What I mow with here at home I think would be worth a look. It's a Husqvarna Rider 155 (I think it's now been replaced, different engine, I think it's now Rider 175?) (mines a 15 1/2 hp Kohler).
Mines not a commercial version, although I think they do make commercial models. The one I bought a few years back would fit your large mower price range. I don't think, for your uses, that a commercial model would be needed. They have really beefy frames. They are not ztr, but turn radius is very small, a few inches. My deck size is around 32"-34", around there. Which I think would help with smaller lawns, I don't think "huge" is the way to go for peoples lawns, you would benefit more by having a rider, faster but still able to maneuver around obstacles.
The Rider is very low and able to get you under trees, and is front deck if you need to get under low hanging bushes, pine trees, things like that. It will be worth your time to at least look at their website.
http://www.husqvarna.com/us/homeowner/products/riders/rider-175/

Added benefit is it is just a hoot to mow with it! They make an AWD version, which is recommended for hilly lawns.

PS I have one of the last years of the 2 stroke Lawn Boys! Never gets used now. All you really would need, at least in my case, is the Husqvarna Rider and a weed whacker. What used to take me over an hour I now do in under 1/2 hour. Just really minor trimmimg needed after mowing, like around our landscape edging, mailbox pole, that's about it.

Gilly

Start measuring some gates. That will determine how big of a mower you can get. There are some gates where I can't get my 36" through.

I forgot the mention before, you may want to take a gander at Ferris walk behinds too. They seem to have a pretty good reputation.

This weekend I need to put a hitch on my truck and buy a trailer, I found some decent sounding mowers in the bargin news.

If the lawn is to small for sheep to deal with you need a flymow to avoid the wheel tracks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRE3cyAtFj8&feature=related

In the mid 70's I lived in Malaysia and flymows were the word when it came to steep lawns- a rope on the handle and you swung them like a pendulum as you lowered them down the bank- slopes too steep to use a push mower or a tractor.

How about a Flymow Rider, now how much fun would THAT be?:cool:
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/sdgzbvrcwj--Jetsons-CarThe-Jetsons-

theres a fly-mo advertised on a local craigslist for $100.also you can check pretty much all john deere dealer inventories at www.machinefinder.com .just pick catagory:lawn&garden and then you can pick thru the list of manufacturers.or leave manufacturer blank and enter your zip code and it will list closest to you first.

TSC (Tractor SupplyCo)
 

TSC had a 1-year interest free deal when paid in full - on their Bad Boy brand 27 HP 60" Zero Turn Mower Kohler Courage Pro engine/Hydraulic drive system transmission/2 year limited warranty $4,999

I would say that it would be ridiculous to try to start a home lawn mowing business with a 60", would not work with most home lawns. Those things are for parks and golf courses, baseball parks, and probably around large commercial sites. 32-34" should be ideal. Fast yet able to get into tight areas. A 60" would be like taking a semi to the grocery store.

Gilly

Well now......that's where a push-mower comes in - to handle those tight areas........

*Anybody use or heard of the Bad Boy brand of zero-turn mower out there? They look pretty darn stout!

60 is way to big, I wouldn't take the lawn if it needed a 60.

The big money is in the bigger lawns. Less downtime hopping from job to job that way. And the customer is expecting to pay more for the work.

However, you make a good point - if there are no large lawns in your travel-scope...

No actualy its not, and I'm not looking for big money. I'm just looking for spending cash, big money is in RE.


Big lawns just means a lot more work for not that much more pay, and more travel.

I also believe the big money is in the big commercial sites, but they are probably already using a large landscape firm to do the work and might be hard to convince them to change, or even meet with the person making the decision.Once they get cofidence in the outfit doing the work, they will be hesitant to change. Now if you see a site where they do a lousy job, obviously not mowing well or showing up when it should be done, then there might be a chance. Although the company might be telling them to only mow once a week and we all know some times once a week isn't often enough.
Gilly

my wife and i are landscaping our house -almost done. i'm thinking about putting a sign out front bc several people have asked me if i would be interested in side work. i'm to busy at the moment trying to make our house livable.