Crew size

[chrisbolte]

How many people do you believe is best in a crew? I believe 2 is best but three is also very reasonable. I see some guys come out with 10 guys and I think they are crazy. It takes 5 min alone to get everyone out of the trucks. We like to use 2 on normal days and will go to 3 when we are extreamily busy or after a couple of days of rain.

[Getmow]

Two person crews seem to work best. One person crew is the most profitable and I do that a couple of days a week. The only times I run a three person crew is when someone calls out or during heavy work loads (like leaves).

[LoneStarLawn]

I think there has been some calculations in a magazine on this and came up with three being the most efficient..it has been for us.

[landscaper3]

I belive your all right on the 2 to 3 person crews, depending on size. Some of the bigger condos we maintain 3 people would be best but then you go to the residential size homes 2 person crew would probly be better. As far as getting more bang for your buck yourself and one other would be a good money maker, (less cost on insurance, workers comp, and there wages) We run 2-3 person crew with at times a 4th person and like I siad its all where your working.

[Stinger]

Many factors to consider. Small to adverage size yard 1 mower and 1 trimmer in front and same in rear = 4 man crew will cut around 200 lawns a week. Big lawns & commercial properties can uitlize more manpower so add two more guys to = 6 man crew. If you have a mix of large and small properties a smaller crew is fine. Just drop off one guy to start a large property. Then go nock out some nearby jobs. Return later to finish up. There is nothing wrong with a 2,3,4,5,or 6 man crew. It all depends on the type and size of properties you have, combined with the equipment & work flow. Trial and error is the best way to judge. I do mostly landscaping but will sometimes take a truck full of guys with me to mow because they are allready paid for the day from a morning landscape job.

[T.C.O.B.]

I have found that two can get the job done, but three brings out the quality! Depends on your accounts!

[Mark_Christopher]

As many guys it takes to make your life (Owner / Supervisor) Easier. I do residential at the momment. Started off by doing it all on my own. Now I have a helper helping me. Iam working my butt off trying to build build clientele so i can eventually get another helper. Then, build build build for clients and get another helper. Then like the guy said in the post before, drop two guys off where i have about 7 houses in a row, then knock off a couple down the other street. Then build build build.... That's the way you do it....


Mark

[Rodg]

I find as others have mentioned, one man crews are the most profitable while a two man crew is about the most efficient, When I am running on my 1+ acre properties, a 3 man crew seems to get us done faster. By the time I get all the trimming done, the other two are finished mowing. I guess the factors involved (like lawn size, trimming, personal, etc.), make each lawn service react differently. I think it depends on the job and the individual talents of your people.

[tpirobert]

My experience is owner with "helper" is most proffitable combo. Helper needs to be someone that can go out solo when you are sick with flu etc.. Three man crew does result in more manicured properties. Four man crew and up if maintaining condos & bigger dollar commercial properties that pay on annual contract. Large contractor in my area with 10 plus employees says he longs for good ol days with just one helper. Seems the grass is always greener in the yard next door.

[Lawn Cruiser]

I do alot of my work myself but I do use another person somtimes and have had three. Two seems to be the most efficient for small properties but the three works best on the large ones.

[Nathan]

From my experience 3 man are very efficient but everyone must know the 'routine' adn there should be someone as a true lead that directs. If this isn't done you lose a lot of efficiency, even if there are only 2 people. For less experienced or new companies I would recommend one man operations unless you get bored or get bummed by the weather easily.

[SLC1]

We run 1 crew with two men but they only do residental and small commerical for the large commerical we use a five or six man crew. This seems to work well because when we are doing one of our 55 acre accounts we are able to get in and out in record time and then when we are done the 2 men go on to residental and the other 3 or 4 go to another large commerical account.

[Runner]

The thing that scares me about larger crews is that I so often see so much time being wasted. Just yesterday, a crew was in to cut a senior complex next door to one of my commercials. After watching 3 guys follow each other around with backpacks for nearly a half an hour, they all conveined at the truck to stand stand around for about another quarter of an hour. You do this 4 or 5 times a day times 6 guys, and your paying out some money! I see this kind of thing all the time! I don't know, maybe this guy only paid his help by the job. Alot of companies are starting to do that now - no road time.