The Perils of Subcontracting and the Lessons We Learned

Solution Over Problem

No Subcontracting: A Cautionary Tale

There was a time in 2018 when we had completed our first 1,000 jobs with relatively minor mistakes. We thought that we had mastered the business at the time, and decided to expand our reach by subcontracting work to other contractors for a little markup. It was a brilliant idea, we thought, and every venture capital backed startup back then was also doing it. And so, we joined the bandwagon.

Like any business, we've had our share of challenges and learning experiences. One such experience stands out, and it has shaped our approach to providing high-quality landscaping services in Austin, Texas: A costly mistake involving subcontracting taught us the importance of retaining control over the quality of our work and putting our clients' interests first, above everything else.

5 years ago, we trusted a subcontractor with a fence job, only to have them disappear without completing the project or delivering the necessary materials. Our efforts to seek legal recourse proved futile, as the resources required to locate, adjudicate, and hold the contractor accountable would cost more than twice the job we were frantically trying to complete at the time. As our outside counsel once told us, "You are throwing good money after bad money. We would be lucky if that contractor is even solvent."

This unfortunate event left an indelible mark on our team, and we vowed never to subcontract crucial work to other contractors, regardless of their reputation or size. Instead, we now handle all the work ourselves, ensuring top-quality results and dependability for our discerning clientele in Austin, Texas. It may be inefficient. But vowed to learn from the experience. This is the only way we can be sure that each of the previous 8,000 jobs we have completed since get completed by us from start to finish.

In instances where we cannot perform specific tasks or lack the required licensing – such as in irrigation, electrical, or plumbing work – we are very transparent about our limitations. In such cases, however, any subcontracted work is minor and immaterial to the overall project, allowing us to maintain full control. Examples of very minor subcontracting include repairing broken irrigation lines, capping water valves, or fixing low-voltage landscape electrical or fiber optic lines.

Our Key Lessons Learned:

1. Retain control over the quality and execution of work to prioritize clients' interests and investments.
2. Be transparent about the scope of services and any limitations in expertise or licensing.
3. Limit subcontracting to minor and immaterial tasks to ensure project success and client satisfaction.

Our past experiences have taught us valuable lessons, enabling us to focus on our core competencies and maintain control over our projects. By doing so, we can confidently deliver exceptional landscaping results and keep all the knowledge learned in-house. And of course, to keep on refining and sharpening our saw.