Mergers and acquisitions are a hot topic in the landscaping industry right now, and I know one that brings out a lot of opinions. My take: the interest in our industry from private equity groups shows the viability of our businesses, and also provides an off ramp for owners who do want to sell their business. 
 
But whether you're looking to sell now, watching the market for the future, or in it for the long haul there's a lot to be learned from the market that can benefit ALL landscaping companies. Here's the trick: the steps that companies who sell for the highest multiples take to prepare for a sale are ones that all businesses should be taking anyways. They make it easier to get a loan, make companies more profitable, and streamline operations to reduce headaches and improve scalability. 
 
So, whether you're actively looking for an exit or not, it's smart to spend some time implementing the following: 
 

Having Organized, Clean Financial Statements

Having clean financials is incredibly important - you'll need these not only to apply for financing, but it also helps you have a clear grasp on the company's performance. Proper bookkeeping and organizing of costs as a daily management practice is critical. Our recommendation: make financial management a daily activity; not just an end of month activity! 

Use an Industry Specific Software

The best software is the one you use, and you should be using one. While companies can function off of spreadsheets and paper for a while, implementing a software system now will vastly improve scalability. At Grunder Landscaping Co. (GLC), implementing software was a catalyst for growth. It erased unnecessary administrative tasks, allowed us to become much more efficient, and has provided a framework that new team members can easily work within as we grow. 

Hire for Growth

Sometimes you have to take on overhead before you need it if you're trying to grow. We add a new maintenance crew when we know that we can fill at least half their schedule, and then we ask our sales team to step up to fill the second half of that crew's week up. This sometimes means crews working lighter hours for a while, hanging on to old trucks longer than we'd like so we can add a crew, or carrying extra overhead while a salesperson gets ramped up.

Whether you're looking to sell or not, focusing on the steps you can take to make your business more valuable to a potential buyer can be a smart way to approach creating a project list for the year ahead. This helps ensure you're leveraging all your assets to maximize profit, which sets you up for success in the long term.

At GROW! 2026, Jennifer Murray, one of our ACE Peer Group facilitators and experts in company valuations, will share additional areas of focus for companies who want to improve during her breakout session, How to Create More Value in Your Business: Top drivers for Increasing Your Valuation. If you aren't already signed up to join us in Dallas, TX on February 10-12, check out our agenda to see all that we have planned and reserve your seat today! The discounted hotel block expires on January 19 - don't wait to sign up or you'll miss out. 

I'll talk to you next week!

GLC&GGHeadshots_083Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.
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