mow blow and go

[mboeckii]

Hi all -first post,

I have been in the industry a long time and really hate the mow-blow and go crowd. I have a story about one which may have changed my mind.
I do a house for about $440 a month, 4 man hours- about $25/hr.
and a crew of 3 (plus myself) I have all the toys, trailer and certs. my customer approached me with the idea of taking over a small easment along the front of the house which is HOA property, they did not like the absence of care it was getting and wanted me to bid it into the existing contract.
I gave it some thought and decided that it was a conflict and did not give them a break in price (mistake!)
lo and behold the MBG brothers came to do it. They charge a paltry 80 a month are there for about 15 minutes have half the equipment and leave the debri onsite.
so here is the math $80.00/4.33(weeks a month)/.5 (half hour of work) almost 37.00 an hour vs my 25.00??!?

This guy is making a mint!!
he has no liability insurance (perhaps no car insurance iether)
he pays no taxes
he sprays without a license
he pays his amigo cash at the end of the day/week
his gas overhead is half
he has no business license or contractors license
He is making 12 dollars more an hour than me!

so why didnt I just offer to do the easment for about 50 a month?
I was an idiot

[pride]

Because thats what seperates the professionals like ourselves from the SCRUBS!

[GrassMaster]

Welcome to the Lawn Service Forum Community, mboeckii!

He might be making a mint now, but if anything ever goes wrong, which will sooner or later...

He could possibly lose everything... I like to go to bed with a clear mind!

Now if he doesn't own anything he doesn't have much to lose, I'm not going to do my mile longer about the Trials & Tribulations of "How We Live in a Suing Society" but I've been there & done that Many Times!

I have NO company vehicles, I carry everything needed & then some to be in business at the Shop, I have a Million Liability at the Shop, I have another Million Umbrella Coverage & I even carry a 1/2 Million Liability on my Home & personal use vehicles, I'm still worried I will get Sued & I'll die & go to Hades before I let anybody besides my wife drive a vehicle of mine! LOL

Listen, if you can't get what you think you need to make a decent profit on a job...

Do you really need that Job? NO I don't think so because what few jobs I did that was unprofitable or "Cut to the Bone & No Profit", everyone one of them came home with me & all I did was complain about them... Until I dropped them. When I did I felt 100% Better!

Hang in there! Look like a Pro, Act like a Pro, Work like a Pro, You will then be Treated & Paid Like a Pro! The whole name of the Game, is to make the Most Profit, in the Least amount of Time!

It's All About Making Money! Money is Work Divided by Time! My Time is Precious & Once it's Gone I can't get it back!

It's not How Much Money You Make, It's What You do With it?

[grassguy]

Turn him in to the state for not paying taxes and for spraying. I do all the time. Level the playing field. If you gotta have it, so do they.

[Elwood]

so here is the math $80.00/4.33(weeks a month)/.5 (half hour of work) almost 37.00 an hour vs my 25.00??!?

Sounds simple, but how far is he driving to get there?

I agree with grassguy, drop a dime. People like him make the rest of the industry tougher.

[crzymoe]

The other problem you get doin everything under the table is that when it comes time to buy something you have no income to show if you go for a loan. Cant pay cash for everything in life, well i cant anyway. I agree with Grass master, if you dont think you are making the money you should drop them, not worth the headache. I have a customer now that is getting dropped at the end of the season, would like to do it now, but not really good practice. So I'll just bite my tongue and finish our the year.

[Phil Nilsson]

"Working Class Landscapers"

just don't get "it"!