Business Question?

[Steve]

Do you have a business question? Why not ask the author, Joel LaRusic. Joel has written a great business book Start & Run A Landscape Business. He started his landscape business over 15 years ago and learned quite a few things along the way. At first he worked by himself, building his business up to having 10 employees. We are very lucky to have him here with us for you to ask your business questions. Scroll Down To ask your question.

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Ask the Author, Joel LaRusic email him at mowboy@gmail.com

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[mowboy]

Start & Run A Landscaping Business
Buy the book here.

Table of Contents

Section One: Starting Your Business

Chapter 1: Sizing up the Business - What you need to know before you begin
Chapter 2: Making Your Business Legal
Chapter 3: Money Matters
Chapter 4: Choosing the Right Equipment for the Job

Section Two: Running Your Business

Chapter 5: Setting Up Shop - Your Home Office
Chapter 6: Marketing Your Business
Chapter 7: The Importance of Record Keeping
Chapter 8: Building Your Team - Hiring and Training Staff
Chapter 9: The Workflow of a Job - From First Contact to Quote
Chapter 10: The Workflow of a Job - From Acceptance to Routing
Chapter 11: The Workflow of a Job - From Job Completion to Job Costing

Section Three: The Services You Offer

Chapter 12: The Regular Maintenance Visit
Chapter 13: Lawn Specialties
Chapter 14: The Art of Fertilizing
Chapter 15: Other Services

Also Included

Appendix
Worksheets
Samples


Continue the tour: Book Topics

[mowboy]

Thanks to Clifford from Sideline Property Management for asking the following question:

Question: At what point did you decide to take on your first employee? Was it determined by revenue, time constraint or did you set a specific profit amount that would determine time to add help?

Answer: Good question Clifford, the decision to take on employees is a big one.

I took on a part time helper in my first year and in my second year I took on a full time employee who turned out to be with me for the entire time I operated by business.

On the one hand, employees mean extra work and expenses so the inclination might be to stay small as long as possible. However, the game of landscape maintenance is one best played with two people. In other words a two person team is more effecient that one for most residential settings. So, my advice is that even if you intend to stay small, get big enough to keep you and a helper busy.

The first signal that you may need help is quite simply that you are very busy and your phone is still ringing with new work. If that is your situation then you should calculate the cost of hiring a helper.

1) Look at your profit and loss data. If you are not profiting without an employee, hiring one will not help you.

2) Add up all the monthly costs that go with hiring an employee and don't forget to included the 'hidden' costs like Workers' Compensation and matching of certain source deductions.

3) Then determine if it is feasable to take on staff based on your current revenue and profit.

It may be that you can only afford a part time helper until you build your business some more. It would also depend on how fast you are able to grow and how difficult it is too find work. You may be pleasantly surprised if you take on a helper that you get enough work to keep you both busy.

For more practical information and useful tips see chapter 8 of my book which deals with how to hire, train and manage your employees.

I hope this helps Clifford. All the best with your business this year!

this is my first year of self employment,and was wondering how do i file ? will i still be eligable that unearn child credit?

[Steve]

I would suggest contacting two people for this question
Matt Patrick info@patricktax.com he is a cpa
and
Joel LaRusic mowboy@mowboy.com

I hope this helps