Sustained business growth doesn't always come easily. To achieve growth – and more importantly, to handle and sustain it – you need to plan and prepare.

Here are three key steps to sustained growth.

Fall 2012: I’m up by 5:00 AM. On a job site before 7:30. Breakfast and lunch in the truck, between jobs. I continue digging leaves out of corners, crevices, and window wells until after dark. I think about heading home, but first I need to make several stops to quote jobs in the dark.

I finally get home, but I’m the owner so the workday isn’t done.

Fall 2016: Things are better now, thanks to a strong system and a strong team...

Most of us know that the majority of new landscaping customers are found during two times of year – from April through June, and from mid-October through December 1.

At Driven Landscapes, we call these our Client Acquisition Periods, or CAPs.

Do you own a landscaping business, but still work in the field on a regular basis? If so, is it because you want to? Or is there another reason making you feel stuck?

If you want to spend less time in the field and more time developing your business, here are six things to think about.

Traditionally, business owners look to expand their empire’s one of three ways — horizontally, vertically and synergistically. If you’re not already within the business sector, these definitions may be new to you. But, not to worry, we’ll explain.

Horizontal and vertical expansion are the two most common ways to grow a business and are generally applied by executives. Synergistic expansion, on the other hand, is a relatively new trend for business growth and something that up-and-coming entrepreneurs are quickly starting to embrace.

Have you ever arrived to work one day and thought to yourself: “This isn’t what I want to do with my life.” Well, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are unhappy with their current employment but are content to stay because of the stability it offers. Why not have both?

There are an estimated 10,000 individual lawn care service providers and approximately 12,000 landscapers in the United States. These businesses vary from independent contractors, franchises, and even branches of large corporate chains. They also vary in their line of services, accessibility and company structure.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a landscaping business? Well, now you can, with a Driven Landscapes franchise!

Owner Jonathan Orcutt recently announced a new landscaping franchise system — one that will provide business start-up assistance, a confidential operations manual, marketing guidance and ongoing franchise support — to encourage entrepreneurs of all ages to join the growing popularity of professional landscape services.