Man, this episode with Jesse Weidner got me fired up for the season ahead. It’s always a treat bringing folks on the podcast who are sharp, dialed-in, and just genuinely get it—and Jesse is absolutely one of those guys.

He’s based out of North Dayton, running Weidner Landscape, and has carved out a niche in high-end softscape installs. No big paver patios, no massive retaining walls—just tight, clean, well-executed landscaping work. And you know what? That’s what I admire about Jesse—he knows what he’s good at, and he sticks to it. There’s a lesson there for a lot of us.

We talked equipment setups (you know I geek out on that stuff), and he’s running a slick little operation: a one-ton dump, a mini skid, and a two-ton excavator with an Encon tiltrotator. The guy’s crew is running lean and efficient, banging out $10K–$25K installs in a few days at a time. It’s not about scaling for the sake of scaling—it’s about growing within the margins and keeping the team and the work tight. I l...

I had the privilege of sitting down with John Siegers of Signature Landscape Corp to discuss his journey of building a brand new facility for his company. Let me tell you, this was no easy feat - especially in the highly regulated state of Illinois. From the moment we started talking, it was clear that John had been through the wringer. He shared how the permitting process alone was a nightmare, with endless inspections, code requirements, and bureaucratic red tape. At one point, he was ready to throw in the towel when he found out the cost to upgrade the power supply would be astronomical. But John persevered. He leaned on his network, got creative with solutions, and refused to compromise on his vision for the building. Listening to him recount the challenges made my own construction projects seem like a walk in the park in comparison. What struck me most was John's determination and adaptability. When faced with setback after setback, he didn't give up. He adjusted his approach, ...

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Doug Ryan, a 21-year-old landscaping contractor who has grown his company to an impressive $700,000 in revenue in just a few short years. Doug's story is one of grit, hustle, and a relentless drive to succeed. At such a young age, he's already navigating the complexities of managing a growing team, juggling commercial and residential clients, and tackling the financial challenges that come with rapid expansion. As I listened to Doug share his experiences, I couldn't help but be inspired by his passion and determination. One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of having a solid financial plan in place, especially as a business scales. Doug acknowledged that he's had to learn some tough lessons when it comes to managing cash flow, overtime costs, and equipment financing. It's a common struggle for many entrepreneurs, but Doug's willingness to be transparent about his journ...

In our latest episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ken Deemer, the co-founder of Local Roots and FRWRD Coaching. Ken's story is truly inspiring. Over the past 11 years, he and his business partner Patrick have grown Local Roots into a $9.5 million landscaping and hardscaping company. But the truly remarkable part is how they've done it - by keeping their focus on their personal goals and values, not just the bottom line. Through Forward Coaching, Ken works with other entrepreneurs in the green industry to help them achieve the same kind of balance. It's all about getting clear on your true aims in life, and then aligning your business decisions to support those aims. As Ken put it, it's easy to get distracted by the "shiny objects" of business growth, but the key is maintaining that higher-level perspective. One of the things that really struck me was Ken's willingness to say no to certain opportunities that didn't fit his vision. He talked about how they made the tough de...

In our latest episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, my co-host (and wife) Brittany and I dove deep into some of the key financial lessons we've learned over the years. One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of having a solid handle on your overhead costs and labor hours. We use a system called "multiple overhead recovery" where we carefully budget out our annual overhead expenses and then ensure we're recovering that across the billable hours of our crew. It's so easy to underestimate how much it really costs to run the business, and if you're not vigilant about it, those overhead costs can quickly eat into your profits. We also discussed the risks of "floating" expensive equipment like excavators and dump trucks on the road. While it's great to have that capability for big jobs, the liability of having hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of machinery out there is substantial. One fender bender with an uninsured driver could wipe out an entire project's profits. Keeping a...

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with several industry professionals to get their take on the current economic landscape. In this third installment of our series, we heard from Jonathan Martin of Precision Outdoors in North Carolina and Ryan Fennell of Earth and Stone in Texas. The key takeaways from our conversations were:

1. The labor pool continues to be a major challenge, with contractors having to pay more to attract and retain skilled workers. This is driving up costs and putting pressure on profit margins.

2. Budgeting and estimating software are critical tools for running a successful landscaping business. Contractors who invest the time to set up these systems are better equipped to price jobs accurately and maintain profitability.

3. The economic conditions vary across different regions of the country. While some areas are experiencing rapid growth, others are seeing a slowdown in new construction and concrete work. Succe

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Episode 487: Stepping Up to the Next Level

This week's episode of the Kid Contractor Podcast focused on empowering our teams to take the initiative and drive our businesses to new heights. I discussed how Tyler here at Auman Landscape has been given the opportunity to independently sell his first hardscape project, representing a big step forward for him and our company. Taking that initial step out of our comfort zone is so important for growth.

I also shared about receiving some negative feedback on social media recently. While criticism can be tough to handle, blocking negativity is important for my own mental well-being and that of our brand. At the end of the day, we're all works in progress - myself included.

It was great catching up with Levi too about our plans for the week ahead. I hope this episode inspires you to invest in your team members and push boundaries like never before. Every journey starts with that first step. Wishing everyone a productive week! Listen to the f...

Caleb and Brittany Auman discuss their goals for returning to business fundamentals in the new year on their latest Kid Contractor podcast episode. Some key areas of focus include improving communication both within the team and with clients, implementing a more solid scheduling system, and bringing on a fractional CFO to help manage finances. Tune into the full episode to hear more details on their plans and strategies for prioritizing the core aspects of running the business.
Listen to the full "Ep 446. Back to the Fundamentals" episode here:https://kidcontractor.libsyn.com/ep-446-back-to-the-fundamentals

This week, we're excited to share an exclusive video showcasing the full lineup of equipment that powers our landscaping company. As the summer season kicks into high gear, our team is fully equipped and ready to tackle any landscaping project that comes our way. Join us as we take you on a virtual tour of our machinery, including trucks, skid steers, and more.

Are you looking for ways to expand your business? Perhaps you can take a cue from Russell's Lawn and Landscape, a company that found a new and profitable niche in holiday decor.

In a recent episode of the Kid Contractor podcast, we talked with Andy and Russell Pugh, of Russell's Lawn and Landscape, about their transition from doing only lawn maintenance to now doing Christmas light installations. It all started when one of their clients asked if they could put up Christmas lights, and the Pughs decided to give it a try.

They quickly realized that there was a high demand for holiday decor in their area and decided to make it a core part of their business. They invested in high-quality materials and trained their team on installation techniques, and soon they were booking dozens of installations every holiday season.

Not only did they find a lucrative opportunity, but they also found that it helped even out their cash flow throughout the year. The summer months, which used to be slow ...