Vince Torchia and I were talking recently about why some companies hit their growth goals while others fall short. The issue isn't usually the goals themselves - it's the milestones leading up to them.
At Grunder Landscaping Co., we're finalizing our 2027 plans right now. That might sound early, but there are specific things we need to do in 2025 to make 2027 possible.
Companies set ambitious goals all the time: we want to add commercial snow removal, open a second location, expand into hardscaping. But they don't map out the multi-year runway these initiatives actually require.
As Vince puts it: "You can't just be in Cincinnati in year ten." If you want to operate from a new branch location in year ten, here's what needs to happen first:
Want to be heavy into commercial snow in five years? You need to start building that capability in year three. Start developing relationships, securing equipment, and training crews.
Start with your ten-year vision. If you're going to be a $35 million company with three branch locations, you need to know which markets you're targeting by year six or seven.
Then work backward: 10 years to 5 years to 3 years to 1 year. The key is identifying what must happen when, so you're not surprised when year ten arrives and you're nowhere near ready.
These projections will change, and that's okay. Most companies hit their ten-year plans by year eight or nine anyway. What matters is being wrong in a way that doesn't surprise you. You’re making conscious choices to adjust course rather than drifting unconsciously away from your goals.
If you planned for three branches but decide two markets are enough, that's fine. If you planned to be all commercial work but ended up all residential without meaning to, those numbers won't add up. You'll need to adjust your plans as you go to fit reality as you make real world decisions.
Haven't done this kind of planning before? That's okay - there was a time when we hadn't either. In a perfect world, you'd finish this in July or August. But now beats January, and January beats never.
If you'd like to dive deeper into strategic planning and hear from other landscaping business owners who've navigated similar growth challenges, join us at GROW! 2026 in Dallas this February. We'll have breakout sessions dedicated to strategy and the puzzle pieces that need to be in place for successful strategic planning. We'll also tour Complete Landsculpture and see how they've brought their company strategy to life in their Dallas, TX facility.
We'll talk to you next week.
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.