Landscaping & Outdoor Services
Seasonal revenue swings and equipment costs make landscaping finances tricky. We help you plan for winter during summer and know the true cost of every job you bid.
The Industry
Landscaping in Northwest Arkansas runs hot from March through November and then goes quiet. During the busy months, cash flows in steadily from mowing contracts, landscape installs, and seasonal cleanups. But the rhythm changes fast when the first frost hits and the phone stops ringing.
The challenge is that your expenses don’t follow the same calendar. Truck payments continue in January. Insurance renews in February. Equipment needs maintenance before spring. If the summer cash went out as fast as it came in, winter becomes a scramble. Managing that seasonal gap is what separates landscaping businesses that grow from those that stay stuck.
Who This Covers
Who This Covers
Landscaping companies, lawn maintenance crews, pressure washing services, irrigation installers, and tree care businesses. Anyone running crews and equipment to do outdoor work across Benton County and Northwest Arkansas.
The Friction
The Friction
Checks and cash still dominate. Invoices sit unpaid for weeks while fuel and materials need buying today. Receipts pile up in the truck console. By the time you get to the books, you’re guessing what half the transactions were for.
What We Handle
We focus on job costing so you understand what your work actually costs. Labor hours, fuel burned, materials used, and equipment wear all factor into the true cost of a landscape install or a season of mowing. When you know these numbers, you stop guessing on bids and start pricing based on reality.
Seasonal cash flow planning is the other priority. We help you set aside reserves during the busy months so winter doesn’t catch you short. We track your fixed expenses and build a plan that keeps the business healthy year-round, not just when the grass is growing.
Job Costing
Job Costing
We break down costs by service type. Mowing maintenance, hardscape installs, pressure washing, seasonal cleanups. You see which services actually make money and which ones barely cover your costs.
Equipment Tracking
Equipment Tracking
Mowers, trailers, trucks, and pressure washers wear down fast with commercial use. We track depreciation and help you budget for replacement so you’re not scrambling when a zero-turn dies mid-July.
Common Problems
The summer cash trap gets most landscapers at some point. Money flows in from April through October and it feels like plenty. But without setting aside reserves, that cash gets absorbed by new equipment purchases, truck upgrades, or just daily expenses. Then December arrives and the account is empty while the bills keep coming.
Underpricing is the other slow killer. You quote jobs based on what competitors charge or what feels reasonable. But if you’ve never calculated your true cost per hour including fuel, labor, equipment depreciation, and overhead, you might be working hard on jobs that barely break even. The busiest crews aren’t always the most profitable.
Winter Cash Crunch
Winter Cash Crunch
Truck payments, insurance premiums, and equipment storage don’t pause for the off-season. Without discipline during the busy months, winter becomes a period of stress and borrowed money instead of rest and planning.
Hidden Equipment Costs
Hidden Equipment Costs
A commercial mower running 40 hours a week for seven months takes a beating. That wear should be built into your pricing, not discovered as a surprise expense when the machine quits. The same goes for trailers, trucks, and every other tool you depend on.
What Changes
You price with confidence. When you know your true cost per hour or per job, you can quote work without wondering if you’re leaving money on the table or working at a loss. You learn which services deserve your focus and which ones you should pass on.
The slow season becomes manageable. Cash reserves built during summer cover winter expenses without stress. You can actually take a break in January, plan for the next season, and maybe even look at expanding instead of just surviving until spring.
Informed Bidding
Informed Bidding
Your quotes are based on actual costs, not guesses. You know your numbers well enough to walk away from jobs that don’t pencil out and pursue the work that actually builds profit.
Equipment Planning
Equipment Planning
You know when trucks and mowers will need replacement and you have funds set aside for it. Decisions about adding another crew or buying new equipment come from real numbers, not hope.
Northwest Arkansas's Dedicated Bookkeeping Partner
The Next Step:
A Quick Conversation
Tell us about your business and where you need help. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you a clear plan and honest price.
