In this episode, Christeen Era delves into the intricacies of maximizing the sales price of your business, a pivotal concern for any entrepreneur contemplating the sale of their company. Joined by Jim Parker, renowned as the "Lawn Boss" and a seasoned expert in the lawn care industry, they explore the nuances of preparing a business for market, from understanding the critical difference between selling a business and bringing it to market, to the importance of recasting financials for potential buyers. Jim shares his two-and-a-half decades of experience in aiding business owners to achieve optimal sales outcomes, highlighting strategies for identifying and managing high client concentration, planning for the right time to sell, and the vital role of recurring revenue.

Jim and Christeen also shed light on operational and organizational prerequisites such as reducing owner dependency and maintaining confidentiality during the sales process. The discussion expands to cover legal and licensing essentials, advising on the pitfalls of running personal expenses through the business, and setting realistic valuations. As Jim emphasizes, working with a team of professionals—including brokers, CPAs, and attorneys—is crucial for business owners aiming to secure the best terms and pricing. Whether you're planning to sell soon or simply want to enhance your business's market value, this episode offers a wealth of insights and practical advice.

Take a deeper dive with Jim into this topic on Thursday, January 16 at 11:30AM PT /12:30PM MT/ 1:30PM CT / 2:30PM ET on our free webinar: Preparing Your Business for Sale to Maximize Sales Price. Bring your questions!
Register now to save your space.
growgpa.com/freewebprep4sale

Connect with Jim:
Jim E. Parker, M&AMI, CBI, CM&AP, MCBI
Business Intermediary
Helping People SELL Lawn & Landscape Related Businesses
Call or Text: (407) 927-8999
Email: [email protected]
Website: TheLawnBoss.com
Subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel on buying and selling businesses: https://www.youtube.com/user/BossGroupTV

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
Click on the link below to request a topic from the Pros.
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Join Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet in this engaging episode as they explore one of Steve's favorite business topics: the Five Functions of Business. As we step into 2025, they delve into how understanding these core functions—Marketing, Sales, Deliverables, Money, and People—can transform the clarity and ease of business operations across industries. Learn how each function contributes to the overall success of a business, the systems and measurables that can enhance efficiency, and the importance of managing each area effectively to drive profitability and sustainable growth.

Throughout the episode, Christeen and Steve share practical insights and strategies on how to identify and close gaps within these functions, ensuring streamlined operations and maximized returns. From understanding the role of marketing in attracting high value leads to the importance of maintaining a healthy gross profit margin and nurturing strong employee relations, this episode provides a roadmap for business owners aiming to refine their systems and achieve scalable growth. Tune in to discover how integrating these five functions can lead to lasting success and how business owners can apply these principles to their unique challenges.

Not sure how your business is performing in these five areas?
Take the free Business Challenge Assessment to identify how your business is really doing!
Access the assessment: https://growgpa.com/bizchallassess

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
Click on the link below to request a topic from the Pros.
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Join Steve Bousquet and Christeen Era as they explore the transformative power of Gallup Strengths in both personal and professional settings. As we approach the start of a new year, this episode offers valuable insights into how identifying and leveraging individual strengths can lead to enhanced leadership skills, improved team dynamics, and increased business profitability. Steve shares his personal experiences from being the grand marshal at a Winterfest parade in Norwich, Connecticut, to incorporating CliftonStrengths into his landscape business, resulting in zero employee turnover and greater efficiency. Christeen complements this by discussing how Gallup Strengths have been instrumental in her accounting and coaching firm, underscoring the importance of having a diverse team with a balanced mix of strengths for optimal performance.

In this enlightening episode, the hosts explore the four domains of Gallup Strengths—Executing, Relationship Building, Influencing, and Strategic Thinking—and how understanding these can help identify the right roles for team members, enhance job satisfaction, and drive organizational success. Learn how targeted assessments and workshops can uncover hidden talents within your team, foster a culture of recognition and support, and ultimately, improve business outcomes. If you're looking to make a lasting impact in your organization and capitalize on the natural talents of your workforce, this episode is a must-listen.

Upcoming Workshop: Maximizing Your Potential

Discover the Power Within with Maximizing Your Potential: A Strengths-Based Leadership Experience - Level I, a transformative 6-week workshop starting Tuesday, January 14. Tailored for business owners and leadership teams, this workshop aims to revolutionize your approach to leadership by leveraging inherent strengths for personal and professional growth. Enjoy interactive sessions led by experienced facilitators and embark on a journey to enhance team collaboration and drive business success. Plus, enjoy a 50% discount for every additional team member you sign up!

Register before Tuesday, 12/31/24 at midnight to save $100!
Enter coupon code earlybirdmax100 at checkout to claim this offer.
https://growgpa.com/Strengths_Lead

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
Click on the link below to request a topic from the Pros.
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

In this engaging episode, Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet explore the "Retention Revolution" and discuss how to craft organizational cultures that truly stick. They delve into the critical importance of employee retention, sharing personal experiences and insights on creating a work environment that not only attracts but retains top talent. Christeen highlights how intentional culture-building efforts, like leveraging CliftonStrengths, can significantly impact employee satisfaction, while Steve discusses the costly implications of high turnover and how retention can be seen as a profit center.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into best practices for retention, including regular feedback, team engagement activities, and competitive compensation packages. The discussion underscores the importance of intentional leadership in shaping a positive and productive workplace culture. Whether you're a business owner, manager, or HR professional, this episode offers practical strategies and thought-provoking ideas to help you foster a thriving organizational culture and ensure long-term success.

Need additional support with retention challenges or want to discuss strategies to keep your team engaged and thriving? Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help you overcome obstacles and build the business you've always dreamed of. 

Email us: [email protected]
Set up a complimentary call with us: https://growgpa.com/FreeConsult

Discover your strengths and maximize your leadership effectiveness!
Join us for Maximizing Your Potential: A 6-week Strengths Based Leadership Experience. Enroll before 12/31 and save!
Enter coupon code earlybirdmax100 at checkout to claim this offer!  
https://growgpa.com/Strengths_Lead

Other courses to start your business off on the right foot in 2025:

• Strengths Assessment and 1-Hour Strengths Coaching:
https://growgpa.com/strengths1hrcoach

• Green Profit Academy's Clifton Strengths Company Group Coaching:
https://growgpa.com/strengthsgrpcoach

• CliftonStrengths Assessment and Leadership Report:
https://growgpa.com/strengthsleadrep

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
Click on the link below to request a topic from the Pros.
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Join Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet as they delve into the strategic steps that lawn application companies can take to maximize profitability. Drawing from their extensive experience in the green industry, they break down essential practices for optimizing daily routines, understanding seasonal cycles, and implementing efficient routing to streamline operations. Christeen and Steve emphasize the importance of leveraging technology to automate tasks, enhancing productivity and reducing administrative burdens, all of which contribute to a healthier bottom line.

This episode provides actionable insights into cost management strategies such as bulk purchasing and maintaining equipment and highlights the significance of customer satisfaction and retention. Christeen and Steve share their expertise on creating performance incentives and cross-training employees to ensure operational agility and sustained profits. Whether you're a seasoned lawn care professional or a newcomer to the industry, these five steps offer valuable guidance to enhance profitability and foster business growth.

 If you have any additional questions about maximizing profitability, or would like to discuss your unique business challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re here to help you navigate and succeed!

Email us: [email protected]
Set up a complimentary call with us: https://growgpa.com/FreeConsult

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear On the GPA Pros Podcast!
Click on the link below to request a topic from the Pros.
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

In this enlightening episode, we welcome Leslie F. Halleck, a distinguished Certified Professional Horticulturist with a notable 27-year career in the horticulture industry. Leslie's extensive experience ranges from botanical field research to public gardens, landscape design, and horticulture consulting, making her an invaluable resource for both businesses and home gardening enthusiasts. A seasoned author and speaker, Leslie has penned influential works like "Gardening Under Lights" and "Plant Parenting," and she continues to share her expertise through her Plantgeek Chic blog and public workshops.

Join us as Leslie dives deep into the intricacies of the horticulture and green industry, emphasizing the importance of integrating creativity with business acumen. Leslie discusses the common misconceptions about the horticulture profession and shares insights on how businesses can enhance their value perception and profitability. She passionately supports startups and transitioning entrepreneurs by offering them foundational knowledge and strategic planning skills crucial for success in this unique field. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to harmonize their love for plants with sustainable business practices.

Website: https://lesliehalleck.com/  

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/lesliehalleck/ 

https://www.youtube.com/c/LeslieHalleck 

https://www.facebook.com/HalleckHorticultural/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliehalleck

Events: https://lesliehalleck.com/events  

Shop: https://lesliehalleck.com/shop?category=consultations#lead-in  

1-1 Coaching: https://lesliehalleck.com/shop/green-industry-career-coaching-small-business-consultation  

Online Course – The Business of Horticulture: https://lesliehalleck.com/shop/the-business-of-horticulture-course 

Online Course – The Business of Selling Plants: https://lesliehalleck.com/shop/course-the-business-of-selling-plants 

Request a topic from the Pros – what would you like to hear about, or what challenge do you currently have?    growgpa.com/PodcastAsk     

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

In this insightful episode, join hosts Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet as they delve into the critical topic of pricing strategies to ensure profitability in your business. As they navigate through the nuances of pricing markups and margins, they share a five-step approach designed to help businesses identify, understand, and rectify common pricing pitfalls. Whether you're grappling with understanding your costs, determining your markup, setting profitable prices, or regularly reviewing your pricing strategy, Steve and Christeen offer practical tips and strategies. They emphasize the importance of aligning your pricing model with your business's unique value proposition, exploring concepts such as gross and net margins, and ensuring that your pricing strategies are regularly reviewed and adjusted as necessary.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners looking to enhance their financial literacy and create a sustainable profitability model. By focusing on understanding costs, setting strategic markups, and maintaining a vigilant eye on profit margins, this discussion provides a roadmap to financial success. Plus, they highlight the value of built-in upselling and the benefits of offering clear service packages to improve customer satisfaction and business efficiency. 

Request a topic from the Pros – what would you like to hear about, or what challenge do you currently have?    growgpa.com/PodcastAsk       

Green Profit Toolbox from The Profit First for Lawn Care and Landscape Businesses Book: https://profitfirstforlawncareandlandscape.com/#tools 

Profitability Checklist: growgpa.com/chkprofitability 

Green Profit Academy Business Triage Response Path is a 6-Week coaching program to get your business back on track fast. First, our assessments will narrow down the top three things you need to fix, then our experienced industry coaches will help you focus on stopping the bleed and getting back on track.  growgpa.com/triageresponse 

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Christeen Era & Steve Bousquet delve into the powerful and life-changing "Profit First" methodology. Join us as we examine the core principles of this innovative approach that promises to turn traditional accounting on its head, by putting profit at the forefront of your business strategy. Steve and Christeen launch into an insightful discussion on how the Profit First system can shine a financial mirror on your business, revealing the true state of your cash flow, pricing, and spending habits. 

Gain exclusive insights from their book, "Profit First for Lawn Care and Landscape Businesses", learn how to navigate the complexities of seasonal cash flow, equipment management, and the labor-intensive nature of the green industry. Christeen and Steve, both certified Profit First professionals, guide you through setting up the essential five bank accounts and establishing a rhythm for your financial allocations. They share personal anecdotes and client success stories that highlight the transformative power of prioritizing profit. Profit first can be a game-changer for your business, leading to increased financial security and sustainability. Tune in to discover how to adopt the Profit First methodology that can elevate your business to new heights.

Free Instant Assessment and Profitability Tools
https://profitfirstforlawncareandlandscape.com/instant-assessment/  

Contact us at
[email protected]   

Visit us at
www.greenprofitacademy.com  

Set up a Consultation Call
https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=24515697&appointmentType=35764137   

Profit First for Lawn Care and Landscape Businesses
https://a.co/d/fNzduq9  

Relay Bank
growgpa.com/RelayBnk 

Request a topic from the Pros 
growgpa.com/PodcastAsk     

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Hosts Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet delve into the evolving landscape of sales in the lawn care and landscape industry. They reflect on the changing dynamics brought about by technology and discuss the pitfalls of relying solely on digital methods for sales. Steve shares insights from his 41 years of experience, emphasizing the importance of personal interactions and the pitfalls of a "lazy sales approach" that relies heavily on emails and digital communication. The discussion highlights the need for businesses to balance technology with human touch, maintaining the personal relationships that have historically driven success.

The conversation further explores the significance of face-to-face meetings and the psychological impact of personal interactions in sales as well as leveraging technology in a way that enhances rather than replaces personal connections, such as using video content and personalized communication. Christeen and Steve also discuss the value of understanding individual strengths through tools like the Gallup CliftonStrengths sales report, which can optimize sales approaches. Throughout the episode, listeners are encouraged to rethink their sales strategies, ensuring a balance that leverages both the efficiency of technology and the irreplaceable value of personal, human connections.

https://greenprofitacademy.com/

CliftonStrengths Assessment & Leadership Report

The CliftonStrengths Assessment and Leadership Report are the keys to unlocking and maximizing your true leadership potential. Register now to discover your CliftonStrengths profile, along with your personalized reports and additional resources.

Special Offer: $99

Leveraging Your Leadership Strengths-(Inc. 1-Hr of Coaching)

This impactful, value packed mini course provides you with a Clifton Strengths assessment, your personalized Leadership Report, and a 1-hour Coaching call where our certified CliftonStrengths coach will unpack your top 5 strengths for you.

An Exceptional Value at $250!

Request a topic from the Pros – what would you like to hear about, or what challenge do you currently have?    growgpa.com/PodcastAsk    

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.

Dive into an engaging episode with hosts Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet as they unravel the art of effective communication by leveraging Gallup’s CliftonStrengths. Discover how understanding different domains—Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking—can transform the way you connect with your team and loved ones.

Christeen and Steve share personal anecdotes and professional insights on bridging communication gaps, enhancing collaboration, and aligning strengths with roles for maximum impact. They explore strategies for motivating each domain and fostering understanding across diverse teams, all while maintaining a light-hearted and relatable approach.

This episode offers a treasure trove of practical tips for leaders seeking to improve team dynamics and personal relationships. Whether you're navigating the complexities of workplace communication or looking to enrich personal connections, this episode provides the tools and inspiration needed to harness the power of CliftonStrengths. Join the conversation and explore how you can unlock deeper, more meaningful interactions in your daily life!

Check out our strength coaching courses where Steve Bousquet will personally coach you and/or your team to leverage their strengths!

Strengths Assessment and 1-Hour Strengths Coaching: 

https://growgpa.com/strengths1hrcoach 

Green Profit Academy's Clifton Strengths Company Group Coaching: 

https://growgpa.com/strengthsgrpcoach 

Request a topic from the Pros – what would you like to hear about, or what challenge do you currently have?    growgpa.com/PodcastAsk     

The Green Profit Academy Pros Podcast digs into the challenges in growing a Lawn Care and Landscape business while maximizing your profit. Christeen Era, and Steve Bousquet. are green industry experts in profit, growth, and leadership.