My 10.5 yos wants to start a lawn cutting business. Is it okay to

[MJN]

put flyers in people's mailboxes or in their door? Or would it be better for him to go (w/ his dad or me) to every door and ring the doorbell and give them the flyer?

[Kendra]

It's my understanding that it's illegal to put things in peoples' mailboxes. Am I right, hivemind?

But you could certainly leave them on the doorstep :)

[elegantlion]

I would do the door. I had an Avon lady put a flyer in my mailbox the other day. I thought it was illegal as well, much less it was very annoying. It's no one else's business what is in my mailbox, KWIM.

[Anne]

I would have your son go door-to-door. I am much more likely to hire someone if I have seen the whites of his eyes..!

Anne :)

[klmama]

If your ds can speak well, look people in the eye, and cheerfully explain the work he'd like to do for them, I think he'll get a lot more business than from a flyer in the door. Even if they say they don't need his services, he should ask if they'd like a flyer in case they change their mind or need mowing while on vacation. Also, definitely have your dh go with him, standing back a little so it's clear that the boy is the one with the business. People will think more of his abilities if they see his dad approves, plus it will help them remember who he is if they recognize your dh.

[Stacie]

I saw a great technique last summer, and it seemed to work. The young man visited the neighborhood men who were mowing their lawn on a very hot weekend. He delivered ice cold bottled water with his business card attached. The card said something to the effect of "I could be doing this for you right now."

I did see him mowing quite a few yards by the end of the season. ;) So much of marketing is good timing. :lol:

[charlotteb]

It is illegal to put something in a mailbox that is not from the USPS. But you can put pretty much anything you want in a newspaper slot, if the mailboxes have one.

[Jennifer in MI]

My ds made up a flyer last year and attached them to people's door with tape. The flyer was very well done!! We had so many neighbors, it would've been impossible to personally visit every one. But, I agree, he'd get more business that way!

Good luck to your ds!

[Danestress]

put flyers in people's mailboxes or in their door? Or would it be better for him to go (w/ his dad or me) to every door and ring the doorbell and give them the flyer?

I just resent having my doorbell rung by someone trying to sell something or advertise their business - even a child. I just feel like it's my home and people shouldn't be soliciting there.

I think you can leave something in the newspaper cubby of a mail box, if they are seperate. Otherwise, I would put something in the mailbox. People put things in mailboxes here all the time and I don't know if that's technically illegal, but I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for it. Maybe he could actually do a little postcard and mail it to the neighbors.

However, I have to admit I would probably not allow a child to mow my lawn - I have two ten year olds and wouldn't let them mow, nor would I hire someone else's child. There was a big write up recently in our paper about how many children a year are injured from lawn mowers. While A lot of those injuries are from riding lawn mowers, there are, apparently, many from sticks, rocks and other debris going flying through the air. I don't know. Unless you child has his own liability insurance, I just wouldn't do it. And it would embarrass me to say so in person if he rang my doorbell, but I hope you won't mind me telling you honestly that I commend his desire to earn some money, but think for a ten year old there are probably better ways. He could even off to water plants, gather papers, etc. My kids make money every summer on those "while you are away" type services.

[Elaine]

I just resent having my doorbell rung by someone trying to sell something or advertise their business - even a child. I just feel like it's my home and people shouldn't be soliciting there.

I think you can leave something in the newspaper cubby of a mail box, if they are seperate. Otherwise, I would put something in the mailbox. People put things in mailboxes here all the time and I don't know if that's technically illegal, but I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for it. Maybe he could actually do a little postcard and mail it to the neighbors.

However, I have to admit I would probably not allow a child to mow my lawn - I have two ten year olds and wouldn't let them mow, nor would I hire someone else's child. There was a big write up recently in our paper about how many children a year are injured from lawn mowers. While A lot of those injuries are from riding lawn mowers, there are, apparently, many from sticks, rocks and other debris going flying through the air. I don't know. Unless you child has his own liability insurance, I just wouldn't do it. And it would embarrass me to say so in person if he rang my doorbell, but I hope you won't mind me telling you honestly that I commend his desire to earn some money, but think for a ten year old there are probably better ways. He could even off to water plants, gather papers, etc. My kids make money every summer on those "while you are away" type services.

Not picking on you , but you should invest in a "No Soliciting" sign.:001_smile:

My son went door-to-door with flyers that I helped him print last summer and received a terrific response. One house had a "No Soliciting" sign. I told my son that those people didn't want anyone ringing their bell to sell to them. He was fine with that.

I really see nothing wrong with going door-to-door, especially for children. If people are not interested, they will tell him. :001_smile: If it were me, I would want to see a parent there.

[Sis]

I would hire a teenager to mow my lawn

Where are all the teenagers anyways? I haven't had ONE ask me to mow my yard..course..I have an acre so they might not want to. :(

I am not sure about a 10.5 year old mowing. That seems a touch young. I would hire him to do all other sorts of lawn work though.

I wish some kids would knock on my door for yardwork. :lol:

[8FillTheHeart]

I would hire a teenager to mow my lawn


I am not sure about a 10.5 year old mowing. That seems a touch young. I would hire him to do all other sorts of lawn work though.


My thoughts exactly. I won't let my own 10 yr olds mow lawns. I would not take on the liability of someone else's 10 yr old with a lawn mower.

Perhaps I am overly cautious.....but fast moving blades and younger children don't mix, IMHO. Our 12 yos is beginning to mow this yr.

All types of manual labor that is safe is fair game, though. I would hire a hard working younger person for weeding, moving mulch, etc. (and I have in the past. ;) )

[Elaine]

I would hire a teenager to mow my lawn

Where are all the teenagers anyways? I haven't had ONE ask me to mow my yard..course..I have an acre so they might not want to. :(

I am not sure about a 10.5 year old mowing. That seems a touch young. I would hire him to do all other sorts of lawn work though.

I wish some kids would knock on my door for yardwork. :lol:


OK, your sig line cracked me up. Literally! I am sitting here:lol:

[Danestress]

Not picking on you , but you should invest in a "No Soliciting" sign.:001_smile:




We have one! In fact, the whole neighborhood is under a "no soliciting" policy and it is promimently displayed. That may cut down on the doorbell ringing, but it comes nowhere close to stopping it, unfortunately. And I think it's the kids who are the worst because they probably think that it doesn't really apply to them - that it's not really solicitation because they know us. I really love my neighborhood children. I just HATE people ringing my doorbell to try to sell me something.

[Mad Charity]

My oldest has had a lawn mowing business since he was 10. He just asked the people who lived in our cul-de-sac and his business grew from there. It has been great for him and he has quite a little nest egg which he is saving for his car when he turns 16! We did a little safety course with him when he started mowing our lawn so we were pretty confident that he would not be as likely to get hurt. I hope it goes well for your son!

[muffinmom]

By the time he was in high school, he had 120 yards, 2 trucks and trailers full of equipment. He cut after school and hired his friends (and a couple of his teachers) to work for him!

His opinion: Face to face yields better returns. Putting out flyers you can expect a 1% return. Face to face would be more like 10%.

Dh offers further advice: people will pay top dollar when they trust that you will be there on time every time and that you will cut, trim, and blow the way they want it done every time. They'll hang on to you for life for that!

Sounds like you have a boy who isn't afraid of hard work. Good for him.