Million Dollar Landscaper Podcast

If your schedule is packed but your bank account doesn't show it, this episode is for you.   Scott breaks down the real reason most landscaping business owners haven't raised their prices — and it's not laziness. It's fear. Fear of losing accounts. Fear of the phone going quiet. Fear of that awkward conversation.   But here's the truth: that fear is costing you more than a price increase ever would.   In this episode, Scott walks through: 5 signs your prices are already too low How to actually calculate what you need to charge based on your real costs A simple framework for telling your customers about the change — without making it weird Why raising prices gradually protects your business more than holding steady ever will What to do right now, this week, before the season gets any deeper   This isn't about charging more just because you can. It's about making sure the work you're doing is actually worth doing.   If you've been putting this off, this episode is the push you needed.   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

You priced the job. You won the job. And somewhere in the middle of it, you realized you forgot to price something.   Not the whole thing — just one line item. A fence panel that has to come down. A disposal run nobody counted. A gate too narrow for your equipment.   And now it's coming out of your pocket.   This episode is about why that keeps happening — and what one simple habit fixes it. Scott breaks down the job site evaluation checklist he uses in his own business: what to look for during every site walk, where landscapers most often lose money without realizing it, and why the most experienced contractors in the world still use a checklist every time.   You'll also get the actual hardscape job site evaluation form — free in the show notes — so you can start using it on your next estimate.   If you've ever finished a job and thought "I should've priced that differently," this one's for you.   What's covered: Why estimating from memory works until it costs you Site access mistakes that quietly kill your margin Hidden costs most landscapers walk right past How to document the site so you're protected if something comes up Why this system matters even more the moment you start sending other people out to estimate   Free download: Hardscape Job Site Evaluation Form here: https://mdl.coach/siteevaluation   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

You prepped your trucks and hired crew, but if you haven’t spent the last 30–60 days on marketing, your race car’s got no gas. This episode calls out the real problem—visibility, not leads—and shows the must-do basics so homeowners find you first. Perfect for lawn-care and landscaping business owners who want more calls, better customers, and fewer last‑minute, low‑profit scrambles.   You’ll get a bare‑bones, actionable checklist: fix your website and make the phone number click-to-call, update your Google Business Profile and recent reviews, reach out to past customers, clean up truck wraps, put out job site signs, run five‑round door hangers or EDDM, and use simple social posts and before/after photos. Nothing fancy—just the foundations that actually move the needle.   This week, make that checklist and honestly check every box. Subscribe for more practical marketing for landscapers, or visit LeadSpeed.io if you want help dialing this in.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

If you’re slammed with calls but still stressed about cash, this episode is for you. Scott breaks down the ugly math: many landscapers run around 4% net profit when they should be hitting 12–15%. More leads just magnify weak pricing and messy production — and that’s why “busy” can still mean “broke.”   Listen to learn the exact places to start: audit your last five jobs, track labor burden (not just wages), measure overhead recovery, and do real job costing. Small price increases and cleaner systems can turn the same revenue into tens of thousands more profit — so you can take a paycheck, replace equipment, and actually own a business instead of a job. Want weekly, no-fluff business fixes for landscapers? Subscribe and check the show notes for resources — or reach out to Scott if you want help tightening your pricing and systems.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Spring hiring season means lots of resumes, but if you only ask about skills (can you run a zero-turn, install pavers, lead a crew) you’re only getting half the story. Scott explains why behavioral questions matter — they show how someone actually acts under pressure, takes ownership, and gets along with a crew.   You’ll get practical examples to use: ask about showing up in bad weather, a mistake they made and what they learned, why they left past jobs, or how they handled a difficult teammate. Listen for ownership, teamwork, and clear communication — and learn the red flags that mean someone might not fit your crew even if they’ve got the skills.   Grab the AI prompt Kati mentioned in the show notes to generate role-specific behavioral interview questions, try them in your next hiring round, and subscribe for more real-world hiring and crew-management tips for landscapers.   Chat GPT Prompt Act as an experienced hiring consultant for landscaping businesses.   Create a simple, practical behavior-based interview guide for the following role:   ROLE: [Insert role — Crew Member / Foreman / Installation Tech / etc.]   Company context: - Type of work: [maintenance / installs / hardscape / mix] - Crew size: [2-3 / 4-6 / etc.] - Most important trait: [reliability / leadership / speed / quality / etc.]   Requirements: - Limit to 6–8 behavior-based questions. - Questions must start with “Tell me about a time…” or similar. - Include what I should listen for in their answers. - Keep it simple enough for a business owner to use without training. - Include 3 red flags and 3 green flags specific to this role. - Keep total length under 500 words.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube