Employee Hourly Wages

[hmeaders]

What is the average hourly rate everyone pays thier employees?

The reason I asked is I am thinking about adding a crew member a couple of days a week, currently theres just me. My business is in its third year, it has been part-time until about one month ago when I quit my full-time job. It is growing slowly, but I could use the help a couple of days each week.

Also by bring this person on board I would also gain his accounts, he has his own business which I will be taken over.

Thanks for your help...

[MASTERMOWER]

I'd find someone who doesn't already have their own mowing business....

So you'd take over his current clients and pay him X amount of dollars per hour to mow his old lawns where he is accustomed to earning $XX? How long do you really expect him to stay with you before he ventures off on his own again? I'm assuming he wants out now simply because he'd rather just work for someone, but wait till he realizes the huge pay cut he'll endure!

BTW: I'm speaking from experience.

[bobclose]

Not to mention, he now has a full list of your accounts. Remember the golden rule; Keep your friends close; your enemies closer.

[T,S LAWNS OF LEISURE]

I think you mean, keep your enemies close and your friends closer.

[Stephen M.]

"Loose lips sink ships".

Give expected production times per property, but guard the dollar amount charged like a guard at Fort Knox. The reason is this: "Look at all the dough he's making compared to the piddlely amount he's pay'n me". And as in another thread, you're accounts are fair game to the new fortune seeker.

[The C Man]

I think you mean, keep your enemies close and your friends closer.

No. The saying is "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Think about it.

[hmeaders]

Thanks everyone for thier insight. I agree with all of you and will keep things as is for now. If I do decide to bring in some help it won't be anyone that already has a business.

Thanks again...

[MOWANDGO]

Please use an attorney and do this the right way. Have him sign a no compete contract for a given amount of time within a distance say 50 miles of where you operate. This way if he decideds to quit on you he has to mow someplace outside that 50 mile radius for 5 years before he can move back into the area. You may also want to pay on a sliding scale based on how many of his accounts you still have at the end of the year not based on quality, but I guess if you were to pay him on an hourly basis it would be what he is worth to you. Do you see him as an assistant, or as a partner? I pay untrained employees $9.50 to start out, and then with experience based on what they are doing up to $15.00/ hr. for lawn crew. Hope this helps.

[TinkerLawn]

Friends close but your enemies closer means you need to know about friends but you need to know even more about you enemies so you can stay one step ahead of them.