Cash in your pocket every Saturday, plus neighbors who rebook you week after week. Slide the controls to see what a mowing route could bring in.
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A couple of side yards or the whole block — it's your call.
1–2 small lawns on the weekend
5–8 regular yards, Saturdays
Weekly mowing plus seasonal cleanups
From your first pass with the mower to a booked-out block.
A mower and a string trimmer are all you really need to start. No mower yet? Borrow a parent's or a neighbor's for your first few jobs and buy your own once the cash rolls in.
Decide what a basic cut costs and what counts as extra — edging along walkways, bagging clippings, or a fall leaf cleanup. Spelling it out up front keeps everyone happy at payday.
Knock on doors near your house, drop a flyer in mailboxes, and let neighbors know you're mowing this season. People love hiring the reliable kid two houses down.
Walk the whole lawn before you name a price. Look for slopes, tight corners, garden beds, and how tall the grass is — a big or overgrown yard is worth more than a quick front strip.
Cut in straight, even lines, trim the edges sharp, and blow the clippings off the driveway and sidewalk when you finish. A tidy job is what earns the repeat booking.
Put clients on a weekly plan so you know your Saturday income. Offer spring cleanups and fall leaf removal to the same customers — that's where the real money hides.
Round these up before your first cut — you likely own half already.
Wear closed shoes, never reach under a running mower, and shut it off before you clear a jam or cross gravel. Keep pets and little kids well clear while you cut.
Summer sun is no joke. Mow early, wear sunscreen and a hat, take shade breaks, and sip water constantly. Dizzy or overheated means stop right away.
Do a quick walk-through before you start. Pick up rocks, toys, and sticks the blade could throw, and note sprinkler heads, pet mess, and buried hoses.
The questions new teen mowers ask most.
You don't need to buy one to begin. Ask if you can use your family's mower, or borrow a neighbor's for your first couple of jobs. Once you've earned a few hundred dollars, put that money toward your own mower and trimmer so you're never waiting on anyone.
Most teens land somewhere around $30–$50 for a typical yard, depending on size and how tall the grass is. Price the small front strips lower and the big backyards higher, then add a few dollars for extras like edging or bagging. When in doubt, ask what neighbors already pay.
Mow across a slope, not straight up and down, and go slow so you keep your footing. Charge more for big or hilly lawns since they take longer and tire you out. If a yard feels too steep or unsafe for the mower you have, it's fine to pass on it.
Usually yes — figure the cost of fuel or charging into your price so it doesn't eat your profit. A gallon or two lasts several yards. Keep gas in an approved can, store it somewhere ventilated, and let a hot engine cool before you refill it.
Grass stops growing, but the work doesn't have to. Offer fall leaf cleanups, gutter clearing, and in snowy areas driveway shoveling to the same customers. Staying in touch over the cold months means your whole route is ready to rebook the second spring hits.