What do you the the foreman of your lawn crew?

[Right Touch]

After searching for serious responses to this question in other threads, I really couldnt find any... (go figure) So, Im wondering, and this question is only for guys who are running more than one lawn crew and have foreman or managers- What is a good rate for someone running a 3 man crew doing approx 100 lawns a week? The guy I have now is American and 25 years old with a good head on his shoulders and doing a great job. He always goes the extra mile. I am currently paying him $13/hr plus company phone (which is his personal phone as well) and he gets to take home the company truck (he doesnt have his own vehicle but really doesnt go out much after work anyway and if he does they use his girlfriends car). My issue is that though his hourly wage is a little low, it is made up by the phone and truck, things he doesnt have to pay for. My company continues to grow seemingly on a daily basis (just added 5 new accounts this week alone). He took a part time job at a pizza place from 8-10pm every night wipiing tables to make some extra cash- this puts a strain on the company because he has to make sure he is home and showered and everything in time to go his job. I know he is just trying to make more money, and with my business growing, I'd rather compensate him the extra $100 a week to have him NOT WORK the other job, and have his concentration 100% on my company. That would essentially mean raising his pay to $15.50/hr (based on a 40 hour week). Looking for educated feedback on the situation.

[Woody82986]

I don't have any experience running multiple crews, but I'm sure the guys that do will tell you that good guys who can run your business like it was their own are extremely rare and hard to come by. If you really want to see the guy stay and keep up the good work, then I'm sure you won't even notice the extra money you are paying him.

[Az Gardener]

Each market is different. How much would it cost to replace him if you could ? What effect will the additional 500 per month have on your bottom line? How much would it disrupt the business if he left and what would the associated costs be? These are the questions I would be asking myself.

I know we is not talking about leaving but you don't want it to get to that point.

If Rodfather finds him he would be making closer to 20 per hour.

[THC]

I wouldn't give him a company truck.

[Az Gardener]

I wouldn't give him a company truck.

It is a great liability and you accountant will likely want you to come back on him at the end of the year to pay tax's on what the IRS perceives to be the value of the truck as income. So if they think the truck is worth 300 per month in pay he will be taxed on an additional 3600 for the year.

[THC]

It is a great liability and you accountant will likely want you to come back on him at the end of the year to pay tax's on what the IRS perceives to be the value of the truck as income. So if they think the truck is worth 300 per month in pay he will be taxed on an additional 3600 for the year.

That never happens in Canada as far as I know but unless he's your main guy in a large biz and you can afford (or don't care) about depreciation, I'd keep the keys at night. I've seen too many "crew foremans" abusing vehicle privileges, enough to make me very leary. It even happened to me, gave the dude a van.. good guy too. Next thing you know I found out his brother drives it around.

[LouisianaLawnboy]

Three man crew isn't the best idea. It's better to stick with a 2 man crew.

[TJLANDS]

He didnt ask about a three man crew,.. I am sure you are an expert on crew size LL.
He also didnt ask about the truck..


I have found that paying key people like your guy a salary is the way to go. It helps in many ways, You will see a reduction in hourly labor, he will push the other two guys to work more efficiently. No lolly-gagging around lunch and breaks and starting in the morning, . I would give him the extra 100 a week and hopefully you will save most of that with your hourly guys.

PS. The truck back and forth to work is an excellent idea and in 20 years of doing the same it has never been an issue with insurance(they know) and my accountant.
PSS Three man crews are very efficient s long as you have two mowers working on the same yard..

[shade tree landscaping]

not to hijack your thread....but....whats wrong with a 3 man crew? I run a 3 man crew and personally find it to work the best. 2 cutting, always cutting, one trimming, edging and blowing, if large house 1st done cutting is either helping with trimming or blowing. No one ever has down time, never wondering what job they mite have to do at next stop. 3 man way better than 2!!!!

[TXNSLighting]

not to hijack your thread....but....whats wrong with a 3 man crew? I run a 3 man crew and personally find it to work the best. 2 cutting, always cutting, one trimming, edging and blowing, if large house 1st done cutting is either helping with trimming or blowing. No one ever has down time, never wondering what job they mite have to do at next stop. 3 man way better than 2!!!!

I agree 100%. 3 man crews are the best.

[Kelly's Landscaping]

Since he is so low in pay id say a 2 dollar raise this season would be fine and then another dollar next year. I currently pay my 2 guys 16 each and me and my partner run the crews so they are just very well paid workers. But they are both ready to run a crew and when that comes about I am leaning towards 17.50 an hour. I don't want to go much over that cause we do work serious overtime as is they both can hit over 1000 dollars in a week. 55 hours seems to be the magic number. Now 8 years ago when I was still a foreman myself my pay went like this.

When I took over the crew I was paid 12.50 an hour
The following year that went to 15.00
The following year that went to 17.00
The following year that went to 18.00
And the last year I was there I was paid 900.00 a week salary and was expect to work 40-45 hours a week for that.

Now that was 2002 and iv been on my own since and if you spoke with my ex boss he would tell you he kicks him self for not making me a partner too keep me. In fact now he works part time for me and is no longer an owner at all just a full time home depot employee.

Only you know his true worth just make sure you keep him happy if he’s important to your company. Rebuilding and retraining someone else seems to always cost way more then just giving the raise.

[figtree]

After searching for serious responses to this question in other threads, I really couldnt find any... (go figure) So, Im wondering, and this question is only for guys who are running more than one lawn crew and have foreman or managers- What is a good rate for someone running a 3 man crew doing approx 100 lawns a week? The guy I have now is American and 25 years old with a good head on his shoulders and doing a great job. He always goes the extra mile. I am currently paying him $13/hr plus company phone (which is his personal phone as well) and he gets to take home the company truck (he doesnt have his own vehicle but really doesnt go out much after work anyway and if he does they use his girlfriends car). My issue is that though his hourly wage is a little low, it is made up by the phone and truck, things he doesnt have to pay for. My company continues to grow seemingly on a daily basis (just added 5 new accounts this week alone). He took a part time job at a pizza place from 8-10pm every night wipiing tables to make some extra cash- this puts a strain on the company because he has to make sure he is home and showered and everything in time to go his job. I know he is just trying to make more money, and with my business growing, I'd rather compensate him the extra $100 a week to have him NOT WORK the other job, and have his concentration 100% on my company. That would essentially mean raising his pay to $15.50/hr (based on a 40 hour week). Looking for educated feedback on the situation.


I have to agree with Az Gardener! If he is as good as you say you might want to think about paying him alittle more. Think about this for a min. say he's working at the pizza joint and an owner of a lawncare company comes in and for some reason the a question was asked about lawncare and your guy over heard it, it could be an opening for him to let him know his exp. in the biz. That owner of the lawncare comp may tell him why don't you drop by my office and we'll talk. Then you take a chance on losing him. I've seen it happen. Good luck!