Growing Green Podcast

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What does it really take to build a $10 million landscape company—and what happens when you're generating millions in revenue but still struggling to make payroll? In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah sits down with Sam Gembel, founder of Atlas Outdoor, to unpack his journey from starting a business in his driveway in 2011 to building a $10 million-plus company that was ultimately acquired by The Landscape Collective.

Sam shares the mistakes that nearly buried his business, including poor job costing, uncontrolled growth, cash flow problems, excessive vendor debt, and relying on more sales to cover deeper operational issues. They discuss the pivotal changes that turned Atlas around, from understanding financial reports and improving production efficiency to hiring salespeople, delegating responsibility, and learning to lead rather than simply sell.

Sam also shares the story of accumulating approximately $500,000 in vendor debt, the difficult process of paying it down, and the lessons every landscape business owner can take from that experience. Whether you're doing $500,000 or $5 million in revenue, this conversation is a reminder that building a profitable business requires more than selling work—it requires understanding your numbers, protecting your cash flow, and fixing problems before they multiply.

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Q4 is here, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to mentally move on to 2027. In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah breaks down how landscape business owners can use the final three months of the year to generate profitable revenue, improve cash flow, and fix the operational problems that have been holding their companies back.

Jeremiah walks through reviewing your year-to-date P&L, cash flow, job costing, labor efficiency, and revenue per hour before deciding which services deserve your attention through the end of the year. He also shares practical Q4 opportunities including Christmas lighting, landscape lighting, leaf cleanups, mulch, tree replacements, raised beds, recurring services, and other work that can turn into cash quickly.

Beyond sales, this episode is about performing an autopsy on the first nine months of the year—identifying broken handoffs, inventory problems, missed maintenance, poor follow-up, and other small inefficiencies that can quietly cost your company thousands. Before you start building a massive plan for next year, make Q4 count: collect what you're owed, sell profitable work, take care of your customers, fix what's broken, and finish the year strong.

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• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah sits down with David Perdue of Greenview Landscape Services to talk about what it actually takes to build a landscape company that can grow without relying on luck. David shares Greenview’s evolution from residential mowing and hardscaping into a company with more than 30 team members focused primarily on commercial maintenance, with a goal of becoming the “Chick-fil-A of landscape companies.”

The conversation gets deep into the operational mistakes that can become incredibly expensive as a company grows, including poor training, unclear expectations, excessive overhead, missed preventative maintenance, and failing to act when the numbers are telling you something is wrong. Jeremiah and David also break down labor efficiency, gross margins, cash flow, job costing, receivables, supplier terms, and why profitability on paper does not always mean you have cash in the bank.

Most importantly, David shares why disciplined systems, accountability, and developing your people are essential if you want to build a company that can operate beyond the owner. They close with a powerful conversation about stewardship and why you shouldn't expect to be entrusted with more until you're willing to manage what you already have well.

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
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• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah sits down with Zafir, Director of Product for battery development, and Katie, Senior Product Manager for Outdoor Power Equipment at Milwaukee Tool, live from Pipeline 2026. They go deep into the technology behind M18, M12, MX Fuel, and RedLithium Forge while breaking down what landscape contractors actually need to consider before transitioning a crew from gas to battery-powered equipment. 

Jeremiah also shares the real-world battery setup currently being used by Growing Green Landscapes, including M18 Forge batteries, MX Fuel blowers, Quik-Lok equipment, and Milwaukee’s Roll-On power supply. The group discusses what a full crew conversion can cost, why starting with a pilot crew may make sense, and how contractors should think about ROI rather than simply looking at the upfront price tag. 

They also tackle one of the biggest challenges with battery equipment in the landscape industry: heat and runtime. Zafir explains how Cool-Cycle charging technology is designed to cool batteries during charging, improve performance between applications, and help extend battery life. 

Support the show

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• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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This may be one of the most transparent episodes Jeremiah has ever recorded on the Growing Green Podcast. After navigating one of the hardest financial years he’s experienced in business, Jeremiah opens up about mistakes with pricing, labor costs, staffing, debt, cash flow, and decisions made years ago that Growing Green is still paying for today.

Instead of sharing the story once everything is fixed, Jeremiah shares what it looks like while still walking through it—including the difficult decisions being made to rebuild profitability, strengthen operations, improve labor efficiency, and get the right people in the right seats. At the center of it all is one lesson: drop your pride and admit where you need help.

Jeremiah also discusses the importance of auditing your numbers, understanding revenue per labor hour, investing in better systems and training, and recognizing when you—as the owner—might be the common denominator behind recurring problems. Ultimately, he shares how this season has forced him to lean more heavily on his faith and reminds business owners that sometimes the first step toward fixing your company is admitting you can't do everything on your own. 

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
• Signup for our Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/942ae158aff5/newsletter-signup
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• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of the Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah sits down with Matt from Working With Matt at Milwaukee Pipeline 2026 to talk about nearly 20 years of building a landscaping, hardscaping, and construction business. Matt shares how he went from mowing lawns in high school to managing multiple crews, expanding into hardscaping and construction, and building a social media presence around the work and tools he uses every day.

The conversation dives into the difference between being a boss and being a leader, why Matt still believes in getting into the field alongside his team, and how earning your employees’ respect can create a company people actually want to work for. Jeremiah and Matt also discuss how the “Amazon era” has changed customer expectations, creating an instant-gratification mentality that service businesses have to learn to manage.

They wrap up by going deep on battery-powered equipment, why Matt invested heavily into one Milwaukee platform, and how eliminating downtime, maintenance, and unnecessary complexity can make a major difference for a growing trades business. 

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
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• Lawntrepreneur Academy-https://www.lawntrepreneuracademy.com/
• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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Entrepreneurship looks a lot different behind the scenes than it does on social media. In this solo episode, Jeremiah gets transparent about the difficult seasons of running a business and shares a powerful message from Ed Mylett about why an entrepreneur’s real job is to solve problems and keep bringing energy to the next one.

Jeremiah discusses navigating cash flow pressure, vendor payments, debt, pricing, and the constant challenges that come with growing a landscape company. He also shares why his faith and an optimistic outlook have helped him continue moving forward when circumstances say otherwise—and why fixing the root problem instead of its symptoms is critical for business growth.

If you're in a hard season of business right now, this episode is a reminder to keep showing up, make good decisions, solve the biggest problem in front of you, and get ready for the next opportunity.

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
• Signup for our Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/942ae158aff5/newsletter-signup
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• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of The Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah dives into one of the biggest challenges every growing business owner eventually faces: developing people instead of doing everything yourself. He shares honest lessons about leadership, delegation, communication, and creating opportunities for employees to step into greater responsibility. Jeremiah also explains why empowering your team requires intentional conversations, trust, and a willingness to let others grow—even when it's uncomfortable. If you're trying to build a company that outgrows its owner, this episode is packed with practical leadership insights that will help you invest in your people while strengthening your business. 

Support the show

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• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of The Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah shares a candid mid-year business update after returning from vacation and explains why August is one of the most important times of the year to evaluate your company's financial health. He walks through lessons learned from recent equipment damage, the hidden cost of small mistakes, and why systems, training, and accountability are critical as your team grows. Jeremiah also breaks down the importance of reviewing your budget, measuring labor performance, protecting your marketing investment, and building a business that creates opportunities for both your customers and your employees. If you're looking to finish the year strong, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you make smarter decisions before the busy season winds down. 

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
• Signup for our Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/942ae158aff5/newsletter-signup
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• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/

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In this episode of The Growing Green Podcast, Jeremiah records from the beach in Panama City while sharing an honest update on one of the most challenging seasons of business he's faced. He discusses rebuilding teams, navigating cash flow, investing in training, and leading through difficult transitions without losing sight of the bigger picture. Jeremiah also opens up about the importance of mental resilience, faith, intentional leadership, and why entrepreneurs shouldn't carry the weight of business alone. If you're in a tough season and wondering whether it's all worth it, this episode is a reminder to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep moving forward. 

Support the show

• 4 month free With code JEREMIAH:  https://lmncompany.partnerlinks.io/growinggreenpodcast
• Signup for our Newsletter- https://mailchi.mp/942ae158aff5/newsletter-signup
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• Lawntrepreneur Academy-https://www.lawntrepreneuracademy.com/
• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/growinggreenlandscapes/
• [email protected]
• Growing Green Website- https://www.growinggreenlandscapes.com/