Winter operations are demanding, but with the right data, you can navigate the challenges and maximize your business potential. Tracking KPIs is essential for gaining actionable insights, optimizing efficiency, and boosting your bottom line.

Here are key areas to focus on, and how tracking KPIs in these areas can lead to tangible improvements:

• Operational Efficiency: Monitor metrics like gross profit (labour, equipment, materials), estimated vs. actual costs (especially for winter contracts), overtime expenses, site damage incidents, and material usage. Actionable Insight Example: High Overtime Costs? Investigate scheduling inefficiencies or resource allocation.
• Financial Health: Keep a close eye on accounts receivable, cash flow, profit & loss statements, and debt-to-equity ratio. Actionable Insight Example: Slow Accounts Receivable? Implement strategies to expedite payments and improve invoicing processes.
• HR Performance: Track employee retention rates (by role), onboarding suc...

^{The original article by Ramsey Solutions can be found HERE.}

Picture this: Work is under control, you’ve got a plan in place to keep plates spinning without you for the week, and you’re finally on an actual work-free getaway. Heck, you’re feeling so free and clear, and you and your family are building vacation memories Hallmark would kill to capture on film.

Wishful thinking, right?

We get it. No matter how badly you need a vacation, it can feel like an impossible dream at any stage of business. Getting away from work takes work—especially when you’re the business owner (aka the chief everything officer). You might worry the whole time that things are falling apart without you or feel like you barely have time to unplug before it’s time to head back from vacation and play catch-up.

But no matter how tricky it is to disconnect from running your business, you need a vacation . . . even if you start with just a day off or long weekend. You are worth the break, your family is worth the ...

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Learn to conquer the one real hurdle to scaling your company and growing rich: Time

How you use your free time will make or break your success. The secret? It’s not about working harder or finding more time to do work. It’s about designing the freedom to engage in the high-value work that brings you energy and fulfillment. This is at the heart of the message that has made Dan Martell the world’s most popular SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) coach. Now, in his first book, Buy Back Your Time, he teaches entrepreneurs at every level how to scale their business, fast, while avoiding burnout. Trading money for time—that is, literally buying back free space in your calendar—will give you more financial success than you ever dreamed was possible.

With over two decades of experience as a serial entrepreneur and founder, Dan Martell will teach you the secrets to work less and play more while building an empire. He’ll dig into the practical steps that will allow you to start buying back ...

Employee lawsuits can be disastrously expensive without business insurance, especially for small businesses. Organizations can and should take steps to minimize potential losses that might stem from employee lawsuits. One of these steps might include purchasing Employment Practices Liability Insurance.

Employment Practices Liability insurance protects organizations against allegations and lawsuits by employees who claim their legal rights have been violated. EPL exposures have expanded from discrimination or harassment brought by employees to include a wide range of evolving exposures including accessibility, gender issues and disputes over performance reviews and promotion. (Sourced from Travelers Insurance)

“Employment Practices Liability WRONGFUL ACT” means any actual or alleged:

1. Wrongful termination of employment;
2. Discrimination or harassment adversely affecting any employee of or applicant for employment with the ENTITY;
3. Wrongful deprivation of career opportunity or failure t...

How Cell Phone Addiction Can Lead to Entrepreneur Burnout and How to Prevent It

The original published article by Gary Wilbers can be found HERE.

If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or simply someone who’s always on the go, it’s no secret that your cell phone is your lifeblood. It keeps you connected to your work, your employees, and your customers. But what happens when your phone usage goes from being a helpful tool to a full-blown addiction?

Burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that can occur when you’re overworked or constantly under stress. And while burnout can affect anyone, it’s especially common among entrepreneurs. After all, running a business is no easy feat. There are always deadlines to meet, problems to solve, and new challenges to face. So it’s not surprising that many entrepreneurs find themselves chained to their phones in an effort to stay on top of everything.

But here’s the thing: constantly being glued to your phone can actua...

The original post by Matt Santos from Solace can be found HERE.

In today's rapidly changing and increasingly competitive landscape, it's crucial for companies to remain nimble and adaptable. One way to achieve this is by hiring fractional executives or professionals, who can bring a wealth of specialized expertise and experience to your organization without the financial commitment of a full-time hire.

Below are five key advantages to utilizing fractional hires that can give your company a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

1. Actually Approachable Experts (Years of Experience for a Fraction of the Price):

One of our fractional CFOs put it best: "it's 30 for 30: get my 30 years of experience for 30% of the cost of a traditional CFO". Fractional executives are highly experienced professionals who have worked in various industries and roles and now offer their expertise on a part-time basis to one or a few different organizations. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertis...

 Interview with Charolette Cascioli by Karina Sinclair
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The original article can be found HERE. 

The demand for skilled workers in landscape and horticulture is higher than ever. HR consultant Charolette Cascioli joined the Landscape Ontario Podcast to explore different solutions for this growing problem — and shared her insights on attracting better candidates by broadening the prospective talent pool, the risks of ignoring company culture and how participating in ongoing training programs like those offered by LO can help strengthen the leadership skills needed to build a great team culture.  

From your perspective as a human resources professional, what do you think would help employers fill their vacant roles?

We really do need to be looking outside of our industry. That's one of the suggestions I always make to our contractors. I’ve heard some phenomenal stories of outstanding supervisors and lead hands that just came completel...

^{The original article, written by Randy Dombrowski, was posted on Green Industry Pros on January 13, 2025 and can be found HERE.} 

From site prep to specialized installations, the people you hire can either drive your project forward or increase risk. Here's how general contractors can help mitigate risk.

Every subcontractor you hire can enhance or derail your work. A focus on subcontractor risk management can be the difference between a profitable, well-executed project and one that suffers costly delays—or worse, injuries or fatalities.

A strong subcontractor risk management strategy is built on three key pillars: a thorough risk assessment, clear control measures and adequate insurance coverage. These components protect your workforce, property and equipment and ensure your project stays within budget and on schedule.

Key steps to assessing subcontractor risk

Before signing a contract, evaluate how your subcontractor will impact your project’s safety and bottom line. A thorough v...

The original article can be found here. 

As a small business owner, you might be thinking, "HR? That's for large businesses with thousands of employees, right?" Wrong. Small businesses need HR just as much, if not more, than the big guys.

That's why we're going to break down just how important HR is for every small business for you. But first, let's clear up a common misconception.

HR, aka human resources, isn't just about paperwork or hiring and firing. Sure, those are important parts of the HR function, but it’s also so much more than that. It's about creating a positive work environment, supporting your employees, and ultimately, driving the success of your business.

Think about it this way, small businesses often operate in close-knit teams. You know your team personally, you understand their strengths and weaknesses, and you genuinely care about their wellbeing. But you also need to do your part to streamline your people management.

That's where HR comes in. It helps you nurt...