Listen here, y’all…
After working one-on-one with over 400 lawn and landscape business owners, we’ve uncovered a pattern. The ones who build exceptional profits—year after year—don’t leave success to chance. They follow a proven formula. It’s simple to explain… but not always easy to do.
Here it is:
Price Right + Keep Promises + Create Clients = Predictable Profits
Now don’t let the simplicity fool you. Inside this formula are 18 unique success keys that must be built into your daily operations. These ain’t magic tricks. These are real systems for real businesses that want real money in the bank.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Step 1: Price Right
If your prices are off, your profits are gone. Period.
You’ve got to Price Right for your company—so the work is profitable. At the same time, you’ve got to Price Right for your customer—so they say “yes” and sign the deal.
That, my friends, is a balancing act. It’s the art and science of selling. And professional salespeople know how to walk that tightrope with confidence.
But none of that matters if you don’t understand your costs.
Here’s the truth:
Most landscape business owners have a pretty good handle on direct job costs—wages, materials, fuel, that kind of thing.
But when it comes to overhead costs? That’s where most folks fall short.
Real Example: Labor Burden Blind Spot
Just this week, we met with a successful landscape company. They told us their labor burden was 15%. I said, “Prove it.”
So we rolled up our sleeves, pulled out the calculator, and dug into their numbers. Lo and behold, their labor burden was actually 25% in one department and 26% in another.
Now get this—they thought they were adding a 23.68% profit on every job. But when I looked at the profit and loss statement, their real net profit was just 6%.
That’s a dangerous gap. And it’s costing ‘em big.
The good news? A simple review of their pricing system gave them the clarity they needed to fix it. That one meeting was worth its weight in gold.
If You Think Your Company Could Be Doing Better… You’re Probably Right
We get it. Most landscapers would rather be out on the mower than inside the office crunching numbers. But if you’re serious about building exceptional, consistent profits… you’ve got to start with understanding your true cost.
When you do, pricing gets clearer. Margins improve. Cash flow gets stronger. And guess what? Stress goes down.
If you believe there’s more profit hiding inside your company—and you’re ready to go find it—join us for an upcoming Profit Builder Training. It’s a live, small-group event designed for owners who are ready to get serious about growth.
Can’t wait for the next event? No problem.
Book a one-on-one call right here, and we’ll talk about a visit to your office: 👉 www.superlawntoolkit.com/meet20
Keep Promises. Raise Prices. Love Your People.
Yours in green and growing,
Tony Bass, founder
PS – We believe higher inflation is standing on our front door (as we publish this essay). In other words.. you’re going to have to adjust your prices more often as we move forward in time.
And just so you know, the cost of equipment has the potential to increase another 10% within the next 12 months. This is based on the cost of steel, aluminum and shipping those products around the world.
Hope to see you at the next Profit Builder Training Event.
