Great thread....
I run two 3 man crews......Just started my second truck at the beginning of the summer. Each crew is responsible for making $600+ daily, 5 days a week, usually about 8 to 10 hours daily depending on the route or if we are doing a landscape job. By giving each crew a daily total, I basically set my salary. It took a lot of planning, playing with numbers, and hiring a GREAT accountant. My daily cost are estimated @ $775 daily. Some days we go over, some days we are under....all works out usually in the end. I always get deposit plus more on all landscape jobs, and since I work on all my landscaping projects at the end of the day, not having to pay extra labor cost, unless its a huge project, and I spend the necessary time needed to ensure quality and unique craftsmanship.....But enough with all the yadda yadda....Heres my breakdown so far this year....
Lawn Maintenance ---- $218,750
Squirt and Fert ---- $36,785
Landscaping ---- $42,067.34
Leaf Blowing ---- $22,345
&Spring/Fall Cln-ups
Misc. ---- $9,333.32
Expenses ---- -$135,625
Landscaping ---- -$19,756.66
Sub Contracting ---- -$7565
Misc. ---- -$18,354.67-(new truck, nice down payment and double and triple payments, New Mower, Trimmer, etc...)
Great thing about my area is there are so many high end neighborhoods that dont mind paying for great service. I am still cheaper then some of the bigger LCO here, but dont have the same over head they have so it sorta balances out in the end I guess....But we have had a great year....Never imagined when I started this thing 3 1/2 years ago I would be where I am right now. My first year my gross numbers were 19,755....so you can imagine what my net was...So for all you start-ups out there....dont give up, and keep your customer service just as good as your consistence and quality. I am proud of what I have establish, and just hope I can maintain and keep up with growth without burning out first.....I have heard and seen alot of guys call it quits for different reasons.....Well Happy Thanksgiving....We didnt get finished tonight until 10:30pm.....So i need to catch up with my dreams.....:sleeping: