Solo LCO's

[jnjnlc]

This questions if the the guys working solo.

How many lawns do you mow in a day? Assuming of course all of the lawns are approx. 1/4 acre.

Just curious.

[1MajorTom]

The question just has too many unknown variables. Everybody's answer will be different.

What kind of equipment is used? How long is the work day?
How much travel is involved getting to each job?

It's not the amount of yards done each day. It's the quality of the yards and the profit.

[thelawnguy]

I do 54 in 4 days w/ a 52 inch hydro. Never out of the house before 830 and never home after 6. Tues and Thurs Im home by 4. Lawns range from postage stamp to 1 1/2 ac, most are standard city lots 75x150 minus house garden etc. End of the month tho Im dumping at least 9 so I can have more time for higher profit landscape projects waiting to be done.

No condos or HOA's all single family home most are 3 or more per stop.

[TLS]

I mow 10 to 12 lawns a day that are 3/4 to 1 1/4 acre each, so I guess I could mow at least 15 to 20 of the smaller ones a day no problem.

[Evan528]

I was solo for the past 7 years! This year I got to the point where I had no choice but to hire help. It has been great! I have one guy working 5 days a week. I can now actually stand up at the end of a day and even go out at night! Because of the time he saves me per job he is paying for himself. Our first hour of work in the morning just about pays for him the whole day!

[Runner]

Tom,
If you are doing ten to twelve a day of that size, and by yourself, you are KICKin' it!:cool: Keep it up!

[TLS]

Well today, I cut approx 14 acres in 9 hours( alot of hills and trimming, total of 6 lawns). Most heavy days are 12 to 13 hours though! Every time I think of how much more I could get done with a helper, I just think how much more green is in my pockets at the end of the week! Too many hassles with workmans comp, payroll, records, insurance, etc., with a helper.

[ron]

Hey before my accident I was doing 10 yards per day,my cusin does 20 yards per day

[lawnman_scott]

when i worked alone i did about 15 a day, about that size.

[jnjnlc]

You are right MajorTom, there are a lot of variables on that one. I should have been more specific. I was mostly curius to see if I was on track or a major slow poke.

I am mowing 45 in four days. I use a 44" ZTR and a 33" WB. I use the 33" on about six lawns. Tuesday and Wednesday I am usually home by 3:00. Most of the lawns are 1/4 to 1/2 acre. Thursday is the hard day. Several 3/4 to 1 acre lots with hills. That is usually a nine hour day. Friday I do 16 1/4 acre lawns (8:30 to 5:00). They are all near each other.

Thanks for the input.

[bubble boy]

dixie 1- 13 hour days, thats hardcore, must be pullin in the dough! I've worked in the past for companies alone, some days you can go stir crazy. talkin to trees just to keep myself company.

I've taken on employees for the first time this spring. Even with all the costs and hassles you've mentioned, and even with having to replace one due to problems, it's still worth it. It's now 8:30 in the morning, 81 (!) degrees outside already. I got most of the work for the week in by thurs. and today i'm inside doing paperwork, waiting for Mike Weir to mount his charge at southern hills. My guys are out making me money, finishing up my cuts. Don't doubt for a second hiring was the right move for me.

[jmartmel]

hey Bubble where in north Toronto are you

[eggy]

I think turf had a good article about either running one man crews or being a solo LCO. They talked more in the way of dollars if I recall right they said the average solo LCO made around 200.00 per day. That sounds maybe a little low for this area but not very far off for a 8 hour day....with about 6.5 hours cutting.

[bubble boy]

jmartmel: i'm likely right in your backyard-got a lot in richmond hill-(bayview hill-valleymede.)

[mdb landscaping]

i mow about 8 and i start around 1:30. they are fairly large lawns too.

[jmartmel]

good to see another local on here. I'm in the bayview-majormack area