The Grounds Guys® of Scarborough
In this edition of Top Seed, we are featuring a Q&A with Chris Sahadath, owner of The Grounds Guys® of Scarborough, Ontario. Sahadath opened his franchise on Sept. 1, 2016 though he is a 20+ year veteran at owning and operating a lawn care business.
What did you do before you joined The Ground Guys ? A. I owned and operated my own landscape business for 24 years. What additional services do you provide beyond lawn care? A. Snow plowing, hardscapes, tree removal and trimming and using a skid-steer loader for small excavation projects. Who is your customer-what tactics do you use to reach them? A. Most of my work is for commercial customers. I reach my commercial customers by making site visits and introducing myself and my services. I mostly provide recurring services such as mowing, tree trimming, garbage removal and pave repair and installation. I have had most of my customers for a minimum of 10 years. Marketing tactics include word-of-mouth referrals and from people seeing our 20-foot enclosed trailer, which serves as a moving billboard.
How are your staffing levels and what have you done to hire and retain great people? A. I’m an active owner in daily operations. I have a crew chief as well, who is working with the employees every day. I have three, full-time dedicated employees and four part-time guys. I am constantly recruiting and find places where I can use them, especially as we grow. I am hiring guys that will work well with me as well as The Grounds Guys Code of Values. I really enjoy the personal side of working with and developing my staff, and as a result, I retain my guys. I also pay them well! What advice do you have for growing your business? A. Be patient, fair, honest and kind. Know your profit margins and do not overextend your credit. It’s important to plan for next year, not tomorrow. Don’t ever get too comfortable with your success!
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