What if “just sod” was the secret to dominating a niche landscape market? In this episode, Tommy Cole sits down with Tom and Dana Groh of Minnesota Sodding Company (MSC) to uncover how they turned a teenage side-hustle into one of the most respected specialty contractors in the Midwest. From firing up equipment on commercial job sites to building pro-level athletic fields—even tackling the legendary Minnesota Twins’ Target Field—the Grohs share how a relentless focus on relationships, a data-driven approach to pricing, and a true team mentality have powered their growth. If you’re looking for real talk on running a people-first business, out-coaching the competition, and navigating the unique challenges of working with your spouse, this is an episode you can’t miss.

Protect relationships; build success through strong teams.

[06:06] Career Growth Through Early Experience
[07:31] Preferred Day: Fieldwork Team Spirit
[10:54] Local Challenges, Distant Successes
[13:21] "Breaking Into Target Field Construction"
[18:55] "Challenge Accepted: Hotel Duck Photo"
[22:30] Discovering Element: Streamlining Operations
[26:04] Adjusting Markets for Profitability
[29:53] "Focus on Work, Not Profit"
[31:48] Impactful Bonus Programs Boost Performance
[36:50] Building Team Relationships
[37:24] Longtime Team as Family
[43:03] Navigating Marriage and Business Together

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are the keys to building strong client and vendor relationships in the landscaping industry?

2. How can you find your niche in the landscaping or lawn care business?

3. What is the importance of revenue per hour as a KPI in landscaping businesses?

4. How do commercial and residential landscaping projects differ?

5. What are effective bonus and profit sharing programs for field crews in service businesses?

6. How can technology and software transform operations and efficiency in landscaping companies?

7. What are some challenges and solutions for bidding on projects outside your local area?

8. What steps should you take to grow a landscaping company from a small startup to handling major commercial contracts?

9. How can you create a culture of teamwork and low turnover in a small or medium-sized service business?

Think running a landscape company with your spouse is a recipe for disaster? Think again. Kerry and Jill Cline are living proof that partnership—at work and at home—can become your biggest business superpower. This candid conversation peels back the curtain on how they built C&S Lawn Service & Landscaping: from passing out flyers as a teenager to scaling up with peer support, adopting game-changing software, and building a culture of accountability and trust. Find out what it takes to get out of your own way, empower your team, and finally move from chaos to control, no matter how long you’ve been “too busy” to change.

Growth comes from learning and taking action.

[04:09] Building a Business Beyond Friends
[08:00] Family Business Decision
[11:16] Streamlining Hiring and Organization
[14:59] Trust and Financial Clarity
[16:58] Hiring Smarter Mentors for Growth
[20:34] Inaction Despite Learning
[24:32] "Software Adoption Success Story"
[28:59] Team-Centric Financial Transparency
[30:20] "Aligning Personal and Professional Goals"
[34:13] Empowering Teams through Management
[37:30] "Elevate Through Mentorship"

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are the benefits of joining a business peer group?

2. How can husband and wife successfully run a business together?

3. When should I hire a fractional CFO for my small business?

4. How do I transition from working in my business to working on my business?

5. What is open book management, and should I use it in my company?

6. How do I build a strong company culture in the landscape industry?

7. What’s the best way to implement systems and processes in a small business?

8. What are some challenges of hiring friends and family in your business?

Think marketing is just about flashy ads and social media posts? Think again. In this special two-year anniversary episode of Roots of Success, host Tommy Cole sits down with marketing mastermind John Dalton to celebrate the two year anniversary of the show and expose the real secrets behind building a thriving landscape brand. From their own stories of podcast mishaps and hard-won lessons, to John’s 7 C’s marketing framework, this episode is packed with priceless advice owners and execs can put to work right away. Whether you’re wrestling with a scattered marketing plan or simply looking to refine your company’s image, you’ll hear actionable strategies for clarifying your message, reaching your ideal clients, and fueling long-term growth.

Marketing starts with clarity and knowing customers.

[08:22] Celebrating Success with Prosecco
[10:36] Understanding Marketing's Complexity
[14:30] Landscaping Marketing Framework Initiative
[19:35] Business Cohesion and Evaluation Framework
[22:18] Brand Consistency Through Visuals
[24:08] Clarifying Business Vision Challenges
[29:25] Enhancing Communication and Strategy Planning
[33:12] Social Media: Time vs. Necessity
[36:03] Team Focus Boosts Landscape Marketing
[38:37] Social Media's Role in Business Relationships
[42:49] Prioritize Expertise and Marketing

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are the essential steps for creating a marketing plan for a landscaping business?

2. How can landscaping companies identify their ideal customer profile?

3. What are common marketing mistakes small businesses make?

4. How do you build a strong brand identity in the landscaping industry?

5. What is a fractional CMO and how can they help small businesses?

6. What is the role of social media in recruiting employees for landscaping companies?

7. What are the best marketing strategies for service-based businesses?

8. How do marketing and sales work together in growing a business?

What if the most rewarding part of growing a landscape business isn’t the lush gardens or high-end installs, but something much deeper? On this episode of Roots of Success, Tommy Cole chats with Adam Dukes, founder of GrandScapes, who pulls back the curtain on his journey from a two-person startup in 2008 to a highly respected Charleston landscape company. Adam reveals what it really takes to build a winning leadership team, how to turn installation clients into lifelong maintenance customers, and why team success is the true driver of growth. Packed with candid stories and actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for owners and leaders ready to level up their business (and their people).

Prioritize your people; success naturally follows.

[04:32] Charleston's Diverse Landscapes
[07:23] Building a Strong Management Team
[12:02] Building Future Business Success
[13:24] Rethinking Plans Amid Distractions
[17:14] Key Metrics & Employee Engagement
[19:06] Empathy Drives Honest Feedback
[22:47] Weekly Recap for Installation Success
[25:56] Cultivating a High-Quality Culture
[31:24] "Focus on Growing Maintenance Division"
[34:56] Empowering Team Growth
[37:36] Team Growth and Future Planning

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. How do I grow a landscaping business from scratch?

2. What are the biggest challenges when starting a landscape company?

3. How can small business owners build an effective leadership team?

4. What is the best way to transition from working in your business to working on your business?

5. How do I promote employees from within my company?

6. How can landscape companies improve communication with clients?

7. How can I train and develop my landscaping team for long-term success?

8. Why is maintenance important for landscape businesses, and how can you grow this segment?

9. What are the benefits of joining business peer groups for company owners?

Are you still running your landscape maintenance crews like it’s 2005—while your competitors leap ahead with data-driven decisions and battery-powered fleets? In this episode, Tommy sits down with Bob Carey, a leader who’s mastered every angle of the business—from gritty field operations to creating scalable systems and jumping into the disruptive world of robotic mowers. Bob breaks down how tracking data, focusing on customer education, and building for capacity have fueled his growth, and he reveals practical advice for hiring, training, and future-proofing your workforce in today’s ever-evolving market.

Systematize, train, and innovate for landscaping success

[05:28] Landscaping Opportunity in Charleston
[08:37] Learn By Doing in the Field
[12:31] Data Tracking for Irrigation Management
[15:49] Home Development and Landscaping Partnership
[18:37] Landscaping Insight and Financial Expertise
[22:17] Creative HOA Cost-Saving Strategy
[28:05] Exciting Career in Autonomous Equipment
[29:46] Coaches and Mentors Enhance Success
[33:14] Three Charging Methods Explained
[38:10] Equipment Purchase Cost Analysis
[40:31] Plan Now for Future Demand
[44:42] Effortless Robot Mower Installation
[48:57] Labor Challenges and Purposeful Growth

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. How do I grow my landscaping business efficiently?

2. What are the benefits of using battery-powered landscaping equipment?

3. What is the best way to train and develop landscape maintenance teams?

4. How do I create scalable systems for my landscaping company?

5. How does data management improve landscaping operations?

6. How can landscape companies increase profitability with technology?

7. What are the challenges and solutions in HOA landscape maintenance?

8. How do you implement a commercial robotic mower in your landscaping business?

Ever wonder how to maneuver the tricky world of family-owned landscaping businesses? Join us as we dive into the captivating journey of Jake Malone from Malone's Landscaping, exploring how second-generation leadership can evolve a company while overcoming the challenges of family dynamics. Discover how Jake and his team have mastered the art of maintaining high-quality installations, leveraging innovative management systems, and expanding into new branches without losing their unique company culture. Whether you're dealing with family business dynamics or considering expansion, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

Trust the process and keep progressing forward.

[04:25] Family Dynamics and Business Mentorship
[08:10] Streamlining Process and Accountability
[10:52] Quality Service with Strong Communication
[15:22] Seasonal Staff Redistribution Strategy
[16:21] "Maintaining Family Business Culture"
[22:00] "End-of-Month Momentum Strategy"
[23:49] Optimizing Operations with Forecasting
[28:10] "Lessons from Difficult Clients"
[31:34] Embrace Pain for Rare Success

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. How can family dynamics impact a family-owned business?

2. What are the benefits of implementing a strong business process in landscaping?

3. How do you maintain quality standards in a landscaping business as it grows?

4. What is the role of sports in developing work ethic and teamwork?

5. How do you handle the transition of a family business to the next generation?

6. What are the challenges of opening a new branch for an existing business?

Have you ever thought about the challenges of transforming a small two-crew landscaping business into a thriving multi-location success? In this episode of "Roots of Success," Tommy Cole sits down with Chase Mullin of Mullin Landscape to uncover the strategic decisions that fueled his company's impressive growth. From leveraging the aftermath of Hurricane Ida to repositioning business focus from residential to commercial projects, Chase shares the pivotal moments that defined Mullin Landscape's journey. Plus, get insights into the power of maintaining a strong company culture while expanding to new locations. Don’t miss Chase’s valuable lessons on balancing growth and quality in the competitive landscaping industry.

Adaptability leads to transformations.

[04:08 "Foundations: Residential to Commercial Evolution"

[07:48] "Team's Transition and Truth"

[12:27] Team Capacity for Expansion

[14:12] Hurricane Ida: Damage and Opportunity

[18:53] Aligning & Motivating Business Leaders

[20:16] Comprehensive Meetings and Reporting

[22:57] Minimalist Open Space Design

Are you thinking long-term in landscaping, or are you trapped in short-term wins? Transform your approach with insights from Gene Freeman of Complete Landsculpture, as he sits down with our host Tommy Cole. Explore the pivotal changes that propelled Complete Landsculpture into a thriving business with a focus on maintenance and leadership development. Whether you're looking to elevate your landscape company's recurring revenue or refine your leadership strategies, this episode is your blueprint to success. Tune in and tune up your business strategy.

Strong leadership and teamwork fuel expansion

[00:00] Maintenance Drives Business Growth
[04:57] Team's Market Diversification Initiative
[08:57] Trust Drives Customer Relationships
[10:51] Developing Talent and Team Growth
[15:42] Monthly Task Prioritization Discussion
[17:51] Wednesday Midweek Meeting Schedule
[19:26] Instant Feedback Fosters Team Growth
[23:07] Profit Sharing Over Bonuses
[27:03] Teamwork Sparks Growth and Improvement
[29:20] Streamlined Crew Task Documentation

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are the benefits of focusing on maintenance in a landscaping business?

2. How can a landscaping company grow its maintenance division?

3. What is the impact of a recession on landscape design and maintenance companies?

4. How to develop a leadership team in the landscaping industry?

5. How does a profit-sharing program benefit landscape company employees?

6. What role does client relationship management play in the landscaping business?

7. How to transition from a design-build model to a maintenance-focused landscaping business?

8. Why is attending industry events beneficial for landscaping companies?