One Man Operations

[komalley]

Hey I was just wondering how many peoplehere only run one person operations, is it worth it or to time consuming and tiring?

[lawnboy82]

It all depends on what you want to do in your life, and what you want to do with your life right now. If you want to be large, and do lots of revenue each year then the only way to go is with crews of employees. Now on the other hand if you only need to survive then you can do it on your own. Like I said, its all about what you need to live, and what you are comfortable with. Plenty of money in a 1 man show. However 1 man shows do have more risks, and cannot do certain types of work. On the other hand there are certain things that a large company cannot do that a small company can do. Its a trade off.

[sheppard]

I enjoy it, but plan to add a helper when I get the proper amount of accounts. If it's just me I get all the money and all the blame. Have not twisted an ankle (come close), or passed out. Having come off of ten years sitting at a desk , I don't mind this kind of tired. Nothing is worse that having a mind that will not 'shut off' and a body that is not phyisically tired.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by lawnboy82
... However 1 man shows do have more risks, and cannot do certain types of work. On the other hand there are certain things that a large company cannot do that a small company can do.Okay I'll bite. What the Hell does this statement mean?!?!?!?!? :confused:

If you are not large enough to perform all the work necessary to keep yourself a One-Stop-Shop then you will need to find reliable sub-contractors to keep your clientele happy, and keep the competition off your properties at the same time.

If you are a larger firm there is nothing that a smaller outfit can offer clients that we cannot. The question comes down to can they afford us? If the answer is no, they will search to find a cheaper price. Its not that we cannot perform tasks offered by solo-operators or smaller organizations than ours.

Kris

[fivestarlawnken]

I run the one man operation and it is also part-time.I have no problems, i just pace myself.I still provide the best work possible to every customer.One advantage I see to being small, is i can do the little things that big just sometimes dont have time for.If your new to lawn and landscaping make sure you want to do this first,(no offense to anyone).Also I'm the boss and if I mess up it's my falut.:cool:

[CSRA Landscaping]

One man operations can mean more profit, or less, depending on your mindset.

I'm a one-man show right now and I wish that I had enough accounts to have a quality helper with me. I'm the type of person that loves to be out front, but I need a litte 'friendly competition,' if you will, to keep me in the quality.

If you're the kind of person that loves repetitious, predictable work, knowing exactly what you'll be doing for the next X amount of months, and where, then I'd say that a one-man LCO is for you.

[Mike (MLC)]

I was a one man operation for quite a while. I hired a helper a few months back. I am doing this part time. I like being a small company right now, but plan on expanding in the next few years. I am in no rush to do so right now. We have plenty of yards to handle at the moment and yes I do get tired at times, but I feel it is worth it. I like the profit I make and also like looking at a job well done. ;)

[lawnboy82]

Sorry about the confusion Kris, I will clear that up for you. If you are a solo operator, if you get hurt, the business doesnt do any work, unless you hire employees. At which time you are no longer a solo operator. Also what i meant by this is, lets say you have to get a machine for a day to move and spread mulch, or to move larger plants around. Is that something you would go and hire a sub for. Or is it something you would hire a day laborer for. If you do get a day laborer, how does the word solo fit in anymore? And what i meant about the larger businesses was not that they cant do the work. I was referring to a personal touch with the customers. There are only so many names, and faces that one person can remember. There are only so many hours in one day. So I guess what I meant was the individual attention, not the work itself, but knowing the customers, and their properties, every aspect of the work being done.

[kutnkru]

I see what direction you are heading now. :)

Yes, it is true that the larger most LCOs get the smaller the personalized attention to each client gets. Thats why to me its important that if you are going to expand that you run 2 or more crews and this way you can keep on top of things.

I enjoy the mowing end of the biz so I will rotate amongst the crews. This allows me to guarantee that the properties are being kepot up to my expectations, and it also keeps the monotany and boredom from setting in with the guys too.

Personal attention is one of the most important things we can keep on top of in this biz. I like to keep things very personal with clients too. We send out Holiday Greeting Cards hand-signed by all the guys, send out newsletters, keep track of Anniversaries and send out Gift Certificates for their dinners etc.

Kris

[accentlc]

One advantage I have seen in a one man operation, or a one crew operation, is in advertizing that the "Boss" will always be on the job. I have heard many complaints from customers that start with a small LCO and get good service, but as the company grows, many times the quality suffers because the employees don't care like the owner does.

[jnjnlc]

As far as the heavy grunt work goes I am a one man show. I mow about 50 accounts per week plus landsacping projects as they come along. I just finished a landscaping project in June where I removed 30 or 40 20 year old shrubs and put in over 300 plants. Took me a while but I got it done. My wife helps when she can. She answers the phone, sets up appointments, makes deposits, runs errands and occasionally helps me mow if I get behind.

It is hard work. The unfortunate part is that by the end of the day the work at home usually takes a back seat. I do the best I can though. I think we can make it through the end of the year. I hope to hire someone at the start of next season when things get rolling good.

[Allyn]

I am a one man show, was in SL. before I moved to Las Vegas. I work basicly 2 days a week cutting. Any thing extra I do on the other days of the week. I have over 39 accounts. And gross about $4000.00 a month. I wouldn't mind getting a few more. Not to bad for only being here for 10 months.
I don't get sick and take care of my self. But it is true if you get sick you are in trouble.

Allyn

[Turfer]

Mt story is exactly like Allyn. I work alone and yes it is tough. I have to be careful on and off the turf. I've worked with strep throat and other ailments but everything I make goes to me. I'm going to add a person for seeding and aeration season but i will not add anybody full time until I reach 50 full time accounts. That's what my business plan says and I'm sticking to it. I'm on the grass 3 days a week now with 35 full time accounts. Monday and Tuesday I brainstorm on how I can double my business. Isn't this a great way to make a living !!!

[Allyn]

I work Monday at 5:00 am. to about 1:00 pm, Tuesday from 5:00am to 1:00pm. Then there is Wed. 5:00 am to 8:00 am. Then I cut my lawn, sharpen the blades look over the equipment, change oil if it time. If there isn't any other work to be done. Its a 4 or 5 day weekend. But come this fall, I will be working more on getting accounts closer.

I was driving over a 100 miles on Monday and then tues and Wed combine was another 100 miles.

What is strange is there are others doing the same thing. And I can't get anyone to trade for accounts closer to there home and closer to mine. It could be a win, win situation.

I work by me self because I don't think I could get help to get out of bed that early, and I don't want all the pay roll taxes, workers comp., liability insurance problems. All the crap that goes with most help. Now if I can find someone that will really work that is a different story.

It is not how much one grosses that make you rich, it is how much you get to retain after all expences.

Allyn:alien:

[Esby]

It is a proved fact that one man operations are much more efficient compared to multiple crew member operations. It seems that with more than one person at a job somebody finds time to stand around and not get work done. Yes you may get the job done faster.....but total man hours will be more with a two man crew. Just my .02

[bobbygedd]

one man show is very risky. last year i had to have emergency surgery that put me out for 8 weeks. i tried to get other companies to help me out, i called 3, one said he was too busy, another said the same, and the last, said "why should i help you, if u end up losing them cus u cant cut them, thats more customers i may end up getting anyway" . luckily, i had a friend who helped me out, and salvaged most of my business, still ended up losing 3 or 4. if i didnt have this friend, i would have lost them all.

[GLM]

One man show here. The one thing that a one man show can offer that a big comapny cannot is the job gets done the same each time to the customers liking. Most of my customers hired me because I worked by myself. They don't care about price but they want the yard to look the same (good) every time. They were sick and tired of showing the crew exactly whate they wanteddone and where their petpieve areaswere and low and behold a differant crew shows up the next week to cut. I can offer something that the bigger compoanys can't Me! They talk to the same person when they call as the talk to on the front lawn. People show me once what they want done and how they want the yard to look and I give them that every week. Bing solo is my biggest selling point! I like working be myself and I have a clientel that wouldn't have it any other way. :cool:

[MOW ED]

I am also a one man operation for the time being. Within a week or two it will be one man, one woman show as my wife will begin her new job in the field with me as our youngest child is going to school. The lawn business is very good for me and I have to say that it is just one of the 2 jobs I have to make ends meet. I am also a firefighter/paramedic which I am fortunate to be, it gives me the opportunity to do lawn care at my pace. It is helping put money away for the kids. I have lots of respect for all of you solo operators who do this as the only job. I am blessed enough to really love both of my professions.
I have been solo since I started 6 years ago and you are all right on the personal service aspect of a solo operation. The problem I have now is adding enough work next season without being overextended as I don't want to be any bigger than the 2 of us.

One thing I sure am thankful for is Lawnsite for a million different reasons.

[awm]

mine just depends on the buisiness. instead of hireing a helper ,
i expect to outfit another truck when the time comes.
that way we arnt togather all the time but can handle larger lanscape jobs ,when its needed.