secretary?/wife?

[bobbygedd]

while i am planning for my biggest year ever, ive come to realize that keeping organized is gonna be a real tough part of it. i am more or less a one man show, but i plan to service 40-50 weekly mowing accnts, about 15 fert programs, as well as landscape installations, trimming, etc. i will hire one full timer, and one part timer this season. doing the labor, planning, estimating, work on equipment, customer relations, not to mention paperwork: billing, banking, pesticide usage info, research, calling back customers, etc. this is way too much for one man? or is it? how many of u have secretaries, or your wife to help out? im trying to get my wife to really be commited to our business, but its really tough.

[65hoss]

90% of the time I am my own secretary. I guess its the "nobody can do it as well as me" problem.

Don't force the business on your wife. She will come to regret and hate the business. If she really wants to see the business succeed she will get involved in her own time.

My girlfriend offers to take over my books. She is a CPA, but I still don't let her. I guess its the accountant and finance guy still in me. I want to control my own $$$.

[RB]

I have a similar work load as you w/50 customers, except no fert program.

My wife does the majority of paperwork during the season. As a matter of fact, when I answer the business phone, the customers usually chat for a minute w/me, tell me what they want and than know to ask for Dee, my wife, to actually make sure the work gets scheduled. BTW the above post is correct, don't try to force someone to help, they will only regret it. This job had to grow on my wife. I'm glad it did.

[David Haggerty]

As the bookkeeper and (home) office manager for the operation she knows where the money comes from.

She didn't even blink yesterday when I walked in and said that I'd just spent two thousand bucks on a toy manure spreader!

She just looked at the picture and asked dryly "will that thing spread compost on my garden?" As if it were never going to leave the house.

Sometimes I need that little extra motivation. I'm going to sell topdressing if I have to give it away! No.. can't do that, she'd catch me. LOL

Dave

[thelawnguy]

I had my wife as a secretary, so to speak, and now that we are in the process of getting a divorce it is becoming a major hassle all around.

I would suggest, if you must have someone else do the paperwork, that it not be a spouse. I thought we would be together forever. Apparently I was wrong, and my I have a feeling my business decision on that part is going to haunt me for a while...

[slplow]

I could not do it with out my wife. She runs the hole office, all I do is give the price of the jobs and she does all the rest. IF it wasent for her, are co would a real mess.

[Bob Minney]

I agree with slplow, if it wasn't for my wife I'd be going in circles 20 hours a day. And of course you ASK if she would like to be involved. Why would you want somebody helping you that doesn't want to?

[parkwest]

Word of advice: Don't hire someone you can't fire! ie. friend, relative or spouse. All successful business have a successful business owner. In the above situation they are going to question your authority to the detriment of your business.

If you are going to run a professional business, then hire professionals!

[odin]

my wife has been great for our business all our customers love her
They love Her italian accent and one time we got a nice good account because those people were sicilian to
We got a great account and also some new dear freinds now .
I wouldnt think of haveing the business phone at any of my brothers places .
MY wife and my sister in law the cpa are our two biggest assets

[summitgroundskeeping]

You just found out why I want to get married, lol lol lol. Just kidding, if you hire your wife make sure she is good as your secretary b/c you can't fire her. My buddies' dad's big LCO has his wife as the secretary and she is great at it.

[jack D.]

Bobby, never let a woman, with whom you share intimate relations, know exactly how much money you make.

[TJLC]

I'm sure my wife would help me if she wasn't working 50 hrs. a week at her job. She's under alot of stress and deadlines so I rarely ask her for help. When I do need her it's mainly on how to spell something. Fortunately there is one smart one in this family.LOL

[Guardian]

When your business grows to the point that your wife can quit her job - She will LOVE to help out!!

[Bob Minney]

If your wife is interested, let her help as much or as little as she would like. Who else are you going to share your success with.

[Planter]

Hey, I'm lucky to live where I live. I've got one wife for the books, one as the secretary and one to tend the youngin's.:D Just kidding, of course.

[HOMER]

Now that's dam funny!:blob4:

[brucec32]

You might let her help with clerical duties like mailings and invoices, but I have to say, based on the numerous small details I have to handle, that unless you're immersed in the business, an outsider can't do all the little things right. I find myself making judgement calls on bills, taking calls and using my judgement on how to handle a request, etc. Your wife is not gonna be as flexible as you. But if you're getting so big you need help from someone, your wife might help, rather than deal with employee hassles in the office.

Example: A customer calls and wants their gutters cleaned, but you don't do that normally, for liability and danger reasons. But in this case, you know that it's a short, flat roof with few trees nearby, an easy, safe, quick, very profitable job. (they'll gladly pay you $40 for 20 minutes of work rather than $100 to a "gutter service" company) You also know that this old lady will think you hung the moon if you do this favor for her, since she's intimidated by having "strangers" over. So you say yes and make more money and a customer for life. Your wife, though, might simply give her the "sorry, we don't do that" answer, since she doesn't know every property and customer like you do.

You also cannot fire your wife, and if you have marital problems, she could be stealing you blind prior to running off with her boyfriend to the Bahamas. <G>

[odin]

Brucec32
You right ive seen that happen women run off with everything.
But i aint worried about mine we been togeather 28 years in march.
Got two grow boys im pretty sure she's gonna be around a while more

[David Haggerty]

[i]the hole office [/B]

Hey, Ive got an office like that too. LOL

Just messin with you. Not like spelling was critical to lawn care.
Not like these guys.

Dave

[Rodney Johns]

My wife took me over the top by computrerizing our entire book keeping system and made us a little more efficient. Instead of the 110 hrs or more a week I used to work I am now down to an average of only 50+ which is half as stressful too.
I had to laugh at the comment of not letting someone you are with know how much money you have. AMEN .....but on the other hand it is nice to be able to leave the office and trust that the cash register is safe and that the crew might not pop in for an extra 2 hr break also.

At least hopefully you can trust your wife a cash register. I have an ex wife you couldn't trust around a broken pay phone.

[Robert Ewald]

My wife to be in 6 months is a huge asset to our company. She not only helps with some of the office stuff but isn ot affraid to get dirty either. Wow does she get some looks from other women when she is walking the Toro Dingo around. And just in case any of you are wondering no she isnt some big burly half man half woman. She is a petite beautiful hard worker.

It is great to see so many guys speak highly on there wives you just dont see that to often


:)

[Robert Ewald]

Sorry I made a spelling error on my last post I ment to say and she is not afraid to get dirty. Sorry about the confusion.

[Rodney Johns]

looking back...I can't spell either (maybe a spell check in posts would be a neat feature)

Anyway my wife is hot as all get out. Always helps out with sales. I forgot to mention that.

[thelawnguy]

Nothing wrong with a wife as a secretary. Its the ex, or soon to be ex, which will cause the problems.

Just be aware. Nothings certain in this world, my friends...