State of the Industry

[lawn hopper]

How is your market doing? Snap shot of what it is now, please?Wondering if KC is where I should be doing business? East/Midwest

Business has been very good for me because profits are high for several years. Ready to: Expand Perpetually. This has been my MO for years!

But I'm tired of mowing to a degree because of monotony. It's like playing monopoly too much.Landscape Time

Check back

[Phil Nilsson]

Why not Start a building remodeling/repair "division" to your biz ... the market is hot, growth will continue. Siding, roofing, painting, just about anything.

[TLove]

Phil,

Be careful telling someone to start a remodeling company i.e. roofing, windows, and painting.... It's not that easy. You actually need to know what the hell you are doing............

[Phil Nilsson]

Phil,

Be careful telling someone to start a remodeling company i.e. roofing, windows, and painting.... It's not that easy. You actually need to know what the hell you are doing............

Not really ... you need "employees" and managers who know what they are doing ... unless you think you yourself can make a fortune "slinging a paint brush all day" ...

(Own the work) ... have others do the work. All you have to know is Selling/Estimating/Pricing and not even that ... you can hire that "out" as well.

In other words ... subcontract

[Ric]

Not really ... you need "employees" and managers who know what they are doing ... unless you think you yourself can make a fortune "slinging a paint brush all day" ...

(Own the work) ... have others do the work. All you have to know is Selling/Estimating/Pricing and not even that ... you can hire that "out" as well.

In other words ... subcontract

OH Filbert what about a general contractors license??

You really went out on the limb this time. Anyone with common sense should be able to pick this post apart. Therefore I don't need too. Have a nice day.

[GrassMaster]

I thought he was asking about something else to do because he was tired of the monotony of mowing all the time.

Nothing was mentioned about being licensed, just about any business you need a license of some kind that's common sense and just assumed that everybody already knows that.

It's very easy to pick apart a post, it's almost as easy as it is following a member posting on the forum.

PS: as of a couple of years ago, if your jobs were under $25,000 here where I'm at you didn't need a general contractors license.

Please hurry with your reply (Come Back). I'm waiting!

PPS: Phil would never put down a painter, he has a brother in law that's been very successful at it for years!

[TLove]

Not really ... you need "employees" and managers who know what they are doing ... unless you think you yourself can make a fortune "slinging a paint brush all day" ...

(Own the work) ... have others do the work. All you have to know is Selling/Estimating/Pricing and not even that ... you can hire that "out" as well.

In other words ... subcontract

Phil,

Where to start???? I own paint contracting business in Massachusetts with 12 full time employees year round.... You make it sound soooo easy but it's not...... Do I paint myself??? No... Did I? Of course I did..... You have to work in the industry to know how to estimate. I know this for a fact. Don't put down a guy that "slings a paint brush all day". One of my good friends that is a paitning contractor still works in the field and does fine finish work on exteriors and interiors. Just for example... If it's an exterior, he will not get out of his truck unless the job is $20,0000. Now I am on the other side of the spectrum as far as painting. I refuse to pick up a brush anymore and my minimum profit on each job has to be $2,500. after expenses or I will not do the work....

Rip painters all you want but it's not rocket science to cut grass either.....

[Phil Nilsson]

Who's ripping painters ? ... like you said ... sell the jobs ... (any jobs) get yourself some cheap labor ... be the man with the plan and the money!

How clear can it be? ... OWN ... THE ... WORK! ... you'll have no trouble finding cheap labor to do the work ... Be The Boss Man, not the "working man".

Nothing wrong with working in your own business ... "whatever makes you happy" ... not everybody is out to get rich, burn the midnight oil, become the Donald Trump of lawn care ... do whatever is right for you ... but understand of course that very few people ever make the big bucks by working the trenches everyday ... to some it doesn't matter ... to each his own way ... whatever floats your boat! ...

[TLove]

Phil,

I totally agree with you. I didn't mean to sound like a jerk. I was not trying to start an argument. Actually, believe or not, you and I think the same way as far as business. Find cheap labor to do it and save your own knees and back... The reason why I've been hanging around this forum is my customers can't find reliable lawn service providers and I'm thinking about starting another divison to take care of their needs. BUT I've never done the work at a professional level. So at some point after the fall season rush for painting, if your available, I would like to speak with you about the possibilities in Massachusetts. Is there room for another landscape contractor????

Have a great and profitable day.......

[northmichigan]

reply

as a one man band for the last 19 years i've managed to support my family and enjoy the day. i build flagstone patios and retaining walls and doing the work myself helps control quality and general liability. when i get a big job i use another business to haul materials and supply the heavy equipment. this works out well as i use the business that makes the gravel i need on most every job.my point is that there are many options to organizing a business but the work must be done with liability in mind.try to use the resources that you are comfortable with and can minimize the risks every job presents.
mj