What is the best used mower to buy when starting a lawn care business on a tight budget?

Hey Travis, Travis here!

​Listen, if you’re on a tight budget but want something that will actually hold up without a warranty, do not buy a new residential riding mower from a big-box store. Daily commercial use will burn out those cheap transmissions in no time.

​Instead, take that exact same budget and hunt down a used commercial stand-on mower (like a Wright Stander) or an older commercial zero-turn (like a **bleep** Freedom Z) with a Kawasaki engine.

​If a dedicated rider stretches the budget too thin, here is the ultimate pro-tip: buy a used commercial walk-behind and slap a two-wheeled sulky (velke) on the back. Boom—you're riding, saving your legs, and keeping your upfront costs dirt cheap.

​Here is why you buy commercial used:

• ​Built like tanks: Heavy fabricated steel decks and commercial pumps are designed to last thousands of hours.
• ​Easy to wrench on: They are highly serviceable, so you can do your own maintenance in the shop and keep your overhead low.
• ​No down time: Commercial rigs get you on and off properties fast so you can turn a profit and upgrade to brand-new gear sooner.

​Keep your overhead low, buy commercial quality, and save your boots. Best of luck from one Travis to another!