As you begin to enter a new season, re-evaluating your work processes is key to keeping your business on the path of efficiency. This is something that is good to do year round, but a month or two prior to the season starting is the perfect time to gather your team and execute any needed changes.
Here are 5 ways to improve the way you are doing business now.
Make sure you are managing your man hours properly
Staying within budget when it comes to man hours is super important. You want to make sure you have a landscaping business management software that will make the process of tracking hours effortless. Scapersoft is a great business software that offers not only time tracking but a robust calendar with scheduling tools. Having this feature will help you make sure your team is staying within or under budget. This software is developed by lawn care professionals so you know you are getting every detail you could want or need in a business management software. If you want productivity levels to soar, using a software like this is key for your business.
Keep track of tools by creating a list
There are so many tools that can go missing, that having certain controls in place can really lessen the burden of this problem. A great way to navigate around this is by creating tool lists that your crew leaders will sign at the beginning of the season. If a tool goes missing or breaks due to negligence, the crew is responsible for replacing it. Having this in place really pushes the crewman to bring back their tools and really look out for them.
Switch crews up and provide cross training
They say consistency is a great way to drive efficiency but having the same guys doing the same work week after week can get monotonous for some. It is a good idea to sometimes switch up your crews. Doing so allows more sharing of information and the guys can learn something from one another.
Another great idea to consider is cross training. This includes having office staff getting involved with things like learning job estimates. Maybe event taking them out to a jobsite to see how things are run. Managers should also get involved with the office staff to see how they do things like data entry and report filing. Doing this helps the managerial staff have a better understanding of the inner workings of what goes into managing the day to day stuff. If you want to read more on why cross training is beneficial to any business, click here: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-crosstraining-improving-team-performance-33216.html
If you don’t have a website by now..you should
Today’s business landscape is technology-driven hands down. You must have a powerful online presence if you want to be competitive. Consumers are searching online for everything including services like landscaping. Your website needs to be professional looking and easy to navigate. A great add on to your website is a blog. The landscaping industry can always use more blogging and is a great way to to stand apart from the competition, connect with your customers and show off your work. If you want more tips on building a website for your landscaping business, check out this great article: http://www.greenindustrypros.com/article/10257853/landscape-business-website-design-tips
Feedback from your customers is key
If a customer complains, make sure you are listening. This shows them you value their business. Make sure honesty and reliability are at the forefront of your business. This will create a level of trust that is key to building long lasting business relationships. It is also a good idea to create a space for consistent communication so that your customers know they can come to you and your crew with any questions or concerns. You will also want to perform routine inspections of your sites and take the time to briefly check in with customers. As you get more customers with your great customer service, consider implementing a referral program. This is a great way to expand your business! If you want to get more tips on this, check out this great read: https://www.landscapeleadership.com/blog/customer-referral-programs-tips-examples-landscaping-lawn-care-tree-service-companies