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I have worked for both types of companies: Landscape contractor with in-house labor and equipment and also for the Landscape contractor who uses subs to install the job.
Both types are common here and I haven't heard of anyone not hiring a co because they use subs. On the surface, it seems, yeah, why would they hire you to oversee the job when they could work directly with the contractor. They don't want to. They want to work with someone they trust. You have to sell yourself as the expert.
The ones who use subs tend to be either landscape architects or little ladies with a hobby business.
Speaking from experience, working as the general contractor is a very large headache. Subs don't show up for meetings, things are delayed, the installer doesnt order the plants until the morning of, the gate falls off the hinge and you can't get them to come back and fix it, you are responsible for getting waranty items fixed by a contractor who is too busy, etc....
However, having it in-house is also hard. You have to keep the crews busy and manage equipment and supplies, while trying to sell and design, etc.
My business is design/build (I'm a landscape architect) and I have a crew and equipment. If I could switch to the other type of business, I would do it in a heartbeat. I don't because I can't make as much money that way.
When you are general contractor your income is from design fees and the 20-30% markup you are charging on the jobs. If you have enough high-end volume, that is ok.
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