Before I Jump Back In?

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

Hello all, I need some hard core $ advice and estimations before I jump back into the maintenece business. I was in in the early 90's sold and got into real estate. Personally very frustrated with the real estate business and have already started back into landscaping. I have a f450 dump, enclosed trailor, walker ect... 30 accounts as of now, since sept. 2007. Before the season gets off to full swing I want to hear from some of you:

I need to know if I will be making money or just trading one headache for another. I am very satisifed with the money I make in real estate about 150k net. I would be happier making 150k doing landscaping though. So i need to know is that realistic.???

The way I break it down:
me and a helper on one truck equals 100 accounts per month with some side work.


income:
average house per month $130 x 100 + 13000.
at least $2000 per month side work.
total gross per month $15k

expense:
$10 per house gas = $1300
machine repair/material = $500 per month
helper = $2500
truck and equip. finance = $1000
insurance and business insurance necessary = $300
advertising $300
total estimate at $6k

LEAVING $9,000 NET BEFORE TAX AND SALARY.

I will an addittional 100 home route and pay an additional helper at 3k to be the foreman and that truck #2 will ne me before tax and salary: $6,000.

TRUCK #1 = $9,000
TRUCK #2 = $6,000

AM I MAKING SENSE AND ARE MY NUMBERS IN THE BALLPARK?

IF SO HERE I COME BACK TO DOING WHAT I LOVE!! AND JANUARY 1-MARCH 1 FLORIDA LOOKS BETTER AND BETTER! HAHA

Thanks in advance for your comments! I NEED SOME ENCOURAGEMENT!:weightlifter:

[bohiaa]

Most of us wouldn't touch this with a 10 ' pole.......

have a nice day !

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

I'm not sure how taxes work in the real estate industry but it will eat up a good portion in this biz. Since you'll be your own boss you have to pay all of your social security (I believe its 16% or so) plus since you have employees you are suppose to pay 1/2 of theirs. But this is really the least of your problems as how do you plan on gaining 200 accounts. Gaining good accounts is the hardest part. This industry is flooded with guys, some legit and some not, and it is becoming increasingly hard to compete with the non legit guys as there pricing is usually way too low. I would think 75-100 accounts may be obtainable by the end of the season but not at the start. Maybe by the middle to end of the 2nd year 200 or so. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

I Plan To 75 This Year At End And 150 Next Year At The End. I Have A Few Locals Selling 20-50 As Well. Will Only Pay 1.5 Months Maintenece. So Does The Basic Structure Make Sense?

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

You know actually, the reason I am on this site now, is to get info from guys like you. but thanks for the help... real nice guy!

[lawnman_scott]

It all looks feasable to me. The hard part will be getting the customers, but once your going should be ok.

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

It all looks feasable to me. The hard part will be getting the customers, but once your going should be ok.

thanks...I appreciate you reading.

[ed2hess]

I would be happier making 150k doing landscaping though. So i need to know is that realistic.???
:

Probability very low of making $150K net......getting workers will be one big problem but that is just the start.

[Frue]

sometimes you have to what you dont love to get what you do love. If you love this then you make it happen.......... If it just something to get you through what seems to be a bad situation right now, then your not cut for this. One drought and the loss of the best cutomer and you will see why!
God bless and life is too short to do something you dont love. we are hear about 80 years why not do something you love an are passsionate about? In a blink it is over, you wake up and you ask yourself what have I done? or you wake up and say I have lived a great life and prepared to meet the owner of all things......
does that motivate you it does me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[barefeetny]

The way I break it down:
me and a helper on one truck equals 100 accounts per month with some side work.

not to say you couldn't pick up 70 accounts before the season swing into gear, but finding 70 good ones i think will be difficult.... upselling 2000 dollars worth of sidework is possible, but i think your estimate of 500 material/repair might be low... is the 500 dollars also matireal for the side jobs(installs?) or is that the profit you plan on clearing? ....I also don't see taxes and SS for you or your employee in your expenses.


If you can find 170 customers and reliable employees it is quite possible to gross 150.... Me i left a job where i was making big money because i wanted to see my kids, go fishing once in a while, maybe canoe the river on the drizzly days....

Good luck with your endevor

Nate

income:
average house per month $130 x 100 + 13000.
at least $2000 per month side work.
total gross per month $15k

expense:
$10 per house gas = $1300
machine repair/material = $500 per month
helper = $2500
truck and equip. finance = $1000
insurance and business insurance necessary = $300
advertising $300
total estimate at $6k

LEAVING $9,000 NET BEFORE TAX AND SALARY.

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

thanks, I fell that $ is not always the better choice. I too am going to be have children next year and real estate is 24/7 phone calls, apts and stress. I am saying that getting up 6 days a week at dawn is any better but at least leaving the job is leaving the job! not bringing it home is important to me. thanks. And realistically I feel with a goal of 200 accounts I should be netting over 100k and I am happy with that!

[QualityLawnCare4u]

Bloomlandscaping, I understand where you are coming from, nothing like doing something you enjoy. However, the big question is, are there enough clients in your area to go around. I have been doing this for a long time and would be ecstatic if I could get and KEEP 30 dang accounts! You can talk to a stranger, any stranger in my area and everyone of them has a brother/uncle/cousin/boyfriend/girlfriend/lover/cop/fireman doing lawn care. I admire your ambition and hope you get more than 200 accounts! For me today if somebody offered me a 150k job (or a lot less) doing ANYTHING I would have a hard time turning it down. I enjoy lawncare and would be very happy if my area was just better. Good luck and go for it!!

[bloomlandscapeanddesign]

Bloomlandscaping, I understand where you are coming from, nothing like doing something you enjoy. However, the big question is, are there enough clients in your area to go around. I have been doing this for a long time and would be ecstatic if I could get and KEEP 30 dang accounts! You can talk to a stranger, any stranger in my area and everyone of them has a brother/uncle/cousin/boyfriend/girlfriend/lover/cop/fireman doing lawn care. I admire your ambition and hope you get more than 200 accounts! For me today if somebody offered me a 150k job (or a lot less) doing ANYTHING I would have a hard time turning it down. I enjoy lawncare and would be very happy if my area was just better. Good luck and go for it!!
My real estate job is very unsteady money. I agree with you if someone gave me a steady paycheck at 150k, believe me I would be all over it. I live in metro nyc area, in new jersey. Tons of homes, alot of landscapers. However, I have the money for mailing and buying some smaller routes. Workers here are very easy. Its like mexico a few towns over. no offense!. I again know that it takes time and work and money to get to the 200 accounts. so what I wanted to know was, once those 200 accounts are achieved, do my numbers make sense? thanks. this site rocks!!! its very helpful!

[topsites]

AM I MAKING SENSE AND ARE MY NUMBERS IN THE BALLPARK?

Oh I would say with today's economy it's a lot less incoming and a lot more squeezing the dollar before it goes out the door,
I like to think when my butt squeaks full time that I could might squeeze things a bit more, but maybe something more like this:

income:
average house per year 6-700, yes, dollars, and that's still a tee on the high side for a start up.
I might have one or two that like to spend 1000+ a year, they're sure few and far in between thou.
That includes all side work.
Total gross per month varies depending on time of year, more than a few of us save it while it's good, squeeze it when it's not.

expense:
One gallon per house fuel = $3, total, truck and equipment and all.
I don't want to even consider anything much beyond, my truck alone costs a crisply $100 to fill up and it doesn't last a week now.
I got so anal about this last year I got it down to the ounce, for instance the trimmer consumes 3-4 ounces per yard, the mower maybe a half a gallon, it's tough with a truck that only gets 11mpg to fit that all in a gallon.
But if I get paid $30 for a cut and trim then 1 gallon is 10% already!

Ok since I'm anal about this if you use a little more fine but I think 3 gallons a yard is too much for most things.

machine repair parts = about a grand or two a year, all DIY, +$500 for the repair guys at the shop for those *&%^$'s of a job.
helper = don't know
truck and equip. = $8-10g cash
insurance and business insurance necessary = $1,000 cash
advertising $3000 cash
total estimate $10-15g startup cash cash cash

No cash, no business.