There’s no topic that’s more over-talked and under-delivered than jobcosting for landscape contractors. Every owner wants to know how they did on each job, and almost everyone agrees – you need to be doing jobcosting – but very few companies figure out how to follow through effectively.

Every landscape contractor would like to be able to charge more for their services.  Who wouldn’t?  The reality is, landscape contractors don’t charge enough for their services.  Recent benchmarks say the average landscape company loses money each year.  It’s also a sad reality that many contractors feel that they’re trapped in this ‘race to the [...]

For the first time ever, and for a very limited number of dates, LMN is offering training and coaching, 1-on-1, at your office. Coaches are to be actual landscape owners who run multi-million dollar landscape businesses. No “software” guys or “accountants”. Small investment. Big future potential.

Years ago, I started a landscape company and worked day and night to get it off the ground. I was the foreman, the accountant, the gas-jockey, the truck driver, the mechanic, the salesperson and everything in between. With hard work and luck, we achieved some early success. Things got even harder, but we worked our way through it. And if I had to do it all again, this is the order in which I’d build a better landscape company.

Landscaping is a highly competitive market. Super-profit is not about selling work at prices above the norm. Super-profit is generated through efficiency and productivity. Super-profit happens by making the most of every hour, eliminating waste and generating more total revenue per man hour.

“I’ve tried for years to get better… but I still end up back in the same place.  It’s been 15 years and nothing’s changed.  I never really know where things are at until I check the bank account and even then, I’m constantly surprised (and not the good kind).   I never really feel like I’m in control of anything – or that I truly know what’s happening other than what I can see with my own two eyes in the field.”

As we all know, our industry, like many others, has a significant problem with how we are perceived by the general public. Some of it is “rooted” in the history of our profession, but most of it is perpetuated by ourselves, our industry, suppliers and vendors. Unfortunately the most damaging aspect of all of this is the word that is commonly used to describe our profession — “landscapers”.

Consumers need to be protected. Heck, when we’re not working as landscape contractors we’re consumers ourselves. I’m sure you want your consumer rights protected as well. While it’s great that homeowners are protected, I just want to know one thing, who protects us?

The wording of your payment terms on your invoices can be shown actually impact the % and # of days it takes to get invoices paid. Read this article to see results of the study.

Is your landscape company showing your employees how they are being measured, or you all out there playing in the dirt as a way to pass the time while making some money? If you’re not jobcosting and reporting results regularly, then you’re not measuring. If you’re not measuring, I can guarantee your company, and your people aren’t trying hard enough.