how to et a lawncare company started

[steve-o]

George.................

there is to, too, and two.............. get with it yankee boy......:laughing:

steve-o

[Georges Lawn & Mulch]

Pick one

there is to, too, and two.............. get with it yankee boy......:laughing:

steve-o

I was typin faster than I was spellin.

[Wingnut]

I actually bill myself out for more than an employee. I bill myself out at a foreman rate. It's common practice to bill a helper out at a lower rate in other industries, so I do it too. For instance, a plumber's helper should not be getting paid the same as a licensed plumber. I'm a licensed contractor, smart and productive as hell, so I charge accordingly for it.

[Stephen M.]

A little advice. If you going to break State and Federal laws, it's best not to announce it on the internet.

Yea, there is a little group of laws entitled "wage and hour" at the Fed level and all states have there own version that enforce the Federal laws. Some states don't do much more than what the Feds say, while other States do a whole lot more than the Feds.

Either way, if you are caught ignoring those laws and you come to the attention of those who enforce those laws, there will be hell-o to pay.

We have had at least 4 employees of a competitor come to work for the wife and I over as many years. They all say that they need more $$ per hour to make up what they weren't paid--their shop time and their travel time in between jobs on the route. We pay less $$/hour and they get paid their shop time and travel time as REQUIRED by Federal (and state) Law. They are also covered with workmens comp and unemployement insurance if they qualify. These employees are always surprised by the money they make at the lower rate comes out to be more $$ in take home pay. We do alot of educating and all required Fed and state posters are posted in the shop area by the time clock.

This is a case of owner stupidity and it only takes one to turn his butt in. Another case of owner stupidity took the form of the owner bragging to his ex employee who is starting her 2nd season with us that he is hiring 2-3 more employees under the table. I guess he feels comfortable bragging about it since we are known to pay above the table.

His number is coming up this year, if you get my drift.

[Stephen M.]

I never thought about it like that??? I was figuring 10.00 an hour less, but you may be right.

That's pretty much how the National Scrub Tree Green landcare works. They match pricing or go cheaper. I've even seen them matching scrub pricing if they think it will gain market share.

I was reading a fert and squirt thread on the other site that was discussing the same type of question. The Hall monitor went to the sister company of the family True Brown ChemKill to ask for a quote on her 5 acres, of which 2 would be the target of the quote. The original question was "can anybody weed-n-feed and acre of lawn at $152/acre?"

Her experience over the next month was a series of phone calls ratcheting up the heat and each time she refused to sign on, the price per acre got cheapper and cheapper down to $50/acre!!! NO SHEET!

So in a tough economy, I have lost my bottom feeders to the scrub who comes in "cheaper", but I haven't lost any really good costumer; I have been able to make very small cost adjustments upward, in some cases, but not across the board.

So back to undercutting by $10. What you get: No customer loyalty. What do you give up--Quality or Service? I haven't lost my core business to the scrubs because of a long standing business relationship with 90% of our customers who know that I have their best interests in mind. They also know that I insist on my employees no to be slackers. Thats bad in any economy.