Lee Chilcote

The author is a freelance writer based in Cleveland.

Help yourself

Tomlinson Bomberger stopped giving money to other companies, and added maintenance services to its revenue stream.

Sick days

Healthcare reform worries many contractors. Here’s how three companies are preparing for the delayed – but still looming – Affordable Care Act.

Only the strong survive

Heron Lawn and Pest Control’s training program is a mental boot camp that separates the best from the rest.

Early tee time

While his dad ran a lawn care business out of a phone booth, Michael Kravitsky IV would hit golf balls as a youth.

No room for hot air

Liqui-Green uses more than a smooth-talking sales pitch to please customers.

The art of it all

Dick Bare learned that you need more than technical knowledge to run a business.

Numbers game

Lawn America rewards employees in dollars, as long as their results show it makes sense.

Maximum value

Skid-steer manufacturers have a host of updates for the machines that already make the big jobs easier to finish.

Challenge accepted

Peter Bugden turned a pesticide ban into a positive for his lawn care business.

The Franchise 5: Mark Williams

Mark Williams, Lawn Doctor