Profits with Pajak

Live from the Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference in Scottsdale, John Pajak sits down with Michelle Marshall of Marshall Lawn Solutions to unpack CRMs, data security, and building a real operating system for a fast-growing lawn care business. Episode Links : Apple Podcast Listeners- Copy and paste the links below into your browser. Upcoming Events : Equip Expo (October 20–23, 2026, Louisville,...

At the Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference in Scottsdale, John sits down with  Morgan Laidlaw of CFVI  to talk about ending hand mixing for lawn and pest pros. They break down how CFVI's AccuRator  automates chemical batching, improves safety and accuracy, reduces waste, and gives owners real data on product usage—whether you're a solo operator or running multiple branches. Website:   https://c...

Are you building a sellable business—or just owning an overworked job? From recurring revenue and systems to "buying back your time," John Pajak and investment banker  Dennis Hering  break down what private equity really looks for, how to avoid a $50K fire sale, and why you should run your business like you'll sell it… even if you never do. Get in touch with Dennis Website:   https://www.theadviso...

Lawn and landscape pros are great at the work—but most are invisible online. Live from the Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference, John Pajak talks with  Dalton Fisher of Fisher Multimedia  about using video, social media, and AI the  right  way to build trust, stay visible in Google and Google Business, create evergreen content that keeps selling for you, and stop losing jobs to competitors who s...

In this episode of  Profits with Pajak , recorded live at the Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference, John sits down with Eric Prokop from PermaGreen to discuss how the right equipment can dramatically improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability in a lawn application business. From reducing labor demands to increasing daily production, you'll hear practical insights that can help you get m...

Working outside in the summer isn't for the faint of heart. When temperatures climb into the mid-90s with heat indexes over 100 degrees, the job changes. Your equipment struggles. The turf struggles. And your body struggles. In this episode, John shares lessons learned from years of working in brutal summer conditions, from lawn care to construction, along with practical tips that have helped him...

Every business owner wants to grow faster. Most are looking for a better marketing strategy, a new piece of equipment, or another software program that promises to save time. But the biggest shortcut in business isn't a tool. It's learning from someone who's already walked the path you're on. In this episode, John shares why trying to figure everything out alone is often the longest route to succe...

Four applications. Five applications. Seven applications. Ten applications. With so many lawn care programs available today, how do you know what's actually necessary? In this episode, John Pajak explains why there isn't a single "perfect" lawn care program, why national programs often have limitations, and why a locally designed approach can solve problems that a one-size-fits-all program simply...

Every business owner hopes next season will be bigger than the last. But what if it isn't? What if the phone slows down? What if customers cut back on spending? What if you lose 20% of your revenue? Would your business survive, or would it expose weaknesses that have been there all along? In this episode, John Pajak explains why resilient businesses are built before hard times arrive and shares pr...

Every contractor loves equipment. New trucks. Bigger trailers. Better mowers. More spreaders. Shelves full of spare parts "just in case." But at what point does owning equipment stop building your business and start creating the illusion of wealth? In this episode, John Pajak shares his own experience of collecting equipment and parts over the years, explains the hidden cost of idle assets, and ch...

Most business owners think they need more customers. What if the real problem isn't sales? What if your business already has enough work, but your systems are preventing you from making money? In this episode, John Pajak explains why production rate may be the most important number in your business and shares practical ways to become more productive without asking your employees to work harder. Ep...

Every business owner eventually falls behind. Maybe it's because of rain. Maybe it's extreme heat. Maybe an employee calls off, equipment breaks down, or life simply gets in the way. The real question isn't how you fell behind. The question is what you do next. Should you try to catch up? Or should you move on?   In this episode, John shares why trying to recover one bad week can sometimes create...

Not every customer is worth keeping. In this episode of  Profits with Pajak , John Pajak challenges the idea that more customers automatically mean a better business. He explores how certain customers quietly drain profits through constant price shopping, schedule changes, excessive demands, chargebacks, and endless complaints. Learn how to identify high-cost customers, protect your time, and focu...

A simple phone call about weed control turned into a surprising lesson about boundaries, customer service, and human behavior. After spending 25 minutes explaining why his company no longer offers lawn mowing, John Pajak realized the conversation wasn't really about mowing at all. In this episode, he explores why business owners often feel compelled to solve every problem, the hidden cost of over-...

A paid-off machine feels like a win, but what if it's quietly costing your business thousands of dollars every year? In this episode, John Pajak breaks down the economics of equipment ownership, the hidden costs of downtime, and the warning signs that tell you it's time to replace a machine before it becomes a profit killer. Learn how to make equipment decisions based on numbers, not nostalgia. Ep...

Most contractors spend thousands of dollars trying to attract new customers while completely ignoring the people who already know, like, and trust them. In this episode, John Pajak shares five simple text messages that can help uncover new opportunities, generate referrals, earn reviews, and create additional revenue from your existing customer base. If you're looking for a quick win that costs no...

You probably have a bottle of weed killer sitting in your garage right now. But do you actually know what's inside it? After years of controversy surrounding glyphosate, many manufacturers replaced it with new "glyphosate-free" formulas. The promise sounds great. But when I looked closer at the labels, I found something surprising. Some of these new products contain three or four active ingredient...

Can a customer tell who you are, what you do, and how to contact you in just three seconds? Most contractors spend thousands of dollars on truck wraps, logos, and branding, but many fail the simplest marketing test of all: clear communication. In this episode of  Profits with Pajak , John Pajak breaks down how to turn your truck into a true marketing tool, why companies like FedEx have mastered br...

Before you spend another dollar on marketing or chase your next customer, stop and look inside your own business. There may already be money hiding in plain sight. In this episode of  Profits with Pajak , John Pajak shares a simple one-hour business audit to uncover hidden profit through overdue invoices, unused subscriptions, underpriced customers, idle equipment, and missed opportunities with yo...

Most lawn care and landscape companies don't have a marketing budget problem. They have a messaging problem. If your advertisement simply says, "Licensed, Insured, Free Estimates," congratulations, you just created a business card. But you didn't give a homeowner a reason to care. In this episode of Profits with Pajak, John breaks down why the green industry struggles with marketing, how to create...

A recent trip to Texas gave John a front-row seat to two powerful examples of growth. One was a day spent learning alongside experienced business leaders. The other was a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating a husband-and-wife team's dream becoming reality. In this episode, John shares the surprising lesson connecting both experiences and explains why the most successful business owners never stop...

Every business owner eventually faces a difficult question: How much risk should you tolerate before it's time to part ways with a customer? In this episode, John shares a real-world story from one of his coaching clients involving a $2,000 chargeback, attorney letters, missed treatments, customer complaints, and the fear of negative reviews. Through this case study, you'll learn how to recognize...

Getting your first workers' compensation policy can feel confusing, expensive, and intimidating, but it is a necessary step when you start hiring employees. In this episode, John breaks down how workers' comp works, what it may cost, why payroll matters more than headcount, how audits work, and why getting classified under the wrong lawn care class code can quietly cost you thousands. Episode Link...

Your equipment is working harder than ever right now. Hot temperatures, dust, grass clippings, long hours, and heavy workloads all take a toll on engines and hydraulic systems. In this Technical Tuesday episode, John shares simple maintenance habits that can dramatically extend equipment life, reduce downtime, and protect your profits during the busiest part of the season. Episode Links : Apple Po...

A real-world lawn care situation turns into a bigger lesson on expectations, communication, and doing what's right for the turf. John breaks down a conversation with Joe DiPace about a nimblewill-infested lawn, exploring the tough decision between full renovation and a phased recovery plan. This episode highlights how to guide clients when the solution is more involved than they expected, and why...