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...

Man, what a couple days it's been! I decided to try something a little different with this episode - instead of just sitting down to record like usual, I brought my mic along to capture some real action over the course of two full work days.

It started with a big sales call I had lined up for a patio project. I was pumped but also nervous to present the design and price to the client. Thankfully it went well and we booked the job - what a relief! From there I hit a few meetings, checked in with the crew working some jobs, and handled calls and estimates back at the shop.

I wanted to give listeners an inside look at what a typical couple days look like running the business. There's highs like closing a sale, lows when you miss an appointment, and everything in between. I also dove into some topics I'm always trying to improve, like communicating value to clients upfront and having all the contract details ironed out.

A big thanks to my producer Hunter for piecing it all together into...