) I was just doing general maintenance, lawn cuts, hedges, and things like that, but now through no fault of my own people want me in for bigger jobs. The great thing about it is 90% of my customer base is from word of mouth. Love the video, love your attitude, keep going fella, I've subbed just to see and here more.
Flash back. Thanks Keith Kalfas, you and your videos changed my life. I've got 2 years now working for myself.... My business is growing!!! 75 5 star reviews on Google !!! I love my life and want to thank you
Love this! Remind me how I started! I'm slow getting there! I'm on my tenth year on my bussiness. I bought cheap, or use vehicle. I'm making really good money now.
IMPRESSIVE THAT'S HOW YOU REALLY COME UP FROM NOTHING. COMPLETE MOTIVATION FOR ALL WHO LISTEN. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HEARING YOU. I STARTED MY OWN LAWN CARE RECENTLY. THE WAY YOU EXPLAINED EVERYTHING MAKES THE LISTENER WANT TO GO HARD AND MAKE NO EXCUSES.. I APPRECIATE YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS.
Thank you Keith, you really helped me get back into this. I Failed, hard, my first go. I wont give up, I have the tools, I have the truck, I have the will, just need to get back out there and get my customers back. I'm tired of starving, I'm tired of the anguish of the "what's next". I'll slow down the train and ease into the turns. Thank you. So much. I'm going to knock on some more doors again.
This.Is.Gold! So much great content out here and after years of watching videos to teach me about how to run a business, YOU remain my favorite channel because of how raw, real, and genuine you are. You remind me so much of myself and I cant thank you enough for how much you've helped me. My girl even knows your voice because of how much I watch you. She's like "watching Keith again?" I'm like you know it baby! Haha love you bro.
Bro I love you your straight foward.you tell me the struggle you came up from and I’m trying to start my own company I’m 16 and my friends 18 thx I’m watching evrey single video keep it up
Thank you for taking your time to make these videos, this really opened my mind as someone who never grew up having to go through that struggle since my dad has been through that before me. Can't wait to improve over time
i’m new to working outside and i’ve been doing it for about 7 months now, and i really told myself i would rather start my own little business like landscaping instead of working under someone else and i’ll always second guess it sometimes. but it’s videos like this that wanna get me to stick to it. i really will one day have my own little landscaping business and remember this video for sure.
Thats a good story and good advice about getting tools. I bought a lot of my stuff used for 1/2 the cost of what it costs new and a lot of this gear is in mostly new condition. I got a Stihl 261 pro saw for 300 recently and its almost like new. I've had both good and bad experiences with used vehicles but if you're only spending 1400 on a used truck the risk is fairly low and unless it needs a new engine its probably worth fixing.
I watched this whole video. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I almost skipped past it being close to an hour long but worth the watch. Best of luck to you Keith Kalfas. Thank you for an empowering message.
This is the realest dude I have stumbled upon while looking for start-up advice Ever !!! , thanks for all the honesty and the cool relatable shit you do Keith.
It’s been three years. This is the last video I watched before I started my business. It started with $5 bucks in pencils and a notebook from dollar tree. I rewatched the video and took notes. Struggled. Broke. Saw my family hungry over the winter. Wrecked my families credit for two years. This year I knocked 10K (until every flyer I had was gone) doors in my city this year. We did $780K in mulch and cleanups in 38 weeks. The secret was just letting someone else cut the grass and not offering that service. Mowing is expensive as death but garden and cleanups are mostly smalls.
Never, ever low-ball yourself. Hold the line, keep your self respect. Do your homework, find out what the big Co's charge, & bid it competitively. If you're Han Solo, it's an advantage esp w/smaller parcels. Also easier to bonus a service 👍
I got this because you asked us to… look brother I started my business April 2nd 2019. I did it watching you here on RU-vid and busting my butt 16 hrs a day 7 days a week. I did it with a new gravely mower, 2006 Dodge 1500, 1985 Chevy Dump Truck, and an old snoway plow… In 2020 it changed and I only work 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. Now we have dropped all these far out accounts, and only mow 2 days a week. I also try to only go after project jobs that are a minimum of $1000 profit 3 days a week. We have 3 new trucks, 2 skid steers, 2 mini excavators, 2 new scag vrides, 2 dump trailers, and we are about to put up a 50x40 building.
On your bussiness cards, on the back make it look like a 100$ bill, fold it in half and drop them in parking lots or anywhere. Garunteed 100% of people gonna pick that up
Dude I can relate to everything your pointing out. Listening to you lay it out there puts things in perspective and gives a vision. When you are feeling stuck at 35 like your never gona be your own boss ,you'll just be working for some other a**h*le who doesn't respect you where you're just a tool to his success, this information is golden. Thanks man. Just subscribed
Incredible information, Keith! I walked away from my boss's small moving company business; because I knew I was supposed to do something else. Worked there for 4 years; but I had a dream to MENTOR people. I may not be interested in landscaping; but the advice that you are giving is phenomenal for ANY small business. There are qualifiers, of course, like what tools to buy and that sort of thing; but your no-nonsense ways of looking at things... cracked me up; and really resonate. Keep going. With your videos; because I can tell you right now... that you have a PHENOMENAL VIDEO PRESENCE. Your personality is off the chain, you are honest, funny, witty, and people can sense that you won't lead them astray. You CARE. That comes through loud and clear; and the way that you can just tug right at those emotions that people feel about fear and loss and exhaustion and dying inside because you feel stuck and you aren't meant to do some kind of work; but something else... ALL that makes you ABSOLUTELY MAGNETIC. I just wanted you to know that, Keith. Best of luck to you and yours. ~ The Guardian ~ #davidmadisontheguardian888
Hello, Keith My name is Gabe and i was watching you on youtube. I am starting my own business here in Florida Thanks for all the info. I hope i make it!!!!!!!!!
This is a great video!! I will admit as of now I have all the equipment to start a landscaping business debt free, I just have to go out and get clients and could be bombing!! I have most of the experience needed, just have to work with the agriculture department and the Cooperative extension service
Hi Keith thank you for all the good information. I kinda started my own landscape business last year. It still not legit licensed or insured because it was just a side job to help me with my payments because my regular job took a five because of Covid and I didn’t know if it was gonna be still doing it this year. But after all my family and everyone pushed me around to do it and covid was the last push I finally did it. So this year I hope I get more costumers so I can finally get it off the ground and get licensed and insured. I still want to keep it a side job for now but I do want to be legit and safe. The hardest thing for me was that the pricing and letting jobs go because people don’t want to pay and I tried to be super honest about the pricing and I still lost some jobs one that easily would’ve been my biggest job witch was to mulch and trim a entire house and I still lost it but I just can’t keep working my ass off and loose every time. I just keep on trying and working and being smart about pricing trying ways how to do it and talking to people and watching videos. I love landscaping, I love being my own boss and making my own money. Thank you again Keith, I am going to keep watching your videos.
got a lot of respect for you and all your hard work. me and my partner want to start a busniess I am currently doing a course to help us set up. But very much the same as how you started off. thinking how are we going to afford all the things we need to make this run smoothly and get the big jobs in.. we have a lot of ideas, your videos are super helpful to me, and I spend my evenings listening to your storys and makes me hopeful for our future.