Solo question

[OrangeToys]

I am looking to go full time this up coming season and I only have one major fear right now. I am solo (unless the weather puts me behind) and I have a scag 61" mower and big question is "what is the biggest yards some of you solo guys can do in a days time?"

And yes I do realize that this is a difficulte question to answer but I'm just needing and estimate.

[BQLC]

do you have smaller mowers? the reason i ask because there will be alot of gates that mower will not get thru.
I personally do not have any large accounts but i do have my own yard that is about 2 acres and it takes me about 3 hours to cut it but i have alot of trees and things that i have to trimm around hope this helps

[JS Landscaping]

Kinda hard to give you a exact answer. There are too many variables such as size of the property, number of obstacles, the topography of it as well. If you have flat out fields to mow, with minimal trimming you will be able to get more in one day. Hills, and obstacles will naturally slow you down and take you longer. Your best bet is to time each of your lawns and figure out how long they take and plan to have at least one day to catch up such as a saturday or saturday and sunday if need be. Remember spring and fall cuttings will take longer due to higher turf growth, summer time you might be able to zip through them quicker due to slower growth. Also figure in drive time and load and unload time into each of your accoutns, it adds up.

[White Gardens]

I am looking to go full time this up coming season and I only have one major fear right now. I am solo (unless the weather puts me behind) and I have a scag 61" mower and big question is "what is the biggest yards some of you solo guys can do in a days time?"

And yes I do realize that this is a difficult question to answer but I'm just needing and estimate.


If you have a good urban route with minimal travel, efficiency, etc... Then you can easily pull 15 residentials a day. Keep in mind it takes a while to establish that.

I've known some guys that pull 30 a day.


If your solo, then always think SAFETY. As soon as your hurt, you can't make money.

[OrangeToys]

ok this is going to sound rude but nobody has evan came close to answering the question. I know how many I can do in a day. My question was "what is or what do you think the biggest job size that a solo person could complete in a day"? An example would be something like mowing an elementary school or something.

Is there a solo operation doing this?

[djagusch]

My largest is 34 town home unit that takes 4.5 hours in and out. After that I start dragging not because of being tired just because it seems like there is no end. I still do 4 to 5 more hours after that but it is broken up. It's a matter of what a individual wants to do and their mentality. Some may be able to work on one site all day but not me.

Also by looking at properties by size is misleading. 20 acres with your mower would take a long time, but the same guy with a 15ft batwing mower on back of a tractor can easily do that in a couple hrs and still be solo.

So what you are asking is very dependent on you and your equipment. I would say most can do 5 acre sites without a problem with a 61" ZTR. When you get 8 to 10 acres then it gets a little longer.

Is this what you are looking for?

[lawnprosteveo]

ok this is going to sound rude but nobody has evan came close to answering the question. I know how many I can do in a day. My question was "what is or what do you think the biggest job size that a solo person could complete in a day"? An example would be something like mowing an elementary school or something.

Is there a solo operation doing this?Ill try to answer...If I understand you correctly, you are wondering how big of a job is too big for a solo guy. True?

I can mow, trim, and blow an acre by myself in about 45 minutes. This is using a 48" Deere Quik Trak and trimming a chain link fence around the entire perimeter.

I had a condo association that wasnt as big, but had little mini yards...about 15 of them plus an entry way. It took me 1 1/2 hours. So it all depends on how large, how much trimming and blowing...lotsa variables.

As a solo guy, smaller properties are best IMO. I will have my son helping me this season so I will look to add some larger properties.

Hope this helps

[OrangeToys]

My largest is 34 town home unit that takes 4.5 hours in and out. After that I start dragging not because of being tired just because it seems like there is no end. I still do 4 to 5 more hours after that but it is broken up. It's a matter of what a individual wants to do and their mentality. Some may be able to work on one site all day but not me.

Also by looking at properties by size is misleading. 20 acres with your mower would take a long time, but the same guy with a 15ft batwing mower on back of a tractor can easily do that in a couple hrs and still be solo.

So what you are asking is very dependent on you and your equipment. I would say most can do 5 acre sites without a problem with a 61" ZTR. When you get 8 to 10 acres then it gets a little longer.

Is this what you are looking for?

Thank you for helping me out on this that is more of what I was looking for.

Also djagusch thank you for your input.

[RGM]

with a 60'' lazer I could cut and trim atleast 4 large (3-5 acres) in a day solo

[djagusch]

with a 60'' lazer I could cut and trim atleast 4 large (3-5 acres) in a day solo

Completely agree with you there. But if it was 20 acres at one location for that day would be a drag, at least to me.

[Exact Rototilling]

As a solo op you might consider sticking to smaller lawns payup

Look into a 32", 36" or 44" or 48" depending on gates in your area.

[OrangeToys]

I have been doing this business part time for a while but im just going to be able to go full time this year. I already have a 61" and 48". I have just been curious as to what is the biggest most solos go?

[LawnGuy73]

I have been doing this business part time for a while but im just going to be able to go full time this year. I already have a 61" and 48". I have just been curious as to what is the biggest most solos go?

The sky is the limit, you could be solo and do a 50 acre park if you wanted to. We all know that you wouldn't get it done in one day but it can be done by a solo. Its all about what you want for your business, the area you live in, and what your motivation is. :weightlifter:

[zgrrl]

I have a 3.6 acre yard BUT with lots of obstacles, lots of string trimming, slopes, hazards, 3 areas each about 500 sf that had to be pushed. So did all this solos, string trimming, with 24" push and 50" z.

I could do this and fit in a couple of small ones (.25 acre) and be home before dark...

but the first one is kinda demoralizing solo cuz it never ends, and b/c of the obstacles etc.

String trimming and transitions to different sizes equipment can really eat up your time.

[Exact Rototilling]

What I have found is when you camp out too long on any single property SOLO it has demoralizing :cry: effect that is tough to kick.

Maybe it's just me but for this reason I NOW bid very high on cleanups, installs, renovations and anything that becomes tough to work around with a normal mowing schedule and tends to be a time magnet. I'd rather run the expensive power equipment.

As a solo operators we need to work smarter not harder.

[OrangeToys]

What I have found is when you camp out too long on any single property SOLO it has demoralizing :cry: effect that is tough to kick.

Maybe it's just me but for this reason I NOW bid very high on cleanups, installs, renovations and anything that becomes tough to work around with a normal mowing schedule and tends to be a time magnet. I'd rather run the expensive power equipment.

As a solo operators we need to work smarter not harder.

Smarter can also be easier.lol. Thanks for all the helpful tips.

[justanotherlawnguy]

As a solo guy, smaller properties are best IMO.....

I use to do a commercial complex by myself, it was a pain with all the islands in the parking lot, few too many hedges, and a couple of retention ponds. It paid really good, but ended up being too much work once summmer rolled around.

Try and thing about how long jobs take you, being solo you probably dont want to be on a job for more than a couple of hours.

Small cookie cutter lots are where the money is at, if you can crank out 20 of those a day for a couple of days a week then you are golden.

I have a nice mix of small cookie cutter lots, 1/4 acre lots up to an acre. Anything bigger then an acre and the profitablitly starts to drop off.

[Exact Rototilling]

I use to do a commercial complex by myself, it was a pain with all the islands in the parking lot, few too many hedges, and a couple of retention ponds. It paid really good, but ended up being too much work once summmer rolled around.

Try and thing about how long jobs take you, being solo you probably dont want to be on a job for more than a couple of hours.

Small cookie cutter lots are where the money is at, if you can crank out 20 of those a day for a couple of days a week then you are golden.

I have a nice mix of small cookie cutter lots, 1/4 acre lots up to an acre. Anything bigger then an acre and the profitablitly starts to drop off.

justanotherlawnguy,

I'm assuming your manly talking smaller residentials spaced closer together? Do you do any commercials now? I'm considering writing off commercials altogether since I'm not a full service Co. I've see the bid amount many talk about here on lawnsite Google earth map aerial photos etc. and I always think it would be better to just stick with the smaller residential lots in the same area and be done with it.

There does seem to be an implication on lawnsite that to be a truly successful LCO you need to do mainly commercial, have employees, be a licensed applicator, mulch and install beds, retaining walls, a little hardscaping, know everything there is to know about sprinklers and the list goes on.

I will never be a full service LCO. I just don't see the point in spreading myself too thin. The market conditions dictate that we become very efficient at what we do and do it very well.

There is an old thread here on lawnsite from last summer where the debate rose if you're going to mow then mow solo. Especially on smaller lots it's faster and more profitable. Well that's the point the a long time veteran tried to make. Only a few agreed with him. Most wanted to argue. I took the points to heart and I will be implementing those tactics myself for 2009 in the mowing market. My only regret is I found out about them very late in the mowing season in 2008.
:waving:

[Roger]

Working primarily solo, I try to take and keep jobs that last no more than 1.5 hours. I allocate out about 1.25 hours/job (trim, mow - with selective bagging, blowing). My average job is about 25K sq ft of mowing, a few 1.5 to 2.0A. For me, a 60" machine would not get enough use to justify a purchase. I use a 48" ZTR for some jobs, a 36" w/b for others, plus a 21" hand mower. I'm not sure any LCO in this area uses anything greater than 52" mowers, most are 48". The terrain, sizes, etc just don't permit use of larger machines.

One reason I like to keep the jobs at the size noted is the modularity of work. Having a job that takes three hours means the better part of the morning, or a large block in the afternoon. When mid-day rains come, or late starts because of weather, or early-quits because of weather, it is much easier to work around a smaller modularity.

I have worked hard over the years to consolidate customers, 2-8 in one neighborhood, or connected on one street. Even if I get weathered-out, I can still work the smaller modules, rather than spending eight hours at one site.

[justanotherlawnguy]

I'm assuming your manly talking smaller residentials spaced closer together?


Yes, that is true


There does seem to be an implication on lawnsite that to be a truly successful LCO you need to do mainly commercial, have employees, be a licensed applicator, mulch and install beds, retaining walls, a little hardscaping, know everything there is to know about sprinklers and the list goes on.

Commercial is garbage, they are more cut throat in pricing than residential, especially here in FL. Every LCO you see has "commercial/residential" plastered all over their biz cards and trailers, when truly none of them even service commercial accounts. I get calls all the time for HOA's, condos and other commercial crap, and I wouldnt touch it with a 10 foot pole.

I have had helpers in the past and sure it helps, but overall I enjoy it much more being solo.

Somebody mentioned earlier, that the key to being a successful solo op is to work smarter, not harder. I been saying that for years.

Good service and higher prices are the keys to my success. I have found that people have no problem paying a little more for good service. when i go on estimates, the price is the price. Period!!!!

[lawnprosteveo]

I get calls all the time for HOA's, condos and other commercial crap, and I wouldnt touch it with a 10 foot pole.

I have had helpers in the past and sure it helps, but overall I enjoy it much more being solo. I dumped my last commercial account last season. It was a condo association. Total PITA! Not worth my health! Ive thought and thought about getting big, hustling commercial.

When it comes right down to it...Im satisfied with my little weed infested working class not very attractive lawns. They give a piss if there are stripes. They just want me there every week and they want me to talk to them and treat them like I give a crap.

As for help....Ill keep it all in the family. Son, nephews, brother... Thats how Ill run it...lean mean and simple.

[Wittapp]

ok this is going to sound rude but nobody has evan came close to answering the question. I know how many I can do in a day. My question was "what is or what do you think the biggest job size that a solo person could complete in a day"? An example would be something like mowing an elementary school or something.

Is there a solo operation doing this?

Perhaps if you had worded the question properly, you would have received your answer. The question as posed the second time is impossible to answer. What equipment do you have? Just the one mower? Are you using a backpack or hand held blower? Are you trimming or edging or both? What are the specifics of the job?

The best answer you are going to get is to estimate how much you can do in an hour and then take it case by case.

[Allens LawnCare]

ok this is going to sound rude but nobody has evan came close to answering the question. I know how many I can do in a day. My question was "what is or what do you think the biggest job size that a solo person could complete in a day"? An example would be something like mowing an elementary school or something.

Is there a solo operation doing this?

your answer was answered several times, it's not what, like an elementry school, it's the size of the prperty.....most zero turns can mow 4 acres an hour, understand that doesn't include bagging, trimming, blowing off everything, I have a 2 acre lot, takes me 1hr and 15 mins to cut trim and blow everything, I have an acre lot that takes the same amount of time because they have a ton of flower beds, a long drive that needs trimming on both sides, which means I'm walking and blowing that....you may have a 5000 sq ft' lot, ton of flower beds that they want edged everytime you go....great for you because you charge more for it....but that takes more time.....so your question was answered, maybe you just asked the wrong question