If you're like most lawn maintenance professionals, you started your business using one or two walkbehind mowers. And if you're like most successful entrepreneurs, your business has grown to the extent you now need to purchase additional mowing equipment. Should you buy more walk-behinds, or is it time to consider one of those expensive riders you see some of your competitors using? The answer may surprise you.

Finding the right dealer is clearly as important as finding the right equipment The best equipment in the world will fall short of expectations if the selling dealer fails to back it up or offer critical support when the customer is in need.

How much are your customers worth? Most business people, including owners of lawn maintenance companies, know the value of their equipment, their supplies and their employees. But they all too often overlook the value of the one dimension that keeps them in business, their customers.

The zero-tum commercial riding mower was introduced in the late 1960s, early 1970s. Over the last 25 years, these highly maneuverable machines have been gaining market share as evidenced by the number of manufacturers producing them today and the large number of machines operating on properties. In fact, the OPEl (Outdoor Power Equipment Institute) reports that almost half of the commercial riding mowers sold during 1993 were transmission steer (lever steering) zero-tum type machines.

When it's all said and done, people are still the most important resource a company has. A company's ownership or management approach and attitudes toward employees will show in hundreds of different ways, and is largely responsible for its ability to attract and retain employees.

Ever sit around and chat with fellow lawn maintenance owners and operators? Sure you have. Do you remember some of the hot topics? If the discussion turned to, "Where do you want to be five years from now?" long-kept secret goals probably came running out of the closet. "I want to be a million dollar operation. I want to employ 80 people. I want to be the biggest landscaper in the area. I want to graduate to sitting behind a desk. I want, I want, I want..."