Y’all, let me shoot straight with you—because somebody’s gotta say it.
In the lawn and landscape world, we’ll talk about equipment ‘til the cows come home. We’ll debate whether Fedzilla is lying about inflation (spoiler alert: they are), gripe about taxes, and compare notes on everything from mower blades to mulching techniques.
But there’s one topic almost nobody wants to talk about… even though it might be the biggest decision of your entire business career:
“What do I do with this business when I’m done?”
For years now, we’ve watched a tidal wave of mergers, acquisitions, roll-ups, and VC-backed consolidators gobble up lawn companies at a record pace. These big money fellas are slick, well-funded, and patient. They’ll buy up your competitors, your neighbors… and one day maybe even you.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth most folks won’t admit out loud:
Selling your company might give you a payday… but it may cost you your family legacy. “To sell or not to sell…”
That’s the crossroads a whole lot of landscapers are standing at right now.
We published our commentary on the subject right here and we questioned whether a part of our industry’s soul is being sacrificed at the altar of MONEY. It’s well worth the 5 minute read.
The Conversation Nobody Wants to Have
Most families won’t touch the subject of succession with a ten-foot pole.
Why?
Because it’s messy.
Emotional.
Full of unknowns.
How do you get your kids interested?
How do you prepare them to lead?
How do you avoid family conflict, bitterness, entitlement, or—Lord help us—a holiday meltdown worthy of a Hallmark movie?
Let’s be honest…
Talking about money, power, and the future of a company inside a family is harder than fixing a cracked irrigation main in August heat.
And almost no one in our industry talks about it publicly.
But today… we did begin this conversation.
A Rare, Candid, No-Filter Family Business Conversation
Today—November 21st—we held a live webinar where I sat down with my son, Maxx Bass, the third generation of the Bass family stepping into leadership at Super Lawn Trucks.
We opened the curtain.
We told the truth.
We talked about:
- How to get the next generation genuinely excited about the business (not just stuck in it)
- How to avoid family conflict as roles shift and ownership questions come up
- What the Bass family is really wrestling with today behind the scenes
- And what it takes to prepare a young leader to run a multi-million-dollar business
This wasn’t theory.
This wasn’t consultant talk.
This was father and son.
Founder and successor.
Business owner and future owner.
And we recorded the whole thing. Click here to watch and listen.
Should You Sell? Or Should You Build a Legacy?
If you’re running a family business—or hoping to—this conversation might save you years of frustration, arguments, and hard lessons.
And if you’ve ever wondered:
- “Should I sell and walk away?”
- “Should I pass this to my kids?”
- “How do I train them without running them off?”
- “What if they don’t WANT it?”
- “How do I transfer ownership without screwing up Thanksgiving dinner?”
…then you need to hear this interview.
We’re making the recording available exclusively for our clients and followers who care about building something bigger than themselves. Click here to watch and listen.
Do You Run a Family Business?
If you do, you need to listen in.
This is the conversation nobody else in the landscape industry is willing to have out loud.
But you and your family deserve the truth, the tools, and the perspective to make the best decision for your future—whether that means cashing out or continuing the legacy.
Click below and listen in on the Bass Family conversation.
Your future leadership path just might change because of it.
Click here to watch and listen. Running a Family Business Without Screwing Up Thanksgiving Dinner… a candid conversation between a father and son.
Tony Bass, founder
PS – We believe the soul of the small business is found in a strong family. So if YOU know someone who owns a family business, please share this link. There’s no charge for immediate access. We hope to save the souls of family businesses by talking about these issues.
