The Ultimate Landscape CEO - Jeffrey Scott

How To Successfully Transition Your Landscape Business. Should you plan to sell your business, or to retire-in-place? Either way, you will need to transform the business in many ways, from accounting to leadership and operations. Plus you will need to negotiate the sale, if you decide to go that route. In this conversation, Jeffrey Scott (interviewed by Kelly Dowell) discusses the intricacies of selling a landscaping business, including understanding buyer motivations, common myths about selling, alternatives to selling, preparing a business for sale, building a sustainable revenue model, strengthening brand reputation, and key financial metrics for valuation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of creating a strong business foundation and understanding the market to maximize the value of a business when selling. In this conversation, Jeffrey Scott discusses essential strategies for business acquisition, emphasizing the importance of financial metrics, strong leadership, and effective negotiation. He provides insights on evaluating revenue streams, understanding market opportunities, and the complexities of business valuation. Additionally, he addresses the significance of tax implications and offers guidance on family succession planning and post-sale considerations. Takeaways * Building a strong business is critical for future transitions. * Buyers are motivated by job security, expansion, or personal freedom. * Selling a business is often a lengthy and complex process. * Myths about selling include misconceptions about speed and ease. * Alternatives to selling include retiring in place or developing a leadership team. * Private equity firms prioritize EBITDA and cash flow in their evaluations. * Recurring revenue models are attractive to potential buyers. * Brand reputation and market presence are essential for business value. * Financial metrics like net profit and cash flow are crucial for valuation. * Understanding buyer motivations can help tailor the selling process. Buy a company with a low mod factor and good safety history. * A strong leadership team is essential for business success. * Proving the strength of your team can enhance business value. * Identifying new market opportunities requires careful analysis. * Both new revenue and renewal revenue are crucial for growth. * Valuation is key before entering the market to sell your business. * Trust and integrity are vital in buyer-seller relationships. * Competing offers can significantly improve negotiation outcomes. * Tax implications can greatly affect the sale of a business. * Family succession planning requires careful consideration and structure. The post Selling or Retiring-In-Place with Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz/selling-or-retiring-in-place-with-jeffrey-scott/] appeared first on Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz].

Jeffrey Scott is joined by client Desiree Bouchard, General Manager of Great Lakes Landscape Design, in Oak Park Michigan. And by Sean Baxter, owner of Lawn and Landscape Solutions (KC) and he is also an Executive Coach at Jeffrey Scott Consulting. In this episode, Jeffrey Scott discusses the pivotal role of seconds in command with Desiree and Sean. They explore the journey of becoming a second in command, the importance of trust and communication in leadership, and the dynamics of managing teams effectively. Desiree shares her experience transitioning from marketing to integrator, while Sean reflects on his own journey with his second in command. The conversation emphasizes the significance of having a clean plate for effective leadership and the collaborative nature of successful business operations. In this conversation, the participants discuss the importance of trust and honesty in leadership, the challenges of implementing structured systems like EOS, and the cultural shifts that occur when new leadership is introduced. They emphasize the value of peer group support for second-in-commands and the need for accountability in leadership roles. The discussion culminates in practical advice for both second-in-commands and CEOs on fostering effective working relationships and empowering team members. Takeaways: * Desiree has been in her role for about seven years. * The transition to integrator involved building trust with her boss Ivan. * Implementing EOS provided the necessary structure for growth. * Desiree’s journey started with identifying process gaps. * Sean’s second in command evolved through experience and maturity. * Trust and communication are key in this working relationships * Having a clean plate allows for better problem-solving by the General Manager * Cultural shifts can create initial resistance but lead to growth. * Open communication is key to overcoming team dynamics. * Peer support (from our Second in Command Peer Group) provides valuable insights and encouragement. * Accountability should be mutual between owners and second-in-commands. * Mistakes are part of the learning process in leadership. The post The Pivotal Role of the Second in Command with Desiree Bouchard [https://jeffreyscott.biz/the-pivotal-role-of-the-second-in-command-with-desiree-bouchard/] appeared first on Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz].

Join John Phillips (owner, Gardens For Living, Asheville, NC) and his son, as we discuss how they survived the 500+yr flood that hit Asheville, and how they and their landscape team are powering through it. Their company’s GoFundMe is https://gofund.me/f5ed660d [https://gofund.me/f5ed660d] In this episode, they share their experiences during Hurricane Helene, detailing the unprecedented rainfall and flooding that devastated their community. The conversation covers personal stories of loss, the impact on their business, and the challenges of recovery, including insurance claims and community support. Shane and John emphasize the importance of getting back to work to help their community heal and rebuild after the disaster. In this conversation, John emphasizes the importance of leadership, employee morale, and community support. They reflect on their experiences during a crisis, the lessons learned about crisis management, and the significance of peer networks. Looking to the future, they share their strategies for rebuilding and innovating, including a focus on stream bank restoration and the need for durable construction practices. Key Points: * The storm was preceded by record rainfall. * Many communities were completely washed away. * Personal stories highlight the human cost of the disaster. * The flooding caused significant damage to their home and business property. * Insurance claims are still being sorted out. * The nursery suffered the most devastating losses. * Community support is crucial during recovery. * Returning to work helps restore normalcy. * Economic stability is vital for community recovery. The Asheville community is resilient and will rebuild. * Leadership requires showing fortitude and determination. * Treating employees with respect fosters loyalty and morale. * Community support is crucial during crises. * Peer networks provide invaluable assistance in tough times (John is a member of Jeffrey’s Leaders Edge peer group) * Preparation for crises includes knowing employee locations. * Investing in durable materials is essential for future projects. * Building relationships with neighbors enhances community ties. * Learning from past experiences can improve future crisis management. * Stream bank restoration is a growing need in the community. * * The post Surviving the Asheville Floods with John & Shane Phillips [https://jeffreyscott.biz/surviving-the-asheville-floods-with-john-shane-phillips/] appeared first on Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz].

Jeffrey Scott is interviewed by Kelly Dowell (owner of Keldo Digital) where Jeffrey discusses various aspects of converting design-build into maintenance clients. Jeffrey touches on topics such as the role of the enhancement salesperson, the timing of introducing the maintenance account manager to clients, and strategies for kickstarting a weak maintenance division. They also explore marketing methods for maintenance services and ways to showcase the long-term benefits of maintenance. Jeffrey Scott shares many insights from his own business and also from his high-impact peer group community and how it helps landscape companies achieve their goals. Takeaways from this podcast * Converting design build projects into ongoing maintenance customers is important for the stability and long-term value of a business. * Companies often struggle with selling maintenance due to a lack of focus, the wrong salespeople, and a lack of a sales process. * Clients may opt out of purchasing maintenance due to existing providers, cost concerns, or the belief that the project is maintenance-free. * Selling maintenance requires selling the need, selling the vision, and selling the maintenance team. * Structuring maintenance offerings can include tying warranty to maintenance, but including maintenance in the price may not be the best approach. * Tailoring custom maintenance plans can help meet the specific needs of clients and maximize margins through enhancements. * Different salespeople should handle design build projects and maintenance, with account managers often selling enhancements. The enhancement salesperson is a separate role with their own crew, and the account manager invites them in to make the sale. * Robotic mowers can be a way to extend a design build company into maintenance, but it’s not a complete solution. * Introducing the maintenance account manager to clients should be done strategically, either in the middle or towards the end of a project. * To kickstart a weak maintenance division, create mini games to track client conversions and offer incentives to the sales team. * Marketing for maintenance services can be more challenging than marketing for design build, but it’s not impossible. * Showcasing long-term benefits of maintenance can be done through client testimonials, garden tours, and videos. * Joining Jeffrey’s Leaders Edge peer group community can provide support, tools, and guidance for achieving business goals in the landscaping industry. The post Converting Design-Build to Maintenance with Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz/converting-design-build-to-maintenance-with-jeffrey-scott/] appeared first on Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz].

In this episode, Mitch Katz and Sean Baxter (Executive Coaches at Jeffrey Scott Consulting) discuss the critical aspects of hiring in the landscape industry. They explore the common pain points business owners face when considering new hires, the benefits of proactive hiring, and the importance of defining roles and responsibilities. The conversation emphasizes the need for a clear vision, effective onboarding, avoiding burnout and the potential advantages of hiring from outside the industry. They also highlight the significance of budgeting, tracking metrics and taking action to ensure successful scaling of the business. You need to make money in order to scale! Takeaways: * Recognizing when to hire is crucial for business growth. * Hiring a salesperson can significantly relieve workload. * Being a bottleneck in operations is a common issue for owners. * Burnout among staff can be mitigated by hiring appropriately. * Creating an org chart helps visualize future hiring needs. * Proactive hiring requires a clear vision for the company. * Using recruiters can streamline the hiring process. * Onboarding is essential for the success of new hires. * Hiring from outside the industry can bring fresh perspectives. * Regularly tracking metrics is vital for assessing hiring effectiveness. The post When and Why to Make Your Next Big Hire with Mitch Katz & Sean Baxter [https://jeffreyscott.biz/when-and-why-to-make-your-next-big-hire-with-mitch-katz-sean-baxter/] appeared first on Jeffrey Scott [https://jeffreyscott.biz].