When it comes down to it, we are all here to make money. So, one could raise prices to make a bigger buck. Although, doing so may impact your clientele and have a very negative and unwanted downward effect. There’s a great article, Dollars are in the Details, by Marty Grunder in the October 2015 edition of the Lawn and Landscape magazine. Even though it’s a few years old now, his tips are still worth looking at. Grunder breaks down how to add thousands of dollars to your bottom line into 5 ways.
First:Â Create a Sense of Urgency
Developing a routine for your employees will keep them accountable and represent your expectations. If you are late for work, you don’t work. Having quick morning meetings, filling trucks and loading need tools the night before, and constantly keeping employees updated on project information will lead to less wasted time. Learning to become more efficient will make a drastic difference in your bottom line because employees are getting to the site earlier and more prepared.
Second: Have Clear and Highly Detailed Work Orders.
Every penny you spend on a job is on you. Spend more time budgeting and looking into every detail of a job to save yourself money. Concerns should also reach past finances. Identifying what jobs your employees would be more excited to work on and jobs they prefer not to do is important. Although there is a fine line between meeting your employees desires and doing what is best for the business. Choosing jobs your employees enjoy will increase productivity and company morale. Include photos and have correct pins. Too often landscapers don’t plan well on the front end and pay for it later. Put work orders together with the intention that whoever sold it won’t be available. Detailed work orders don’t cost; they pay.
Third: Load Trucks with Everything You May Need
You lose money when your team loads and unloads tools. Perfecting your truck set up will make a world of a difference. Having to constantly transport and exchange different tools to sites is a waste of time and money. Not only does preparing for a job site eliminate this but having fully stocked trucks that don’t need extra attention is even better. Getting trucks that allow you to do this may be costly initially, although they are a great return on investment. Grunder suggests not picking up trucks off the lot and ordering them custom to better fit your company’s needs.
Fourth: Have Standard Procedures for All that You Do
The key word for this point is, all. There should be a reason behind each and everything you do. Having procedures for everything will set a standard in your company and make you more reliable to customers. Procedures take the guesswork out of things. When your team isn’t guessing, they are working and gathering momentum that turns into dollars. Will rules be broken? Yes, but rules can stretch when needed and provide accountability when broken.
Fifth: Have a Culture of Continuous Improvement
It is an attitude as much as it is a culture. At Wolf Creek, we’re known for our Culture of Curiosity. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve. Being completely behind your company will set an example for your team. Encourage employees to present ideas because in the end, you need all the help you can get to develop a successful business. You can accomplish more working together than trying to improve by yourself.
Now, make the commitment to improve your company!
