How a College Student Earned $50K by Flipping Lawnmowers (and Graduated Without Debt) - Side Hustle Nation

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      Imagine earning $900 in just one day by buying and reselling lawnmowers.

      Dave Wilson, known as @MoneyCoachDave, made over $50,000 flipping lawnmowers while he was in college. This side hustle enabled him to graduate without debt and equipped him with valuable skills in purchasing, repairing, and reselling equipment.

      It operates on a buy low, sell high principle that is effective whether you’re flipping lawnmowers, cars, or other tools. This skill can help secure your income even during tough economic times.

      Tune in to Episode 713 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

      how to find undervalued lawnmowers (including a key secret)

      what to consider when buying (and what to steer clear of)

      how to quickly resolve common issues and sell them

      Download Your Free Flipping Bonus

      What Are The Best Items to Flip for Profit?

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      Round 1: How Dave Made $900 in Just One Day

      At the age of 21, Dave discovered a zero-turn mower on Facebook Marketplace listed for $2,700. He quickly reached out to the seller (who likely received around 40 other inquiries as well), picked it up, cleaned it, took high-quality pictures, and re-listed it the same day.

      He sold it for $3,600, earning a profit of $900 with minimal effort.

      No mechanical repairs were necessary—he simply cleaned it, utilized effective SEO in his listing title and description, and re-listed it.

      The seller was unaware of the actual value of the mower. Dave noted that many individuals often don’t recognize the worth of their possessions. It boils down to identifying value arbitrage—purchasing something undervalued and reselling it for its true market price.

      Why Choose Lawnmowers?

      Dave acknowledges that it wasn’t the trendiest side hustle to share with friends, but it was effective.

      He stumbled upon this opportunity inadvertently. As he prepared for college, his family had a riding lawnmower that was no longer needed. Since his mother never used it, Dave sold it. After that initial sale, he thought, “There might be potential here for a business.”

      He took the earnings from that sale and reinvested it into more mowers.

      While the $2,700 zero-turn mower was an exception, most of Dave’s transactions fell within the $500 to $800 range. That’s where he identified the ideal target for flipping riding lawnmowers.

      I’ve discussed car flipping on the show previously, so it was interesting to compare it with lawnmowers. The basics remain the same—buy low, clean it up, sell high—but mowers sidestep many regulatory challenges faced with vehicles.

      Lawnmowers vs. Cars: Why Mowers Are Easier

      Dave pointed out two significant advantages lawnmowers possess over cars:

      You don’t need to register a lawnmower: no title transfers, no visits to the DMV.

      Free lawnmowers are given away often.

      It’s rare to see anyone giving away a car for free (unless you’re David Dobrik or Mr. Beast). However, on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, free non-functional lawnmowers frequently pop up.

      Although most of these free mowers may not work, if you find a good one and fix it, you could secure your first flip for under $200.

      People often just want to remove bulky items from their space. They aren’t focused on getting top dollar—they just want it out of their garage.

      Where to Find Lawnmowers for Flipping

      Dave mainly sourced lawnmowers from Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. However, his unique method involved approaching lawnmower dealerships directly.

      Here’s how it goes: dealerships frequently receive trade-ins. Yet a John Deere dealer is not interested in displaying a Simplicity or Husqvarna mower; they prefer to sell new John Deere models.

      Dave would visit dealerships in person (as face-to-face interaction fosters trust). He’d explain his intent, offer to pay in cash, assure them he wouldn’t call for repairs, and promise to pick up the mower the same day to clear it out of their way.

      This approach is effective because dealers would rather sell new stock than manage trade-ins from rival brands. It benefits them and is the source of Dave's best