How to Hardscape
By Michael Pletz
Whether you are a lawn care specialist, a contractor looking to add new services to grow your bottom line, or already active in the industry, there are topics covered that will help you.
How to HardscapeApr 05, 2021
Employees and Systems with Knowledge Tree Consulting
Today we are joined by George Urvari of Oriole Landscaping and Knowledge Tree Consulting to discuss Systems, Employees, and whether or not Bonus Programs are a good idea.
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Stop Selling Price, Start Selling Value with Shawn Van Dyke
Today we are joined by author of Profit First for Contractors Shawn Van Dyke to talk about price, value, and systems.
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Building a High-Performance Team with Jim Huston
Today we are joined by Jim Huston. He is a consultant for contractors, associations, manufacturers, and vendors on management in the Green Industry. He joins us to talk about building a high-performance team that requires minimum supervision.
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Learning to Build with Stone with Stone Bear Mason
Today we are joined by Bryce Hollingsworth of Stone Bear Mason (@StoneBearMason) to talk about learning to become a stoneworker and owning a business.
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Answering Commonly Asked Pricing Questions
Today we talk about six commonly asked pricing questions that contractors ask me through messages and software onboarding and demos.
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Selling the Art of Stonework with Masco Construction
Today we are joined by Matt Mastromarino of Masco Construction (@Masco.Construction) to talk about the art of stonework and selling that art to your clients.
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#IAmaHardscaper: Michael of Kensek Landscape Specialists
Today we are joined by Michael of Kensek Landscape Specialists (@KensekLandscapeSpecialists) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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Behavioral Reports and Employees with Predictive Success
Today we are joined by Jason Taylor, he is the Principle of Predictive Success and President of Jet Coaching and Consulting. Predictive Success offers the Predictive Index talent optimization platform with a behavioral assessment that asks 2 questions and provides a behavioral report on that person. This helps business owners understand their employee's strengths and weaknesses more and their fit within their organization. We talk about how this is applicable to a business and do an assessment live on the show.
For a free role assessment and feedback email jtaylor@predictivesuccess.com
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Marketing Metrics and Practices with Intrigue Media
Today we are joined by Rob Murray of Intrigue Media, a marketing agency that specializes in the landscape industry. We talk about marketing metrics and practices for websites, paid ads on Google and Facebook, and what to look for in a good marketer.
For Intrigue's Sales and Lead Tracker email robert@intrigueme.ca
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4 Types of Capital with Greg Crabtree
Today we are joined by Greg Crabtree, he is the author of Simple Numbers and Simple Numbers 2.0. We talk about the current market sentiment, 4 types of capital, and Labor Efficiency Ratio.
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With Growth Comes Risk with Cycle CPA
Today we are joined by Cycle CPA to talk about GROWTH! Joseph from Cycle CPA talks about building inefficiencies that come with growth into your budget, divisional Profit and Loss Statements, overhead salaries, and fixed monthly costs.
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A Conversation on Overhead Recovery with SynkedUP
Today we are joined by Weston Zimmerman, co-founder and CEO of SynkedUp. We sit down to talk about our opinions on various Overhead Recovery Systems among several other Budgeting and Estimating based topics.
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#IAmaHardscaper: Chris of Yanton's Outdoor Living and Perma Paver Edging
Today we are joined by Chris of Yanton's Outdoor Living and Perma Paver Edging (@PermaEdge) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
Listen to the Perma Paver Edging Episode
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#IAmaHardscaper: Thy and Cody of Angkorscape
Today we are joined by Thy and Cody of Angkorscape (@Angkorscape) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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Starting a Second Business with Growing Green Landscapes
Today we talk with Jeremiah Jennings of Growing Green Landscapes and the Growing Green Podcast about is landscaping business and his decision to start a new bin cleaning business.
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Marketing Part 3: Making Content for Your Client Avatar
Today we talk about how to make content specifically targeting your client avatar. In this episode we discuss how to create content that is tailored to address certain points about your client avatar and how to craft an offer for your client.
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Industry Benchmark Percentages with Cycle CPA
Today we have our friends at Cycle CPA back on the show for a takeover episode where they talk about industry benchmarks for a variety of Key Performance Indicators such as Gross Profit Margins, Direct Labor, Return on Investment, and so many more!
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Marketing Part 2: Where to Find Your Client Avatar
Today we talk about where to find your client avatar. In this episode we discuss how to find our client avatar online and offline and the for different types of clients and prioritize them by the most efficient way to bring leads into your business.
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New Line of Outdoor Lighting with BOLD
Today we talk with Lee from BOLD on the recent changes to launching a new line of outdoor lighting products and how hardscapers can implement lighting into their designs and sell them to their clients.
Marketing Part 1: Creating a Client Avatar
Today we talk about creating a client avatar in our part one of marketing series. In this episode we discuss all of the aspects we should list out to create a client avatar and how this information is going to help us target and talk to that potential client.
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#IAmaHardscaper Round Table Rally: End of Year 2023
Today we are joined by six returning guests for another #IAmaHardscaper Round Table Rally talking about their 2023 year end.
Sheller of @shelleroutdoorliving and Backyard Conversations Podcast
Tony of @zamcogroup
Andy of @mulderoutdoors and The Mulder Life Podcast
Chris of @threeseasonslandscapes
Shane of @royalstonemasonry87
Chuck of @dtelandscapingco
Mike of @howtohardscape and @iamahardscaper
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#IAmaHardscaper: Dylan of Landscaping With Dylan
Today we are joined by Dylan of Landscaping With Dylan (@Landscaping_With_Dylan) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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End of Year Wrap Up 2023 | Know Your WORTH
On today’s episode we wrap up 2023 with a variety of guest appearances that discuss the topic of knowing your numbers or in this case knowing your WORTH.
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End of Year Wrap Up 2023 | Personality, Growth, and Recuring Revenue
On today’s episode we wrap up 2023 with a variety of guest appearances that discuss business owner personality, growth in the business and struggles, selling a business, and recurring revenue models in the hardscape industry.
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Do NOT Listen to Other Business' Numbers
On today’s episode we talk about other business' numbers and why they may not apply to your business. We talk about how businesses can manipulate their profit percentage and why material markup percentages may not apply to your business.
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Marketing in 2024
On today’s episode we talk about marketing in 2024 to get leads if the market continues to dry up and how we plan to capture more leads for less money.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: One Thing You Wish You Had Known 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering what is one thing you know now that you wish you had known from the beginning?
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: Installation and Equipment 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering what are some installation practices or equipment and tools in your business that you live by?
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HNA 2023 Recap
Today we talk about HNA - Hardscape North America 2023 and the importance of attending this event. We interview a handful of hardscapers on why they attend each year. We also talk to my wife as well and what stood out to her on the trip.
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#IAmaHardscaper: Mike from I Am a Hardscaper
Today we are joined by Mike Pletz of I Am a Hardscaper (@IAmaHardscaper) and How to Hardscape (@HowtoHardscape) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: Horror Stories 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering what is a horror story that they have experienced in their business. The reason why we ask this to every guest is to help prepare current and future business owners for what may happen in their business and possibly put safeguards in place to help prevent these stories from happening to them.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: Proposals and Payments 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering what is included in their proposals and what their payment structure looks like.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: The Initial Consultation 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering what they do and ask on the initial consultation with a client.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: Do You Charge for Consultations? 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering whether or not they charge for consultations.
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#IAmaHardscaper Mashup: Leads and Prequalification 2023 Edition
On today’s episode we mashup previous #IAmaHardscaper interviews with hardscape business owners answering where their leads are coming from and how they prequalify a client prior to scheduling a consultation.
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#IAmaHardscaper: James of Affordable Patio
Today we are joined by James of Affordable Patio (@Precision_AffordablePatio) and Road to 100Ms (@Roadto100Ms) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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#IAmaHardscaper Round Table with Lilley LLC and Royal Stone and Masonry
Today we are joined by two returning guests including Adam from Lilley LLC (@lilleyllc) and Shane from Royal Stone and Masonry (@royalstonemasonry87) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Round Table.
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Retail to Entrepreneurship and Talking HNA / EQUIP with LCR Media
Today we are joined by Naylor Taliaferro of the LCR Media Podcast and Clean Cut Lawn Care Services to talk about his story to becoming a business owner, as well as HNA and EQUIP Expo and what to look forward to there.
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Quoting a Front Walkway with Paver King, The Landscape Daddy, and I Am a Hardscaper (Not Our Finest Hour Podcast Feature)
Today we feature an episode of the Not Our Finest Hour Podcast (@notourfinesthourpodcast) with Paver King (@paver_king), The Landscape Daddy (@thelandscapedaddy), and I Am a Hardscaper (@iamahardscaper) where we each quote a front walkway using our own methods and compare the results at the end.
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Financial Coaching with John Pajak
Today we talk with John Pajak, he is the host of the Profits with Pajak Podcast and has several resources and workshops available talking about knowing your numbers in your business. We talk about his history in the industry from a failed business to a successful one and overhead recovery systems.
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Instagram Live on Search Engine Optimization and AI
Today we hop on Instagram Live to take audience questions which led us to discussing Search Engine Optimization and AI.
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#IAmaHardscaper: Shane of Royal Stone and Masonry
Today we are joined by Shane of Royal Stone Masonry (@RoyalStoneMasonry87) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
#IAmaHardscaper: Stephen of Lisk Landscape Innovations
Today we are joined by Stephen Lisk of Lisk Landscape Innovations (@StephenLisk) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
#IAmaHardscaper: Mark of Green Monster Landscapes
Today we are joined by Mark of Green Monster Landscapes (@GreenMonsterLandscapes) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
Overhead Recovery Systems and How I Quote
Today we talk about overhead recovery systems and how I quote projects to ensure that I make what I need to in order to thrive as a business owner.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
Analysis of MORS and Overhead Recovery Systems with Jim Huston
Today we are joined by Jim Huston. He is a consultant for contractors, associations, manufacturers, and vendors on management in the Green Industry. He joins us to talk about the various overhead recovery system methods.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
5 Stages of Growth with Jim Huston
Today we are joined by Jim Huston. He is a consultant for contractors, associations, manufacturers, and vendors on management in the Green Industry. He joins us to talk about the 5 stages of growth for a contractor.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
Solutions to Overcoming Struggles with Jeffrey Scott
Today we are joined by Jeffrey Scott, he is a coach and consultant in the landscaping industry and host of The Ultimate Landscape CEO Podcast. We talk about struggles and hurdles of a business owner and how to overcome them as well as overhead recovery systems.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291
Cycle CPA Takeover Talking Chart of Accounts
Today we are joined by Carla and Joe of Cycle CPA (@Cycle_CPA) as they take over the How to Hardscape Podcast to talk accounting principles including the Chart of Accounts.
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#IAmaHardscaper: Jake of JFS Property Care
Today we are joined by Jake of JFS Property Care (@JFSPropertyCare) for another episode in the #IAmaHardscaper Series.
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GPS Trackit or call 866-693-1291