Labor is, as we all know, the single largest cost on a maintenance company’s financial statement. With that in mind, it’s imperative to implement good management strategies for reducing labor. There are two labor transition cycles for a warm-season company and three for a cool-season company. To keep it simple, a warm-season company’s two seasons of transition are spring... read more
A healthy company is a productive place where staff members feel valued and empowered. This is possible because there’s a cohesive leadership team who behaves in a functional way. Leaders are aligned around the company’s mission and know what they need to do to make the business perform. After a career of working for a mix of landscape companies, I’ve noticed... read more
There’s hardly a contractor who’s not concerned with pricing challenges and the negative impact they have on gross margins. The competitive environment has put enormous pressure on service companies to find savings wherever possible. As a result, many maintenance companies take the easy way out. They cut hours and force crews to do more work in less time. This is... read more
The Brickman Group/ValleyCrest Landscape Cos. merger is on everyone’s mind. Is this a game changer, I’m asked? Or, as in the past with LandCare USA and ServiceMaster, will it be a mess? One thing is certain: What this represents as a potential industry pivot point has been a long time coming. Since the high level of merger and acquisition (M&A)... read more
Are you getting the most out of your investment in production supervisors? In many cases the answer is no. The position has evolved into more of a firefighter or a gofer for account managers. To be effective, the person in this position needs to focus primarily on improving the effectiveness of the crew leaders he or she supervises. I believe... read more
Spring comes every year, and with it a seasonal surge that brings stress to landscape contracting businesses. No matter how much companies prepare for the inevitable, operations may unravel under pressure. Work teams and managers become overwhelmed. In less disciplined organizations, spring makes everyone a firefighter. Some companies never escape the spiral. Overtime gets out of control, but employees love... read more
