I've been bouncing around the last couple years with doing most office work myself, to last year trying to hire someone that could handle taking calls, input some schedules, help with receipts, etc. But he wasn't experienced in any of this at that point, so I didn't save as much time/money as I thought. But I'm to the point where I can't wear all the hats anymore and keep things running smoothly. We are generating sales of about $350K-$400K/yr right now. We do landscape construction, fert/weed control, mowing (res and comm), and plowing in the winter. The saying "do one thing well" goes through my head a lot. I could sell off lawn care equipment and focus on landscape and weed control, but I now own all the lawn equipment (no payments, except for a 1-ton), so it's hard to sell it off (4 mowers, zero turn, trimmers, aeration, power rake, 3/4 ton truck, blowers) when the opportunity is there to make money off it. Personally I would rather keep the landscaping and weed control side of things, and if I had to sell lawn care, but I would rather keep all of it if I can.
If I keep the equipment, how do you utilize office staff and make it worth it? Or is it too soon to hire more help financially? What roles are they actually playing in the office? Do you hire an in house bookkeeper that is also a secretary? Should I take on the management of landscaping and they oversee the lawn care crews, scheduling, etc? Do they need to have experience or can you train them? What roles do you as the owner make sure to not delegate, or always delegate?
I've felt the effects of burnout and losing any motivation to keep things going as a result of losing traction because of the mundane and day to day tasks that keep me from actually growing, strategizing, and just simply having too much on my plate. If I can focus on leadership, numbers, strategies, etc. instead of emails and maintenance I could make some progress in cutting expenses, efficiency, marketing, and on and on. I know there is potential for growth if I manage things properly.
For those with the experience, I would love to know how you grew into hiring the extra help in the office and what that all looks like.
If I keep the equipment, how do you utilize office staff and make it worth it? Or is it too soon to hire more help financially? What roles are they actually playing in the office? Do you hire an in house bookkeeper that is also a secretary? Should I take on the management of landscaping and they oversee the lawn care crews, scheduling, etc? Do they need to have experience or can you train them? What roles do you as the owner make sure to not delegate, or always delegate?
I've felt the effects of burnout and losing any motivation to keep things going as a result of losing traction because of the mundane and day to day tasks that keep me from actually growing, strategizing, and just simply having too much on my plate. If I can focus on leadership, numbers, strategies, etc. instead of emails and maintenance I could make some progress in cutting expenses, efficiency, marketing, and on and on. I know there is potential for growth if I manage things properly.
For those with the experience, I would love to know how you grew into hiring the extra help in the office and what that all looks like.