Land It Podcast

How to Scale a Land Clearing & Excavation Business with AI & Systems | TexTerra Solutions

What happens when a tech executive and a high-end residential craftsman go 50/50 on a land and site work company in Texas? You get TexTerra Solutions — a systems-driven, culture-first operation that's rewriting what it means to run a professional excavation and land clearing business. In this episode you'll learn: · How to structure a 50/50 partnership in a land clearing and excavation business · Why a holding company can separate equipment ownership from operations · How to position yourself as an exterior GC instead of just another sub · Why your back office and invoicing are a competitive advantage · How TexTerra flipped from 92% B2B revenue to 76% B2C in one year · How AI is being used as a strategic tool for small contractors · Why change management matters when rolling out new technology · How one job more than doubled their entire marketing and ad spend investment · Why a CRM is critical for scaling blue collar sales teams Whether you're starting a land clearing company, scaling an excavation business, or figuring out how to use AI and technology in the trades, this episode gives real-world insights from contractors actively building and scaling their business. Timestamps 00:00 Intro  01:00 Meet Charlie & Colton: What TexTerra Solutions Does  04:12 How a Tech Career & Dirt World Experience Became a Partnership  09:51 Structuring a 50/50 Ownership: Holding Company & Equipment  13:39 The Exterior GC Pitch: "Everything from the Gate to the Porch"  15:35 Vendor vs. Partner: Winning Long-Term Builder Relationships  17:30 "Show Your Work" — Why Presentation Wins More Jobs Than Price  21:40 Net Positive on Site & Invoicing as Marketing  29:54 Be Perceived as Different Before You Can Be Perceived as Better  30:46 Revenue Flip: 92% B2B to 76% B2C Through Marketing & Automation  34:26 Speed to Get Paid: Why B2C Cash Flow Changes the Game  39:47 The 24-Hour Pivot: Solving Problems Fast in a Small Business  42:33 AI in the Dirt World: Practical Use Cases for Small Contractors  48:55 AI Agents & Replacing Office Hats Without Hiring  56:29 The Legacy Project: Next-Gen Tradesmen & Business Acquisitions  59:11 Where Marketing Fits: Awareness, Automation, & Qualified Leads  1:01:05 Marketing ROI: One Job Doubled Their Entire Ad Spend  1:02:43 Why a CRM Matters for Blue Collar Sales Teams  1:08:48 Lead Attribution: Knowing Where Every Dollar Comes From  1:13:32 Wildest Field Story: Almost Drove a Skid Steer into a Septic Tank About the Land It Podcast The Land It Podcast is where dirt work meets real talk. Hosted by Josh Stockel, founder of Blue Goat Land Leads, the show features conversations with contractors in the land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, and demolition industries. Each episode breaks down what it actually takes to start, grow, and scale a dirt work business. ⭐ CONNECT WITH BLUE GOAT LAND LEADS & THE LAND IT PODCAST 🌐 Website: https://www.landclearinginsights.com [https://www.landclearinginsights.com]  📺 Blue Goat Land Leads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueGoatLandLeads 🎙 Land It Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast 🧑 CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUESTS — CHARLIE LISK & COLTON CUNNINGHAM (TexTerra Solutions) 🌐 Website: https://texterrasolutions.com [https://texterrasolutions.com]  📘 Facebook: @TexTerra Solutions  📸 Instagram: @texterra_solutions

How to Price Forestry Mulching Jobs & Land Clearing Projects | Bad Hog Land Clearing

How do you price forestry mulching and land clearing jobs the right way? In this episode of the Land It Podcast, Josh Stockel talks with Noah Baldwin and Robert Moeller of Bad Hog Land Clearing about what it takes to build a successful land clearing business. After working for another contractor, Noah and Robert decided to start their own company and run it with a different approach focused on integrity, quality work, and long-term growth. They share the lessons they learned during their first few years in business — including equipment decisions, pricing strategies, and the mistakes that cost them money early on. In this episode you’ll learn: • How to price forestry mulching jobs correctly  • Why many contractors bid jobs too cheap  • How to calculate the real operating cost of your equipment  • What factors affect land clearing pricing  • The hidden costs contractors forget when bidding jobs  • Why forestry mulching is often the most profitable service  • The difference between buying leads and building real marketing If you're starting or growing a land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, or demolition company, this episode is packed with practical insights from contractors working in the field every day. Timestamps 00:00 Intro  01:05 How Bad Hog Land Clearing started  05:00 Starting with rental equipment  07:30 Upgrading to a forestry mulching machine  13:30 Biggest pricing mistake new contractors make  16:00 How to price forestry mulching jobs  20:00 Average day rates in land clearing  26:30 Factors that affect pricing  31:00 Hidden equipment costs  33:00 Most profitable land clearing services  36:30 Marketing and lead generation  48:00 Scaling the business

How to Stop Bleeding Money in Land Clearing: The Hidden Costs Contractors Miss | John Adams – West Pecan Field Services

Most contractors think insurance is just a formality—until an avoidable loss, equipment failure, or repeat claim sends premiums through the roof. In this episode, Josh sits down with John Adams, owner of West Pecan Field Services, who evaluates hundreds of operations every year and helps contractors eliminate blind spots, reduce risk, and keep more profit inside the business. John breaks down the simple habits, documentation practices, and operational tweaks that save contractors thousands—whether you’re an owner-operator or running multiple crews. In this episode you’ll learn: * The biggest hidden costs contractors overlook * Why equipment strikes and small damages compound over time * The most important habit that lowers insurance premiums * What underwriters really look for (and why they raise rates) * How poor documentation destroys your loss run history * Why repeat claim patterns cost more than the claims themselves * How a simple 30-minute assessment can save thousands This is a must-listen if you want to run a cleaner, safer, more profitable dirt-world operation. ⭐ Connect with Blue Goat Land Leads & The Land It Podcast 🌐 Website: https://www.landclearinginsights.com [https://www.landclearinginsights.com] ▶️ YouTube – Blue Goat Land Leads: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueGoatLandLeads 🎙️ YouTube – Land It Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – John Adams (West Pecan Field Services) 🌐 Website: https://www.wpfieldsvcs.com/ [https://www.wpfieldsvcs.com/] 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpfieldsvcs [https://www.facebook.com/wpfieldsvcs] 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/wpfieldsvcs [https://x.com/wpfieldsvcs] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpfieldsvcs [https://www.instagram.com/wpfieldsvcs] 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpfieldsvcs [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpfieldsvcs]

How to Build a Commercial Site Work Company That Lasts | Dave Jacobus – HLC Site Services

In this episode of The Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel sits down with Dave Jacobus, owner of HLC Site Services, to talk about what it really takes to build and scale a commercial site work company that stands the test of time. Dave started mowing lawns in high school and now runs a respected commercial grading and site development company with multiple crews across North Carolina and beyond for the last 20 years. He shares how relationships and reputation have brought in more work than any ad campaign, what he learned transitioning from residential to commercial projects, and how he keeps operations running smoothly with a lean team. If you’re a land clearing, excavation, or site development contractor looking to grow your business with steady commercial work, this episode shows exactly how to do it the right way — by earning trust, building relationships, and delivering results. 🔑 Key Takeaways: * How to grow from small residential jobs to commercial contracts * Why relationships and reputation create consistent work * Managing multiple crews without losing control * Avoiding bad clients and burnout as you scale * Lessons from 20 years of real-world dirt work Connect with HLC Site Services: 🌐 https://hlcssi.com Connect with Blue Goat Land Leads: 👉 https://www.landclearinginsights.com [https://www.landclearinginsights.com] 🎧 Subscribe to The Land It Podcast — where dirt work meets real talk. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Dave’s Background 02:00 – From Lawn Care to Site Work 05:00 – Managing Crews and Operations 09:00 – Shifting from Residential to Commercial Work 11:00 – How to Land and Keep Commercial Jobs 13:00 – The Power of Relationships and Reputation 17:00 – Lessons from 20+ Years in the Industry 22:00 – Building Supplier and Vendor Relationships 25:00 – Smart Growth & Final Takeaways

How to Start & Grow a Forestry Mulching & Land Clearing Business | Kyle Holp – KR Forestry Mulching

What does it take to start and grow a successful forestry mulching and land clearing business? In this episode of The Land It Podcast, powered by Blue Goat Land Leads, host Josh Stockel talks with Kyle Holp, owner of KR Forestry Mulching in Ionia, Michigan. Kyle shares his journey from pipeline welding to running a land clearing and excavation business — and the lessons learned in the first year and a half of building KR Forestry. In This Episode: * How Kyle started KR Forestry Mulching after inheriting his father’s equipment * Lessons from the first year in business — pricing, repairs, and scaling challenges * Why budgeting for equipment breakdowns is critical in land clearing * How KR Forestry landed its first civil contract through Facebook ads and marketplace leads * The importance of branding, a sharp online presence, and professional marketing * Balancing speed vs. quality and how to set client expectations * The coolest project so far — clearing 20 acres for a disc golf course Who Should Listen * New and aspiring forestry mulching contractors * Land clearing and excavation operators looking to scale * Dirt world business owners wanting practical lessons on branding, budgeting, and growth The Land It Podcast is produced by Blue Goat Land Leads — helping land clearing, excavation, and demolition contractors get more leads, more calls, and more consistent growth. Watch more episodes and clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast  Learn more about Blue Goat Land Leads at: https://www.landclearinginsights.com