Should I hire someone?
How do you know when the time is right?
If you struggle to keep up with your work, it might be time to employ someone. Before you place that worker wanted ad, I would like to talk about what I learned about hiring people in my lawn mowing business.
Things you need to know
For starters, If you are mowing 40 hours a week and employ someone, you would assume that you would get things done in half the time. Right?
Wrong.
I have done this many times and found that it only increases output by a third. If you were turning over $2K a week and employed someone full-time, you could grow your business to 3K.
Now you need to allow for costs.
Once ACC, Kiwi saver, holiday pay, etc., are considered, your worker could cost you $1K weekly. You have increased the market value of your goodwill by a third, but you are no better off.
We ended up putting your guys in vans and sending them out alone. They can turn over as much as 2.4K a week without any management duties. That turnover makes it much easier to pay the costs and take some profit off the table.
The next issue was holidays or sick days.
We got around this by employing our guys on a 35-hour week. Doing this decreased the output but made them more flexible.
However, you must do the work yourself if you don’t have more than one worker. However, it would be the same if they worked alongside you anyway.
Doing this may not work for everyone, but it worked out for us.
Will this work for you?
It Depends on Your Business
Hiring someone may not make sense if you have a small lawn mowing business. You may be able to handle all of the work on your own. However, hiring someone may be a good idea if you want to expand.
Does it Fit Your Business Model?
You first need to consider what business model want for your lawn mowing business. If you start taking on workers, you will complicate your business. You will be responsible for other people’s livelihoods.
Another option is to consolidate your business, selling off lower-profit lawns and focusing on the work that brings in the best money. If you do this for a few years, you can become one of the best-paid lawn mowing guys in town.
How Will They Fit Into Your Business?
Another important factor is how the new employee will fit into your business. Will they be working alone or with other employees? Do they have the same work ethic as you? Will they be a good cultural fit for your company? Ensuring the new hire is a good fit will help ensure success.
It can be hard to find good workers; We discovered that we have more success training people who have not been in the industry before. If you hire someone who has worked with another lawn mowing business, then half the time, you need to work on correcting bad habits. This can work than training someone from scratch.
Consider the Cost
Another important factor to consider is the cost of hiring someone. You will need to factor in the cost of their salary and any other associated costs such as benefits, insurance, etc., as well as any additional related expenses such as training and equipment.
We found out that we needed to factor in another 20% over and above their wages to cover holiday & sick pay plus Kiwisaver if requested.
If you are unsure whether you can afford to hire someone, sit down and do some budgeting to see if it is feasible.
Think About the Workload
Another factor to consider is the workload. If you are constantly busy and struggling to keep up with demand, hiring someone may help you to get more work done and free up your time.
Another option is to raise your prices.
You will be better off if you increase your prices by 10% and lose 10% of your customers. Your turnover won’t change, but suddenly, you have cut your hours by 10%.
Do You Need the Help?
Another thing to consider is whether or not you need help. Hiring someone may not be necessary if you can handle all your current clients and don’t see your business growing in the near future.
However, if you struggle to keep up with demand, hiring someone could be an excellent way to free up some time.
Weigh the Pros and Cons
Once you have considered all of the factors above, it is time to weigh the pros and cons of hiring someone. Some advantages of hiring someone include having more time to focus on other aspects of your business, taking on more work, and having extra help around during busy times.
Some disadvantages include the cost of salary and benefits and the responsibility of managing another person.
What Are Their Qualifications?
When considering candidates for your lawn mowing business, it is important to consider their qualifications. Do they have experience mowing lawns? Do they have a valid driver’s license? Are they physically fit to handle the job?
Training and Supervision
If you decide to hire someone for your lawn mowing business, it is important to provide adequate training and supervision. This will help ensure that they know how to operate your equipment correctly and understand your expectations for their work. Providing ongoing feedback will also help them improve their performance over time.
Liability Issues
When hiring someone for your lawn mowing business, it is important to consider liability issues. You need to ensure that you have a safe working environment. You could be liable for medical expenses if an employee is injured while working.
Additionally, if an employee damages property while working, you could be held liable for the repair costs. Make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage in place before hiring anyone.
Make a Decision
After considering all the factors above, it is time to decide whether or not to hire someone in your lawn mowing business. If you decide that it is the right move for your business, start by writing out a job description and posting it online or in local businesses.
I have used sites like indeed before and had some success.
I wish you all the best, whatever decision you make, and thanks for reading.
