Is this sufficent?

[scagman]

I had back surgery on Dec 10th 2001, things arent going so well. I have a real hard time out there and my body gets tired fast. I havent turned down any jobs I just figure out a way to do them without straining the back, but thats not always possible. I feel like im not letting my back heal. Im thinkling of hiring a guy, but not sure its the right move. I have (30) mowing accounts and my equipment is: 2000 Ford F-250 XL, 2001 6.5 X 12 Landscape trailer, 36"Bobcat belt drive, 32"Scag belt drive, 21 Ariens (swivel wheels), 21"Yard machines, Sthil FC 75 stick edger, Echo SRM 2100, Stihl BR 400 blower, Weedeater 22" hedge trimmer. Is all this ok for two guys, or should I wait until I can pickup more accounts and better mowers?

[E-man]

I say if it helps your back to heal faaster , do it at least untill you can get back into the shape you were in.

[Albemarle Lawn]

I looked at your profile. If you are only 19 and having back problems, you really need to reconsider your line of work. Or at least set up your business so employees do most of the work.

You just can't keep working with a hurt back. It will only get worse and by the time you are 40 you'll be toast.

I'm 28 and have had back trouble for two years now. It is nothing to play with. Take it seriously, the rest and relaxation you need now is worth way more $ than any money you will earn working.

Best of luck and please be careful!



Ken

[scagman]

Yes, I am 18 and I was rear ended feb 2 2001 driving my girlfriends Saturn. I had posterior fusion done on my L5 S1 level. I thinks thats it.

[yardman1]

Please do not mess with your back, it is not something that you can hope will just go away, you have to live with it the rest of your life. I look at my dad who is 59 and has had back problems all his life, he has had about four or five surgerys on it since he was 17. I have got a bad back already from injuries from another job that i had when i was younger and it does not feel very good. But back to the question, i would try to hire someone part or full time, depeneding on what you can afford to do until your back gets better. but like i said don't push the limits of your back.

hope you get well
kevin
williams lawn management

[awm]

at 19 u had best take a yr off that back.give the operation a chance to work.we got to do what we got to do.dont get the mortgage paid ,but u dont get but one back.

[scagman]

Taking time off, turning down big jobs is something that I cannot do. I have a one year old son and another one on the way, a girlfriend (the Mother) and a house (renting) Last year, my first year at this I only made $20,000. I have to double that if were gonna get anywhere this year, buy a house ect.............

[Krimick]

I'd say hire someone to give you a hand this season. I understand that you can't afford to turn away clients so I don't see what other choice you have.

Unless you can find away to take time off, I would say hire a guy to help you for 2 or 3 days a week and let him do all the heavy lifting. If you can run a walk behind with out much trouble then leave the trimming and hedges to the help for this season. It will cut your income back this year but if it gets worse you might need to go for more operations.

best of luck

[smburgess]

Hire someone, do alot of supervision, GROW (with steady accounts)..... and hire more employees as needed.

[f350]

sharpen the sales skills and become a true contractor. you can get the accounts and let someone else service them. your back will be allot better off, although you butt may get bigger

[Tim Baden]

I feel the same way everyone else dose.You need to hire somebody like now.My wife is a nurse,she said you need to stop doing this or cut way back.She also brought up another point,if the doctor told you to cut back or don't do this at all and you keep doing this and you have complications and need surgery again
you may have trouble with your insurance paying for any of it.Why you ask..because you went against doctors orders.I am not trying to scare you but these are facts.She has been a RN for 20 years and has done billing too.Good luck to you and PLEASE hire someone.

[gogetter]

Scagman, I would say that you have enough equipment to have a second person running with you.
Hire someone and let them to the stuff that bothers your back. You stick to the stuff that doesn't really require using your back as much.

With that equipment and a decent helper, you should be able to take on a few more accounts to help justify the helper.

Good luck.

[scagman]

Just want to sau thanks for the advice. I made up a flyer today, whats a fair starting wage for no experience. I started at $8.00 for a lawn service and started at $7.00 at a golf course, so im thinking $7.00 or $7.50. Any advice for hiring, I plan to use my accountant for payroll service. Again thanks.


Chris Wood

[JimLewis]

Chris, I hired my first employee when I had about 30 accounts. He was only PT, but it worked well, us mowing together. I got done in half of the time and I still got to keep 80% of the money I made.

But my suggestion for you is this; Hire someone who is reliable. Tell him that hours may not quite be 40 hours per week for the first few weeks but you're gonna get them up real soon. Then stop doing work (yourself) entirely! Your back isn't something to mess with, man.

Once you are freed up every day from mowing you can focus your time and efforts on marketing. You could be landing all sorts of new jobs and be up to 40, 50 or even 60 accounts in no time, if you really tried. The mowing part of this business can be totally run by other people if you want to do it that way. I have been for several years.
As for wages, I can't say what's good for your area. In Oregon, we have a higher min. wage than most states so $7 is kinda week here. It may be good where you are. But pay a guy what he's worth - and tell him that when you interview him. Here's what I'll tell guys when I interview, "Look. If I hire you you're gonna start out at $8 an hour. I know that's not a lot. But if you prove yourself and work hard and are efficient, you can be up to $8.50 or even $9 within a month or two. Then we just go up from there. I have no problem paying a guy what he's worth." People like to hear that. But don't just say it. Honor it, if they deserve it.

I learned long time ago that the dollar per hour thing doesn't matter. Some guys work twice as hard and fast as other guys. They are saving you TONS of time and money because they are so efficient. It's only right to pay them a little more. It seems like a lot when you look at the per-hour rate. But when you look at how much more work they are getting done in one hour than other guys would, you are actually SAVING money. Hopefully that makes sense.

[scagman]

Thanks for the advice Jim. I was kinda hopin you'd reply, ive picked up some great advice frome previous threads youve replied to.

[The Lawn Choupique]

One way to hire and retain quality employees who will take an
active interest in your company and have a very intense desire to see your company grow and prosper is to implement a profit sharing or equity plan. Talk to a good CPA and he will be able to help you out.

P.S. The is no house that is worth your health. If you have your health you can buy a house anytime. Lose you health and can't work and make money, it's kind of tuff to swing them house notes.

[Turf Technologies]

I work for a guy with a bad back. Its been screwed up for a few years now 5 or so i tihnk.Well its gotten tot he point where im running the show now. Im all alone doing the work and i take 50% of the profits. He only trims bushes and does applications.Its gotten to the point where he honestly doesnt give a damn abd the bussiness(how the job looks etc etc etc just the money part) And by next winter the bussiness will be all mine.

Not worth risking your future,another 60 yrs of your life, in pain,to save a few dollars on some hired help.





Who says that? I say that!