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Stay solo or hire helper?

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chipk1

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Been in the Biz working solo since 2001. Have more biz then I can handle. Its been that way for the last 10+ years. Been getting the itch to bring on a helper. My question is "Is it Worth It?" Is it worth the extra stress of dealing with employees? Does it pay off to bring on a helper? I have had a few guys tell me that they wish they were solo again and how they net just as much being solo as they do with a crew.

I stay around 70 accounts, with more additional side work than I can handle.

I truly enjoy the profit margins in being solo with absolutely no business debt, but after 14 years and turning 50, I am starting to get tired.

Will adding an employee kill my profit margins or will it increase my net profit.
... Your thoughts please
 
#2 ·
Depends on your help. Will he be experienced? Trustworthy and relaible? Has good hygiene and looks presentable?
If yes to those things then the answer to your question is yes, it will help you take on more work. But if you are happy with where you are then why bother?
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#6 ·
I pull more $ out of my company for me and my family, get more satisfaction, have a better quality of life and almost no stress solo at a gross of $103,000 than I ever did over the course of 17 years with employees grossing over $300,000. Keep tweeking your route, get rid of the PIA's and slow pays, I love this business once again.:dancing:
 
#7 ·
chipk1 said:
Been in the Biz working solo since 2001. Have more biz then I can handle. Its been that way for the last 10+ years. Been getting the itch to bring on a helper. My question is "Is it Worth It?" Is it worth the extra stress of dealing with employees? Does it pay off to bring on a helper? I have had a few guys tell me that they wish they were solo again and how they net just as much being solo as they do with a crew.

I stay around 70 accounts, with more additional side work than I can handle.

I truly enjoy the profit margins in being solo with absolutely no business debt, but after 14 years and turning 50, I am starting to get tired.

Will adding an employee kill my profit margins or will it increase my net profit.
... Your thoughts please
Click to expand...
Agreed. I was facing the same decision and decided to stay solo. Being solo is quite enjoyable, with far many less problems. I actually enjoy going to work every day. Just like you mentioned to make it solo, you have to be smart, keep tweaking your routes, dropping the pitas and low pay, and instead of growing number wise with employees you have to grow in different ways, ex. tighter routes, better paying customers, etc.
 
#8 ·
chipk1 said:
Been in the Biz working solo since 2001. Have more biz then I can handle. Its been that way for the last 10+ years. Been getting the itch to bring on a helper. My question is "Is it Worth It?" Is it worth the extra stress of dealing with employees? Does it pay off to bring on a helper? I have had a few guys tell me that they wish they were solo again and how they net just as much being solo as they do with a crew.

I stay around 70 accounts, with more additional side work than I can handle.

I truly enjoy the profit margins in being solo with absolutely no business debt, but after 14 years and turning 50, I am starting to get tired.

Will adding an employee kill my profit margins or will it increase my net profit.
... Your thoughts please
Click to expand...
Oh boy, they net so much at 28 when they are super healthy.
Family emergency?
Illness?
Getting older?
Not so much.

That ride is pretty short lived.
Most people live to 70 with pretty good reliability, so unless your 20 year run of awesome net is banking enough for rainy days AND retirementÂ…it's not that awesome.
 
#9 · (Edited)
chipk1 said:
Been in the Biz working solo since 2001. Have more biz then I can handle. Its been that way for the last 10+ years. Been getting the itch to bring on a helper. My question is "Is it Worth It?" Is it worth the extra stress of dealing with employees? Does it pay off to bring on a helper? I have had a few guys tell me that they wish they were solo again and how they net just as much being solo as they do with a crew.

I stay around 70 accounts, with more additional side work than I can handle.

I truly enjoy the profit margins in being solo with absolutely no business debt, but after 14 years and turning 50, I am starting to get tired.

Will adding an employee kill my profit margins or will it increase my net profit.
... Your thoughts please
Click to expand...
Posted via Mobile Device
First things first, your 50 years old! Thanks for your inspiration to do the 70 yards you do. I'm 45 years old and I only do 40 yards and work a full time job. My thing is, I enjoy doing lawn work and a lot of that has to do with I do not have to watch someone else. My daddy helps from time to time but he's only around to 'pick' or talk to my customers to see if they want to sell their collectible items. I say keep doing what you do.
 
#10 ·
kpouncil said:
Posted via Mobile Device
First things first, your 50 years old! Thanks for your inspiration to do the 70 yards you do. I'm 45 years old and I only do 40 yards and work a full time job. My thing is, I enjoy doing lawn work and a lot of that has to do with I do not have to watch someone else. My daddy helps from time to time but he's only around to 'pick' or talk to my customers to see if they want to sell their collectible items. I say keep doing what you do.
Click to expand...
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#11 ·
I just put on a fulltime helper last week.... Thought it was good, he's reliable, presentable, professional.... Needed him and it has increased my sales by a lot.... Couldn't do it solo anymore

Went out to the truck today and he left a gas can upside down and a whole 5 gallon gas jug was empty.... not too happy
 
#14 ·
supperdude16 said:
That is true, imagine an employee driving one of your trucks for you.... now that is scary
Click to expand...
Funny you should bring that up, I have many great employee stories, here is one that pertains to employees driving trucks.

Phone rings one Saturday night, it's my sister who lives in a town about 25 or so miles away. Is your F350 supposed to be over here tonight ?, me h-ll no, we just passed it she says. My foreman decided to save himself some gas and was out tooling around with the truck he was supposed to use to pick up employees with and get himself back and forth to work.
 
#15 ·
zturncutter said:
Funny you should bring that up, I have many great employee stories, here is one that pertains to employees driving trucks.

Phone rings one Saturday night, it's my sister who lives in a town about 25 or so miles away. Is your F350 supposed to be over here tonight ?, me h-ll no, we just passed it she says. My foreman decided to save himself some gas and was out tooling around with the truck he was supposed to use to pick up employees with and get himself back and forth to work.
Click to expand...
if he's using it as a personal vehicle you should get him to pay a truck payment or get him to pay for some of the insurance. I thought the story was going to go, one Saturday night, ring ring... Police officer says are you the owner of this F350... Your employee was drinking and driving lol
 
#16 ·
zturncutter said:
Funny you should bring that up, I have many great employee stories, here is one that pertains to employees driving trucks.

Phone rings one Saturday night, it's my sister who lives in a town about 25 or so miles away. Is your F350 supposed to be over here tonight ?, me h-ll no, we just passed it she says. My foreman decided to save himself some gas and was out tooling around with the truck he was supposed to use to pick up employees with and get himself back and forth to work.
Click to expand...
By the way... how did you react? Did you say anything to him? Keep it too yourself?

The gas jug can upside down.... I think I am going to mention it, feel like I shouldn't have to...
 
#17 ·
supperdude16 said:
By the way... how did you react? Did you say anything to him? Keep it too yourself?

The gas jug can upside down.... I think I am going to mention it, feel like I shouldn't have to...
Click to expand...
My oldest son, also an employee, dropped me off at his house Sunday morning. I used my spare key, hooked the truck to the trailer, pulled the truck to the street, knocked on his door, when he answered I handed him his last check and fired him, I got in the truck and left.
 
#19 ·
I have been battling this recently. I have hired a friend who has experience, is competent, and really good with customers, but he is a little slow. So far I have been able to take on more work but its been a learning experience with scheduling. I think my problem is I landscape and mow, I need the time to get big jobs done but my mowing route isnt tight enough to be that profitable. I feel I do need him to keep up on customers but it may be a while before I see the growth.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#20 ·
As long as u schedule help only for the right jobs. For example you dont wanna pay someone to cut an 8hr job down to 6hrs...but if u can get good help and finish two 8hr jobs in 8hrs -then I think it makes sense.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
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