Who's been working like hell lately?

[RRS]

How many hours are you guys working these days? I'm just curious. Be honest.

I've worked every Saturday since the middle of March and lately Sundays too. I average about 60-70 hours a week.

[Seascape]

We are getting our asses kicked. I pesonally dont work saturdays anymore but I grossed more in August than i did in May.

Ive had 11 calls since yesterday morning.

By the end of saturday we have
1) 85' wall to build
2) 16 4" skyline Locusts to bury
3) 35000 k Sod to install (may postpone)
4) 3 mulch jobs total about 40 yds
5) another 40 hrs of mowing

All these jobs were supposed to be done 2 weeks ago!

Plus,,, i have a guy off tomorrow and 1 i want to terminate.

[SodBuster]

112 hours per week nonstop since 29th of March. 16 hours per day 7 days a week. For the last 6 months I risen everyday @4:30 A.M.

Had to let a new guy go on his 2nd day of work this week.

[cfclawns]

i have worked 7 days a week for the last 6 weeks and im still about 3 days behind. i swear 3 weeks ago i worked 74 hours in 1 weeks time. i am just about to burn out and to top it all i gave bids on 9 apartment complexes monday i dont know what i was thinking although i will say this my august gross was a little more than my june and july combined. i guess it is better than no work at all

[Scaper-S2k]

9:00 until 5:45. 45 minute lunch break.

We do have a lot of mulching and floral installs to do in the next 20 days. I will hire a few more guys to help out. I find it better to bring in extra help when you need it instead of paying overtime and working guys like animals. That way each guy is fresh and ready each day, not tired from the day before.

So we still work the same 8 hours......just more guys when needed.




Sodbuster, you are a funny ole man!

[nick11380]

Business has been extremely slow. From the middle of April until the middle of July I was working 70+ hours a week. Then since the middle of July the calls just stopped coming in. I increased my advertising but it hasn't been helping. I've only been getting 1 to 2 calls a week (if that) from new people. Last year at this time I was getting a lot of calls and working 40-50 hours a week. I get calls from repeat customers once in a while and I have some lawns to cut but lately I've been lucky if I get 20 hour of work a week. I hope work picks up with fall clean ups. But this slow time sucks. I wish I was as busy as you guys. I just don't understand why I'm not getting the calls.

[Seascape]

I just don't understand why I'm not getting the calls.

I used to go out and visit my existing clients in search of work. Sometime just getting out there produces work.

Just pull up on your existing at reasonable hours and say hi. Say your just stoppin by to see the site and make sure things are ok. Or just say your doing quality cheks. Youll start getting work.

Ive been flat out of work 1 week and wondering how to get it all done by the same time the next week. Just from doing that.

Good luck

[RRS]

I'm having a hard time right now. It's one of those times that I don't even want to answer the phone. We're so far behind on everything that I know every call is either going to be a customer wondering when we're going to get to their aerating and seeding, when we're going to start the landscape install that they paid half for a month ago, or someone I'm going to have to turn away because we can't take anymore work at this point in time.

I need another truck, but I'm too much of a puss to buy it with winter coming.

[jimslawnservice1]

Covered up

I too am still so busy I can't see straight. Sun up to sun down

[steve-o]

I'm having a hard time right now. It's one of those times that I don't even want to answer the phone. We're so far behind on everything that I know every call is either going to be a customer wondering when we're going to get to their aerating and seeding, when we're going to start the landscape install that they paid half for a month ago, or someone I'm going to have to turn away because we can't take anymore work at this point in time.

I need another truck, but I'm too much of a puss to buy it with winter coming.

casey, i got a neighbor who is selling a ford. it is in very good shape. i actually got the info today for you. call me if you are interested.

steve

[nick11380]

I've spent $400.00 in advertising for september plus hung 500 door hangers. It's been two weeks since anyone has called me for an estimate. The only work I've been having is my weekly lawn mowing which as slowed down because of the lack of rain. I was working around 70 hours per week from the middle of April to the middle of july. Now I'm lucky to work 15-20 hours a week. This sucks. If I don't start getting some work I'm going to start having a hard time paying the bills.

[backsmackwristcrack]

estimates daily; check. work in office (yeah home office and thank goodness) five hours( leaning all I can about various plants I want to work with this year on web, finalize estimates draw out plans trying to learn tax codes, insurance , learning plant propigation so I can grow my own stock, looking at my spelling -typing erros slightly dazed, etc.) after ten - twelve hour day:check. Maintaining machinery and some billing on Sundays:check Play phone tag with late accounts:check. Happy for new guy working out so damned well:check.
I know I have to get time managing skills but right now its growing fast Im really trying to hang on and keep the quality up. screwed myself on a few prices still proffitable but could of done better. Havent been home for lunch with my dear wife in a month. sacrifice now pay off later we hope. been to the beach four times all summer. beach is ten minutes away. kinda ridiculous. but we are grateful for it. Hope you all are doing well..

[mhentosh]

oh yea very busy especially in september with aerating and seeding. hopefully i can get a little rest in oct. and nov. but then here come the leaves

[RRS]

9:00 until 5:45. 45 minute lunch break.

LOL! I must have missed this one earlier. That's funny.

[Seascape]

I need another truck, but I'm too much of a puss to buy it with winter coming.

Casey,
Im the same way. Any chance you can pay another truck off real quick than go sign on another? Thats what i do.
Also i pay several bills off 4 months up about this time of year. Cable,trash,fill up the propane,make a few extra truck payements, old ladys car, pay up the kids lunch account for a few months ect,,, its makes life much easier during winter.