Labor Pay

[Saddlewood]

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to determine the wage a person would pay for labor? The labor I'm looking to hire is for lawn care only (no landscaping). I'm looking at the idea of hiring some help and trying to come up with "the right number". I obviously don't want to pay more than I need to, but I want it to be fair/ attractive to an employee too. Any thoughts/ formulas/ suggestions?

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

We recently had another post where a forum member said "The last guy i had i paid 12.00/hr plus quarter bonuses on new customers and a bonus on the work he brought in." Would this person be working on their own or with you?

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[Saddlewood]

Originally Posted by Steve

We recently had another post where a forum member said "The last guy i had i paid 12.00/hr plus quarter bonuses on new customers and a bonus on the work he brought in."

Would this person be working on their own or with you?

At this point, I've got one person I'm talking with that would be working for me using my equipment. While I've got another guy I'm talking with that would be working for me that would be using his own equipment.

[Saddlewood]

Originally Posted by Saddlewood

At this point, I've got one person I'm talking with that would be working for me using my equipment. While I've got another guy I'm talking with that would be working for me that would be using his own equipment.

Both individuals would be working on their own.

i would hire somebody to just trim and blow off. Then as your biz grows hire another to trim and blow off and start teaching the first guy to mow and use more expensive equipment.

[Steve]

maizenblue301 what do you suggest paying hourly?

[Saddlewood]

Originally Posted by maizenblue301

i would hire somebody to just trim and blow off. Then as your biz grows hire another to trim and blow off and start teaching the first guy to mow and use more expensive equipment.

While I fully plan on growing the business, my plan right now is that these guys will be doing all of the work for me. At "this point", I've got another fulltime job, but hope to move into the lawn business full-time. My main question is around labor pay though.

If I were to hire the employee that would be bringing his own equipment w/ him, are there any suggestions as to what to pay him?
If I were to hire the employee that will be using my equipment, are there any suggestions as to what to pay him?

Also, are you all paying employees by the hour or by the job?

Thanks!

[legendlawn]

Do you know about what your competitors are paying. In my area mine are paying anywhere from 8 to 11 for general labor, with crew leaders making around 12. I have two guys who have been with me less than a year and they make 9 and 9.50 respectively. Anyways, make sure you pay your guys a respectable wage, make them earn their raises, and make sure its a wagevyou can afford. Also, dont forget when your budgeting to make sure that you dont forget about payroll taxes. If you take you your employees hourly wage and multiply it by 1.35 that is what that employee will be costing you.

[Steve]

Logan,

Do you offer any bonuses to your employees? For selling services or getting new accounts?

Originally Posted by Saddlewood

While I fully plan on growing the business, my plan right now is that these guys will be doing all of the work for me. At "this point", I've got another fulltime job, but hope to move into the lawn business full-time. My main question is around labor pay though.

If I were to hire the employee that would be bringing his own equipment w/ him, are there any suggestions as to what to pay him?
If I were to hire the employee that will be using my equipment, are there any suggestions as to what to pay him?

Also, are you all paying employees by the hour or by the job?

Thanks!

I pay employees by the hour.
If you were going to have the person use your equipment I would pay around $12/$13 per hour.
If the person were using there equipment I would pay a percentage of each yard like 25-30% so they could take care of expenses like maintenance or gas. But I think I would rather have some one using my equipment. That way they can't say well this is my equipment I am doing all the work and then they take your customers. But the choice is yours to decide.