What separates the little guys from the big guys?

[Total Grounds Maintenance]

So what do you think it is? What mindset\mentality separates one LCO with 50-100 accounts from the others with much more? Is it being content? Is it not wanting more stress? I know many LCO's that don't bother bidding on commercial or new construction but why? Lets here some opinions.



Thanks

[THEGOLDPRO]

lazyness???

[Total Grounds Maintenance]

lazyness???

Probably 100% right. LOL

[golfnpreacher]

So what do you think it is? What mindset\mentality separates one LCO with 50-100 accounts from the others with much more? Is it being content? Is it not wanting more stress? I know many LCO's that don't bother bidding on commercial or new construction but why? Lets here some opinions.

Thanks

A lot of things.

1 - Desire. Some people do not want to grow big. Personally I don't want a much more business than I have right now. I still advertise, I will accept a few clients, but only because I know that some will leave.

2 - A workable business plan. Too many people in this business have no idea of what their profit margin is. They are not reinvesting in their business, they are buying equipment they really don't need, but have convinced themselves they can't live without. Their concept of a business plan is they plan to get some business. WRONG.

3 - Lack of a marketing plan. Closely related to a business plan. Marketing is a lot like fishing. You can tie on any lure you want and randomly cast wherever you want and you might catch a fish. But when you select the right lure, and cast to specific places you greatly increase the chances of catching certain fish. People market like the first fisherman when they should be like the second. specific lures, specific targets for specific fish, it yields better results.

[shovelracer]

I think it can be a little more complex than it seems. You can be small and make a very good living, just the same that you can have 200 accounts and not make any more than if you worked at wallyworld. Now not everyone with 50 accounts is the same. They could be 50 mow and blows done by a scab just looking for beer money or they could be 50 higher end accounts that generate 4-6 grand a year each. The small guy might generate 100K per employee, where the big guy might be lucky to pull in 50K per worker. At some point you reach a hump that either breaks you or makes you a star.

[P.Services]

Probably 100% right. LOL

i would say 100% wrong!! what a dumb comment. thats the last thing i would believe to be the cause.

[THEGOLDPRO]

i would say 100% wrong!! what a dumb comment. thats the last thing i would believe to be the cause.

i have to disagree here bud, i know quite a few LCO'S who are happy where they are and just plain too lazy to pick up/do more work. they settle with where they are and just make due with what they have.

[Az Gardener]

Define big and use $$ amounts as number of accounts means zilch. Just so we are all on the same page.

[P.Services]

i have to disagree here bud, i know quite a few LCO'S who are happy where they are and just plain too lazy to pick up/do more work. they settle with where they are and just make due with what they have.

read what you wrote again. "happy where they are" thats probably more of a factor then the "lazy"

[Total Grounds Maintenance]

All very good replies. the reason I am asking in because I am at a point in my life where I am not going to have my day job anymore in about 2 weeks. I just got a decent account to get me through the winter and I also have another fall\winter side business in addition to working with my landscaping partner in his other side business. I currently work almost everyday after my day job until dark and dream about doing it full time. The thing is I want to go full time next year and I really do love being outside as opposed to working in a corporate desk job. I am doing some really good advertising this fall\spring and should be okay. The thing is that (not that their is anything wrong with it) I do not want to be 50 years old busting my hump until 7pm every night (though I would still be in the field cutting and doing patios). If I don't have some sort of goal in 3 years then I will sell off. That goal is to have at least 4 guys working for me and be able to feel comfortable. I don't need to make a million dollars and the reason I am telling my story is because I want some opinions. I have a years salary saved up and it is going to be make it or break it. My partner is a huge help as he runs the fert part as well as cuts and fixes\maintains the equipment. He has been in the hort biz for 17 years and recently lost his day job. My wife works and she makes decent money and actually told me to quit my day gig and go for it because she is upset with seeing me come home miserable and stressed out every night. I am a real go-getter and would make my partner laugh when I would bet him I would get 3 more accounts by end of the week and did it pretty consistently too! We always used to say if the opportunity came up we would do this so here goes nothing! We also build and repair commercial green houses and are getting into some drop ship consumables, seed and fert. sales for some small green house growers and other landscapers so it all adds up.

[Total Grounds Maintenance]

i would say 100% wrong!! what a dumb comment. thats the last thing i would believe to be the cause.

I was just kidding. I would never fault the guy who works his butt off and just wants to be content and maybe wants to be home everyday with his wife and kids at 2 in the afternoon.