[moose02]

well we just bought a Cub Cadet M60 so it looks like were starting up a maintenance division 2 days in the works and we already have a hand full of contracts so I hope they keep coming. It will basically be a one man crew for now, i hoping it will be profitable but I'm really not sure I figure theres only one way to find out.

[cslynger]

Moose,

Are you simply going to make an existing employee into you "maintenance" guy, or are you going to hire someone specifically for that position? Also, what prompted the maintenance move? I have been toying w/ the same thing but I have plenty of headaches as it is already, and maintenance in my mind is a volume based entity (I could be all wrong there though).

[moose02]

Well actually its going to be the wifes end of things. Shes a hairdresser by trade, but her old man has been in to landscaping for years. She has done plenty of maintenance work in the past and hates cutting hair, so it just a natural fit. Now I think I will pay her as an employee, I have yet to talk with the accountant but it will make her show other than self employed on her end of the stick.

What really got the ball rolling was when I started talking with a few contacts, we were given several contracts with in a 2 day period. Oh and were getting a good price on the machine

As far as things being volume based I think for the most part you are right. Our plan is not to sink a ton of money in flashy trucks an equipment were $7000 tops, plus a truck which will be a cheap half ton. Now our target market is going to be large estate lots and commercial buildings. I see to many guys in subdivision rushing to cut all these small lots to make there hourly rate. It may work for some but were not interested in that environment.

I hope all goes well for us its gonna be a crazy year getting married buying a house and running a business cross your fingers hahah