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The Lawn Care CEO

The Lawn Care CEO
Author: Dan Ralphs and Aaron Suttenfield
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We believe that every college drop out, accidental entrepreneur and lawn mowing maven can become a wildly successful CEO. Every week we will discuss how to increase profitability while simultaneously spending less time and having fewer headaches. Join 7-figure business coach, Dan Ralphs and life long lawn care CEO, Aaron Suttenfield to chart your course to becoming a $1M lawn care CEO.
41 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast, Dan Ralphs and Aaron Suttenfield sit down with Brian Christensen, CEO of Brian Pest Control. With nearly three decades of experience, Brian explains how early order planning (EOP) has been one of the smartest moves for protecting margins and keeping his company financially strong. He breaks down how EOP can cut material costs by up to 10%, why managing inventory and product ordering directly impacts profitability, and how building r...
Send us a text What happens when AI takes over our podcast? This episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast isn’t just Dan talking about AI—it’s AI creating the episode. And it might change how you think about running your lawn care business. We’ve been experimenting with practical ways lawn care business owners can use AI to save time, systemize their companies, and make better decisions. Today, we’re pushing it further. Dan introduces you to “Lippy,” our AI built on 300+ coaching calls, podcasts,...
Send us a text If you’re running a $1M lawn care business and want to grow it to $10M, this episode breaks down what actually needs to change to make that leap.  Dan and Miranda talk through the mindset shifts and leadership habits that separate stuck operators from confident CEOs. They explain why focusing only on top-line sales can hold you back, and how shifting your attention to profit and efficiency changes the game.  You’ll hear how moving from daily problem-solver to system-b...
Send us a text Feeling like your lawn care business is running your life? Like there’s never enough time to finish everything on your list?  In this episode of The Lawn Care CEO Podcast, COO Dan Ralphs and Head Coach Miranda Daigneault break down how lawn care owners can take back control of their time—and it starts with building a profitable business. They talk about the real reason behind Chronic CEO Fatigue, how to stop being the one always plugging leaks, and what it actually looks l...
Send us a text Is robotic mowing the future of lawn care? Spoiler alert: It's already here. And it's changing everything.  In this episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast, we sit down with Michael Mayberry, Director of Customer Success at Scythe Robotics, to talk about the real state of robotic mowing. For years, people have said, “It’s five to ten years away.” But let’s be honest—they’ve been saying that for five to ten years. So what’s actually happening right now? Robotic mowers are alre...
Send us a text Sick of being the only one doing everything in your lawn care business? You're not alone—and this one’s for you.  In today's episode, we brought on Brian Schlichting, founder of Spraye, to talk about how smart automation can take real weight off your shoulders. We got into the automations that actually save time, how to build stronger customer relationships right from the first interaction, and how upsells should be as simple as a click. We also covered one move most owner...
Send us a text From Firefighter to Full-Time Owner: How Tom Built a Lawn Business That Runs Without Him? In this episode, we’re joined by a special guest—Tom Gillespie, owner of Complete Lawn Care out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tom recently hit a milestone most lawn care owners only talk about: he stepped completely out of the day-to-day and into the true owner’s seat. We break down what it really took to build a business that runs without him. From finding and developing the right General Manager, ...
Send us a text You Don’t Need More Revenue—You Need THIS Too many lawn care business owners think the answer to their problems is more sales, more clients, or more revenue. But here’s the truth: it’s not about making more money—it’s about managing the money you already have. In this episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast, Head Coach Dan Ralphs and CEO Aaron Suttenfield break down the 6 baby steps every lawn care business must take to go from critical financial condition to true wealth-building ...
Send us a text 💥 You're losing money if you don’t know your numbers — here’s how to fix that. Too many lawn care business owners are running off gut instinct and crossing their fingers when it comes to money. In this episode of the The Lawn Care CEO Podcast, we’re announcing something we’ve been building behind the scenes: The Lawn Care Books — our new bookkeeping service built specifically for lawn care companies. We’re joined by Jennifer, our CFO Consultant, who’s been working closely with ...
Send us a text Is your lawn care business actually ready to scale—or are you just dreaming about the Boston Marathon while you're still winded from the stairs?  In this episode, we walk through 55 critical questions every lawn care business owner should be asking to assess whether their company is actually ready for growth. We’re not talking about surface-level fluff — this is the hard look at what’s working, what’s broken, and what you need to fix before you start chasing big goals.  We shar...
Send us a text 🚨 Unlock the Secrets of Business Profitability with Greg Crabtree 🚨 In today’s episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast, we sit down with a true industry icon—Greg Crabtree, the author of Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits and Simple Numbers 2.0. If you’re a business owner struggling with your financials or just looking to level up your financial literacy, this conversation is for you! From his journey as a chicken farmer to becoming a financial guru, Greg shares his wisdom...
Send us a text What does it look like to grow a solid business while working through some of the toughest personal battles? In this episode of the Lawn Care CEO Podcast, we sit down with Brent Moore, owner of Outdoor Living Southeast in Valdosta, Georgia. Brent runs a strong commercial lawn care company now, but his story didn’t start there. He opens up about his past with addiction, the road to recovery, and how he built his business one step at a time. We get into his shift from residential...
Send us a text What makes someone actually inspiring as a leader? Not just a good manager, not just someone who gets results—but someone people want to follow. In this episode, we’re talking about the heart of the business. The stuff that doesn’t show up on a P&L but determines whether people stick around or check out. We're sharing what we believe makes a leader truly inspiring, how to communicate your “wow,” and what messages your team needs to hear consistently. We’ll break down the ha...
Send us a text This father-son duo is CRUSHING it—and their numbers prove it.  In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with John and Bryce Molloy from Molloy Landscape—a dynamic father and son team who's been putting in the work and seeing amazing results.  Since joining our coaching program, John’s business has completely transformed—over $500K in profit in just one year, streamlined expenses, and most importantly, total clarity on their numbers. We’ve also had the privilege of coaching n...
Send us a text In today’s podcast, we’re talking about a decision-making model that’ll change how you solve problems in your business—especially when you don’t know what’s really going on. It’s borrowed from the way doctors think. They don’t react. They assess, diagnose, and treat based on real data—not guesses. That same mindset can help you stop spinning your wheels and start solving the right problems. If you’re just reacting to symptoms without fixing the root cause, you’re gonna stay stu...
Send us a text In this episode of The Lawn Care CEO Podcast, we’re thrilled to introduce you to our new coach, Miranda! 🎉 Miranda is joining us as our third coach, and she’s bringing her elite coaching methodology to help lawn care businesses thrive. With over 100+ business owners coached in both 1:1 and group settings, Miranda has a unique ability to simplify complex systems, making them approachable and actionable. Her focus on organizational behavior and business structure is next-level—po...
Send us a text In this episode of The Lawn Care CEO podcast, Matt Stemmler joins us to talk about mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the lawn care industry. With a background in engineering and finance, Matt brings a unique perspective to helping business owners connect with the right investors. We cover the current state of the lawn care M&A market, the types of deals business owners can explore, what drives valuation, how the sale process works, and the critical role of an industry-f...
Send us a text When you’re starting out in business, it often feels like you’re short on time, money, or both.  That's why we're bringing you a little “hack” that changed the game for us in the lawn care industry—hiring a virtual assistant (VA).   In this episode, we sit down with our very own VA, Via, who’s been handling the back end of The Lawn Care CEO—everything from admin tasks and social media to marketing and day-to-day operations. We’re talking about how hiring a VA has changed o...
Send us a text In today’s episode, we talk with Jason Dorsey, CEO of Turf Magic, about mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for lawn care businesses. When organic growth slows down, M&A can be a great way to expand. Jason shares how he got into M&A, what to look for when buying a business, and the red flags to avoid.  Whether you’re a new business owner or looking to grow, this episode covers the basics of business acquisitions and how to decide if M&A is right for you.  Follow Turf...
Send us a text In today’s video, we’re getting back to the basics of running a successful business by focusing on costs and profitability. It’s not just about bringing in revenue; you need to know how much it costs to deliver your product or service and ensure that your profits are healthy. Profitability is what allows your business to grow, avoid debt, and stay financially strong. We’ll also talk about why it’s important to start planning your 2025 budget now. As your business grows, your sy...







