Unlocking the Secrets to Scaling Your Business Profitably

In 1980, I took the leap and started GreenWorld Lawn Service out of my garage in Dover, Ohio, with nothing but a vision and a willingness to learn from my mistakes. By 1983, the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce recognized me as their "Young Entrepreneur of the Year." At the time, I didn't even know what a business coach was. I was simply determined to improve, and trust me, I made plenty of mistakes along the way. Fast forward to 2006, when NALP honored me as a Trailblazer, and I had learned that failure was often a stepping stone to success. But I also realized that if you have a mentor to guide you, you can avoid many of those stumbles.

Over the years, I was lucky enough to meet mentors who helped me along the way—people like Richard Yashek, a Holocaust survivor and Executive VP of JC Ehrlich, who taught me the importance of diligence and commitment. Tom Oyler, founder of US Lawns, helped me mold a diverse group of franchisees into profitable operators. And Jim Paluch of JP Horizons gave me my first opportunity as a business coach, allowing me to pass on the lessons I'd learned.

Around 2016, as I began my management consulting practice, more and more business owners in the green industry reached out for advice. They wanted to know how to grow their businesses successfully. While I shared my proven strategies with them, I realized something troubling: many entrepreneurs struggled to implement what I taught them.

Common Roadblocks for Scaling

As I worked with more and more business owners, I noticed a recurring pattern. Entrepreneurs often faced six major challenges that stopped them from scaling their businesses successfully:

1. They struggle to translate big ideas into actionable steps.
2. They struggle with time management.
3. They struggle to maintain accountability.
4. They struggle to stay organized.
5. They struggle with implementing strategies.
6. They struggle with scaling their business.

These challenges were holding them back, so I became obsessed with solving them. For the sake of this article, I'll focus on one key issue: scaling a profitable business.

The Path to Scaling Profitably

I've built and led several multi-million-dollar businesses, and I understand what it takes to scale profitably. If you're struggling to grow your landscaping, tree care, or lawn care business, here are some critical steps you should take to ensure long-term success:

1. Develop Turn-Key Systems for Customer Acquisition Create automated, repeatable systems for acquiring new customers that don’t rely on your constant involvement. By developing scalable systems—such as marketing automation and lead nurturing processes—you free yourself to focus on strategic growth. A solid turn-key system ensures that your business can generate and manage leads even when you’re not involved in the day-to-day operations.
2. Standardize Service Fulfillment Every service you offer, from lawn care to tree trimming, needs to have a repeatable process. Documentation, automation, and ongoing training will ensure that your team can deliver consistent quality across every job. The goal is to create a service delivery model that doesn't require you to oversee every detail, giving you the bandwidth to focus on higher-level tasks.
3. Organize Your Digital Assets with a Universal Naming System Consistency in your file management is critical as your company scales. Implement a universal naming convention for all digital materials, documents, and records, ensuring that your team can easily access the information they need. This will save time and eliminate confusion, making your operations more efficient.
4. Build a People Map A well-structured organizational chart or “people map” helps clarify roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines. This visual guide ensures that everyone knows their place within the company, as well as who they report to and what their key performance indicators (KPIs) are. It’s crucial for creating accountability and maintaining order as your company grows.
5. Define KPIs for Every Role KPIs are vital for measuring performance across all roles within your business. Clearly defined KPIs allow you to monitor success and address issues before they escalate. Whether it’s for field workers or account managers, each position should have quantifiable goals that align with your business objectives.
6. Create a Sustainable Weekly Training Program Regular training is essential for developing your team’s skills and ensuring that your business operates at a high level. Implement a weekly training schedule that addresses both technical skills and leadership development. Consistency is key—set aside a specific day and time for training each week, so it becomes a routine.
7. Develop SOPs for Every Department You can’t scale a business if all the knowledge and processes are stored in your head. Create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every department and position in your company. These manuals will serve as the blueprint for running your business, ensuring that every employee knows exactly how to perform their role.

Scaling Without Overworking

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that scaling your business means working longer hours. But in reality, scaling a business is about building efficient systems that run without your constant oversight. By focusing on the seven key steps outlined above, you can create a business that grows profitably and allows you more freedom—both financially and personally.

As a business coach, I’ve seen this transformation happen time and time again. When you prioritize creating efficient systems, you’ll not only scale your business, but you’ll also achieve the time and financial freedom you’ve always wanted.

Join Me to Learn More

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, join me for a special masterclass on September 17th and 18th, where we’ll dive deeper into these strategies. This masterclass is designed specifically for landscaping, tree care, and lawn care professionals who want to learn the proven methods to grow their businesses profitably.

From Here to There: The Journey to a High-Growth, High-Profit Business

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to scale your business with confidence.

Click Here To Learn More!

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

Fred