[rippinryno]

I guess what some are saying is that over a 12 month period you need to be making enough money during the season by working 60 hour weeks solo to cover the winter down time.

Some of us have the option of snow removal which pays equal or better than a lawn season, so there's that to consider when claiming a solo guy must work 60 hour weeks during the warm season.

one employee will require workers comp, paychecks, and if you're like some of these guys, some benefits, dinner, lunch, bonuses, raises. Cost of operating does tend to go up when you have to hire somebody.

 

[snomaha]

Should be no difference between you and employee. You get a wage/benefits for what you do in the business and a return on the equity you own. Of course employees are an investment - hopefully entrepreneurs know how to price, lead and scale to account for those employees.

 

[GreenGo13]

Back to the OP and being solo. I just reread the post and its time to start learning how to say NO. You should have the customer base now to foot your expenses. Get that 5 day mowing schedule done in 4 days and that leaves friday and maybe saturday for the other projects. You want your existing customers to call you when they want additional work done. It doesn't mean you have to do them all and when you pass you should have someone to pass the bigger ones to. If you keep going 7 days a week you will burn out and all your work start to suffer. Being solo is a whole different ballgame from running employees. I find the small residential lawns are well suited for the solo operator and you got to know when to pass. I work for a couple that are doctors, they approached me about some venture they have going and I immediatley said its not in my wheelhouse to mow commercial properties, that was the end of the discussion and while I kinda wanted to know more what he was talking about it was just left at that.

Thanks for the input. Exactly the type of info I was looking for. I appreciate the insight!

 

[JNyz]

First off raise your prices 50-100%. The people who like you will stay. Hire someone and pay them well. If you can’t, raise your numbers again until you can. There are people who want quality work and will give their money to people they like.
It took me 10 years to figure that out.

 

[gardiner]

First off raise your prices 50-100%. The people who like you will stay. Hire someone and pay them well. If you can’t, raise your numbers again until you can. There are people who want quality work and will give their money to people they like.
It took me 10 years to figure that out.

50 to 100 % , would be a little scary, in a unstable time, I just heard that A,R,E, truck caps, is down to working 3 days a week, & Silicon Valley Bank collapsed,
Its would be best. To bid any new customers, with the new rate, & smaller bumps on the better properties,

 

[Toro44]

Do you have any lawns you show up to every week and wish you didn't have them. Do yourself a favor and drop them, your life will be better for it.

 

[TPendagast]

Hi. First time poster. I have run a 1 man lawn care service for 7 years now. Lawn care is the main service, but I try to help out customers with any jobs in the yard or around the house. I rarely say no to a job because I enjoy helping people and I have to pay the bills. I have built the business up to where I am making decent money, but the amount of work has gotten to be physically too much. I work long hours and I exert myself beyond my limits. I need some outside viewpoints on what adjustments I can make. I really like my work, but I can't go on pushing myself like this. How do I handle this problem while still making enough money to stay afloat?

So first
How old are you?
Do you have illness or otherwise limiting conditions to your physical performance?

the reason I’m asking is maybe there’s reasons to say no to certain types of work.

I developed claustrophobia in the military
It’s manageable but I’ll start swearing, shouting and get a super short temper.
So I can do enclosed space IF I need to, but there’s plenty of reasons why I shouldn’t.
Get my drift?

pick and choose the most lucrative jobs, the ones with the least impact on YOU and your burnout will solve itself
Leary to say no, but define why.

 

[RSG]

I guess what some are saying is that over a 12 month period you need to be making enough money during the season by working 60 hour weeks solo to cover the winter down time.

Some of us have the option of snow removal which pays equal or better than a lawn season, so there's that to consider when claiming a solo guy must work 60 hour weeks during the warm season.

one employee will require workers comp, paychecks, and if you're like some of these guys, some benefits, dinner, lunch, bonuses, raises. Cost of operating does tend to go up when you have to hire somebody.

There’s definitely pinch points, but no multi-millionaire business got there as solo operators.
We’re going for broke this year, doing all of the things we find uncomfortable, we just hired 1 office person and 2 field personnel.

We had 3 part timers last year, but they were too part time that working around their schedules became too problematic.

 

[RSG]

So first
How old are you?
Do you have illness or otherwise limiting conditions to your physical performance?

the reason I’m asking is maybe there’s reasons to say no to certain types of work.

I developed claustrophobia in the military
It’s manageable but I’ll start swearing, shouting and get a super short temper.
So I can do enclosed space IF I need to, but there’s plenty of reasons why I shouldn’t.
Get my drift?

pick and choose the most lucrative jobs, the ones with the least impact on YOU and your burnout will solve itself
Leary to say no, but define why.

I think saying yes in the beginning makes sense, but learning when to say no is key to a healthy business.

 

[TPendagast]

I think saying yes in the beginning makes sense, but learning when to say no is key to a healthy business.

Well sure
But he’s 7 years into it and feeling overwhelmed , he’s past the point of learning to say no

 

[Toro44]

Well sure
But he’s 7 years into it and feeling overwhelmed , he’s past the point of learning to say no

Not really, people pleasers always have problems saying no and struggle with it. Sometimes a reminder from someone else helps.

 

[Ijustwantausername]

Hi. First time poster. I have run a 1 man lawn care service for 7 years now. Lawn care is the main service, but I try to help out customers with any jobs in the yard or around the house. I rarely say no to a job because I enjoy helping people and I have to pay the bills. I have built the business up to where I am making decent money, but the amount of work has gotten to be physically too much. I work long hours and I exert myself beyond my limits. I need some outside viewpoints on what adjustments I can make. I really like my work, but I can't go on pushing myself like this. How do I handle this problem while still making enough money to stay afloat?

Start saying no. You sound like a yes man and there is nothing wrong with it, but its easy for folks like you to get taken advantage of, particularly when dealing with the public. I can relate because my dad is a worker bee and always wants to help, he's a very hard worker, but even lately he's started to say "no" more. When I recall the amount of work that I did for the amount of money I made 10-15 years ago I get sick to my stomach, I should have said no more.

Start buying equipment to make your life easier. Upfront cost may be high yes, but long term payoff is worth it. It took me 10 years to buy my first dump trailer. Unloading a trailer that took 2-3 hours to load is demoralizing. I'm a moron for not buying that a decade sooner.

You are absolutely at the point where you decide to hire or stay solo. A million things can be said about hiring so I'd suggest just asking for specifics here or start searching for threads on it. Its likely the biggest headache you'll ever have while owning a business.

Raise prices. Make more and do less, consistently. You've got to decide if you want to stay solo forever or hire and grow - and add A LOT of grey hairs sooner .

 

[TaraAnn]

There’s definitely pinch points, but no multi-millionaire business got there as solo operators.
We’re going for broke this year, doing all of the things we find uncomfortable, we just hired 1 office person and 2 field personnel.

We had 3 part timers last year, but they were too part time that working around their schedules became too problematic.

Yay! Congrats on the hires! 🎉

 

[TPendagast]

Well sure
But he’s 7 years into it and feeling overwhelmed , he’s past the point of learning to say no

I was replying to “in the beginning you need to say yes”
Which isn’t the topic , since the OP is into his 7th year and passing burnout

 

[gardiner]

I'm thinking the op will get over it, That there will be times,when your in question, where you are in life, Knowing where you come from, and going,
It all part of making things happen,

Best to stick your chest out, doing the best you can, Bidding everything like you do not want it, & let it work itself out,

 

[Mitty87]

Im on year 7, started the month I joined lawn site. Still have a problem saying no to both of new/existing clients who have jobs I don't really want and also fitting jobs in for people when I know the schedule is already tight. It is very hard to not end up behind schedule because 1/3 of our work is time and material jobs for existing clients and we can let them add on whatever they want. We will always end up pissing some people off, even though lately we have clearly been very vague on scheduling, offering something like a 4 week range for start dates. Basically need to have authorization to start when we are ready, not give a start date several months out.

 

[RSG]

I was replying to “in the beginning you need to say yes”
Which isn’t the topic , since the OP is into his 7th year and passing burnout

I was simply stating that it's normal to cast the net wide when you're just starting out. Yes, 7 years in it's time to narrow the focus, or substantially increase capacity with employees and equipment.

 

[TPendagast]

I was simply stating that it's normal to cast the net wide when you're just starting out. Yes, 7 years in it's time to narrow the focus, or substantially increase capacity with employees and equipment.

Casting the net wife is fine
But you’re not supposed to catch shellfish with it just cuz someone asks for it

 

[GreenGo13]

Start saying no. You sound like a yes man and there is nothing wrong with it, but its easy for folks like you to get taken advantage of, particularly when dealing with the public. I can relate because my dad is a worker bee and always wants to help, he's a very hard worker, but even lately he's started to say "no" more. When I recall the amount of work that I did for the amount of money I made 10-15 years ago I get sick to my stomach, I should have said no more.

Start buying equipment to make your life easier. Upfront cost may be high yes, but long term payoff is worth it. It took me 10 years to buy my first dump trailer. Unloading a trailer that took 2-3 hours to load is demoralizing. I'm a moron for not buying that a decade sooner.

You are absolutely at the point where you decide to hire or stay solo. A million things can be said about hiring so I'd suggest just asking for specifics here or start searching for threads on it. Its likely the biggest headache you'll ever have while owning a business.

Raise prices. Make more and do less, consistently. You've got to decide if you want to stay solo forever or hire and grow - and add A LOT of grey hairs sooner .

Thanks for the good input!

 

[GreenGo13]

Not really, people pleasers always have problems saying no and struggle with it. Sometimes a reminder from someone else helps.

Thanks for the reminder! Helpful.