Side Hustle Squad

Larry is back on the show, and we're recording live from Pod Row at Equip Expo 2026! We're talking all things PodHouse: where to find us, what we've got planned, and what to expect from this year's experience. We'll also give you the rundown on Equip, share what we're looking forward to, and talk about everything happening at the show.

If you're in Louisville, come find us at Pod Row in Room B103. We'll see you at Equip!

Mike Garvey and Eric Triplett (The Pond Digger and host of The Deep End Podcast), discuss the challenges of securing online ratings and building a five-star service culture within contracting businesses. They examine how to address negative feedback constructively while motivating team members to prioritize customer satisfaction. The conversation highlights the importance of authentic customer engagement and follow-up strategies rather than relying on automated or impersonal messaging. Furthermore, they share practical methods for leveraging events and community interactions to organically increase reviews without violating platform guidelines.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

I'm sharing updates from Coastal Fertilization, our North Jersey expansion, and what's happening at ROPED as Equip Expo gets closer. Then I get into a lesson every business owner learns: each season brings a new challenge. When things are going well, enjoy the momentum, but stay grounded and keep looking ahead. When things go sideways, don't let one tough stretch convince you everything is falling apart. The next season is always coming.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

Robotic mowing is about more than watching a machine cut grass. Mike shares a ROPED update and talks about choosing the right property, bringing the crew into the process, planning for setup and service, and measuring whether robotics is actually helping the operation. The demo is just the beginning. The real work is making the technology fit the job.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

Before you buy that mower, truck, aerator, or new piece of battery equipment, make sure it can earn its place in your business. Mike breaks down how to identify the problem you're solving, calculate the full cost, estimate labor savings and added profit, and compare buying with renting or buying used. A practical solo episode to help you make your next equipment decision with confidence.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

Most business owners think slow sales mean they need more advertising, more leads, and a bigger marketing budget. But the real opportunity may already be sitting in your inbox, CRM, open estimates, and customer list. In this episode, Mike explains why follow-up is one of the biggest missed opportunities in the home-service industry. He breaks down response time, follow-up sequences, reactivating past customers, turning one-time jobs into recurring revenue, and giving every opportunity a clear owner. Before you spend another dollar generating leads, make sure you aren't letting good ones slip through the cracks.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

In Part Two of the Fall Business Audit, Mike finishes breaking down the areas every business owner should evaluate before the year ends. Are your trucks and equipment making you money or quietly draining it? Do you know which marketing efforts are actually producing quality customers? And most importantly, are you leading the business forward, or have you become its biggest bottleneck?

Mike covers equipment, marketing, leadership, delegation, and how to turn everything you uncover into a focused action plan. You'll learn how to select one financial priority, one operational priority, and one growth priority, then assign ownership, establish deadlines, and start building a stronger business before the new year.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

Before you begin planning for next year, you need an honest assessment of how your business performed this year.

In Part 1 of our Fall Business Audit, Mike breaks down four critical areas every business owner should examine: your financial numbers, customer base, services and pricing, and team performance. Which services actually made money? Are your best customers receiving enough attention? Are you charging enough? Who stepped up on your team and who may be holding the business back?

Don't wait until January to identify these problems. Use the fall to make smarter decisions, strengthen your operation, and prepare your business for a more profitable year ahead.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

Google reviews can be one of the most powerful—and least expensive—ways to grow a local service business. In this episode, Mike breaks down a practical 30-day strategy for generating 25 new Google reviews without buying reviews, begging customers, or making the process awkward. You'll learn when to ask, exactly what to say, how to involve your employees, and how to create a repeatable system that produces reviews every month.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More

If you already service lawns but aren't offering aeration and overseeding, you could be leaving significant revenue on the table. In this episode, Mike explains why it's an excellent add-on service, how it strengthens customer relationships, and how it can fill your schedule heading into fall. He also breaks down exactly how to get started, from choosing equipment and pricing jobs to marketing the service and managing customer expectations.

🎙 Side Hustle Squad on Instagram @sidehustlesquadpodcast

ROPED on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/roped.us/

🌱 Coastal Fertilization on Instagram @coastalfertilization

💻 Branded Bull Website Design Visit BrandedBull.com

📋 Get Jobber – 20% Off for 6 Months Sign Up Here

🏗 EQUIP Exposition — Save 50% Register Now Use promo code: SIDEHUSTLE at checkout

👟 Save 10% on KUJO Yardwear Shop Now Discount automatically applies

📅 LiveSwitch Book a Demo

📬 PostcardMania Learn More

💵 Relay – Powerful Business Banking for Small Business Owners Learn More

💵 Lawntrapreneur Academy Live (Nov 7-8, 2026) – Learn what's actually working from top-performing lawn care pros. Learn More

PermaGreen – Triumph Ride-On Spreader Sprayer Learn More