[thanohano44]

Fueling up a few minutes ago and this guy walks up to me and asks if I'd like to cut some lawns for him after looking at our equipment.

I looked at his 1995 Toyota SR5, home lite hand held blower, curved shaft weed eater and his toro lawn mower. I said no not really. Too busy. He said he's just landed on a gold mine making $25 a recut on bank owned homes. It's fun and I get to take photos.

Normally I wouldn't say anything but since I'm in a caring mood. I schooled him for a few minutes and showed him what the siblings are paying me for recuts, 3 times what he gets them for. He said he's just doing things till the union painting jobs pick back up so he can get his $68 per hour back. LOL

I

 

[Guest]

Everybody starts somewhere. I give him credit for trying

 

[thanohano44]

Everybody starts somewhere. I give him credit for trying

So do I. I just don't like seeing people being taken advantage of.

 

[HollandPPC]

So do I. I just don't like seeing people being taken advantage of.

I say let them fail. If people are too stupid to realize they are screwing themselves let them. More work for me to clean up later.

 

[oteroproperties]

No one ever succeeded without some temporary defeat. Everyone has failed on the way to their goals at some point. I wouldn't say they are stupid I would say they are determined.

I started with a bolens lawn tractor and homelite **** as well. Now? Custom built trailers and trucks. All cash no financing.

 

[Guest]

Friend of mine started out with a Ford Ranger, pushmower, weedeater and hand tools. This is his website http://voltlandscaping.com/index.cfm
He employs at least 30 men, has 4 F-350 4X4 1-ton dumps, couple Kodiaks, all salesmen drive Ford Rangers for estimates, numerous enclosed trailers, dump trailers, landscaping trailers, several bobcats, couple mini-ex's, loaders, backhoes and several tandems. All Rob does is drive around giving estimates, checking on jobs and making deals on real estate. He has gotten into buying apartment complexes, rental homes and other real estate investments.

 

[thanohano44]

No one ever succeeded without some temporary defeat. Everyone has failed on the way to their goals at some point. I wouldn't say they are stupid I would say they are determined.

I started with a bolens lawn tractor and homelite **** as well. Now? Custom built trailers and trucks. All cash no financing.

While that is true. I also know this fellow is headed for doom at $25 a cut. When I started I was getting $125 initial minimums and $65 recurs from FAS. Operating costs at this time are much higher than it was in 2003.

I could see this man was a hard worker. He had his wife and 4 year old in the truck on his way to do a job. He isn't insured and is an accident waiting to happen. I think I did the right thing. The tools he had wouldn't last 3 weeks. Most who have never run a business or have done this for a living don't know the difference between home light and echo. I did my part to ensure this father and husband isn't taken advantage of.

 

[oteroproperties]

Im with ya. I see them sometimes and I think the same thing but i don't know their circumstances so I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's just a more compassionate way of thinking.

 

[Guest]

I think you did the right thing. :thumbsup:

 

[Guest]

Why is it we all seem to know EX-P&P contractors who have lost their families/homes/trucks/equipment because they invested most of their livelyhood in the P&P dream?

We all know why and these service companies don't care! I had the very same experience at the gas pumps Monday but this guy lost it ALL when the HUD company changed hands and never paid the last 60-90 days worth of invoices.

 

[GTX63]

Not all of the turtles make it off the beach.

 

[Guest]

Why is it, these union guys have no problem lowballing and working under the table ion someone else's industry?

 

[GTX63]

LOL. That should be a whole new thread.

 

[Guest]

While that is true. I also know this fellow is headed for doom at $25 a cut. When I started I was getting $125 initial minimums and $65 recurs from FAS. Operating costs at this time are much higher than it was in 2003.

I could see this man was a hard worker. He had his wife and 4 year old in the truck on his way to do a job. He isn't insured and is an accident waiting to happen. I think I did the right thing. The tools he had wouldn't last 3 weeks. Most who have never run a business or have done this for a living don't know the difference between home light and echo. I did my part to ensure this father and husband isn't taken advantage of.

Guess Im slow on the uptake. What did you do?

 

[JDRM]

SMART BUSINESS

I have been making ends meet at $25 per cut for 4 yrs! Sure, I dont go out and blow money like I used to, but it is what it is! Not going to get rich. Smart business ethics go a long way! Fully insured, 2010 F250, 52" Exmark, 36" Exmark, all Stihl Hand tools,Blowers. I fit 5 days into 3, saves around $100.00 per week in fuel, work 3 long days, take 2 off. Cut 25 to 30 a day. $625 to $750 Daily. Subtract $60 for fuel, $50 (Big cushion) for Insurance, equiptment, and $120 labor. $395 to $520 Take home daily. ( Before taxes. ) And due to expences taxes are minimal if any!

So im happy working 3 days a week and making well over $1000.00 weekly. If you are smart you can make it work! As for the other 2 days a week, Im usually looking for more work, or turning away work for lowball offers.

I have tried signing up with almost ever national and have had no luck! So you are left taking what you get (if you can be profitable).

For the record, $25.00 is the lowest I will go, (NO PHOTO UPLOADING OR PCR'S) and sometimes make more for over allowables, debris,etc. I have turned down the $15.00 to $20.00 offers, knowing they cannot be profitable!

IF YOU CANNOT LIVE ON $1000.00 WEEKLY, YOU HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS!

 

[Guest]

$1,000 a week is a good SALARY, if you have aspirations about growing your business operating accounts, income investements, retirement accounts, that is hard to do on $52,000 a year.

 

[Guest]

SMART BUSINESS

I have been making ends meet at $25 per cut for 4 yrs! Sure, I dont go out and blow money like I used to, but it is what it is! Not going to get rich. Smart business ethics go a long way! Fully insured, 2010 F250, 52" Exmark, 36" Exmark, all Stihl Hand tools,Blowers. I fit 5 days into 3, saves around $100.00 per week in fuel, work 3 long days, take 2 off. Cut 25 to 30 a day. $625 to $750 Daily. Subtract $60 for fuel, $50 (Big cushion) for Insurance, equiptment, and $120 labor. $395 to $520 Take home daily. ( Before taxes. ) And due to expences taxes are minimal if any!

So im happy working 3 days a week and making well over $1000.00 weekly. If you are smart you can make it work! As for the other 2 days a week, Im usually looking for more work, or turning away work for lowball offers.

I have tried signing up with almost ever national and have had no luck! So you are left taking what you get (if you can be profitable).

For the record, $25.00 is the lowest I will go, (NO PHOTO UPLOADING OR PCR'S) and sometimes make more for over allowables, debris,etc. I have turned down the $15.00 to $20.00 offers, knowing they cannot be profitable!

IF YOU CANNOT LIVE ON $1000.00 WEEKLY, YOU HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS!

Nothing about that sounds smart. To me, it sounds like you are your own employee.

How much money is your company making? What are you paying your employees?

I would have an EXTREMELY hard time time (actually wouldn't be able to do it) if I only took in 1k a week considering my payroll alone is over that. If my payroll wasn't that, my insurances sure take care of the rest.

I am sure that my definition making money is different than yours. We started and finished a roofing project yesterday where my costs were $4100. The home owner was charged $6400. Guess what, I didn't make $2300. There are things like overhead expenses, then company profit, then your salary that all get taken out.

I think you would be better of being an employee of a successful company to learn how it is done.

 

[Guest]

Nothing about that sounds smart. To me, it sounds like you are your own employee.

How much money is your company making? What are you paying your employees?

I would have an EXTREMELY hard time time (actually wouldn't be able to do it) if I only took in 1k a week considering my payroll alone is over that. If my payroll wasn't that, my insurances sure take care of the rest.

I am sure that my definition making money is different than yours. We started and finished a roofing project yesterday where my costs were $4100. The home owner was charged $6400. Guess what, I didn't make $2300. There are things like overhead expenses, then company profit, then your salary that all get taken out.

I think you would be better of being an employee of a successful company to learn how it is done.

I agree, but I believe he meant he clears a grand a week for himself.

 

[Guest]

I agree, but I believe he meant he clears a grand a week for himself.

Yeah. I didn't see in there anywhere for all overhead expenses or company profit.

To each their own.

 

[Guest]

I agree, but I believe he meant he clears a grand a week for himself.

Imagine what he would clear if he held out and charged $40.00 lawn,he would be clearing 2 grand a week.

Most business owners forgot to include there overhead.

Gas,Insurance,payroll,insurance,kitty fund for equipment repair,insurance,