Spring-Green Blog

Green Business Trends: Why We Chose to Add a Franchise

Background: Friends and business partners Steve Downin and Jeff Rocker were looking for a way to create a sustainable stream of income that would provide security and opportunity for them in retirement. Downin owned Right-of-Way-Turf-Ornamental in Columbus, Indiana, while Rocker owned a law firm, Beck Rocker PC. Problem: The two business partners had successful businesses on their own, but each was looking for more. “We wanted a supplement to the incomes created from our other businesses that would provide an almost annuity-like stream we can build on into the future,” […]

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Spring-Green Named in Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100

For 11 years in a row, Spring-Green Lawn Care has been named to Lawn & Landscape’s 2016 Top 100 List of the largest landscape companies in North America. Spring-Green was ranked 26th on the list based on 2015 revenues. The total revenue for 2015 earned by all of the companies on the Top 100 list totaled $8,445,782,868. That number represents an increase of five percent over the previous year. The Top 100 List was compiled in May and included 96 companies in 30 states and four firms in Canada. This year’s list was […]

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5 Characteristics of a Successful Family Business

It may not be your first goal when you start a family business, but you probably harbor hopes of passing on a successful operation to your children someday. Creating a legacy like this can be immensely satisfying, but it isn’t always easy. In fact, the Family Business Institute researched family businesses and found that only 30 percent carry on into a second generation, 12 percent into a third and just 3 percent are still in existence into a fourth generation and beyond. How can you defy the odds to create […]

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State of Landscape and Green Businesses Report

To understand the future of landscape and green businesses, we surveyed business owners from across the country about their goals and challenges. While the sizes of the companies, and their years in business varied, the majority shared common objectives such as increasing the long-term value of their business and creating a recurring revenue stream. Read on to learn where the future is headed. Goals and plans For many lawn care businesses, the economic downturn of 2007-2008 seems to be slowly fading from view. Only 27 percent of the respondents mentioned […]

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Legacy Planning—Are You Ready for Retirement?

It may strike many as counterintuitive, but when it comes to starting a new business you should already be thinking about your exit plan. Whether your hope is to one day pass your business on to a family member or simply make the most profit from selling it so you can enjoy a comfortable retirement, your business is a valuable asset that can work for you when you plan properly. According to the Family Business Alliance, 80 to 90 percent of North American businesses are family enterprises, both large […]

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Labor Crisis Continues for Landscapers

The latest statistics on green businesses indicate that one of the biggest issues facing lawn care companies is employment. If it’s not finding the most qualified person for the job, it’s retaining employees in such a competitive environment. According to Lawn & Landscape, more than half (56 percent) of lawn care companies have open positions. So if you haven’t dealt with this issue yet, odds are strong you will have to at some point in the near future. Hiring qualified employees So what will you do when faced with the […]

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Green Business Tips—5 Ways to Increase the Profitability of Your Business

A lawn care business can be very profitable, but the secret to that success is having a mix of additional services that can be performed at the same time as a lawn application. If you want to increase your profitability, encouraging customers to add additional services will go a long way in boosting your business’s bottom line. For instance, some additional services have material costs of as little as three percent. Meanwhile your labor cost is incremental if you are already there performing a service. When you have multiple services […]

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Spring-Green Celebrates the Earth Every Day

At Spring-Green Lawn Care, we feel like every day is Earth Day. But to honor our planet on April 22 and beyond, we are recognizing the positive benefits of the services that we provide. For instance, properly maintained green spaces can help reduce soil erosion, lower temperatures and improve air quality. To learn more about how green spaces benefit our environment, visit Project Evergreen. Spring-Green stays green Spring-Green’s support of the environment truly runs deep. That is why for the past six years, Spring-Green has contributed $10,000 per year to […]

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Spring-Green Welcomes Newest Franchise Owner Marty Amundson

Spring-Green Lawn Care is proud to announce a new franchise owner, Marty Amundson of Green Edge Lawn Services in Rochester and Winona, Minnesota. Amundson started Green Edge Lawn Services in 2002 to supplement his work as a farmer. But in looking ahead, he was interested in a more sound means of planning for his and his family’s future, and eventually his retirement. “I wanted to have control and be my own boss and have the flexibility to spend more time with my kids and wife.” “I wanted to have control […]

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Adding Complementary Services to Your Green Business Increases Profitability

When it comes to lawn care there are many different levels of service offerings that green industry business owners start with. Maybe you have handled residential or commercial mowing only, or perhaps you have offered design/build, lawn renovation, or landscape design. No matter what your green industry business currently offers, you already understand that by adding the right additional services there’s a good chance you’ll improve both your profitability, customer satisfaction, and customer retention. The key is knowing which services you should choose to expand or diversify. What Are the […]

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