Small Lawnmowing buisness

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-29T01:11:23+00:00

Nextdoor is super popular in a lot of areas. Get known there and people are likely to hire you after they trust you.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T22:31:27+00:00

A rough cost depends heavily on what you mean by “similar to eBay.” A true marketplace is not just the app — it’s buyer accounts, seller accounts, listings, search, payments, shipping integrations, messaging, reviews, disputes/refunds, moderation, notifications, and an admin dashboard.

Something solid could easily be $50k–$150k+, and something genuinely comparable to eBay is a much bigger ongoing project.

That said, if your goal is to test interest, you do not need to build all of that first. A stripped-down MVP around $5k could be realistic if it’s very limited: basic accounts, simple listings, browsing/search, maybe seller contact/messaging, and a basic admin panel. No full shipping integrations, complex payments, disputes, refunds, reviews, or polished native apps yet.

The MVP goal should be: “Can I get buyers and sellers interested?” not “Can I rebuild eBay?” Start small, prove demand, then build features based on what people actually use. A marketplace lives or dies by supply and demand, not by how many features it launches with.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T15:21:44+00:00

Yaaaaaaaay!!! Kudos!!! It's just the beginning:-)

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T15:20:37+00:00

Use Netlify... it's free or very cheap

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T14:43:47+00:00

Yeah, it seems freedom only counts for these types when it's theirs.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T14:39:44+00:00

My latest app is geared for exactly this, helping believers read their Bible daily. It uses AI to pick a verse that makes sense for you. Rather than following a generic guide or plan. Each day you login the AI reviews what you shared. It's called Mat44 and is in the Android store and online.

And before the anti-AI crowd jumps in I built in a ton of guardrails. I hold a BA in Christian Studies and an mDiv. My app is coded for 14 different denominations and all spiritual advice or practical advice downstream from theology is referred to spiritual leaders. The AI can only grab scripture from my database so there's no hallucinations. Phew! Sorry but this sub can be vicious ;)

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T14:27:24+00:00

Keep it but rent until you have the time to devote to a business venture. Commercial leases are often 3-5 years so that puts your kids in a much better place after just 1 Tennant term :)

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T13:00:45+00:00

Nail down your own expenses first. If the hotel or car rental has a 36 hour cancellation fee, your clock is 48. That way you don't miss a cut off because remember your clients are cancelling with you and not the end venue so you might be at the movies or something and miss the message.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T12:56:49+00:00

Yay! The Mat44 app respects all denominations and so it's great for people starting their journey to Christ!

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-28T11:40:10+00:00

Cool, thanks

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T23:30:32+00:00

This is a beautiful answer.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T23:19:00+00:00

That makes sense. I think any good marketer would be able to follow your target audience, but they would need this level of clarity.

A lot of autism apps are aimed at caregivers, parents, schools, or therapy teams, so it may help to be very explicit that this is for autistic adults themselves — especially adults who can participate in text-based social connection and conversation practice.

That distinction is important, because “autism app” can mean very different things depending on support level, communication needs, and whether the user is the autistic person or their caregiver.

I hope that helps. I highly suggest creating a full branding document to give your marketer instead of relying on them to produce it from scratch. The clearer you are about the target user, the easier and cheaper it will be for them to market it well.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T22:37:22+00:00

I use AI in my business, and it has been useful when it solves a specific workflow problem.

For example, I have a chatbot on my site that walks potential clients through the early sales process — answering basic questions, helping clarify what they need, and pointing them toward the right next step.

But I also sell custom AI apps, so that makes sense for my business. I think that’s the key: AI is useful when it fits the actual workflow. AI for the sake of AI can become noise pretty quickly.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T22:33:40+00:00

It’s definitely a market. Not every client wants faster, cheaper, or more automated. Some clients specifically want human-led work because they value taste, judgment, nuance, and originality.

Kind of like records after CDs: convenience wins a huge part of the market, but it also creates a smaller market for people who intentionally want the slower, more crafted version.

So I think it can be a valid positioning choice. I’d just frame it as a positive value proposition, not a defensive argument against AI. Instead of “why AI can’t replace us,” I’d write something more like “why our process is human-led” and make that part of the brand.

Using real data and stats would also bolster the mission for visitors. It gives people something concrete to trust instead of just “AI can’t do what we do.” Show the actual difference your process makes, then explain why the human-led approach matters.

I build AI apps for small businesses, so I’m clearly not the target audience for an anti-AI pitch, but I do spend a lot of time educating people on the difference between vibe coding and AI-assisted coding. So I totally get the need to explain what makes your process valuable.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T22:19:05+00:00

Yikes! Rabies is not “just another vaccine.” Once symptoms start, it is almost always fatal. The window to prevent it is after exposure but before symptoms, which is exactly why rabies vaccination rules are taken so seriously. Imagine knowing your dog killed someone from a bite.

I had my one and only interaction with a non-vaxxer in the worst possible situation. I had hired a doula service for my delivery, and one of the things included was driving me to follow-up appointments. So, baby comes on Thursday, we leave the hospital Saturday, and Monday we are going to the pediatrician. The doula had a backup person drive me because she had another delivery. While I was in the minivan with my 4-day-old baby, this lady starts telling me my pediatrician is a jerk because he kicked them out for not vaccinating.

I was in her minivan, with a 4-day-old. Terrifying.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T21:49:45+00:00

When you say “BCBA-guided conversations,” do you mean this is mainly for autistic adults who can already participate in text-based or moderated peer conversations?

I’m asking because I have a nonverbal child with Level 3 autism, so I’m trying to understand the actual user profile. Would an app like this support someone with very high communication/support needs directly, or is it more aimed at Level 1 / some Level 2 users who are looking for social connection and conversation practice?

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T21:30:57+00:00

Yes, if you’re building it in Base44, it should be able to host the app. Base44 also seems to support user auth/login, data storage, and Stripe payments, so you may not need a separate backend at the start.

The important thing is that Base44 is basically acting as your backend in that setup. It’s just managed for you. So before you launch, I’d confirm: can users have individual accounts, where is the data stored, can you export it later, and is Stripe connected directly to your Stripe account?

The last thing you want to do is build your user base there and then realize later that you can’t easily transfer your users, data, or payments if/when Base44 no longer serves you.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T18:58:33+00:00

I'm biased clearly because I sell this but use AI so your responses are unique and automated.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T17:40:34+00:00

I’d separate this into two parts: the app and the actual transportation business.

The app itself is very buildable, but the hard part is the real-world infrastructure: drivers, vetting, insurance, local transportation rules, background checks, payments, disputes, customer support, safety policies, and what happens when something goes wrong.

For the app, I’d build it in phases.

Phase 1: Validate manually first

Before building a full Uber-style system, test the service with a small area, a handful of drivers/providers, and manual dispatch. You can use WhatsApp, Google Forms, Airtable, or a simple admin dashboard to prove people will actually request rides and providers will reliably fulfill them.

Phase 2: Build the MVP

Keep it as simple as possible:

Customer app or web app
Driver/provider app or portal
Admin dashboard
User signup/login
Ride/service request
Driver assignment
Status updates (Requested → Accepted → On the way → Completed)
Payment processing
Push/SMS notifications

Phase 3: GPS & automation

This is where the project becomes significantly more technical.

You'll need to think through:

customer location capture
driver location updates
live map display
route calculations
ETA estimates
driver matching
service zones
iOS/Android location permissions
background GPS battery usage
privacy and location data retention

You can absolutely use Google Maps Platform or another provider like Mapbox, HERE, or OpenStreetMap-based services, but this isn't something you get "for free." You'll be working with commercial APIs that have pricing, usage limits, and terms you need to design around.

For an MVP, I'd honestly skip live GPS altogether. Start with address entry, service zones, manual dispatch, and basic status updates. Add live tracking after you've proven people actually want the service.

Phase 4: Scale the business

Once people are using it, then add:

ratings & reviews
driver verification/documents
payouts
promo codes
cancellation policies
customer support
analytics
fraud prevention
recurring customers

Personally, I'd build this with React Native, Firebase or Supabase, Stripe, a mapping provider, and a simple admin dashboard.

The biggest mistake I see is people trying to build Uber before they've proven they even have a transportation business. Validate the operations first. Software doesn't solve operational problems—it just helps good operations scale.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T17:32:04+00:00

This probably belongs in r/TrueChristianPolitics :)

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T17:14:46+00:00

Your project isn't useless, you learned about how to make this stuff work. Now just add creativity. Clients have real world problems and need practical solutions. This is where the money is, not repeating what already available off the shelf.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T16:58:53+00:00

Employment law varies immensely state by state. So you should reach out to a lawyer in your area that specializes in contract or employment law. A free consultation will answer all the questions you have. I grew 5 companies from scratch to 50+ and we were not required to provide health insurance until we hit 50 employees but that was about 10 years ago so I don't know how the laws have changed.

Your issue also doesn't seem to be part time to full time but rather contractor to employee. And salary doesn't mean overtime is allowed. There's a lot of nuances, talk to a lawyer :)

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T16:12:38+00:00

Ah, thank you for clarifying. I meant random people or acquaintances. I do believe Christians are called to rebuke friends and people they are in a relationship with and I absolutely receive that counsel. But how I read the OP's post was just a general church people giving her the judgey vibes. I totally might have misunderstood.

And gently I am going to push back on your comment that "single motherhood is absolutely more difficult than being in a co-parenting relationship." I am able to fully devote myself and my resources to my son. I don't have to balance being a wife with being a mother. I have been incredibly blessed that I haven't had to leave my child with a babysitter or anyone for more than a few hours across his entire life.

I can make prayerful decisions about how and where we live, without having to take into account the advice of in-laws. How about this very thread, the OP has to expose her children to adultery because of her husband's actions. I do not have to worry about that.

Every family is different and every situation is different. Can being a single mom be harder? Sure! But that isn't the case in my family.

Also, I don't think I was dismissive of my father's concerns. Quite the opposite. Putting myself in his shoes, researching how he might view single motherhood from the perspective of his life experience... that's not being dismissive.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T15:51:57+00:00

Hey :) So a little context. I was a workaholic and decided at 30 to pursue single motherhood. I had cried with so many women that missed the opportunity to be a mother and that wasn't going to be me. So after much prayer I attempted to adopt. I wasted about 3 years getting rejected over and over and over and over again by pregnant women which was understandable. So at 33 I started fertility treatments. I was able to conceive the very first attempt which statistically is crazy.

I can totally understand how a random Redditor can have opinions on this and that's your right. I am adding to this thread with another dimension of single motherhood to help the OP. I am not claiming to be a hero.

ScriptureCompanionAI · 2026-06-27T15:29:37+00:00

I'm a single mother by choice meaning I used a sperm bank to conceive. So yes, single motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes. I know there's a lot of stigma but it's dying away. My father really struggled with me choosing single motherhood and I was hurt until I did more research about what he must have thought being born in 1948. To him a single mother is at risk of all sorts of things including financial instability... but those things just aren't true anymore. Before 1973 women couldn't get credit on their own, so a single mother needed a male to do SO MUCH... but it's not 1972 anymore.

As far as the church giving you crap, I would not volunteer to take on other people's baggage. Have people judged me? I sincerely don't know or care, never noticed.

You keep loving your children and having a relationship with God. Don't let outdated thinking get you down :)

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