Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/267037
W hen you start a landscape company, no one sends you an instruction manual. Consequently, the first few years can be a time of trial and error to figure out what works best for you and your business. So, wouldn't it be nice to have some advice from landscapers who have been there and done that? Steve Mueller and Dan Thiel, owners of J&S General Contracting (jsgeneralcontracting.com) in Osceola, Wisconsin, started their business in 1998 and have learned a thing or two since then. Now, they are an Equipment World maga- zine – one of TLC 's sister publications – Contractor of the Year finalist. They offer landscaping, excavation and concrete work and have recently diversified their services to include installing playgrounds for schools, hauling materials for the railroad, selling hard goods like rocks and constructing a $3.2 million athletic facility – their largest project to date. But they didn't get to this level by accident. They grew the business a little at a time, adding a new piece of equipment each year. "If we were starting out right now as a small landscaper, I would take baby steps," Mueller says. "I wouldn't try to be a large company right out of M A R C H 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 7 Report: Field news, trends & cool stuff By Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Work Your Way Up Steve Mueller (left) and Dan Thiel have learned a lot about the industry and how to run a business since starting J&S General Contracting 16 years ago. J&S General Contracting creates design/build landscape projects, like this patio and outdoor living area, in addition to offering concrete and excavation services. They recently expanded their job radius from 30 to 60 miles to find additional work. 3 Tips for Landscapers Just Starting Out