LMNov 3, 2023
Even though many landscape contractors have been in business for five, 10 or even 20 years, they still overlook the fundamentals when it comes to running their businesses. This causes them to improperly price work, month after month and year…
Jonathan KatzNov 3, 2023
A firm develops a research report to spur new customer leads. In the years following the Great Recession, many building managers have kept a tight grip on their landscape design budgets. The belt-tightening trend has given way to stale, boring…
Have trouble estimating? Jim Huston will show you the right way. Some of the topics talked about include: The six methods of estimating Overhead budgets Labor burdens and average wages Time and Materials Break-even points…
LM StaffMar 19, 2014
A Better Way 2 Learn Financials released a free e-book for landscape professionals, The Landscaper's Guide to Integrated Financial Management, authored by Frank Ross, the creator of A Better Way 2 Learn. The 15-page guide hits on five processes to foster…
Frank RossNov 3, 2023
OK, it’s January. You should have your budget completed for this 2014. You do, don’t you? Uh-oh, you don’t, do you? Why is this budgeting thing always such a struggle? Would you ever go on a long trip without a…
A budget is a way to realistically combine what you know with what you want to achieve. It asks, “What do we need to do today to make our long term goals a reality?” Would you ever accept a landscaping…
I am all about eliminating the guesswork we face in our businesses. Yes, I am a budget freak. Some of this stems from what my mentor, Emol Fails, Ph.D., instilled in me a long time ago. One such morsel was…
Ben GandyNov 3, 2023
You’ve told your guys a thousand times, “No overtime!” It’s an unnecessary premium cost that cuts deep into your margins. Or is it? The unplanned, capricious use of overtime hurts financial performance. We rarely bid work at overtime rates, so…
Bruce WilsonNov 3, 2023
This is the time of the year when most companies go through an arduous task: budgeting for next year. At the same time, many firms also engage in strategic planning, crafting a three- or five-year plan. I’ve always been enthused…
As consultants, we’re constantly asked “What are the reasons companies succeed?” or “What do other companies do to make more money?” Recently, I received an unusual question: “What are the top 10 reasons companies fail?” Typically, consultants are optimists and think…
LM StaffFeb 27, 2023
Looking for our spreadsheet in the July issue? landscapemanagement.net/docs/benchmark-july-2012-rolling-budget-example.xlsx
You cannot do today’s business with yesterday’s tools or yesterday’s thinking. If the last few years have not convinced you that landscape maintenance services are a commodity and differentiated primarily by price, you are in the minority. If, in that…
The absolute best management planning document on the planet is the rolling budget. Managed properly, there is no better management tool ever invented. Ever. In my January column, we spoke of the benefits of creating a budget for your year…
Jody ShilanNov 3, 2023
Question: How do you get homeowners to tell you what they want to spend on a project without being pushy ? — Amanda Bell, Landscape Designs by Amanda, Red Lion, PA Answer: One common problem for landscape designers and…
So, what’s your budget like this year? Budget!?! Frank, you know you can’t budget in this industry! There are way too many variables — there’s the weather, there are labor issues, things die… Frank! It simply can’t be done. No…
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