business smarts Archives - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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business smarts

Business Smarts: Setting Clear Boundaries with Customers

Do you have issues with clients calling day and night with questions and concerns about their projects? Is your inbox flooded with constant emails, or is your phone buzzing with frequent texts from customers? While timely communication is an important aspect of customer service, lines must also be drawn for your team and your own […]

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Photo: Weller Brothers Landscaping

Standardizing Your Project Handoff Process

There are a lot of moving parts to a project handoff, so creating a process and using it consistently can help streamline this step and prevent oversights. “Standardizing this process helps improve communication, expectations, and keeping on track with all project specifics to reduce the chance of scope creep,” says Michael Wagner, director of company […]

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Photo: NALP/Philippe Nobile Photography

Business Smarts: Effectively Partnering with Subcontractors

Subcontractors can help build out your lawn or landscape company’s service offerings, meet increased customer demand or boost your snow removal team’s size. While they can be more expensive than your in-house employees, subcontractors bring expertise in their specialty. In some cases, a service like irrigation or tree care may be out of your preferred […]

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Business Smarts: Six Possible Service Offerings Your Company Could Add

If your company is growing and looking for methods to boost your revenue, one way to do so is to increase your service offerings. As for what type of service is a good addition depends on customer demand and leaning into what your company is already equipped to handle. Play to your strengths and focus […]

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Business Smarts: Five Ways to Improve Efficiency

Operational efficiency can benefit your company in multiple ways. By streamlining your processes, you can eliminate time-consuming tasks, concentrate on your profit centers and save money. Being more efficient can also protect your team from burnout and create a more enjoyable place to work as well. Check out some of the different methods to keep […]

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(From left to right) Jennifer Jorge, COO of King GREEN; Roscoe Klausing, president and CEO of Klausing Group, Inc.; Steve Bromell, CEO of Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc.; and Tim Portland, chairman and CEO of Yellowstone Landscape
Photo: NALP

Leadership Strategies from Top Landscape and Lawn Care Executives

Who doesn’t struggle to lead a company with all the pressures that come with it? There’s never enough time to accomplish what you want in a day. So, how do landscape industry executives run their companies under pressure? Steve Bromell, CEO of Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc.;  Jennifer Jorge, COO of King GREEN; Roscoe Klausing, president […]

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What’s In a Name? The Importance of Job Title Clarity

When it comes to your employees’ job titles, you may think it’s just a name and it doesn’t matter beyond them getting paid fairly and doing their job at the end of the day. However, inconsistent or unclear job titles can result in fewer job applications, a lack of company organization and accountability and possibly […]

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Landart Solutions works on Fort Bragg's LiveRoof and pedestal paver installation.
Photo: Landart Solutions

Business Smarts: How to Win Government Contracts

An overlooked or avoided revenue stream lawn and landscape professionals can consider adding to their business are government contracts. These include everything from military installations to roadside and highway maintenance. Landart Solutions, based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been pursuing federal government contracts since they started as a business 14 years ago. “We have contracts […]

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Business Smarts: Keep Your Project Photos Organized with the Right Software  

A picture is worth a thousand words and in the landscape industry, they can be one of your best selling points to potential clients. If you’ve taken the time to hire a professional photographer to capture some of your beautiful landscapes, or if you are capturing these images yourself on the job, the last thing […]

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Protecting Your Business: Prepping for Tax Season Should Be a Daily Practice

As your business shifts into the slow season or the snow season, depending on where you’re based, you might just now finally have time to think about preparing your books for tax season. While it can be tempting to put these matters off until your busy season is over, maintaining your books on a daily […]

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