Question of the Week

[HOMER]

Those of us that have been here for a while have covered just about every topic there is to discuss. Those that haven't can take advantage of a mountain of information made available to you by the old folks.

Here is a question that everyone can take part in regardless of how long you've been here or how long you've been in business, and I ask that every member respond-even if it's a "I don't know" answer. It's a serious question so please put some thought into your answer.

1. Where do you want to be in 5 years?

AND

2. How do you intend to get there?

Assuming the earth is still here 5 years from now and we still have this great place to exchange ideas, thoughts, and in general------just B.S. alot, I think it would be interesting to see how we all do down the road. I also think it would give us a little insight about each other as far as your goals for the future. One might struggle to realize his/her goals and the other might explode within the next year. We need to know how your doing it or maybe help those that need help. I think we should utilize this forum for all it's worth and I hope everyone agrees.

Looking forward to reading all the responses.

Thanks :D

[1MajorTom]

This is a good question.


In five years we will have obtained a customer list that is far exceeding anyone elses in the area. I don't mean the amount of customers, but we will have ALL customers that care about their lawns and want full service lawn treatments. There will be no "mow, blow, and go" accounts.

We will have numerous pieces of equipment, and we will have BACK-UPS, something we lack at the present time. We also will be running two crews.

We will be supporting ourselves with an 8 month income and have the extra spending money to enjoy our hobbies the other 4 months of the year. There will be numerous vacations as we both like to travel.

We will also have our house paid off.


How will we achieve this? Simple. Thru determination and dedication. We already have our priorities straight. We are in this for the long haul. We have made some errors in the past, mainly equipment purchases, but we have learned, and we are beginning to overcome.

This next year is going to be good to us. I can already tell. Five years from now will only be better.


Jodi

[OBRYANMAINT]

will be even more efficient than we are now via better trained employees better equip and will have a name built formyself so that advertising is needless and a fair price is expected and paid as prompt as my service

similar revenue in grounds care larger revenue from snow type services

[HOMER]

I gather from the reply that you are a husband/wife team.
You sound positive about the future and if the commitment is there, and it sounds like it is, I think you'll be right on target.


Any more?

[sanford]

five years from now, Im going to be a two comma man. Thats a comma behind the first three zero's and the second. Seems far fetched but through common sense investing and many sunny days, anything is possible. I hope to have a great client base of regular customers and branch out into the landscape end of the business. Would like to install landscapes for new developments, homes etc... Dreams do become reality if you actually get out and do something about it. Good luck to all of you out there and continue the wonderful discussions.

[Randy Scott]

Good question HOMER, how about your plan too! Well, I'm just starting my business, this summer will be my first cuts. Five years from now I hope to type faster(LOL). O.K. now seriuosly, I hope to have made a name for myself( obviously a good one). I hope to have a thriving business that will make me, first and foremost, proud of myself, and proud of what I have achieved, and a name in the community that is well respected. I hope to provide a better service to my customers than any one else they have had, and a reason not to try anyone else for their lawncare needs. I certainly will try to provide the most professional image that I can and hope in the years I have been working for other people and businesses that I have learned a few things about what a customer needs and deserves. I obviously would like to be making a nice amount of money but that goes without saying. I think the size of my business will be determined by how the future plans go, probably not too big, but whatever that road has to offer I will find out in the near future. And I hope to be a Daddy, I gotta find time to fit that into the schedule also. As far as how I will get there, I think that's simply put, work hard at your goals and don't let failure play into the picture. If you want it bad enough, you can achieve it! I have always been a hard worker and now it's time to try and make myself a little money instead of someone else.

[kermit]

Within five years I hope we have doubled from 1 maintenance crew and one landscape crew to two. That should at least double our net without too much more in overhead. After fifteen years I think we have an idea of what we need to do to control costs and satisfy customers. Slow growth has been our goal and I'm getting too old to do the hard work myself. Time to do more supervision and work smarter.

[geogunn]

HOMER--as you request that all respond, I will.

Q: where do I hope to be in 5 years?

A: doing a little better than I am now, I hope. I have no plans to shoot for the moon but I do plan to be healthy and able to work. as of now I can put in as good of a day as anybody I know.

high profit with a little work beats marginal profit and running your butt off, IMHO. with a little planning, I hope to remain small but increase my profits through wise decision and investment.

Q: how will I get there:

A: the same way I got here. God's grace, love of family and of being proud of who I am. being able to expand my market will help. this will include a fert/pest applicators license some heavier equipment.

GEO

[Likestomow]

GEO, are you planning to take the pesticide applicators test soon? I'm taking it on Tuesday up in your mountain hometown.

[tazman]

I hope to have the business to point that in 5 years, I won't be worried about growth, just sustaining what I have achieved. I don't want to be the Bill Gates of Landscape, I just want to retire at 50 (I'm 40 now) and move to a Norman Rockwell type of town with my family and enjoy life. I'm working my butt off now so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor later. With hard work, determination, good info from this site, I believe it is attainable. I started this business 21/2 years ago, and this year we might just break $200k. If I can continue this for 5 more years, its all down hill from there. Money isn't happiness, its what you do with it that is.

[moonarrow]

Homer good question, and one many of us prob. ask ourselves each year. For my self I plan on being in the 6 digit income bracket for myself for the next 10 yrs. and building up a good list of customers to choose from that pay good and aren't to hard to pick from to continue doing after I semi retire. Done got to old to worry about being one of the largest companies in town, just want a darn good living and in 5 yrs I'll be 5' yrs closer to that retirement

[Richard Martin]

Where do I want to be in 5 years? Well, 30 days ago the plan was to be in NC starting another LMO but since my wife <b><i>finally-after-22-years</b></i> got a decent job I don't want to rip her out of it right now. I was just going to cruise along at my current level for the next year and a half and then move to NC. Now I guess I'm going to have to make some decisions. Do I just cruise at my current level or expand? If I do expand, how do I go about it?

[scottb]

In 5 years I hope to be the biggest and best lawncare company in my area of NC. Also hope too expand into the Landscape side of things.But as long as my family is healthy and happy I will be rite where I need to be.

[geogunn]

likestomow-nope, not taking the test any time soon. it's on my when I get a "roundtoit" list!

GEO

[Charles]

In 5 years I would like to expand into other areas of business besides just lawn care. Make alot more money. Buy or lease a place on the ocean. I love just working 10 months out of the year. I want to be able to take more time off in the summer. Have more money in place for retirement. I hope to find another biz that is less labor intensive that will work well with my lawncare biz still in place

[TGCummings]

Five years? I'll have to take this slowly...

Five days from now I'll be talking to an appraiser about refinancing my house and doing something about our growing debt.

Five weeks from now I'll be fully immersed in my first commercial contract and working on acquiring more of both commercial and high residential yards to cut. Also, my annual fertilizer plan will be in place.

Five months from now I'll have my pesticide applicators license.

Five months later I'll have aced my Landscaper class and have certification in my field. I'll begin my sojourn then into the installation end of this business.

Five years from still seems like a long time, but it's easy to see where I'll be a year from now with the schedule above. Okay, let's try:

Five years from now I'll be the top LCO in the area.

Five years from now I'll have no more questionable accounts where the profit margin is shaky.

Five years from now I won't be working alone. My wife will be managing the phones and possibly helping in the field. I'll have hired help, and might bring my brother in as an associate.

I will be a father.

Five years from now I'll be a hell of a bowler, too. Wait and see. ;)

-TGC

[G & S LANDSCAPING SERVICE]

In 5years we would like to be at the point that, We get accounts and hire employees,No more hard labor for me.We have set up a bussness plan, and with the help from our C.P.A. we will continue to grow ,follow our dream ,and be the best full service turf care professionals in the cleveland area.

[accuratelawn]

Most that responded to this questions don't sound very sure of themselves. " I hope to ...." " I plan too...." ect. ect.
If you say to yourself I WILL be at x amount of sales per year, or I WILL have x number of great accounts, you will be more likely to attain your goals.
Challenge yourself by saying I WILL.... Make a step by step plan, and go for it!

[thelawnguy]

Reality check: Nobody here is promised tomorrow, let alone 5 years from now, so from where Im sitting I think "I hope" or "I plan" pretty much sums up the situation. If you asked me ten years ago what I would be doing today I can tell you this, lawn care wasnt even a remote consideration!

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

Five years from now I will have graduated college with a bachelor's degree in business administration w/ a bio minor. I will be pursuing a horticulture masters. I will hopefully have two or more crews in company. I will have four or five employees. I will also be 23.

[SJR Lawncare]

In 5 years I hope to be doing at least as well as I am now. I really dont want to ask for too much, because now I have enough equipment, customers & work to live very comfortable & still have plenty of free time to spend with my family & doing things that I really enjoy, like fishing. The truth is, I dont want to get many more customers, & I dont need to make more money, because the good Lord has helped me create a very profitable business without putting excessive time & energy into it.

SJR

[George777]

Well Homer my partner and I are new to this business and we have not even touched a piece of equipment, but we have been placing bids on commercial acounts. Thus far we have 1 approved and 4 more to follow up with. Our business launch date is Feb 1st.
This first year we plan on doing most of the work ourselfs so we can figure out what works and what does not. We both will be drawing unemployment since our factory is closing in March.
In 5 years my partner and I will have expanded our business into @ least 5 teams with a team leader for each. We will pay our team leaders well and allow for sales incentives. our annual income will be 120K with 3 teams in commercial and 2 in residental.We will get into the leadership side of the business and led by example.
I feel the faster we can into the leadership phase the more income we can produce.
In a nut shell this is the overview of our 5 year plan.
oh yea this will happen by feb 1st 2006.

[Pauls Mowing]

That's a darn good question....

Should everything stay on its current course, I'll keep my day job and keep the mowing going. I'll expand on the brush and right-of-way mowing, buying bigger equipment. Should the day job fizzle, I'll go full throttle and get the business going sooner.

I'll get there by doing an excellent job, which always brings in more work. I have a few local contacts, but the right ones. Paying attention to details, and providing what the customer wants are important items.

Paul

[SMB]

In five years,

Be full service-fertilizing, aeration, etc.
Have more high-end residentials (like Eric ELMs :) )
Have backups
Have an excellent reputation
Have a '69-'72 Chevy C10 stepside pickup

[GroundKprs]

In 5 years I'll be doing half as much work as I do today.

Net income will be more than it is today.

I'll be fishing 10 times as much as I do today.

And I'll still be dreaming! So there, Homer.

[cantoo]

5 years from now my wife will still be telling me that my lines aren't as straight as hers. My sons will be helping out after school and on weekends. We'll be doing more municipal work like ball diamonds, parks and sports fields instead of residential. Every year we will be buying a cottage and renovating it over the winter to sell first thing in the spring.

[Eric ELM]

I am going to have to take a Evilyn Woods speed reading course to be able to read all the posts that come in here at Lawnsite. Can you guess how many member we will have by then? That will be a lot of posts to read.

In 5 years wow, first of all, I hope I'm still planting daisys instead of pushing them up. I plan on still being out there making as straight of a stripe as I can. I enjoy what I'm doing and plan to keep mowing and be part of LawnSite. Basically, things won't change much here. The only thing is that I will be 5 years older. :)

[Island Lawn]

I've been kicking this around since before I started my business this time last year. My 5 yr plan seems to be more of a 5 hr plan. Thats about the avg life span before the plan is amended and/or morphed into something completely different. Current edition includes:

Currently attending a buch of bus seminars offered by SBA thru the local CoC!
bus. chkg acct!(open tomorrow!)
CPA (met w/last wk)
pest app license (Took test last wk)

To do ASAP:
Insurance & FULL Benes for me and my family & Retirement
Certified Turf Pro thru PLCAA
Replace Crapsman equip w/pro stuff (21"push, stick trimmer, stick edger, bp blower). The Crapsman stuff still works, is paid for, yet to have a problem, and will make good back ups.
I am starting marketing now to build my customer base. I will soon contact a few (if not all) of the local big boy lco's and ask for their overflow (this was all I did last yr). I expect to get enough leads this way to allow me to turn down the majority of them. I also am going to pass out flyers in the premium neighborhoods.
As soon as the business warrants and has developed the cash flow (probably mid-Feb/March-ish), I will invest in a larger mower (wb? rider? ztr?) and an enclosed trailer (for storage, security)(&, of course the obvious pee benefits). I Currently I am shopping for dealers and financing options.

Next yr:
continue education!
employees! Hire a crew and become more involved in mgt and sales. Build value in the business.
New truck and any equipment needed to sustain slow, steady growth.

5yrs:
Have a valuable business w/ the option to sell and move on to other ventures or invest further. At this point, I couldnt imagine anything I'd rather do. But, 5yrs is a long time and I like having options available to me.

[Martin]

Homer
I hope to be still the only power equipment dealer in a city that is over 91,000 in pop and that my dad well be retired after all he has told me he is going to for the past 5 years

[HOMER]

Hey Martin,

California sounds good-need a partner??????

91,000 and your the only one?

Reminds me of a dream I had one time!

[Greenkeepers]

In five years!

Hopefully I will still be alive :)

If I am my goals will be:

-To be a licensed pesticide applicator (I'm taking the exam this Friday 1/19)
-To be full time instead of having a day job
-To grow the business and myself in a way that benefits us both, I don't see the purpose of setting goals that are unattainable and will ultimately result in failure. The last thing that you need as a business owner is low self esteem. I believe in stepping back year after year and taking a look at the business as a whole and go from there and set goals for the following year...
- I will be married by that time so the business will support my wife and family.

Sorry to sound like a party pooper but never set yourself up for failure, if you set your goals on at an attainable level and exceed those then you feel much better about yourself and business !!

Just my thoughts, Good luck to all :D

[Toroguy]

I have been considering a move to small town MN. I mean the sticks. Since land is a fraction of what it is near the City, price will not concern me. The concern is if there is any lawn work, or enough work to keep afloat. And the time frame to acquire new accounts.

To get to this semi-retired status I need to pay off all mortgage and debt, and have a customer base that will cover the insurance, tax, and living expenses. Research of the possible locations has begun and will continue thru the summer months of 2001.

If the above is taken care of I feel that $1000 net per month will afford a very easy lifestyle.

I believe I can accomplish the financials in two to three years. And rebuild a small customer base in two.

What to do with the current customer base is the intriguing part.

Ill check this thread in five years, to see if Ive succeeded.

[Eric Green]

The best way to approach this is with the attitude that no one is promised tomorrow.
So I'll say "in 5 years if God lets me live," I will have a Lawn maintenance, landscaping, irrigation,pesticide apps.,retail sales,marketing division(s) in my organization.
How will I get there,you ask???
By Praying alot,first.Then by providing excellent service where I am,and getting my name out there.Then by praying sommore,to come up with a plan to accomodate all the people who WILL want my service,Execution of that plan to the tee!Remembering how I got here,and remembering what's waiting if I don't take care of things at this level!!!

[HOMER]

I did say that if the earth was still here! I understand that we have to live for today but you have to plan as if there will be a hypothetical tomorrow. All businesses that I know of "project" out a given number of years, I think you have to or you won't see tomorrow as being anything more or better than today. I know that eastern sky is going to bust wide open one day, but until then GOD knows you gotta eat! Given the number of members to the number of responders I see that maybe the future is a mystery, I hope not!

[Greenkeepers]

Homer-

I'm not saying we don't project at all but 5 years to me is far fetched. We do projections for the following 2 years now based on past years and since this is only our 3rd year we can't get an accurate picture (studies say that you need at least 5 yrars of historical data in order to make a "reasonable" assumption).

However once we are in business longer and can make a reasonable prediction as to where the business will be 5 years down the road then of course we will do that.

Don't get me wrong, I have hopes of where I want to be in 5 years and they encompass about everything all have said before me. But I don't base my business decisions on those hopes and dreams.

Just a thought!! :)

[thelawnguy]

The way this business changes, what with new types of equipment and techniques, let alone changing laws, your 5 year projections should be quite flexible.

As for me, even my 5 month projections dont always match the reality ;)

[lawrence stone]

I just picked up two new soccer fields at one location to maintain and get ready for play for fall. They will be also constructing a baseball field this spring.

This year I am adding line painting services. It's no big deal for me to just make a bracket to hold the spray nozzle and sheilds off the carrier frame of my walk behind pest app vehicle.

I plan on using my exsisting 15 gal. lawn tank. And no drinking on line painting days.

[cantoo]

Stone, I picked up a skid mount line sprayer last year at a municipal sale nearby. It looks like a lawn spraying setup with 5 hp Honda on it but has a couple of different ways to spray the lime ( I think it's lime) one is a reel and a cart with wheels it also fits onto the skid so one person can do lines. It was originally mounted into the back of a truckster style golf cart. I paid $350 Can for it, haven't really decided what I'm going to use it for yet. I bought it for the motor but hate to part it out when it is complete now. I already cut ball and soccer fields but not the lines, it takes too long and they don't want to pay what I want for it. I'm still working on the managers to have me do the work.

[Edited by cantoo on 01-17-2001 at 07:02 PM]

[Mowman]

Homer,
In 7 years I can retire early at the age of 49. In 5 years I hope to be making in LC what I make at the factory. Then I know I can get out in 7 from the factory. Thats where I want to be.
Mowman

[LJ lawn]

in 5 years i hope to be the hell out of this business.going to do something else that's more profitable with less physical labor.

[tranum]

in 5 years.....
i will still be mowing, but with at least 1 maybe 2 well paid (i hope), full time employee(s) plus seasonal help. in my small rural market that is probably as big as i can realistically get without doing a lot of miles. but hey, that's fine with me as long as i can make a living. i will have a solid reputation for being dependable and providing high quality service. i will get there by taking the route of the tortoise, not the hare. just keep plodding along, tending to my business, tending to my customers, gaining knowledge, not making the same mistake twice & most of all pay attention to what is going on around me. not very exciting, but it don't take a whole lot to amuse us country boys. this could change if i can get ALL six numbers on the
SAME ticket!!!!!!!

one additional goal, but it's probably a long shot........
would like to make senior member status at Lawnsite. (maybe i can get grandfathered in!)

[Edited by tranum on 01-20-2001 at 07:34 AM]

[HOMER]

I know what you mean about the small town thing. We have a lot of competition in a small area so we really have to be on our toes and watch our customer relations and quality of work. It sounds like your committed though and that in itself is going to get you where you want to be. We have a new owner of an existing lawn company and it's going to be interesting how he handles business. Might have to get the bats out!

Keep up the good work!

[LWNMWRMN]

In five years....

My business will have grown, but not to a point were I cant give each of my customers the service they demand.

How will I get there...

One word...HONESTY.

Some cutomers don't want to hear it, but 99.9% would rather hear the truth than an excuse if there should be a problem.

[Mowin4cash]

Well let's see, I've been cutting for 5 years now, and can't break the $70,000.00 mark to save me. Yep, have the good stuff, 2 DC's, Stihl and Echo 2 cycle stuff. I don't have a real truck though. Maybe that's the problem. I just incorporated and became pesticide certified, maybe that will help. In 5 years, I'd like to have 1-2 full timers and be grossing about $250,000.00 a year. I just want to be able to pay personal bills and the business bills THE DAY THEY COME IN THE MAIL!!!! Not to have to put them in a box and pay them when I have the money. And of course, when the last leaf is up in the fall, head to the Florida Keys and become a lazy good for nothing pig.

Mike

[ron]

Well in 5 years I would like to work full time within the lawn care business,and do the best I can do for my clients in performing my working skills to help keep America Beautiful.....And Maybe get some info on how to build a GREAT WEB PAGE......