u s lawns

[jeclark609]

Just out of curio--does anyone here have any experience in being a subcontractor for U S Lawns doing multiple locations?

The good the bad, the UGLY??

Been offered a boatload of small commercials but there's ten pages of specs and they state exactly what they will pay limp sum per month--and they are in a BIG hurry to get me on paper

Appreciate a bit of feedback...

[205mx]

Read the papers I guess.

[GreenUtah]

Like subbing for any company, read the specs, understand the specs, know what your costs are, how long you will have to carry them and when they state payment is due by.

Then double that.

If you can provide to spec and carry the costs for longer than you think you should have to, then you'll be fine. If it stretches you to provide service to those properties, at that level of spec, with long durations before being paid, then any subbing role might not be right for you at this point.

That's not specific to US Lawns, that's a general rule that applies to property management firms, developers, other landscapers, etc.

[KrayzKajun]

Isnt US lawns a franchise???
Posted via Mobile Device

[Patriot Services]

I didn't think a USL franchisee could sub out work.
Posted via Mobile Device

[KrayzKajun]

Originally Posted by Patriot Services

I didn't think a USL franchisee could sub out work.
Posted via Mobile Device

Exactly. Kinda defeats the purpose of buying into the franchise
Posted via Mobile Device

[GreenUtah]

Originally Posted by KrayzKajun

Exactly. Kinda defeats the purpose of buying into the franchise
Posted via Mobile Device

How so? There are plenty of groups of contracts that contain properties outside of a service area or services outside of the scope of your base services. If you take a group to get a portion that you want, you still have to do something about the rest of the group.

So you sub.

I've done that hundreds of times, taking up statewide or even regional contracts to get what I want, but I certainly didn't want to send crews hours of driving time to little doink towns to pick up the fringes.

Chemlawn does this ALL the time and it does not always (or even most of the time) go to Landcare.

[Patriot Services]

I think USL would have huge problem with subbing out. Your either tramping on somebody elses protected USL zone or your not giving USL their cut. I'm sure this would violate some ethics clause in the franchise agreement.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Spiffygreencutclean]

We live in an area of 40,000 and US Lawns travels across state lines an hour and 15 minutes away and mows A church here in my home town. They do this 3 acres for 89 dollars yes 89 dollars!!! I can't come close to this! I bid 150 on it. The secratary at the church said none of them speak english as well.
HMMMMMMMMMMMMM??? Ticks me off ! I grew up down the street from this church! US LAWNS is their none but none speak ENGLISH!! How hypicritical is this!! Shouldnt they at least speak our language!! THey also do a local apt complex and I should say that I think the lead man speaks English but I know hes not the owner. I have to pay liability, work comp, and taxes on my employees there is no way!
Sorry just rambling but this really ticks me off! I told the church last year half way through the year I would do it for 87 just to hopefully get them out of town but I guess they did not want to change midseason or may have thought I was stirring things up. We do 8 churches locally not aproaching them this yeaR CAUSE I dont think this one cares whatever is cheaper matters the most.

[Patriot Services]

That sucks for you of course. I ran it by a lawyer friend of mine. The consensus is this is clearly under the table dealings. If USL knew about it they would likely pull the franchise. It is not normal in the franchise world to sub things out. Regardless if its lawns, maid service or chicken wings.
Posted via Mobile Device