In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Doug Ryan, a 21-year-old landscaping contractor who has grown his company to an impressive $700,000 in revenue in just a few short years. Doug's story is one of grit, hustle, and a relentless drive to succeed. At such a young age, he's already navigating the complexities of managing a growing team, juggling commercial and residential clients, and tackling the financial challenges that come with rapid expansion. As I listened to Doug share his experiences, I couldn't help but be inspired by his passion and determination. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of having a solid financial plan in place, especially as a business scales. Doug acknowledged that he's had to learn some tough lessons when it comes to managing cash flow, overtime costs, and equipment financing. It's a common struggle for many entrepreneurs, but Doug's willingness to be transparent about...

In our latest episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ken Deemer, the co-founder of Local Roots and FRWRD Coaching. Ken's story is truly inspiring. Over the past 11 years, he and his business partner Patrick have grown Local Roots into a $9.5 million landscaping and hardscaping company. But the truly remarkable part is how they've done it - by keeping their focus on their personal goals and values, not just the bottom line. Through Forward Coaching, Ken works with other entrepreneurs in the green industry to help them achieve the same kind of balance. It's all about getting clear on your true aims in life, and then aligning your business decisions to support those aims. As Ken put it, it's easy to get distracted by the "shiny objects" of business growth, but the key is maintaining that higher-level perspective. One of the things that really struck me was Ken's willingness to say no to certain opportunities that didn't fit his vision. He talked about how they made the tough...

In our latest episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, my co-host (and wife) Brittany and I dove deep into some of the key financial lessons we've learned over the years. One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of having a solid handle on your overhead costs and labor hours. We use a system called "multiple overhead recovery" where we carefully budget out our annual overhead expenses and then ensure we're recovering that across the billable hours of our crew. It's so easy to underestimate how much it really costs to run the business, and if you're not vigilant about it, those overhead costs can quickly eat into your profits. We also discussed the risks of "floating" expensive equipment like excavators and dump trucks on the road. While it's great to have that capability for big jobs, the liability of having hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of machinery out there is substantial. One fender bender with an uninsured driver could wipe out an entire project's profits....

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with several industry professionals to get their take on the current economic landscape. In this third installment of our series, we heard from Jonathan Martin of Precision Outdoors in North Carolina and Ryan Fennell of Earth and Stone in Texas. The key takeaways from our conversations were:

1. The labor pool continues to be a major challenge, with contractors having to pay more to attract and retain skilled workers. This is driving up costs and putting pressure on profit margins.

2. Budgeting and estimating software are critical tools for running a successful landscaping business. Contractors who invest the time to set up these systems are better equipped to price jobs accurately and maintain profitability.

3. The economic conditions vary across different regions of the country. While some areas are experiencing rapid growth, others are seeing a slowdown in new construction and concrete work. Successful...

Episode 487: Stepping Up to the Next Level

This week's episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast focused on empowering our teams to take the initiative and drive our businesses to new heights. I discussed how Tyler here at Auman Landscape has been given the opportunity to independently sell his first hardscape project, representing a big step forward for him and our company. Taking that initial step out of our comfort zone is so important for growth.

I also shared about receiving some negative feedback on social media recently. While criticism can be tough to handle, blocking negativity is important for my own mental well-being and that of our brand. At the end of the day, we're all works in progress - myself included.

It was great catching up with Levi too about our plans for the week ahead. I hope this episode inspires you to invest in your team members and push boundaries like never before. Every journey starts with that first step. Wishing everyone a productive week! Listen to the...

Caleb and Brittany Auman discuss their goals for returning to business fundamentals in the new year on their latest Kid Contractor podcast episode. Some key areas of focus include improving communication both within the team and with clients, implementing a more solid scheduling system, and bringing on a fractional CFO to help manage finances. Tune into the full episode to hear more details on their plans and strategies for prioritizing the core aspects of running the business.
Listen to the full "Ep 446. Back to the Fundamentals" episode here:https://kidcontractor.libsyn.com/ep-446-back-to-the-fundamentals

This week, we're excited to share an exclusive video showcasing the full lineup of equipment that powers our landscaping company. As the summer season kicks into high gear, our team is fully equipped and ready to tackle any landscaping project that comes our way. Join us as we take you on a virtual tour of our machinery, including trucks, skid steers, and more.

Are you looking for ways to expand your business? Perhaps you can take a cue from Russell's Lawn and Landscape, a company that found a new and profitable niche in holiday decor.

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, we talked with Andy and Russell Pugh, of Russell's Lawn and Landscape, about their transition from doing only lawn maintenance to now doing Christmas light installations. It all started when one of their clients asked if they could put up Christmas lights, and the Pughs decided to give it a try.

They quickly realized that there was a high demand for holiday decor in their area and decided to make it a core part of their business. They invested in high-quality materials and trained their team on installation techniques, and soon they were booking dozens of installations every holiday season.

Not only did they find a lucrative opportunity, but they also found that it helped even out their cash flow throughout the year. The summer months, which used to be...

As a landscaping company owner, staying up-to-date with the latest tools and equipment can significantly improve efficiency and output. One tool that has recently gained popularity is the tiltrotator, a hydraulic attachment that offers greater flexibility and precision in excavating and grading work.

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, Caleb Auman discussed his plans to purchase a tiltrotator with three other owners who already have one, including Andy Mulder (Mulder Maintenance & Services), Jeremy Swihart (J Squared Outdoor Living), and Zach Tournoux (Tournoux Landcare). Although they shared varying experiences, they all agreed that a tiltrotator is a worthwhile investment for any landscaping business.

Caleb confirmed his plan to purchase a tiltrotator, which would likely be installed on a machine weighing under five tons. However, he's currently undecided on the brand and will need to research and determine which is best for his company, whether it be...

Starting a landscape business can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. With so many types of machines available, it can be challenging to decide what to invest in first. In a recent episode of Kid Contractor Podcast, three landscape business owners discussed what they believed was the best first machine to buy.

Owner 1 suggested a mini skid steer, which was met with agreement from Owner 2. As they both worked in the softscape world, they found a mini skid steer to be ideal for moving materials around. Owner 3 had a different opinion, recommending a dump truck or dump trailer as the first machine to invest in.

The exchange between the three landscape business owners sheds light on the importance of considering what type of landscaping work you will be doing before investing in equipment. For those in the softscape world, a mini skid steer may be the best option, while those in the hardscape world may prefer a mini excavator. However, investing in a...