Solo Operation Business? Good or Bad Idea?

[GrassMannn2008]

IS going Solo a good or bad idea?

I started my business in high school and am now in the middle of college. I do about 90% of the work (a good friend of mine does all my mechanical work and helps with some big landscaping jobs). Services include: mowing, aeration, spring + fall cleanups, etc. for 40 residential and a couple commercial accounts.

Anyways, my question to the solo operators out there is, in the long haul how do you like going solo? Best things? Worst things?

At this stage in the business I enjoy it, but am wondering if I will in the long run. Thanks in advance for your input.

And before all you "BIG" business guys come on here and criticize or question my legality, I want you to know I am insured, licensed, and am following all the legal criteria, so please do not fill this thread up with that type of stuff..

[larryinalabama]

I ran my business in the early 1990s and loved every minute. Imi older now and am geetting back into the business as a SOLO operator. Im too old for all the hassels that employees bring.
Solo means better quaiity work and in the long run better quality accounts.

[Allens LawnCare]

I enjoy working solo, but I'm starting to put numbers together and possibly like to hire a guy or two. A 1 hr job can be cut in half with another person which opens up more time to add new customers. I currently have 46 accounts and would love to add more but I'm at the bend but don't break point for a solo op.This past month has been tough and stressful with all the rain we've been getting, everyone gets pushed back. Do I enjoy it, yes, most of the time. Will I be hiring someone...sooner then I ever thought! Less time =
more time to add new work!

[GrassMannn2008]

Thanks for the replies guys..

I see what you're saying about adding a worker so you can add more accounts. This has always been an odd spot for me. For the most part, I can handle everything. Many of my customers are elderly and I think that part of my service they enjoy is interacting with young people as well as great work. For many of them this might the only person-to-person interaction they have in the day.

This is why at this stage I just can't decide if I want to hire someone as it is hard to find workers that are dependable and courteous. I'm sure I could find the "right" worker, but at this stage I'm banking on being solo.

Anyways, keep the repies coming!

[SangerLawn]

I was solo for my first 2 years…of course I wasn't completely legal at that point. 4 years ago I hired my first helper so I had to be legal.

The 2 years I worked solo I literally had no complaints. The year I hired someone I started having minor complaints. When I got to the point where I had several employees I was constantly having minor complaints and sometimes things broken that, according to employees, are unexplainable.

If I had to do it all over again I don’t think I would have changed anything. Solo is nice but knowing people are making you money when your not even there is nicer..The only catch is I hope your good with damage control.

[Allens LawnCare]

Thanks for the replies guys..

I see what you're saying about adding a worker so you can add more accounts. This has always been an odd spot for me. For the most part, I can handle everything. Many of my customers are elderly and I think that part of my service they enjoy is interacting with young people as well as great work. For many of them this might the only person-to-person interaction they have in the day.

This is why at this stage I just can't decide if I want to hire someone as it is hard to find workers that are dependable and courteous. I'm sure I could find the "right" worker, but at this stage I'm banking on being solo.

Anyways, keep the repies coming!
It's not the being able to handle it part....I do just fine, it's the fact that if I can get a decent trainable guy I can cut my week inhalf, which would equal out to more time with my family, maybe a day off once in a while with out missing a beat. Or even better more clients

[jsw2008]

When you reach a certain point in your business, being solo can be stressful. I've been in business for 4 years, and this year I've added a lot of new business. It's very easy to over-schedule yourself and start to piss people off by not getting to them quick enough. I really don't want to add employees, but I also hate to tell customers I won't be able to get to you for 2 weeks. Add in rain and other unforeseen things that come up and it can get really hectic in a hurry.

[nobagger]

I'm torn, Ive always had at least one helper and things seemed to go fairly smooth. Growing over the past few years we now employee 4 guys and myself. There are pro's and con's. When I hurt my back last year it was nice to be able to send out guys and still make an income. There are definitely con's like always worrying if they do the same quality work that you would do, be as professional as you would expect, equipment abuse etc. Ive had to talk to one of my guys twice now about his language and his speeds on the mowers when turning and loading the equipment back into the trailer. I told him next time its days off then termination. We finally bought another truck this week and I needed him to drive it to a job, of course he says ok. Well when I asked him for his driver's license he hands me a Ohio I.D. NON-DRIVER card, I said what the hell is this. He said "that's all I got", I said well its not an f'ing drivers license is it! I said if you got in an accident I would probably loose my business, house, everything. So he is on my sh!t list for a while!!!! But the more guys you employee the more stupid things like this you have to deal with. Now the other guy who was with us last year is a great kid and now my crew leader so imo you just have to find the right guys and when you need to be a Boss then be a Boss. It also depends on how far you want to go. If you dont want to deal with all the headaches then stay solo.

[Lloyd at work]

Silly question...... If you want to stay small stay solo if you want to try and be big then hire employees!!!! My goal is to make a business that goes national one day, if you think small you stay small if you think big then you have motivation to continue to grow......

[Allens LawnCare]

Silly question...... If you want to stay small stay solo if you want to try and be big then hire employees!!!! My goal is to make a business that goes national one day, if you think small you stay small if you think big then you have motivation to continue to grow......

That is silly, it's not about staying small or being big...there are several factors that need to be looked at. I could be solo with 70 accounts which in a lot of peoples mind is small....will that work out for me sure. With the right person to help that 70 could grow or stay at 70 and free up more time for you! Making moneys great but being able to spend on your kids or family in general is better....Time is money, if your not working it still provides a great feeling knowing that while your craking a beer, your still able to bill for work being performed!

[marthanmike1959]

Silly question...... If you want to stay small stay solo if you want to try and be big then hire employees!!!! My goal is to make a business that goes national one day, if you think small you stay small if you think big then you have motivation to continue to grow......

Depends on what the goverment does,they are about to take the motivation out of all of us.

[airsoftamazon]

I love working solo. Less hassle, just worry about myself. I don't do high numbers of accounts so I don't worry so much about hiring. I keep my inventory smaller and most of my equipment is self propelled and powered enough that I don't need help. I take as much time as I need, or maybe go as fast as I need. I love it that way. I'm starting a third year doing this and don't see a need to expand unless the bottom of the clouds bust open and start pouring customers on me! :hammerhead::dancing:

[airsoftamazon]

That is silly, it's not about staying small or being big...there are several factors that need to be looked at. I could be solo with 70 accounts which in a lot of peoples mind is small....will that work out for me sure. With the right person to help that 70 could grow or stay at 70 and free up more time for you! Making moneys great but being able to spend on your kids or family in general is better....Time is money, if your not working it still provides a great feeling knowing that while your craking a beer, your still able to bill for work being performed!

I'm just happy and thankful that I made some money and accomplished something. Nothing else matters in the end.

[bohiaa]

depends on what you want, there's NO way I would ever work solo.

[HOOLIE]

Most people don't have actual managerial training, or experience, that's one of the biggest reasons I suspect that so many guys prefer to work solo. You have to learn how to deal with employees and all that comes along with them. So many guys get frustrated and go back to doing it themselves.

[Frenchie]

I have got to know how you can have 70 accounts and be one person? Do you do your own mechanical work? Book work? etc.... I have always thought "keep it small..keep it all" Well small isn't all it is cracked up to be when you're one person. When mechanical things start going wrong it all trickles down.. Accounts get backed up, customers complain, etc... I must be doing something wrong.. Do you guys just throw things away and buy new? Do you have a good service person in the neighborhood that doesn't charge an arm and a leg and gets your item fixed before 2 weeks to a month? I even have my wife for bookwork and extra running around. This year I was still doing spring clean ups in April when lawn mowing started. Maybe I have too much equipment (it feels like i am always missing something) How do you handle regular maintenance? Everything needs grease, oil changes, fluid, filters, odds and ends. Seriously, what do you guys do? I am either not doing something right or I have the worst luck in the world.
Thanks for reading...
Frenchie

[GrassMannn2008]

Frenchie- You make a valid point. I cut 40 yards and do landscaping as well as a solo.

Luckily for me a great friend of mine is the most mechanical person I know. He does all my maintenance (sharpens the blades, maintains my walk behinds, installs anything that needs to be done, and so on). With the shops charging between $70-$80 an hour he saves me TONS of money. But at the same time, I make it worth his while.

Maintenance is the name of the game for a small/solo operation. I would suggest finding someone you can count on, make it worth their while. Sometimes when I get some large landscaping jobs I'll bring him along as well and we will just split the job. Basically, if you can keep them happy and put some money in their pockets every once in a while with some jobs as well as paying them good to maintain your equipment, you will be in good shape.

Now I'm sure the guys with 500 yards will get on here and tell you that you need good dealer support, which is true for an operation that large but as a solo you need to be able to do most of it yourself or have a reliable person to help you out.

Just my thoughts...