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...

This conversation with Kory Ballard was one of those episodes that sticks with you.

We’ve had Kory on The Kid Contractor Podcast before, and he always brings the heat—but this one hit different. It wasn’t just about business, blades, or branding (though we talked a lot about that). It was about leadership, boundaries, relationships, and the grind it takes to grow something big—and the cost that can come with it.

Early on, we got into something that seems small but is actually massive: being specific. Kory shared examples from his own companies—Ballard Inc. and PerfiCut—where a lack of clarity led to confusion and missed expectations. “Make it look good,” doesn’t cut it anymore. “Be nice to the customer,” is too vague. Define what good looks like. Be clear on what a win is for your team. As a leader, if you’re not specific, you’re setting your people up to miss the mark. I needed that reminder.

We also dove into the story behind Ballard Inc.’s success—26 years in the making, fro...