In Episode 76, I sit down with Ryan Gratton to talk about a side of the lawn and landscape industry that a lot of contractors overlook — small engine repair and prevention.

Ryan’s path in the industry is unique. He started out as a park manager overseeing mowing crews, working directly in the field and managing large-scale maintenance operations. While doing that, he realized something important: understanding the equipment side of the business could open a lot of doors.

That led him to obtain his small engine repair license, giving him deep knowledge of the engines that power the lawn care industry.

Eventually, that experience helped him move into the dealership side of the industry, where he now works as a mower dealership manager, helping contractors choose equipment, maintain their machines, and avoid costly breakdowns.

In this episode we talk about:

• The most common small engine failures he sees from contractors
• Simple maintenance habits that prevent expensive repairs
• Mistakes lawn care businesses make with their equipment
• How understanding small engines can save thousands of dollars
• The difference between how contractors treat equipment vs. how dealers see it
• Why mechanical knowledge can give you an advantage in the lawn care industry

Whether you’re running a lawn care business, managing mowing crews, or just want to keep your equipment running longer, this conversation gives real insight from someone who works with commercial equipment every day.

Understanding your equipment can make the difference between making money or constantly fixing machines.

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In this episode, I sit down with Brandon from Stripe Life Canada for a powerful conversation about family, risk, and going all in on business.

Brandon shares what it was like working alongside his dad while balancing school — learning the trade early, understanding the grind, and seeing firsthand what it takes to run a lawn and landscape company. Eventually, he made the decision a lot of people are scared to make… he quit school and committed fully to building his own company in Canada.

We talk about:
• Working in a family business
• The pressure of choosing entrepreneurship over the “safe” path
• Starting and scaling in the Canadian market
• Lessons learned from working with his dad
• What it takes to bet on yourself

This is the first international episode of the podcast, and it won’t be the last.

If you’re building a lawn care or landscape business and trying to decide whether to go all in — this one is for you.

In Episode 74, I sit down with Polo Fields Lawn Service to talk about what it really takes to level up in the lawn care industry.

We break down the process of getting licensed for fertilization and weed control, why adding these services can dramatically increase your margins, and how shifting from quantity to quality changes your entire business model.

This conversation goes beyond cutting grass. We talk about:

• Why state applicator certification creates leverage
• The difference between busy and profitable
• Building premium routes instead of stacked schedules
• Retaining higher-value clients
• Long-term growth in lawn care

If you’re serious about increasing revenue without burning yourself out, this episode lays out the mindset and strategy behind sustainable growth.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share with another operator who’s ready to level up.