[nalandscape]

My company was actually born as a result of the "winter" problems that you discuss. We do the demolition and installation LABOR for the company that my husband/partner used to work for. They actually helped us start our business two years ago. They are a Larger retail nursery & design/build company that was faced with the decision to have their landscape foreman piddle around the greenhouse 32 hours a week or lay them off.

They offered us an opportunity to subcontract for them. They sold us one of their old trucks to get us going. We carry our own liability, WC, etc. We wear their shirts when we are on their jobs. We've have offered to get magnets for the trucks for their jobs.
They Grow and Maintain Plants and Kepp Product Inventory, Design and Sell, and they still have a few foremen on the payroll. BUT, they no longer have to pay ins or work comp or unemplyment on my husband, do not have to pay insurance, fuel or maintenance for that vehicle, etc, etc. and they're jobs still get done. We work directly for the project manager & designers.

We, of course, still take our some of our own jobs, and have picked up another designer that we install for. In my extensive research, I have found that this may be a Unique situation in landscape. We have approached other landscape companies with this concept and they are generally reluctant, a few have been interested but were unsure of how to bill for it. We keep trying, though. Right now we just have one GREAT crew, but hope to add another crew next year.

Now, perhaps if that happens, I will be faced with the lay off factor...but General Labor is a little easier to find, it's the Loyal Foreman, Supervisors and Salespeople that you need to keep around.


Good Luck,
Shannon
Northern Atmosphere