Your wife does she help?

[nelski]

My wife is the back bone of my company. She holds down a full time job and still does all books and billing and payroll. She even figured out quickbooks for me. Don't know what I would do with out her! Hey guys don't forget about VALENTINE'S DAY!!!<p>----------<br>royce nelson<br>

[dylan]

hm... My girlfriend does not like the heat, sun, dirt, mowers, noise... Not much of lawnmower lady. She does enjoy spending the money I earn. <br>Seriously though, she is very supportive of my business and helps when she can. I like to bring her along on the route to chat with customers. (leaves me free to get the work done) She will pitch in, if I'm in a pinch to get something done. <br>Thanks for the reminder about valentine's day. Now...if only you guys could remind me about the birthdays and aniversaries :)<p>----------<br>Dylan<br>E Ontario

[lawnnut]

I tried to convince my wife how hot she would<br>look with a backpack on.<br>She didn't go for it though.<br>

[nelski]

Hey lawnnut I hope my wife likes her new spray boots she getting for valentins day. And I am going to like sleeping in the dog house.YA Right

[HOMER]

My wife helps, she mainly mows because she has had surgery on her knees, she also keeps up with all the reciepts and tax related stuff. She would rather be doing something else, I'm sure, but for the time being as we grow and establish ourselves, she has been helping. I don't have to pay her a salary or maintain w/c ins. so it saves us money for now. I don't know what I would do without her!<p>Nuff said,<p>Homer

[yardsmith]

score 1 for the ladies-<br>my wife has been a major help to my business since the 2nd year of operation.<br>She enjoys riding the Z while I use the WB or whatever else I need on the lawn. She even worked during her 2 pregnancies with our boys up until month 7 or 8. No, we didn't have any prob.'s with the births; actually it helped make for easier deliveries with the exercise. She was grateful, as we had big babies.<br>Now she does more of the paperwork/billing type of thing. <br>I couldn't have gotten where I am today with out her;& she's a harder worker than anyone I could hire. Also it's nice keeping the $$ in the family, too. Plus where's she gonna find a job with all the added benefits like that & make $10 an hour? It's hard enuf for a guy in a factory to make much more than that.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[lawrence stone]

I find it completely appalling that any of you “men”? need to<br>employ your wife in ANY fashion in your business.<p>To subject your wife to the rigors, danger, heat, humidity, back injuries<br>caused by operating ZTRs, and pesticide toxicity shows that you have<br>no respect for the woman you love.<p>Your wife should be home raising your children and making your home comfortable<br>when your return for the rigors of YOUR working day.<p>If you cannot afford a $75/day laborer to help you should reevaluate<br>your business plan, consider the sell off of your equipment and go back<br>to work for wages.<p>Since Valentines Day is tomorrow I suggest you go down to the auto parts<br>store and buy a $10.00-12 volt fan to attach it to the walk behind she operates.<br>It’s obvious you can’t afford to buy her a diamond tennis bracelet.<br>

[southside]

Lawrence,I think maybe you are being a little harsh.Over here husband/wife teams<br>are very common.Women operators on the whole<br>tend to have more attention to detail than many male operators in my employ.Women also<br>seem to be gentler on the equipment and<br>not drive around at rip,**** or bust pace.<br>(please excuse my french):) Many contractors<br>would not survive their early years if not<br>for their wives,family,ect pitching in.<br>Also my experience in the Australian Army<br>has shown me that many women cope better<br>with harsh working environments than many<br>so called &quot;men&quot; I have come across.<br>Just my 2 cents worth.<p>Karl<p>

[HOMER]

Thats alright, I'm sure he's probably jealous that any man's wife would consider helping him out in the early years. I'm also pretty sure he has been through wives like he has customers with his nasty attitude! If I owned a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and supper, don't you think she would be there too? One thing about mowing grass, when the sun goes down we're through for the day! I know a man that owns a restaurant, he has no, not a dab , of a family life. He never takes off to be with his family and yes, his wife is left to deal with everything! Hows that for a stay at home wife. My wife and I get along better now than we probably ever have. She understands how difficult things are and if she wanted, she can quit anytime.<p>When we are gonna have a light day she stays at home, when the kids are sick, she stays at home, if the kids need to go somewhere, she stays at home, if I'm tired of eating out, she stays at home and prepares the best roast beef dinner a man could want.<p>As I stated, she RIDES on a DIXIE CHOPPER when she HELPS me. Since you are accustomed to WALKING while you mow I can see you wouldn't understand how EASY it is to RIDE for a day. Sure it gets hot and dusty, but it beats WALKING ALL DAY! She chose to help, she can choose to work elsewhere, she can choose to stay at HOME!<p>Unlike others in the world, she is not being made to do anything..............she made a choice to help the man she LOVES.........<p>Now ain't that sweet. You oughta try it sometime Lawrence(STONE AGE) Stone.<p>See ya'll, and kiss the women you love on Valentines Day. She sure does her part to keep a marriage strong. It will be 20 years for me in June. I wonder if everone else can say that, can you Larryawrence?

[NeilG]

Hey Homer. I can beat that by two years.. We will have been married 22 in June. Does my wife help? You bet she does. While I have been trying to get her to let me adjust the straps on my backpack sprayer, so she can spot spray weeds, (haven't been successful up to this point) She handles all the paperwork related stuff. Is a PRO at Quickbooks, makes sure that everyone pays their bills (and that we pay ours) Plus runs the House and cuts our grass. (Thank goodness) this forum isn't long enough to mention all of the things that she does for me and our kids. <br>Nuff said!

[JJ Lawn]

Well if were trying for records, We have been married for over 30 yrs. And my darling wife still on occasions helps me out on the job. She can run circles around some men with a trimmer. Keeps me in line. She won't ride the Walker, but she likes to push the 21&quot; mower. I really appreciate her help and I help her around the house. Try this sometimes , I can cook, wash dishes and vacume and do the laundry. Our marriage is a partnership, we share everything. Except she gets the money. :)<p>And tomorrow while she is at work she'll get a bouquet of Flowers delivered to show here how much I love her. I have learned over the years that having flowers delivered at work in front of all the other women there is a real turn on for them. At least it works for me. :)<p>jim<p>

[HOMER]

Well now, seems we have a few happily married guys and gals out there! This day in time 20+ years in a partnership of any kind is a major accomplishement. I am glad to hear others doing well and having good relationships. You know it takes a lot of good communication to maintain through the years. <p>I will say this, if I could give my wife everything she ever wanted in life I would. If I get the chance to make up for all the tough years, I will. Right now I will have to be satisfied with where I am and she is understanding with that.<p>Thats what makes her a great wife and partner.<p>Homer

[Bobby]

Hey Homer and Neil, mabey there's somthing to this working together and staying married. Last August was 20 for us.In the early years,she helped mow and clean beds. Public relations were great with her spending a little time with the customers. CHRISTmas gifts fell off dramaticaly when she stoped being in the field. She is also a talented artist. She designed all my adds. She painted the sides of my trailer like a pro. Then she was able to stay at home and be a great mom for our two kids. She also has kept me from making financial malfunctins After my kids reached their teens,she went to college.and became an RN. We are now thinking about moving to Atlanta and starting a L/S there. She said she wants to help me build the buisnes and work with me again instead of continuing as an RN. The list goes on. It's kind of like hitting the jackpot on the first pull. Her name is Pam, but sometimes I call her SHERA The Super Woman!!!!!!! Bobby

[bob]

My wife helps on the paper end of the business. I'll rough draft letters and she'll fine tune them for me. She also gives me something else that you can't buy for $75 a day- moral support! And yes I gave her a 4 carot ($4700) tennis braclet for Christmas. Bob

[yardsmith]

hey Mr.Stone age chauvinist,<br>my wife is a big girl now, out of school & can think for herself. She read your post & can tell you either don't have a woman, or if you do, you keep her under your fat foot.<br>My wife has better attention to detail than most men I know, & is like me-can't stand to be cooped up in the house in the summer, so deal with it. If she gets too hot or too cold in the fall, she does something else. Now that we have kids, she stays at home. Besides, I don't have a pesticide license anyways.<br>I suppose most of us peons don't turn down millions of $$ of work like you, so we have to maximize our resources & make a living like normal people.<br>All I can say guys, is CONSIDER THE SOURCE.<br>Get a grip, Larry boy.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<p><p>

[jnjnlc]

I agree with yardsmith, Stone is a chauvinist. My wife read this and wanted to smack the computer. <p>My wife is a great help to me. She takes the calls while I am out. She sets up appointments. She gives quotes as good as any man can. And when she can she is out on the mower running with the best of them. This is on top to the two slipped disk in her back that kept her in a wheelchair for three years.<p>I am part time and this businees would not be a business if it were not for her.<p>To all of the ladies out helping there man, I salute you.<p><p><p>----------<br>Jeff<br>

[Cletus]

ah reckon thet eff it will save yo money then it'd be a fine thin.<p>----------<br>Cletus<br>mow-4-money

[curlawngreen]

Mine helped me for awhile when i was getting started but when I ask her to do mow something I thought she had already mowed, SHE WALKED 6 MILES HOME. She no longer helps me do yards.

[Lazer]

Hey Cletus,<p>Do you ever watch the show &quot;Crocodile Hunter&quot;?<br>

[southside]

Hey Lazer, That guy,the Crocodile Hunter<br>lives about an hour north of me.His name<br>is Steve Irwin,and I think he is a lunatic.<br>If he keeps pissing off those crocodiles<br>he will be playing cards with Elvis very soon.:) Please note that pissing off large<br>animals is NOT a popular hobby over here.:) <br>

[lawrence stone]

So Jeff calls Mr. Stone a chauvinist but it is ok for Jeff to use his wife like a rented mule. Did any of you guys hear of a company called &quot;manpower&quot;. Oh that's right you can't afford a &quot;real&quot; employee do to low profit margins due to the fact you can't figure your costs or your profit margins.<p>chauvinism n. blind enthusiaum for military glory;zealous and belligerent patroitism or devotion to any cause.<p>Well I am against white slavery so I MUST be<br>a chauvinist.

[southside]

Afraid you lost me there.

[Charles]

I am a widower now. But their are a few reason I don't think having your wife working with you is a good idea. If she were to die or divorced you it would be very hard for you to continue your business without seeing her there. You will very much relate your business with her loss.<br>You don't get that feeling of missing someone if you see each other all day and night. There is more to talk about if you have seperate careers I would think.<br>If something were to happen to your lawn service business. You could fall back on her career to support you for awhile.<br>You could use her benefits from her job most of the time like health insurance and retirement plan.<br>But whatever floats your boat

[Cletus]

lazer<p>ah cain't git thet show hyar.th recepshun is bad!Fry mah hide!<p>----------<br>Cletus<br>mow-4-money

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:<p>I never considered myself a wife working for my husband, I was a partner or spouse in our business. I am very proud of our venture. The business grew into one of the most successful lawn servicing business of its time in our area. <p>I was a licensed lawn and turf chemical applicator and did the books for our business. <p>I also enjoyed planning and designing landscape jobs. <p>I can also remember days so humid and hot that the air was thick as pea soup. SOWEGA can be a terrible place in the summertime. I can remember going home after a hard day, head pounding from the heat. It certainly would require a strong constitution from anyone, man or woman. <p>But in another sense, it was one of the most enjoyable time of my life. <p>My 1st post,thanks for listening!<br>Mrs. GrassMaster<p><p>----------<br>GrassMaster - Have a nice day!!!!! Home: http://www.lawnservicing.com<br>Visit my browser Start Up Page http://www.lawnservicing.com/startup/

[Lawndog22]

It's nice to hear all these wives that help in the lawncare business. My wife keeps mentioning the idea but I nervous about the finances if she left her FT job which she hates. She is good with the finances for our home needs but hasn't been involved at all in my business. She also loves to be outdoors. Any tips on how to keep our income close to the same without bringing down the lawncare business if she stays at home or helps with the business?

[knox gsl]

Wow, a 10.5 year old thread just came back to life.

[fatboynormmie]

I wouldn't want to do it without my wife.She is a huge asset to our business and works harder then most men .I am actually laid up right now with an injury and she has been running the show solo .She hops in the truck and pulls the enclosed trailer around and takes care of business without a wimper.I am a lucky man