Management Questions? Salesman vs. climber?

[alpineman]

We doubled our sales this year and I am faced with the decision of how best to grow this year again. I consider myself to be a great climber and a good salesmen. I was thinking about hiring a salesperson, and then stay out on the job more often. But then again I have worked hard and I think I would rather keep doing full time sales and management. My first thought was to hire a climber and run another crew, but then again we all know how hard it is to find a decent climber. What do you guys think?

 

[alpineman]

good point! It just gets hard to do all the sales and then still do some of the really technical work.

 

[lone wolf]

We doubled our sales this year and I am faced with the decision of how best to grow this year again. I consider myself to be a great climber and a good salesmen. I was thinking about hiring a salesperson, and then stay out on the job more often. But then again I have worked hard and I think I would rather keep doing full time sales and management. My first thought was to hire a climber and run another crew, but then again we all know how hard it is to find a decent climber. What do you guys think?

Do you have family that can learn?

 

[alpineman]

no! I have a very committed foreman who occasionally does bids when I am gone, but most times I need him on the job for me.

 

[Shaun Bowler]

Keep it small.
Less employees, less headache, less insurance, less attorney fees, less IRS, less heartbreak, less equipment, etc. etc.etc.
If you can increase your profit margin by 100% without taking a toll on your private life-family, friends, fun;go for it.
If not..
Don't Worry, be Happy.

 

[alpineman]

thats what I always said, until I ended up with this much work! Some people have advised to just increase my rates and don't take on as much work. But then I think about all the people I can't service and the referrals that could come from those people.

 

[jacobstreeworx]

Consider the fact that the clients will know the salesman and when you part ways they will be his clients, not yours.

Best advice in the world!! I had to learn that the hard way. Wish I had known about this site a long time ago.:bang:

 

[DangerTree]

You need the slaves to stay slaves or they become competition! Keep them working and you do the estimates, work on the job when time permits.

 

[a_lopa]

Consider the fact that the clients will know the salesman and when you part ways they will be his clients, not yours.

Very VERY true i know a few of these cases.

 

[DangerTree]

Did happen that I trained a rogue and he left the yard maintenance devision and started his own show that heathen.

 

[FanOFatherNash]

:d

 

[DangerTree]

:d

What the he.l is that?