What are the most profitable add-on opportunities?

Landscape Professionals

Richard Bare
Arbor-Nomics Turf
Norcross, Ga.

“Turf, tree and shrub treatments would be the most profitable add-on treatments by far for mowing maintenance companies. For residential mowing maintenance, I recommend getting some automowers to save on labor. Husqvarna and Honda manufacture them and they are catching on here in Atlanta as companies can use their human workers for more profitable landscaping installations, etc.”

Paul Fraynd
Sun Valley Landscaping
Omaha, Neb.

“Progressing the garden is our most profitable add-on service. This includes small enhancements such as adding a new bed, some hardy plantings or seasonal flowers. Anything that moves the landscape forward and gets the client excited to spend more time outside!”

Bryan Stolz
Winterberry Landscape & Garden Center
Southington, Conn.

“Two add-ons we do that are especially profitable are seasonal color and aeration/overseeding. The aeration/overseeding is a big part of our fall program, so we put considerable sales effort into selling it to all of our existing fertilization and full maintenance clients through the summer. In addition to being profitable, it also greatly improves the performance of our lawns, because we are able to introduce more robust cultivars.

“Seasonal color has become a key add-on for us in both our installation and maintenance services. Our designers have started incorporating color vignettes within their designs, which creates a recurring revenue opportunity to what is otherwise a one-time installation. On the maintenance side, seasonal color has become a base service of ours, and the visual impact it makes has become a hallmark of our service.”

Greg Winchel
Winchel Irrigation
Grandville, Mich.

“Retrofitting old irrigation systems for water efficient systems with smart timers or weather-based timers.”

Industry Consultants

Marty Grunder
The Grow Group
Dayton, Ohio

“If you know your numbers and your costs, they all can be profitable! Any service, where you can truly demonstrate your talents are superior in the marketplace, are the ones we like to see our clients focus on. Typically, this is nightlighting, seasonal color and other offerings where you can show off your creativity. The best add-on service is to offer the client a comprehensive maintenance program for newly installed landscaping, both commercial and residential jobs offer this opportunity.”

Phil Harwood
Grow the Bench
Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Integrated pest management programs.”

Kevin Kehoe
3PG Consulting
Laguna, Calif.

“Irrigation service repairs and installs.”

Jeffrey Scott
Jeffrey Scott Consulting
Trumbull, Conn.

“Regardless of your niche: enhancement sales to existing clients.”