Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday season with your family and friends.

I spent part of this week reviewing 2025 numbers at Grunder Landscaping Co. Some areas exceeded our goals, others didn't. But I can tell you exactly what happened and why, which puts us in a strong position to make 2026 better. That clarity only exists because we consistently commit to tracking important metrics .

If you set a budget, but don't have systems in place to measure progress, you won't know if you're on track until it's too late. Six months from now, you'll realize you're behind without understanding why.

What separates companies that have breakthrough years from those that end up disappointed?

It's not luck or market conditions: it's whether or not you're measuring what matters. Successful companies are consistently tracking and always paying attention to what their data is telling them. 

Three Metrics to Set Up Now

If you only track a few things consistently this year, make it these:

1. Efficiency Rating for Every Job

This is the budgeted hours divided by actual hours, multiplied by 100. Your goal is to hit 100% or higher on each project. When you're consistently around 100%, you know you're bidding accurately and managing labor well. But if you're at 75% on half your jobs, you're definitely leaving money on the table.

2. Cash Flow Position

Review your cash flow regularly: what's in the bank, plus what's coming in and going out over the next 30 days. A lot of landscaping companies fail not because they're unprofitable but because they run out of cash at the wrong time. This simple habit prevents the panic that comes from payroll week when you're waiting on payments from clients.

3. Accounts Receivable Days

How long does it take customers to pay their invoices after you bill them? A healthy AR Days number is a sign of a company that sells the right work, bills on time, and closes out jobs well. If your AR Days are creeping up, you have a collections problem that will eventually become a cash problem.

Get Started 

You don't need fancy software to track these metrics. Start with spreadsheets if that's what you have. What matters is that you commit to measuring them consistently and reviewing them with your team.

At GROW! 2026 this February in Dallas, we'll have breakout sessions dedicated to finance and metrics, where you'll learn from industry leaders who've mastered these numbers. You'll walk away with practical tools you can implement immediately - ways to decrease your average days outstanding, tricks to managing cash flow, and operational strategies for improving efficiency. This event will set your business up for success in 2026.

This is your chance to invest in yourself and your team. Register now and join us in Dallas, February 10-12. 

Here's to making 2026 your best year yet!

Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.