Million Dollar Landscaper Podcast

Scott and Kati Molchan | Landscaping, Green Industry
  • 5.0 (6)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Proven practical tips and advice on running and growing your landscape business

  1. 21 HRS AGO

    The Estimate Checklist That Stops You From Losing Money on Jobs You Already Won- MDL Episode 394

    You priced the job. You won the job. And somewhere in the middle of it, you realized you forgot to price something.   Not the whole thing — just one line item. A fence panel that has to come down. A disposal run nobody counted. A gate too narrow for your equipment.   And now it's coming out of your pocket.   This episode is about why that keeps happening — and what one simple habit fixes it. Scott breaks down the job site evaluation checklist he uses in his own business: what to look for during every site walk, where landscapers most often lose money without realizing it, and why the most experienced contractors in the world still use a checklist every time.   You'll also get the actual hardscape job site evaluation form — free in the show notes — so you can start using it on your next estimate.   If you've ever finished a job and thought "I should've priced that differently," this one's for you.   What's covered: Why estimating from memory works until it costs you Site access mistakes that quietly kill your margin Hidden costs most landscapers walk right past How to document the site so you're protected if something comes up Why this system matters even more the moment you start sending other people out to estimate   Free download: Hardscape Job Site Evaluation Form here: https://mdl.coach/siteevaluation   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    19 min

  2. MAR 6

    You're Not Ready for Spring- MDL Episode 393

    You prepped your trucks and hired crew, but if you haven’t spent the last 30–60 days on marketing, your race car’s got no gas. This episode calls out the real problem—visibility, not leads—and shows the must-do basics so homeowners find you first. Perfect for lawn-care and landscaping business owners who want more calls, better customers, and fewer last‑minute, low‑profit scrambles.   You’ll get a bare‑bones, actionable checklist: fix your website and make the phone number click-to-call, update your Google Business Profile and recent reviews, reach out to past customers, clean up truck wraps, put out job site signs, run five‑round door hangers or EDDM, and use simple social posts and before/after photos. Nothing fancy—just the foundations that actually move the needle.   This week, make that checklist and honestly check every box. Subscribe for more practical marketing for landscapers, or visit LeadSpeed.io if you want help dialing this in.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    12 min

  3. FEB 27

    The $110,000 Math Problem Most Landscapers Miss- MDL Episode 392

    If you’re slammed with calls but still stressed about cash, this episode is for you. Scott breaks down the ugly math: many landscapers run around 4% net profit when they should be hitting 12–15%. More leads just magnify weak pricing and messy production — and that’s why “busy” can still mean “broke.”   Listen to learn the exact places to start: audit your last five jobs, track labor burden (not just wages), measure overhead recovery, and do real job costing. Small price increases and cleaner systems can turn the same revenue into tens of thousands more profit — so you can take a paycheck, replace equipment, and actually own a business instead of a job. Want weekly, no-fluff business fixes for landscapers? Subscribe and check the show notes for resources — or reach out to Scott if you want help tightening your pricing and systems.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    13 min

  4. FEB 20

    Why Your Best Hire Will Fail (And How to Spot It in the Interview)- MDL Episode 391

    Spring hiring season means lots of resumes, but if you only ask about skills (can you run a zero-turn, install pavers, lead a crew) you’re only getting half the story. Scott explains why behavioral questions matter — they show how someone actually acts under pressure, takes ownership, and gets along with a crew.   You’ll get practical examples to use: ask about showing up in bad weather, a mistake they made and what they learned, why they left past jobs, or how they handled a difficult teammate. Listen for ownership, teamwork, and clear communication — and learn the red flags that mean someone might not fit your crew even if they’ve got the skills.   Grab the AI prompt Kati mentioned in the show notes to generate role-specific behavioral interview questions, try them in your next hiring round, and subscribe for more real-world hiring and crew-management tips for landscapers.   Chat GPT Prompt Act as an experienced hiring consultant for landscaping businesses.   Create a simple, practical behavior-based interview guide for the following role:   ROLE: [Insert role — Crew Member / Foreman / Installation Tech / etc.]   Company context: - Type of work: [maintenance / installs / hardscape / mix] - Crew size: [2-3 / 4-6 / etc.] - Most important trait: [reliability / leadership / speed / quality / etc.]   Requirements: - Limit to 6–8 behavior-based questions. - Questions must start with “Tell me about a time…” or similar. - Include what I should listen for in their answers. - Keep it simple enough for a business owner to use without training. - Include 3 red flags and 3 green flags specific to this role. - Keep total length under 500 words.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    12 min

  5. FEB 13

    Stop Writing Boring Job Posts — Sell Your Company Instead - MDL Episode 390

    Hiring’s getting harder and the labor shortage isn’t going away, but you can control how you sell your company to potential employees. Instead of listing features (like $20/hour or a 7–4:30 schedule), this episode teaches you to flip those into benefits that answer “What’s in it for me?” so your job posting stands out.   You’ll hear real examples (biweekly direct deposit → “never late paycheck”; consistent 7 a.m. start → “no guessing when to show up”) and a simple process to turn every feature into a hire-ready benefit. Kati also explains a custom GPT tool he built that writes these benefit-driven job posts in minutes — link in the show notes to join there free AI for Contractors group and grab the template. https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Ready to hire this season? Join the free AI for Contractors group (link in show notes), subscribe for more hiring tips, and tune in next week when Scott walks through behavioral interview questions to help you spot reliable, on-time employees.   Join the AI for Contractors group at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    11 min

  6. FEB 6

    3 AI Moves That Make Landscapers More Money- MDL Episode 389

    Practical, no-fluff AI tactics for landscaping business owners who want more qualified leads, faster follow-ups, and better-looking photos that actually sell work.   You don’t have time to chase bad leads or write a dozen follow-up emails every week. In this episode Scott and Katie break down three real ways AI can help your landscaping business make more money this season — no tech hype, just usable tools you can start with today.   They walk through using AI as a lead-capture system (human-sounding phone and website chatbots that pre-qualify customers), using AI to write clearer, more personal follow-up emails (how to give better prompts so it sounds like you, not a robot), and using AI photo fixes to clean up your Google Business Profile, website, and social pics without making them look fake. These tactics help you spend less time on dead leads and more time closing jobs.   Want the prompts and step‑by‑step walkthroughs? Scott and Kati are putting everything into a free “AI for Contractors” community with ready-made prompts and short trainings availabe at https://t2m.io/aiforcontractors   Subscribe to the podcast and join the group to get the prompts, examples, and quick wins for your landscaping business.   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    22 min

  7. JAN 30

    Stop Blaming Workers — Fix Your Hiring Right Now- MDL Episode 388

    Scott sits down with Jason (Skyfrog Landscape) and Jordan (Independent Tree Service) to share no-fluff hiring, onboarding, and retention tactics for landscaping business owners.   If finding reliable crew leaders and labor feels impossible right now, this episode is for you. Jason and Jordan talk real hires-and-fires pain: no-shows, drug use in trucks, seasonal staffing swings, and the costly mistakes owners make when they “hire anyone with a heartbeat.” Learn the mindset shift that makes hiring your problem to solve — not just something to complain about.   You’ll walk away with clear, practical moves you can use this week: screening rules (driver’s license + drug test), low-cost ad channels (Craigslist, Indeed, Team Engine), how to delegate hiring to a part-time Director of Employee Development, two-week mentoring for new crew leaders, and simple ongoing training ideas (tailgate talks, quarterly skill days). They also cover culture wins that actually stick — removing toxic leaders, genuine perks (CPR training, solid pay), and referral hires that scale your landscaping business.   Want to see the crew skills in action? Check out the Landscape Rodeo (Feb 20, St. Augustine) — thelandscaperodeo.com.   Follow Greenside Up Podcast for more from Jason & Jordan, or email greensideuppodcast@gmail.com. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode on running a better landscape business.   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    1h 11m

  8. JAN 23

    The Missed Call Costing You Jobs- MDL Episode 387

    Scott explains why missed calls and slow replies are quietly costing landscaping contractors jobs—and how a simple lead-capture system fixes it without hiring more staff.   You’re busy on jobs, crews are calling, phones are loud—and while you’re doing the work, potential customers quietly move on. This episode digs into the real problem most landscaping businesses face: not bad work or bad pricing, but missed calls, buried messages, and slow replies that lose you jobs.   We walk through a practical five-step framework (instant response, smart lead capture, quick qualification, confirmation, and handoff) and explain how phone + chat coverage across Google messages, website chat, Facebook/Instagram, and calls can capture the info you need. It’s not about replacing you—it's about giving your business coverage so you don’t have to be glued to your phone.   If you want to hear how it feels from a customer’s side, try the demo at demo.leadspeed.io. Subscribe to the show for more real, no-fluff tips on running a smoother, more profitable landscaping business.   Follow Million Dollar Landscaper: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

    13 min
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About

Proven practical tips and advice on running and growing your landscape business

Information

  • Creator
    Scott and Kati Molchan | Landscaping, Green Industry
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Million Dollar Landscaper Podcast

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