The Beer Garden

Transitioning From Residential to Commercial Customers

In this episode of The Beer Garden, we dive into the shift from residential to commercial and homeowners association (HOA) customers—a move that can elevate your business but requires a strategic approach. Whether you're thinking about expanding your client base or have already started the transition, this episode provides practical advice and insights to guide you through the process. We cover:
Understanding the Transition: Explore the motivations behind making this shift and what you should know before taking the plunge into the commercial and HOA market.
Standardizing Your Offering: Learn how to tailor your services to meet the specific needs of commercial and HOA clients, including the importance of consistency, reliability, and transparency.
Building Relationships with Property Managers and Boards: Discover how to establish and nurture key relationships with property managers and HOA boards, which are critical to securing and maintaining commercial contracts.
Implementing a Site Management System: Understand the role of a site management system in tracking, managing, and delivering on complex contracts, and how it can streamline your operations for commercial and HOA properties.
Join us in The Beer Garden as we share actionable tips and strategies for successfully expanding into the commercial and HOA market, ensuring a smooth transition and positioning your business for growth.
 
The Beverages:
Four Dogs Brewing CO - Friday's German (Pointer) Pilsner
Bierstadt Lagerhaus - Oktoberfest
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

12 Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs with Benji Carlson

In this special episode of The Beer Garden, we’re joined by our very first guest, Benji Carlson—a powerhouse in the world of contracting. Benji built a successful College Pro Painters franchise, where he gained recognition for managing the network’s most productive team. He then went on to help over 1,500 contractors across North America as the Assessment Specialist & Content Lead at Breakthrough Academy. Currently, he’s the host of the Contractor Evolution Podcast, where he’s interviewed renowned high performers like Chris Voss, Luke Hansen, Tommy Mello, Mark Bradley, and Kory Ballard. In this conversation, Benji shares the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs, offering insights you can apply to elevate your own business game.
Here’s what we discuss:
•Mastering time and priority management to maximize productivity.
•Building a clear, detailed vision to guide every decision.
•Committing to self-education and—most importantly—self-implementation.
•Creating a strong employer brand and scalable hiring systems.
•Exercising patience with growth and staying focused on long-term success.
•Adopting tech wisely, avoiding the trap of shiny object syndrome.
•Investing in brand to create a lasting impression.
•Embracing mindset work and personal development.
•Viewing themselves as entrepreneurs first, beyond their trade.
•Developing laser focus on critical areas.
•Staying actively involved as business drivers.
•Building a robust implementation muscle or assembling a team to bring ideas to life.
Join us as we explore these transformative habits and hear insights from Benji’s extensive experience in helping shape successful entrepreneurs. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let’s dive into what makes a great entrepreneur in The Beer Garden.
Connect with Benji:
Breakthrough Academy: https://www.btacademy.com/
Contractor Evolution: https://www.btacademy.com/contractor-evolution/
The Beverages:
Corona Extra
Pineapple Bubly
Great Divide - Titan IPA
Book Recommendations:
Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
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

5 Tactics to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

In this episode of The Beer Garden, we break down five powerful tactics that can help your landscaping or snow removal business capture the attention of potential customers and stand out from the competition. Whether you're looking to attract new clients or sharpen your sales approach, these strategies will give you the edge you need. Here's what we'll cover:
Overhaul Your Proposal Package: Learn how to refresh your proposals to make a lasting impression, ensuring they stand out and reflect the quality of your services.
Master Responsiveness: Discover why quick and effective communication is a game-changer for winning business and how to streamline your responsiveness.
Lean Into Your Strengths: Explore how to focus on what your company does best and communicate that effectively to potential clients.
Know Your Competitors & Sell On Your Differentiators: Understand your competition inside and out, and use this knowledge to highlight what makes your business unique.
Build Your Brand: Dive into branding essentials and why creating a memorable, consistent brand can be the difference-maker for long-term success.
Tune in for actionable insights that will help you boost your sales approach and position your business for growth. Grab a beer and join us in The Beer Garden for this valuable discussion!
Get in touch:Facebook Group: The Beer Garden: Landscape Leaders RoudtableFacebook Page: IssueIDYoutube: The Beer GardenInstagram: IssueIDWebsite: IssueID.ioEmail: thebeergarden@issueid.io

Winter Is Coming

In this episode of The Beer Garden, we’re getting ready for the winter season by diving into the essential steps every landscaping and snow removal professional should be taking to ensure they’re fully prepped. As the cold months approach, it's critical to stay ahead of the game with a solid plan in place. We’ll cover:
How to build and maintain a comprehensive seasonal prep checklist to keep operations running smoothly.
The importance of pre-season site inspections and setup, so you're prepared for any winter weather challenge.
Creating an efficient staffing plan to ensure you have the right people in the right places when winter hits.
Aligning customer expectations to ensure clear communication and satisfaction all season long.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the industry, these insights will help you master the art of winter preparation. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us in The Beer Garden for this essential winter readiness guide!
 
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

Lessons From The Music Industry

In this episode, Jason shares his journey in the music industry during a time of massive disruption and draws parallels from that experience to the landscape industry. He shares how his experience in the music industry—touring, recording, and sharing the stage with bands like Imagine Dragons, Awolnation, and Motley Crue—has shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and influenced his approach to the landscaping and snow removal industry.
Tune in as Jason and Brandon dive into the parallels between the two industries, discussing how the disruption of music by streaming services mirrors the technological changes facing landscaping today. From the importance of adapting to new market realities to the power of recurring revenue, this episode is packed with insights for landscapers looking to grow their businesses.
Segment Breakdown:
Introductions & Backstory
The guys introduce their beers and discuss Jason's backstory in the music industry. Specifically, they cover the massive disruption that took place when streaming technology was introduced.
Be Willing to Adapt
Jason reflects on the shift from the "Big 6" record labels to the "Big 3" and how the music industry players who failed to adapt were left behind. This leads to a discussion on parallels in the landscaping industry, where new technologies like AI, robotics, and electric tools are disrupting traditional practices. Are we ready for these changes, or are we falling into the same trap?
Key Takeaway: The landscape industry is on the brink of disruption—those who don’t adapt may be left behind.
Technologies discussed: Digital mapping, electric tools, AI, and robotics.
Know Your Customer & Focus on Their Needs
Convenience is king. Jason shares an anecdote from his music career about how consumers don’t care about your business model—they want what’s easy. The conversation turns to how landscapers can apply this mindset, with tips on improving customer experience, from online schedulers to proactive bidding.
Key Takeaway: Speed and convenience can win customers in landscaping, just like it did in the music industry.
Strategies: Online scheduling, speed-to-lead, and using video presentations.
Recurring Revenue Wins
Jason explains how the music industry shifted from selling albums to a subscription-based model, creating a steady stream of recurring revenue. In landscaping, a business model based on recurring services can dramatically increase the value of a company.
Key Takeaway: Recurring revenue gives peace of mind and increases business valuations. Discussion on why businesses with recurring revenue streams are valued higher.
Increase Revenue Per Customer
The shift from relying on album sales to monetizing tours, merchandise, and licensing provides lessons for landscaping businesses looking to cross-sell additional services. Jason and Brandon explore how cross-selling can increase revenue per customer and discuss how their companies—ACA and LBN—are applying this model.
Key Takeaway: Diversifying revenue streams through cross-selling can lead to significant growth at a lower cost than acquiring new customers. Focus on building the bottom layers of the growth pyramid (retention and revenue per customer) before moving on to the top layer (customer acquisition).
 
Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a seat, and join us for this episode packed with stories and actionable business insights!
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

How to Price Your Services

Pricing your services can make or break your landscape or snow removal business. In this episode of The Beer Garden, we dive deep into the strategies and challenges of setting the right price. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this episode covers everything from knowing your numbers, to comparing cost based, competitor based, and value based pricing. Tune in for practical advice, real-world examples, and tips to help you become more profitable. Grab a beer and join us for a candid conversation on how to price your services the right way!

Welcome to the Beer Garden

Often times when you're stuck in the day to day grind, it can be hard to remember why we do what we do, and even harder to envision the payoff ahead.
In this debut episode of The Beer Garden, hosts Brandon Comstock & Jason Hoke share stories from their journey in the landscape and snow industry and set the tone for episodes to come.
New episodes out every Friday.
 
Connect with us:
Facebook Group: /thebeergardenlandscape
Facebook Page: /issueid
Instagram: /issue_id
Email: thebeergarden@issueid.io

The Beer Garden Teaser

The Beer Garden is the landscape industry podcast that lasts as long as it takes to enjoy your favorite beverage(s). Created by landscapers, for landscapers, we’re here to dig deep into the roots of our industry, sharing a brew and the best-kept secrets of the trade. Pull up a seat and join the conversation!