How to Sell a Landscaping Business (Insights from Nick Bartolo)

If you’re wondering how to sell a landscaping business, timing, preparation, and positioning determine whether you walk away with a premium valuation — or leave money on the table.

In a recent Auman Landscape podcast episode featuring Nick Bartolo, we discussed what separates highly profitable landscaping exits from disappointing ones. Nick shared practical insights on landscaping company valuation, succession planning, and building transferable value.

This guide summarizes those expert takeaways.

Why Most Landscaping Business Owners Undervalue Their Company

According to Nick Bartolo on the Auman Landscape podcast, many contractors focus heavily on revenue — but buyers focus on:

• Recurring maintenance contracts

• EBITDA margins

• Operational systems

• Owner independence

• Strength of management team

A landscaping business with $2M in revenue but no systems may be worth less than a $1.5M company wi...

In a recent podcast episode, Caleb was joined by his brother, Noah Auman. Noah is the owner of an IT support business and in this conversation, he shared what it's been like navigating the big shifts in his business over the last 12 months. He also revealed that he has made some significant changes to his business model by cutting out the residential walk-in storefront and focusing more on commercial clients. Despite these changes, Noah shared that his business is now stable and the shift has been successful.

Noah's story highlights the challenges that many small business owners face in navigating uncertain times. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to rethink their operations and adapt to new realities. Noah's decision to pivot his business model and focus more on commercial clients is a prime example of the type of bold action that is necessary for business survival.

As Noah mentioned, his company is still doing some light residential work for people they have done wor...