Grow Big in 2025: Part 1

Good Afternoon Legends!

We’re the Arnold Schwarzenegger of newsletters—not 2024 Arnold, but the one your dad let you watch as a kid on HBO when you mom said no.

Here’s what we have this week in 5 minutes or less:

1. Growth Hack of the Week

2. Lesson’s in Branding

3. Industry Highlight

4. Dad Joke of the Week

Money Trees: Grow Where the Green Is

_{Looking for clients who can afford your services? Use BestNeighborhood.org to target the right areas. This FREE TOOL lets you break down zip codes by income, so you can focus your efforts on neighborhoods that actually have the budget for tree care. Stop guessing, start growing^.}

A Lesson In Branding: Don’t be like everyone else

Pink's Window Services in Austin, TX, stands out by blending retro flair with modern professionalism. Their team dons 1950s-style uniforms, combining a "body shop mechanic meets the milk-man" aesthetic, which not only enhances their brand identity but also instills pride and professionalism among employees.

I’m not telling you to go 1950’s retro, I’m just saying it’s probably not that hard to standout from others in your local market. Here’s a visual of what I mean:

Takeaway for Your Tree Service Business:

• Distinctive Branding: Develop a unique visual identity that reflects your company's values and stands out in the market and HAVE FUN! While you have to take safety very seriously have fun with your brand and differentiate your tree service business and cultivate a strong, memorable presence in your area.

Industry Highlight: Will there be a 2025 Labor Crunch for Tree Pros?

The tree service industry has felt the pinch from a nationwide labor shortage throughout 2024, making it tougher than ever to find skilled workers. If you’re looking to grow in 2025 and as demand for tree services grows, you may need more creative solutions around hiring and retaining good help-like in-house training programs, better benefits, and upgraded tools to boost efficiency.

Here are a few creative incentive-based pay structure that balance motivation, fairness, and productivity:

Performance-Driven Pay Structure

Base Pay + Tiered Incentives

1. Base Hourly or Daily Rate: Start with a competitive hourly or daily base rate to ensure workers feel secure.

2. Productivity Bonuses: Introduce bonuses tied to key performance metrics:

   • Job Completion Bonus: Pay a fixed bonus for completing jobs efficiently and safely within a set time frame.

   • Teamwork Bonus: Reward teams when they complete jobs under budgeted hours or exceed expectations together.

   • Quality Bonus: Offer bonuses for exceptional customer feedback or error-free work.

Monthly Crew Bonus

• At the end of each month, reward the crew that consistently performed best with a larger bonus. This encourages friendly competition and team spirit.

Profit-Sharing Pool

• At the end of the year or quarter, distribute a percentage of company profits among workers based on tenure, performance, and contribution. This fosters loyalty and long-term thinking.

Recognition and Non-Monetary Rewards

• Don’t underestimate non-cash incentives: Pizza’s always a winner

Dad Joke of The Week

What do you call a swimming terrorist?

That’s all for this week Legends! Until next time.