Want to future-proof your business? We are here to give you lawn care advice that will ensure your business is set up for success!
We all know that your ability to run a smooth company helps you stay competitive, take on more clients, and serve more of your community.
That’s why we’ve got 13 insider secrets that will show you:
Without a plan and routine in place, mornings can feel rushed, hectic, and like you’re already falling behind.
One of the easiest things you can do is put a plan in place for you and your team.
That means the night before be sure to review schedules, prepare invoices, and map out routes.
The right software can take care of a lot of the heavy lifting (more on this below), but consider each day as a “project” that you’re getting prepared for.
And be sure to heed this piece of important lawn care advice…
Make sure your team has a checklist so that nothing gets missed.
You’ll want to customize this based on your team but it should include things like:
All of that should be part of your morning routine so your team can get up and moving fast.
As a follow-up to the lawn care advice about routine and schedule, your team needs to have their tools and supplies sorted out in advance.
That means making sure that mowers are gassed up and the blades are sharp.
It also means having all those extra items like fertilizer, weed killer, and safety gear ready to go.
Make sure that these are kept track of, stored in an organized way, and stocked in advance.
As you probably know, these little things can snowball into big delays that frustrate clients.
Pro Tip: Be sure to partner with reliable suppliers to get bulk discounts and deliveries.
That “quick stop” at the gas station can actually take longer than you think.
Everyone else is trying to gas up their car on the way to work and if your crew stops inside to get snacks, it can take even longer.
The easiest solution is to have fuel at your facility, but if you aren’t able to do that, consider filling up trucks and equipment after hours or during slower periods.
It might seem like a small detail, but this lawn care advice can free up crucial time during busy mornings and boost efficiency.
Regular equipment check-ups and tune-ups prevent costly breakdowns and keep your crews operating smoothly.
Spend some time each week to inspect, clean, and do minor repairs on your tools and equipment… Honestly, this is some of the best lawn care advice.
Because let’s face it, if your equipment isn’t working, your team isn’t working!
While each lawn care company is different, be sure to create a preventative maintenance schedule for your equipment.
You’ll need to create this based on your workload usage and the manufacturer’s recommendations.
On top of that, be sure to train your crews to do daily inspections and report any minor issues promptly.
Pro tip: Partner with a reliable repair service business so that you can get fast maintenance and repairs and minimize downtime.
Still using the whiteboard and paper calendar to keep track of everything?
Or maybe you’re using lawn care software that isn’t taking care of your needs.
One of our top pieces of lawn care advice: If you really want to scale your business, getting a great lawn care scheduling software can completely change how many hours you spend on operational and admin tasks.
The right software options also come with lots of other innovative tools that can help your business with things like:
Pro tip: Be sure to choose software that has GPS capabilities - this is perfect for route optimization and keeping track of your team, live and in real-time.
It can be easy to overlook and forget about, but staying on top of inspection deadlines and registrations for your vehicles is key.
The simplest solution is to set up calendar reminders.
Be sure to do research to make sure you’ve got everything for your specific area as each state and county can be different.
Some of the toughest lawn care business advice is to delegate tasks.
It’s tough because business owners and managers often want to be involved in their business and it can feel like they are giving up control when they pass tasks on to their team.
If this feels like a struggle for you, start small (think routine maintenance, billing, basic client communications, etc.)
The good news is that when you free up your schedule from all of those little tasks you can focus on the important parts of your business like strategic planning, marketing, and building strong client relationships.
Remember, delegating tasks isn't just about efficiency, it's about building a strong team and fostering growth.
Pro tip: Doing a skills assessment or StrengthsFinder assessment is a great place to learn the strengths of your team or what they could improve on.
We all know In today's digital world, positive online reviews are like gold for your business.
So, as a proven piece of lawn care advice, be sure to ask your best clients to leave feedback on Google, Yelp, and social media platforms.
Also, be sure to see if you can resolve any issues with those “1-star” reviews too.
The best way to handle negative reviews is to try to take the conversation offline.
BUT you still want to respond publicly to show that you are listening to clients.
Saying something like “(Name), I’m so sorry that you were not satisfied with your service. We’re going to give you a call today to get more details to ensure this doesn't happen again!”
Then make sure you follow up with the customer - you might be able to tell who they are based on the name on the review.
If not, ask them to call or email you!
No matter if positive or negative, when you do get reviews, do your best to respond to them in a way that is professional, gracious, and as soon as possible.
Happy clients are LOYAL clients.
Simply put, encourage your team to go the extra mile.
This little bit of lawn care advice can be expanded to offering personalized services and addressing concerns promptly.
And when you exceed expectations, you’re building long-lasting relationships with your clients.
If you’re looking for ways to improve this in your company, be sure to offer some customer service training that includes things like:
Addtionally, you can have your team action by using “leave beinds” and offering referral gifts too.
Paying a bill isn’t exactly fun, but you can make it painless for your customers.
In fact, setting up online payments is powerful lawn care advice that can save you time, and help you get paid faster too.
Plus working with a payment portal/software can help you stay compliant and not have to worry about securely storing client data.
Remember that old phrase, “It's not what you know, it is who you know.”
And that piece of lawn care advice still rings true today; it is REALLY important to network with others.
This might mean joining a group of other service businesses that can help you grow…
Or it could mean teaming up with other companies in your area (think plumbers, real estate agents, pool maintenance companies, etc.).
With those relationships you can:
There are lots of places you can go to network including industry trade shows, joining the local chamber of commerce, or simply being part of community events.
Collaborate with local businesses like nurseries, landscapers, or pool maintenance companies. Cross-promote each other's services and expand your reach to new potential customers.
Your employees are your most valuable asset, and while competitive pay is important, so is investing in their development.
You can get creative with this, but the following items can be a great way to invest in your team:
Another great piece of lawn care advice on this same topic is to make sure that you’re doing regular performance reviews.
These reviews help your team know what they are doing right, what areas they can improve on, and shows them a path for the future.
The lawn care industry is constantly evolving and changing, which is why this piece of lawn care advice is SO important.
That means you need to stay on top of the latest trends, read trade publications (like Lawn & Landscape Magazine), and even attend industry events.
While you don’t need to revolutionize your business overnight and take on a fleet of robot mowers, you should still be in the know of what is happening in your industry.
Now you’ve got 13 amazing pieces of lawn care business advice you can use in your business including:
Remember that you don’t have to implement them all at once, but even making a few small changes can go a long way to streamlining your business.
Related: Boost Profits With The Best Lawn Care Business App
Published on Feb 15, 2024
Tags: Business Operation
