Did you hear?!

Lawntrepreneur Academy Live 2023 tickets are on sale NOW! Join us for the largest industry training event of the year. Come to Novi Michigan on Saturday, November 11th to participate in an amazing event where you can learn from industry experts, catch up with old friends and make some new ones.

If you’re wondering what Lawntrepreneur Academy Live is, well let me tell you!

This will be our 5th year hosting the event and I cannot wait! We kick off the weekend on Friday by getting together for a few hours at HUB Stadium. There we will hang out, grab some good food and have a good time. It’s a great opportunity to hangout with like minded individuals and make new friends in the industry. Although we all work in different parts of the country, our day to day isn’t all that different. You’ll be sure to find your people and connect with like minded, success driven business owners.

The main event is on Saturday at the Suburban Collection Showplace. You will hear from Sever...

As a lawn care business owner, winning commercial bids is crucial for the growth and success of my company. The bidding process can be competitive, so to help you stand out from the crowd and secure profitable contracts, I've compiled a list of the top 10 commercial bidding tips that every lawn care contractor should know. Implementing these strategies can increase your chances of winning bids and establishing long-term relationships with commercial clients.

1. How to Get to the Decision Maker
When submitting bids, it's essential to reach the decision maker directly. Sometimes the office manager or whoever you are able to talk to isn't able to share the decision maker’s contact info. If that is the case, make sure to leave your email as a way for them to contact you. Often in the corporate world people are making contact and decisions via email, not over the phone, so it is crucial to leave an email contact for them to reach out to you. Keep your initial contact concise and professio...

Running a lawn care business is no easy task. As a business owner, you find yourself wearing multiple hats, juggling various responsibilities such as sales, administration, customer service, bookkeeping, mowing, and trimming. Until your business grows to the point where you can hire help, you are the one handling it all. This can quickly become exhausting and lead to burnout. However, through my own experiences, I have learned that focusing on the tasks I enjoy is crucial to preventing burnout and achieving success. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of prioritizing your time and energy on the aspects of your lawn care business that you love.

In the early stages of your lawn care business, it's inevitable that you will have to take on numerous responsibilities. This can be overwhelming, as you are constantly juggling different tasks and trying to excel in each one. However, it's important to remember that this is a temporary phase and that growth is possible. Acknowle...

As your business progresses, it’s important to make sure you dot your I's and cross your T's on the back end of your business. One way you can do this is by making sure you have an employee handbook. So many of us are busy with everything on our to-do lists that we often overlook the details when it comes to hiring someone new. We tell them to hop in the truck and get to work without even thinking about all the goes into taking on a new employee.

Of course there are many steps to hiring an employee and an employee handbook is just one. However, it is an important step that you don't want to miss.

Why is an employee handbook important?

1.) Clearly communicates company policies and expectations.

You want your employees to know when they are expected to show up, and how they are supposed to best represent the company. While your employees are out working, although they may not be directly interacting with customers, they are representing the image of your company. You want both you ...

“People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; it was never between you and them anyway.” - Mother Teresa

We live in an age where social media exposes everyone's lives, but often only the parts they want you to see. The constant exposure to everyone's highlight reels can create a false sense that our own liv...

Are you ready for it? My #1 tip to win on social media is...

Consistency!

Now, I understand that it may be easier said than done, but trust me, it's crucial. The reality is, you have to proactively seek out customers; they won't simply come knocking on your door. While traditional marketing strategies like postcards, yard signs, and flyers are effective, it's essential not to overlook the power of online marketing. Social media platforms offer incredible opportunities, and the best part is, most of it is free! Sure, you might invest a bit in editing tools or presets for your photos, but it's not an exorbitant expense.

I know there can be fear associated with putting yourself out there on social media, and that's completely understandable. As an introvert myself, I initially felt terrified of sharing on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. However, over time, my mindset shifted, and I gained confidence. I learned to stop caring about what others thought of me. Of course...

Before we delve into it, I want you to consider one thing: How much would your life change if 99% of your monthly revenue was in your account within a week of sending invoices?

When I reflect on how I used to collect payments before requiring a charge card on file, it was a chaotic period. I felt like a debt collector, constantly chasing people down for money, not because they couldn't afford it, but simply because they forgot. Sometimes people would leave a check tucked in the door, or cash by the grill. We all know how that goes, but it's neither efficient nor effective. You waste valuable time running around trying to collect the money owed to you. All of this can be avoided with a charge card on file. If you're hesitant or need more reasons why you should have a charge card on file, let me dispel 10 myths about why it's not a good idea:

People Won't Do It/You Will Lose Customers
When I switched to charge cards on file, I had 120 customers. Out of those, only 2 didn't switch over...

You don’t need to be a business owner for this skill to be important, It’s something we all need for every day life and interactions. Have you guessed it? People skills.

People skills are something that so many of us are lacking. In this day and age of texting and being behind a screen, it’s no wonder people don’t talk about improving their people skills. There are remote jobs, remote learning, so much of our day to day we no longer interact with people in person anymore. That is why it is important to put effort into improving and maintaining our people skills.

As a business owner, you are interacting with people every day. Whether it be customers, employees, mechanics, suppliers, you name it, you are bound to interact with someone throughout your day. You also need to have people skills to interact appropriately with others in your life whether it be you wife, other family members, or people you meet while running errands.

I am not a people skills master, but I have spent a lot ...

We often see the glamorous side of entrepreneurship—the success stories, the victories, and the accolades. But the truth is, entrepreneurship is far from being just a highlight reel. As lawn care business owners, you know firsthand that the road to success is paved with challenges, sacrifices, and moments of self-doubt. Let’s take a look at the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship. It's time to have an honest conversation about the hard stuff many people don't talk about.

The Rollercoaster of Emotions:
Entrepreneurship is an emotional rollercoaster. It's not uncommon to experience moments of euphoria when things go well, followed by periods of doubt and frustration when faced with setbacks. Building and managing a lawn care business requires resilience, as you navigate uncertainties, financial pressures, and the weight of responsibilities. You will also face outside emotions that can burden you throughout your day. I don’t know about you, but mowing lawns gives me a lot of time t...

In the world of lawn care business, success isn't simply a matter of luck. It's the result of a perfect alignment between opportunity and preparedness. When these two elements converge, incredible achievements are within reach. Keep in mind this has nothing to do with luck, this is about when receiving a blessing, you can be a blessing for somebody else. In this blog post, we'll delve into the importance of recognizing opportunities and blessings that are put in front of us and being prepared to seize them in order to pave the way for success for you and others in the green industry.

Recognizing Opportunities:
Opportunities often present themselves in unexpected ways. As a lawn care business owner, it's crucial to develop a keen sense of awareness to identify potential openings for growth and advancement. Stay connected with your industry by networking with other professionals, attending trade shows, and staying up to date with the latest trends. By keeping your finger on the pulse o...