In this episode, Christeen Era and Steve Bousquet provide actionable tips to ensure your business starts the 2025 season on the right foot. From effective marketing techniques like leveraging truck signage, QR codes, and social media, to utilizing platforms such as Google Business Profile to attract more clients, Christeen and Steve cover it all. They also delve into the importance of clear and competitive pricing strategies to boost profitability, offering advice on labor costs, material markups, and creating comprehensive pricing sheets. Discover how tools like prepayments, diverse payment options, and consistent customer communication can eliminate payment friction and enhance client satisfaction.  

The duo further explores the power of hiring strategies, such as working interviews and attracting high-quality candidates, alongside fostering brand consistency through uniforms and team professionalism. Learn how to repurpose video content for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to expand your online presence, engage your audience, and attract ideal clients. Whether you're refining billing practices, improving your website’s functionality, or optimizing your sales follow-ups, this episode is packed with insights to set your business apart this season. Tune in for a roadmap to success!  

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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 solo episode of the podcast, host Steve Bousquet dives into the themes of “Roar, Review, Rant, and Revere” while sharing insights from his 42 years of experience in the lawn care and landscaping business. Steve reflects on his company's preseason preparations, including setting ambitious goals, conducting extensive team training, and fostering a growth mindset among his staff. He emphasizes the importance of investing in people, recounting how focused efforts on team development, certifications, and communication skills have led to both personal and business success. Steve also shares strategies for sales and customer engagement, highlighting the significance of multi-channel outreach and consistent community presence through organizations like local chambers of commerce.

Steve’s “Rant and Revere” segment draws attention to the value of trusted advice in the green industry, urging business owners to learn from seasoned professionals while maintaining a critical eye on emerging trends and advice. Through anecdotes of leadership lessons, such as supporting team members’ personal and professional growth, Steve underscores the importance of curiosity, empathy, and humility in leadership. This episode is packed with actionable insights, motivating stories, and a few lighthearted moments, making it a must-listen for business owners looking to thrive in a competitive and ever-changing landscape.

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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 episode, Steve and Christeen dive deep into the critical topic of pricing strategy and how it can significantly impact the profitability and sustainability of your business. They discuss the essential components every business owner must consider, including labor, equipment costs, material markup, and overhead. Christeen emphasizes the importance of understanding utilization rates, seasonal dynamics, and how to structure your pricing to ensure every piece of your operation is accounted for. Steve shares real-life insights, including common pitfalls like undercharging for equipment, ignoring proper profit margins, and the dangers of discounting, while also touching on how to efficiently manage labor hours and the benefits of offering tiered service options. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the business world, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you protect and grow your profits.

The conversation also explores the broader implications of a solid pricing strategy, such as improving operational efficiency, avoiding emotional decision-making, and ensuring that your business thrives long term. Steve and Christeen highlight key strategies, like focusing on existing clients, providing "Good-Better-Best" options, and aligning pricing with market conditions to build a sustainable and scalable business. They wrap up by underscoring the importance of being intentional, data-driven, and collaborative when reviewing financials and pricing models. If you've ever questioned whether you're charging enough or how to better align your costs and profits, this episode is a must-listen. Take action today to protect your margins and unlock the full potential of your business!

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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 episode, Steve Bousquet is joined by long-time friend and peer, Bob Tunzi of Tunzi and Sons Landscaping, to discuss Bob’s over 30 years of experience in the landscaping industry. From starting his business in the early 1990s after a career change to completing $200,000+ outdoor living projects, Bob shares his journey of growth, challenges, and valuable lessons learned along the way. They discuss the evolution of the landscape industry, the importance of processes, and how small businesses can thrive by focusing on customer service and maintaining integrity. Bob also reflects on some of his proudest moments, like providing opportunities for his employees to grow and creating a lasting impact on his community.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners, including the importance of understanding your numbers, learning to say no to the wrong customers, and the value of having a supportive peer group. Bob also dives into how the industry has changed dramatically over the years, from increasing client expectations to utilizing new technologies like design and management software. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, this conversation is filled with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice for navigating the challenges of running a landscaping business. Don’t miss it!

Tunzi and Sons is a full service design build company that maintains an emphasis on hardscaping and outdoor living projects. Bob started the business in 1988, and since then, they have won multiple industry awards from Unilock’s Awards of Excellence.

Services include:

• Brick paving
• Retaining walls
• Plant design and install
• Lawn care and mowing

Connect with Bob: 

tunziandsons.com

Facebook

Instagram

Houzz

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Cost: $39

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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 episode, Steve Bousquet and Christeen Era take a deep dive into an often-overlooked aspect of business success—managing overhead costs. They break down the distinction between direct costs and overhead, explaining how expenses like rent, utilities, administrative salaries, and loan payments can impact your bottom line. With actionable insights, they outline the symptoms of overhead issues, such as low profit margins, cash flow problems, and difficulty scaling, helping you identify if overhead is the hidden culprit draining your business's profitability.

The duo also provides practical strategies to address these challenges, from conducting an overhead audit and streamlining operations to optimizing staffing and utilizing tools like Profit First. They share tips on reining in expenses, improving efficiency, and ensuring your marketing and staffing budgets align with your revenue goals. Whether you're struggling with cash flow or looking to increase profitability, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you tighten up your overhead and turn those savings into profit. Plus, don’t forget to download the free overhead audit checklist in the show notes to get started on streamlining your expenses today!

Ready to Cut Costs and Boost Profits?

Don’t let unnecessary expenses hold you back—download our FREE Overhead Reduction & Streamlining Checklist now and start maximizing your profits!

https://growgpa.com/chkoverhead

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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 episode, Steve Bousquet and Christeen Era delve into the power of benchmarking as a tool to drive business success. They break down the concept of benchmarking, its significance, and how it can be utilized to measure performance against industry standards, identify gaps, and foster continuous improvement. From tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like gross profit margins, sales per labor hour, and customer retention rates to understanding how these metrics inform strategic decisions, this discussion is packed with actionable insights. Christeen and Steve also share real-world examples, including how to calculate and improve benchmarks, and strategies to optimize pricing, labor efficiency, and customer experience.

 Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this episode provides essential steps to implement benchmarking in your operations, enhance profitability, and gain a competitive edge. Plus, don't miss the announcement of an upcoming Benchmarking Workshop, where you’ll learn how to calculate, analyze, and close performance gaps in your business with hands-on guidance. Check the show notes for details and start paving the way to a more efficient and profitable business!

🚀 Webinar Alert: Unlock Growth with Benchmarking Strategies 🚀

Are You Ready to Take Your Lawn & Landscape Business to the Next Level?
Register now for our upcoming webinar, Benchmarking for Success in the Lawn and Landscape Industry, and discover how to optimize your business operations, track key metrics, and achieve measurable outcomes that boost profitability.

This informative 90-minute webinar is a fantastic opportunity at just $39! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! 

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Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
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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 milestone 100th episode, Steve Bousquet and Christeen Era reflect on the journey that brought them here, sharing their most valuable lessons and takeaways from years of entrepreneurship, coaching, and hosting 99 prior episodes. From the challenges of hiring and onboarding to the power of proper delegation, time management, and strategic planning, they dive into the practical insights that have helped countless small businesses thrive. They also explore topics like the emotional side of business decisions, the importance of transparency in relationships, and how leveraging (but not misusing) technology can fuel growth. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting out, their real-world experiences and actionable advice will resonate with you.

The conversation also highlights the transformative impact of systems like Profit First, which has fueled consistent and sustainable growth in Steve’s business, demonstrating the power of disciplined cash management. The duo emphasizes the importance of listening, fostering trust, and staying focused on customer relationships to drive results. Packed with relatable stories and practical wisdom, this episode is a celebration of not just a podcast milestone, but the lessons learned along the way that continue to inspire and guide other entrepreneurs to success. Don’t miss it!

Need help with your unique business challenges?
Set up a complimentary consultation with us: growgpa.com/FreeConsult

Tell Us What You'd Like to Hear on the GPA Pros Podcast!
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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 episode of the Green Profit Academy Pro's podcast, host Steve sits down with Rick Wallace, an accomplished entrepreneur running a thriving lawn care business. Rick shares his inspiring journey from starting at age 12 with a push mower to growing his lawn care company to over 8,000 clients, with locations in Georgia and Florida. Together, Steve and Rick dive into the challenges and successes Rick experienced while transitioning from traditional landscaping to a focused lawn application business. They discuss critical business strategies, including marketing philosophies, client acquisition, and the importance of building something valuable for the future. Rick also opens up about his personal approach to training, hiring, and retaining a strong team that aligns with core company values.

The conversation also touches on broader industry topics such as automation, AI, customer communication, and the evolving demands of the green industry. Rick emphasizes the importance of blending automation with human interaction to elevate the customer experience. With actionable insights and thought-provoking discussions about the future of the lawn care business, this episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone in the green industry looking to improve operations, scale their business, and foster meaningful client relationships.

Rick Wallace is the CEO of Liquid Lawn, a family-owned and operated business. His wife Hannah is the company's office manager, and together, they have two children. They have been in business for over 15 years and have experience with virtually every facet of landscaping.

After attending First Presbyterian Day School, Rick started very early with his passion for enhancing landscapes and lawns and feels that he discovered his purpose very early on. He really enjoys horticulture, turf, landscape design, and making a difference on his clients' properties. He is a licensed pesticide applicator with the Department of Agriculture.

Connect with Rick!

https://liquidlawn.com/

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

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 episode, Steve and Christeen discuss the top five ways small business owners can increase profitability in 2025. They dive into actionable strategies, including how to effectively raise your prices, stop offering low-profit services, and improve your estimating processes. Christeen shares insights on the importance of understanding costs, setting expectations for your team, and avoiding common pitfalls in pricing. The hosts also tackle the critical topic of hiring smarter by finding the right cultural fits and strengths, and emphasize the importance of onboarding and retaining top-tier employees.

The conversation wraps up with a deep dive into the transformative impact of implementing Profit First. Steve shares real-life results from his business, showcasing how this approach not only increased revenue but also boosted profits exponentially over the years. Plus, they highlight advanced strategies from the book Profit First for Lawn Care and Landscape Businesses and how their coaching programs can help businesses achieve similar success. Don't miss the links in the show notes to access the book and learn more about the tailored triage coaching program to take your business profitability to the next level.

Resources to increase your business's profitability:

Profit First for Lawn Care and Landscape Businesses (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Profit-First-Lawn-Landscape-Businesses-ebook/dp/B09LTJVFBG/ 

GPA Business Triage Response Path  

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. 

 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

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 episode, host Christeen Era delves into the critical importance of planning and goal setting for achieving business success in today's fast-paced environment. She unpacks the concept of strategic planning and its role in efficiently allocating resources and aligning efforts towards long-term sustainability and growth. Christeen emphasizes the significance of setting clear objectives that align with a company's mission and vision, ensuring cohesive progress. She also highlights essential tools like Gantt charts and project management software to optimize resource allocation and underscores the importance of risk management through SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

The episode further explores the SMART framework as a proven strategy for setting effective goals. Christeen guides listeners through this framework, explaining each component—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—and how it can transform business outcomes. She advises on breaking down goals into manageable tasks, assigning responsibility, and setting milestones to track progress. Additionally, Christeen discusses the necessity of regular reviews and feedback mechanisms to refine strategies and maintain open communication within teams. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own vision and mission statements and to set SMART goals that align with their business strategies, ensuring sustainable growth and success.

Join us for some deeper learning around goal setting and strategic planning!
The Business Accelerator Workshop is a 7-week course designed to help entrepreneurs define and achieve their goals. The workshop covers various topics, including mission, vision, purpose, immutable laws, benchmarks, goal setting, and a business strategy plan. Through this program, entrepreneurs will learn how to set achievable goals, develop a roadmap, and create a plan for success. Mastering these critical aspects of business can accelerate growth, meet objectives, and achieve long-term sustainability. Overall, this workshop is a comprehensive solution for entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level.
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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

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.