The Beer Garden

10 Things to Consider When Choosing a CRM

If your “CRM” is a stack of sticky notes, a chaotic spreadsheet, or just whatever’s rattling around in your brain, this episode is for you.
In this Beer Garden listicle episode, we’re diving into the top 10 things you should look for when picking a CRM for your landscape or snow removal business. Whether you’re making your first leap into software or realizing your current platform is more headache than help, we’re breaking down what actually matters.
🛠️ Not all CRMs are created equal, especially in our industry. From mobile usability and scheduling to automation and integrations, we’ll help you cut through the noise and figure out what will actually make your day-to-day easier.
What We Cover:
Industry-Specific Features – Why you probably need a Field Service Management tool, not just a CRM.
Ease of Use & Mobile Accessibility – If your crew can’t use it from the truck, it’s not the right one.
Estimating & Proposals – Win more jobs, faster.
Customer & Job Tracking – One place for all your customer info (no more hunting for notes).
Scheduling & Dispatching – Real-time updates and drag-and-drop simplicity.
Invoicing & Payments – Get paid faster and stop chasing money.
Integrations – How to avoid getting trapped in a software silo.
Automation & Workflows – Work smarter, not harder.
Reporting & Analytics – Track what matters, tweak what doesn’t.
Pricing & Scalability – Pick a platform that won’t break the bank—or your brain.
Plus, we’ll talk about implementation best practices, common pitfalls, and how to actually get your team to use the CRM you pick.
The Beverages:
Crown Float : Guinness & Strongbow
Outer Range Brewing : Cosmic Sauce
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roundtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Your Growth Plan is Backwards (Let's Fix It)

It’s a new year, and you’re probably thinking about how to grow your business. But before you throw all your budget at Facebook ads or slap another sign on your truck, it’s time for a little strategy. In this episode of The Beer Garden, Jason introduces a concept he created called the Revenue Growth Pyramid—a smarter framework for growing your landscape or snow removal business.
This episode is all about working with what you’ve already got and stacking your growth efforts in the right order:
🧱 Base – Customer Retention: Stop the leaky bucket. Keep the customers you’ve already earned.📈 Middle – Revenue Per Customer: Maximize value with upsells, cross-sells, and premium offerings.🎯 Top – New Customer Acquisition: Bring in new clients, but only after you’ve built the foundation.
Here’s What We Cover:
🔨 Retention First:Make your business sticky. From personal connections to professional onboarding and measuring retention metrics—this segment is packed with tactics that keep customers around for the long haul.
💰 Revenue Per Customer:You’re already on site—are you maximizing each visit? We talk about how to expand your offering, price correctly, and add services without overwhelming your ops team.
📢 New Customer Acquisition (Finally):When it’s time to grow the top of the pyramid, we share proven ways to attract the right customers—from referrals and email campaigns to door hangers and paid ads.
🍻 Speed Round:Our favorite resources, biggest wins, and blunders to avoid when growing your revenue—like skipping straight to new customers while your existing ones slip away. (Don't do that.)
This episode is for any contractor who wants to grow profitably and sustainably—not just faster. So grab a beer, tune in, and start stacking your growth the smart way.
 
The Beverages:
Crown Float : Guinness & Strongbow
Sierra Nevada : Hazy Little Thing IPA
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Hiring in a Competitive Market

The landscaping industry’s labor shortage isn’t getting any better, and let’s be honest—throwing a “Help Wanted” magnet on your truck isn’t going to cut it anymore.
In this episode of The Beer Garden, we’re digging into strategies for hiring in a competitive market—because let’s face it, you can’t scale your business without the right people. Whether you’re a seasoned hiring pro or just desperate to fill a role yesterday, this episode has something for you.
What’s Inside:
🌎 Understanding the Labor Market – No, it’s not just “kids these days don’t want to work.” We’ll break down what’s really going on in the job market and why landscapers are struggling to find employees.
🏆 The Role of Company Culture – Want to attract top talent? Your culture matters more than you think. We’ll share real-world examples of how a great company culture keeps employees happy (and on payroll).
📢 Recruitment Strategies That Actually Work – Posting a job ad and praying is not a strategy. We’ll cover creative recruiting tactics like hiring bonuses, social media outreach, recruiting from other industries, and even multilingual hiring.
📚 Addressing the Skills Gap – Hiring is one thing, but training is another. Learn how to develop employees from entry-level to leadership roles, while keeping your business running smoothly.
🛠️ Streamlining the Hiring Process – If you’re tired of sorting through unqualified applicants, we’ll discuss how an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can save you time, speed up hiring, and keep your sanity intact.
🔮 The Future of Landscaping Employment – What’s coming next in hiring? We’ll talk about trends like automation, sustainability, and what the industry might look like in the next 5-10 years.
Finding good help isn’t impossible—you just need the right approach. Tune in to The Beer Garden and get the hiring strategies you need to build an all-star team.
 
The Beverages:
Gin & Tonic: Burwood Distillery Spiced Apple Gin
Shelter Point Distillery Classic Single Malt Whisky
 
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

2025 Annual State of the Landscape & Snow Industry

Welcome back to The Beer Garden! After a well-earned holiday break (and maybe one too many seasonal beers), we’re kicking off 2025 with our Annual State of the Industry episode. We’re diving into Lawn & Landscape Magazine’s industry report to see what’s sprouting, what’s wilting, and what’s straight-up getting overrun by weeds this year.
What’s Inside:
🍻 Industry Confidence – Are contractors feeling bullish about 2025, or are they stockpiling trimmer line and hoping for the best?
📈 Growth Opportunities & Risks – Where should you focus your energy this year? And what’s lurking in the bushes waiting to trip you up?
💰 Most Profitable Revenue Streams – What’s bringing in the most green? We’ll break down where the big money is in the industry.
🔮 Predictions for 2025 – Will robots finally mow lawns for us? Will a new fad sweep the industry? We take a look at what’s coming next.
We’re here to give you the facts, the trends, and maybe even a few hot takes about what’s ahead in 2025. So grab a drink, settle in, and let’s talk shop!
 
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Master Your Sales Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Growth

In this episode of The Beer Garden, we’re breaking down the process of building an effective sales plan for your landscaping or snow removal business. Whether you’re aiming for steady growth or gearing up for your best year yet, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you plan, track, and achieve your sales goals with confidence.
What’s Inside:
Segment 1: Setting a Realistic End Target
Understanding Capacity: Learn how to calculate capacity based on crew members, billable hours, and charge rates.
Evaluating Resources: Assess equipment, overhead, and opportunities in your market to ensure your target is achievable.
Seasonal Considerations: Explore how year-round contracts and seasonal work affect your capacity and goals.
Segment 2: Building the Plan
Start with Metrics: Use data from past performance, including lead conversion, sales ratios, and average job size, to guide your planning.
Break Down Goals: Create monthly revenue targets, then calculate the number of leads, estimates, and jobs needed to hit those goals.
Science Over Guesswork: Replace guesswork with a systematic, data-driven approach to sales planning.
Segment 3: Understanding and Adjusting Your Plan
Tracking Progress: Set up a system to track leads, estimates, booked jobs, and revenue to measure progress in real-time.
Adjusting as Needed: Learn how to adapt your strategy if you’re off target, whether it’s increasing jobs or rebalancing capacity.
Avoiding Pitfalls: Stay flexible and proactive to prevent overselling or underutilizing your crews and equipment.
Last Call: Speed Round
Best Resources: Recommendations for further reading and tools to enhance your sales planning.
Top Advice: Insights from personal experiences, including the importance of tracking numbers and being prepared.
Biggest Blunders: Lessons learned from common mistakes, like overly optimistic planning and lack of preparation.
A well-constructed sales plan doesn’t just set you up for success—it reduces stress, eliminates guesswork, and positions your business for growth. Tune in to this episode of The Beer Garden to start building a plan that works for you.
 
The Beverages:
Tool Shed Brewing - People Skills
Breckenridge Brewery - Christmas Ale
 
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Sidecar: Implementing An Equipment Maintenance System

In this Sidecar episode of The Beer Garden, we explore how to implement a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to streamline equipment maintenance and improve operational efficiency in your landscaping or snow removal business.
What’s Inside:
We’ll walk through a 5-step process to successfully implement a CMMS:
Assign a Software Owner: Designate a single individual to oversee the implementation process and handle long-term software upkeep.
Assign Unit Numbers: Develop a clear naming convention (e.g., TRK01 for trucks) and label your equipment. Add each piece to the database with its initial meter reading.
Set Up Templates: Create preventive maintenance (PM) and inspection templates, linking them to the relevant equipment. These templates will help track and update meter readings automatically.
Train Your Team: Host a staff training session to ensure everyone knows how to use the system effectively.
Audit Regularly: Periodically audit the system by conducting full equipment inventories and checking for missed inspections or updates.
Implementing a CMMS can feel daunting, but by breaking it down into actionable steps, you can build a system that saves time, reduces downtime, and keeps your business running smoothly.

Standardizing Equipment: A Smarter Way to Operate

In this episode of The Beer Garden, we’re diving into a topic that can transform how you run your landscaping or snow removal business: the importance of standardizing your equipment. From deciding when to buy, rent, or lease to choosing the right tools and streamlining operations, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you save time, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
What’s Inside:
Segment 1: When to Buy
Purchase vs. Rent: Key considerations like usage frequency, storage, and maintenance costs.
New vs. Used: The pros and cons of each option, including depreciation, fleet programs, and resale value.
Leasing Benefits: How leasing can provide flexibility and potential tax advantages.
Segment 2: What to Buy
Dealer Support and Maintenance: Why reliable dealer support matters and how to evaluate maintenance needs.
Cost and Resale Value: Choosing equipment that maximizes cost-per-hour and holds value.
Impact on Utilization: How equipment size and complexity affect crew productivity and training.
Segment 3: The Power of Standardization
Streamlining Training: Why using the same equipment across your team simplifies onboarding and skill development.
Easier Repairs and Maintenance: How standardizing reduces downtime and ensures you always have the right parts on hand.
Fleet Pricing and Efficiency: Saving money with bulk purchases and optimizing your trucks and trailers for standardized equipment.
Standardizing your equipment isn’t just about convenience—it’s about running a more efficient, cost-effective, and scalable business. Tune in to this episode of The Beer Garden to learn how to make smarter decisions about your equipment and operations.
 
The Beverages:
Fernie Brewing Co. - Project 9 Pils
Ol' Beautiful Brewing Co. - Okami Kasu
Shiner - Holiday Cheer
Copper Kettle Brewing - Mocha Snowed In
 
Get in touch: 
Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders Roudtable
Facebook Page: IssueID
Youtube: The Beer Garden
Instagram: IssueID
Website: IssueID.io
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Sidecar: Organized for Success - Using Org Charts to Plan for Growth

In this short Sidecar episode of The Beer Garden, we dive into a powerful strategic planning tool for owners and operators of landscape/snow businesses: the organizational chart. We’ll walk through how you can leverage an org chart not only to understand your current structure, but also to project and plan for future growth.
What You’ll Learn:
Build Your Current Org Chart: Begin by mapping out all the roles and responsibilities currently in place, giving you a clear snapshot of your business today.
Set Your Revenue Target: Identify your next revenue goal and use that number to determine how many crews—and what supporting staff—you’ll need to achieve it.
Scale Up Strategically: Understand how to break down the revenue potential of each crew, and then add the necessary roles (e.g., production manager, office manager) that support your target revenue.
Define Roles & Responsibilities: Write high-level deliverables and accountabilities for every position in your future org chart, ensuring clarity and alignment before assigning names to roles.
Assigning the Right People: Only after the structure and expectations are set should you place the right individuals in the right seats.
Hybrid Roles & Real-World Examples: As you grow, learn how to use hybrid roles to maintain flexibility, hear tips on what to avoid, and explore examples that illustrate how effective org charts drive sustainable growth.
Tune in for tangible, actionable steps that will help you create a clear blueprint for building the team you need to hit your next big revenue milestone.