| Did you know that by owning and operating your | | | | * Special- Spends four hours two times a year |
| own landscape maintenance company you can | | | | pulling weeds out of the lawn |
| earn between $30- $100 an hour or more? This is | | | | * Service- Shows up weekly at 10 a.m. (business |
| a great business for those who want to be their | | | | opens at 9 a.m.) thus bothering the business |
| own boss, make their own schedule, be in control | | | | owner and customers with distracting and |
| of the amount of money they make, and | | | | bothersome noise |
| increase their quality of life. I have been a | | | | Time: Nine hours a month x 12 months= 108 |
| landscape maintenance technician for over half my | | | | working hours |
| life and I have learned that there are two types | | | | Charged: $2200 for one year (with 50% discount) |
| in this business: | | | | Minus fertilizer: $80 Minus 8 working hours for |
| There are those who believe that landscape | | | | pulling weeds @ $30 an hour: $240 |
| maintenance is simply a job where lawns are | | | | Made: $1,880 ÷ 108 total hours = $17.41 an |
| mowed, weeds are hoed, and walkways blown. | | | | hour |
| Usually they work very hard, underbid one | | | | Technician/Business Owner |
| another for work, and barely eke by financially. | | | | Gets the job at $200 a month |
| Then there are those who treat landscape | | | | * Time- Spends no more than one and a half |
| maintenance as a business. They take into | | | | hours a week (Gauge- $30 per hour) |
| consideration and control their operation expenses, | | | | * Cost- Hires a licensed sprayer for $300 a year |
| use professional forms and uniforms, know how | | | | who fertilizes and sterilizes soil with preemergents |
| to obtain quality customers for top dollar, and | | | | so there are no weeds, saving 15 minutes on |
| train employees for efficiency. They understand | | | | weed control per visit. Customer pays for the |
| that to truly be successful in this business they | | | | service plus 20%. |
| have to take much more into consideration than | | | | * Terms- No discounts. The contract is for one |
| how green the lawn is, and they use little known | | | | year, twelve payments, at full price |
| skills and techniques to save and make | | | | * Special- Not necessary with this example |
| themselves more money. | | | | * Service- Shows up at 7 a.m. when there is no |
| I am sure you know that working hard is not the | | | | foot traffic or cars, thus saving 15 minutes a |
| answer but working smart is always better. I will | | | | week, reducing liability, and keeping the customer |
| give you an example of two landscape managers | | | | happy. |
| and the difference that their maintenance | | | | Time: (reduced monthly time by half an hour) 4.5 |
| techniques can make in a year. | | | | hours a month x 12 months= 54 working hours |
| Lawn mower/Gardener (Commercial Account) | | | | Charged: $2400 for one year |
| Gets the job at $200 a month | | | | Saved: 15 minutes per visit by eradication weeds |
| * Time- Spends about two hours a week (has no | | | | Saved: 15 minutes per visit by arriving earlier with |
| gauge) | | | | less traffic |
| * Cost- Spends $80 a year on fertilizer | | | | Made: $2,400plus 20% spray service $60 |
| * Terms- Gives a two month 50% discount in | | | | Total made: $2460 ÷ 54 total hours = $45. |
| winter | | | | |