March 2017

How to plan your pricing strategy

April 7, 2017By
Photo: ©istock.com/marekuliasz

Think about your last major purchase. Whether it was a product like a vehicle, appliance or computer or a service like pest management, electrical work or a plumbing repair, did you purchase the most expensive option you could find, assuming it was the best overall value? If you did, you’re in the minority of all purchasers. Few buyers purchase the... read more

Simple irrigation setup without a trailer

April 5, 2017By
photo: All Green Irrigation

You might call Michael Haynes both a student of and a teacher for the irrigation industry. He and a partner built one company—All About Irrigation in Greenville, S.C.—before selling it in 2012. Soon after, he started up another, All Green Irrigation in Columbia, S.C. He’s been operating it as a one-man show, and he’s set to hire a few technicians... read more

Inside Canopy Lawn Care

April 3, 2017By
Jason Arthurs

With a tech startup approach, Canopy seeks to shake up the residential landscape maintenance industry with a national brand. Ryan Winkel, operations specialist for Canopy Lawn Care, squints at his computer, straining to see a blue Post-it stuck to a contract that’s been scanned into the company’s system. The note was an add-on to a contract that belonged to Grass... read more

Big Picture: Heaven on a hill

March 31, 2017By
Photo: Ed Castro Landscape

Location: Atlanta Company: Ed Castro Landscape, Roswell, Ga. Photo credit: Ed Castro Landscape The clients wanted a large space for recreation and entertainment, including an outdoor fireplace where they could gather as a family. The steep hillside was causing drainage problems and limiting their ability to use the space. Erosion and runoff prevention required the contractor’s diligent attention throughout the... read more

Step by Step: How to prepare a business for sale

March 27, 2017By
illustrations: David Preiss

Preparing to sell the business often isn’t an owner’s top priority. But all business owners will need to sell their company, transfer it to a family member or liquidate at some point in time. The need to sell a business is often triggered by unforeseen circumstances, such as a death, disability or divorce, which might add pressure and make effective... read more

Confusion at the pump

March 24, 2017By
Gas pump. Photo: ©istock.com/ktsimage

Gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol continues to pose a risk to contractors who aren’t educated about its harmful effects on landscape equipment engines. When consumers arrive at the gas pump, they have more fuel choices now than ever before. And while these alternatives and biofuels may be fraught with good intentions of being gentler on the environment,... read more