Help Hiring First Employee

[flyingsquirrel25]

You are the owner of a business that provides tree care services, not a tree guy running his own show.

This is a very interesting statement. Coming from a similar direction and almost through the equipment acquisition stage I don't see the distinction between the owner of the business and the Arborist (tree guy as you put it). At some point in the history of every company the owner has to be the doer (unless handed down through generations or you bought into it). I really can't imagine working for an individual that couldn't, wouldn't or has never done what they expect me to do.
All I'm saying is at some point a business owner is the tree guy at least in the way I am growing. And s/he should expect to jump in and get their hands dirty if needed for the good of the company.

 

[CaPowell]

This is a very interesting statement. Coming from a similar direction and almost through the equipment acquisition stage I don't see the distinction between the owner of the business and the Arborist (tree guy as you put it). At some point in the history of every company the owner has to be the doer (unless handed down through generations or you bought into it). I really can't imagine working for an individual that couldn't, wouldn't or has never done what they expect me to do.
All I'm saying is at some point a business owner is the tree guy at least in the way I am growing. And s/he should expect to jump in and get their hands dirty if needed for the good of the company.

I don't think he would disagree with you, in fact, I bet treehumper works his butt off. I think he's just trying to say we have to be aware that we are businessmen first and foremost. If we repeatedly make terrible business decisions, we'll be cutting trees for somebody else.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

I don't think he would disagree with you, in fact, I bet treehumper works his butt off. I think he's just trying to say we have to be aware that we are businessmen first and foremost. If we repeatedly make terrible business decisions, we'll be cutting trees for somebody else.

I wasn't trying to disagree. I believe I have heard him discuss this topic before and agree wholeheartedly with him. Good business decisions come from experience, @treehumper has plenty of it.

 

[treehumper]

It's the mindset I'm referring to, not the ability to do the work or appreciate all the nuanced challenges and decision making that goes into it. There's a great book that's been out for a while called The E-Myth by Michael Gerber. It goes to the very heart of the issue of technicians who start their own business. Good read.

What I saw in the OP, and maybe I am jumping to a conclusion was a reactionary decision and a bit of trepidation when faced with projecting future business to finalize that decision. Step back and take the time to plan, forecast and then make a more informed, planned, decision. We've all been burned at one point or another when our business demands get ahead of us and we are being driven by the fear of missed opportunity. I'm sure there's a ton of stories to be told about that bad hire, POS equipment purchase or other business decisions made in the heat of the moment.

Define the role you seek to fill and the costs associated with it. You can do several scenarios, P/T, F/T employee or sub-contractor. Look at the revenues you are currently bringing in, what's on the books, and how much more you'll need to generate and how you'll do that, consistently. If they're seasonal, what will you do to entice them back or replace them in the next season?

In essence, it's about planning your future business based on your past performance, industry norms, market trends, and the realities of the labor market.

I originally started my own in 2008 while working for another company. I made a connection here to work as a subcontractor. That business grew until the owner was able to take it full time. Shortly after that, I joined him as an employee. He is not a tree guy and yet he grew the business because he surrounded himself with people who could fulfill the various roles, me being one of those, and respecting the talent each person brought to the table.

We have grown over those years to become a major player in our market and we continue to grow. The owner, while having gained knowledge of tree work and the ability to do it, understands that he is a business person first and foremost. That's the talent he brings to the table and we respect him for that.

Long way of saying, step back and take some time to do the planning or measure twice, cut once.

Good luck!