Going fully licensed

[Steve]

I'm a firm believer that if you have the security of a full time job you will never put the effort to succeed and grow your business. What is your view on why having a fulltime is actually a detriment? I think this is a situation a lot of lawn care business owners find themselves in. Before you quit your fulltime job, was there something that made you finally snap and say ok I am going to do this or what happened?

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[Growing Green]

Lawn care business tips

I was just looking into whether I needed a license as a landscaper in TX and this is what the .gov site says: ********************- Lawn Care and Landscaping by the Self-Employed Lawn care and landscaping (other than pest control services requiring a license) are nontaxable when done by a self-employed individual who: •does the actual lawn care or landscaping services; •has no employees, partners or other persons providing the services; •has gross receipts from the services of less than $5,000 during the most recent four calendar quarters. If your income from landscaping and lawn care exceeds $5,000 during the most recent four calendar quarters, you must begin collecting tax on these services on the first day of the quarter after the threshold is exceeded. When your gross income from these services falls below $5,000 for the most recent four calendar quarters, the exemption resumes on the first day of the next quarter. ********************- So looks like I don't have to worry about getting a license until I make over $5000 in what I pay myself in one quarter. That will be a while. Any other reason you all think I should get one? Matt

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Austin Organic Lawn and Landscaping Care

[lukus223]

Great Discussion!!

Ok, to address a couple of questions. I did have a full time job, I got layed off a week ago. I am deciding now whether to take my part time gig to the next level or pound the pavement and get another job.

I agree that having a full time job has held me back, I can only take on so much work and was content the last six monthes to working my m-f job, having a full Saturday of route work and booking clean ups and other misc on Sundays. It did make for a very long summer though. I also used a lot of vacation days to work other stuff during the week when I already had Sunday work booked.

I guess my real question is this.

Have any of you made the jump from "landscape maintenance" to being a "Landscaper". The difference being the landscaper being fully licensed to do installs and work on irrigation and backflows. This seems to be a key to major contracts. In Oregon you also have to have a license to apply fertilizer, herbicides etc to any non-residental property. Also a big key to commercial.

I know each state is different, but I imagine most states have that "line".

[Creagers Lawns]

Originally Posted by Steve

What is your view on why having a fulltime is actually a detriment? I think this is a situation a lot of lawn care business owners find themselves in.

Before you quit your fulltime job, was there something that made you finally snap and say ok I am going to do this or what happened?

When I was working fulltime I had the security of a steady income so I wasn't out trying to grow my biz and I wasn.t seeing any growth. It took my employer talking to me like I was some modern day slave to tell him you know what I don't need this $hit I got equipment and can make own money and make myself happy. It was scarey at first when you have a wife and 3 kids to just give up that security and go for it. I had know idea how things was going to turn out,but i knew if I didn't give it a shot I might still be working for the man making them rich. Now going into my 8th season I'm glad i did.

[Growing Green]

Originally Posted by Creagers Lawns

When I was working fulltime I had the security of a steady income so I wasn't out trying to grow my biz and I wasn.t seeing any growth. It took my employer talking to me like I was some modern day slave to tell him you know what I don't need this $hit I got equipment and can make own money and make myself happy. It was scarey at first when you have a wife and 3 kids to just give up that security and go for it. I had know idea how things was going to turn out,but i knew if I didn't give it a shot I might still be working for the man making them rich. Now going into my 8th season I'm glad i did.

That is an encouraging story! I never will go back and work for someone else!!!!

Matt

[T.J.F.]

Originally Posted by Creagers Lawns

When I was working fulltime I had the security of a steady income so I wasn't out trying to grow my biz and I wasn.t seeing any growth. It took my employer talking to me like I was some modern day slave to tell him you know what I don't need this $hit I got equipment and can make own money and make myself happy. It was scarey at first when you have a wife and 3 kids to just give up that security and go for it. I had know idea how things was going to turn out,but i knew if I didn't give it a shot I might still be working for the man making them rich. Now going into my 8th season I'm glad i did.

Right on! reading testamonies like this one is very encouraging.

[Creagers Lawns]

Originally Posted by T.J.F.

Right on! reading testamonies like this one is very encouraging.

I would encourage anyone that has the drive to go self employed, find something you like to do and go for it. you will never become financially independent working for someone else. And these days as far as the security of a full time job I ask you this are you really secure? I know alot of friends who went to work one day to be told they no longer needed them. Not the security I want for my family. No one else will take care your family like you.

[Steve]

For those of you that have left a full time job and gone full time into their own business, have you found your drive is to match your previous income or do you find you desire to push beyond that and make more?

[Creagers Lawns]

Originally Posted by Steve

For those of you that have left a full time job and gone full time into their own business, have you found your drive is to match your previous income or do you find you desire to push beyond that and make more?

I would say I'm always out looking to make more I think everyone wants to always strive for more income

[Growing Green]

Originally Posted by Steve

For those of you that have left a full time job and gone full time into their own business, have you found your drive is to match your previous income or do you find you desire to push beyond that and make more?

Would like to be at least matching it right now, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. My ultimate goal is to go WAY beyond what I was making with my previous job, but I realize that it will take some time to do that.

Matt