[Bud]

I'm an owner of a Landscape company, this is my second season, but this season I really didn't have the work load to hire anybody. I have only 12 lawn cutting customers, who I do everything else for as well. I am actually scared to hire someone, because I like thing done a specific way and I am a perfectionist when it comes to landscaping. I am tring to grow my company as a landscape design and installation company, but as everybody knows out there you have to offer property maintenance. how do you know when you need to hire somebody?

Bud

[Pelican]

When I started losing jobs due to my backlog, that's when I hired my first guy. I run my business in the same manner as you, making the quality in my company a step above the competition. You'll probably go through a few guys before you find the right one and get him trained where you want him.

[rbriggs]

Hiring your first employee will be the hardest thing that you've ever done. I worked the truck for the first three months. When we added a second and third truck to the fleet, I had to hire truck crews. My recommendation is that you take your time with hiring and don't settle for anything but an "A" player. Train them yourself and set the expectation as to how you want things done. Then, hold them accountable to those expectations. Sounds easier than it really is. But you won't be sorry! Good luck.

[HardDaysKnight]

Remember this: You get what you pay for.
The more money you can pay hourly will
get you someone that appreciates being
a part of your business, rather than someone working to fill a void.

[Pelican]

I haven't found that to be necessarily true. While I do believe you must pay a man what he is worth, I haven't found that offering big money equates better employees. It was real frustrating when I hired my first worker, every time I had a failure I tried offering more money to find better help. I just kept ending up with the same type of worker no matter what amount I tried.

You just have to keep weeding through the labor pool until you find a dedicated worker. Once you do however, you'll have to do what it takes to keep him. That's when the higher pay scale comes into effect.....at least it has worked for me.