News that impacts your business Don’t miss Beth’s update today! Also her interview with Larry Ryan (Ryan Lawn & Tree) offers industry insights for these uncertain times in our industry. – Listen to Larry and Beth’s interview here
We're in this together.
Want to know where COVID-19 responses are affecting the lawn care industry? NALP offers the best resource here.
Lawn & Landscape businesses provide essential services. Contact your state officials and let them know.
Extraordinary times require extraordinary effort and teamwork.
This page is dedicated to helping the lawn and pest industry weather the current storm. We will be adding to this content daily, as the current COVID-19 crisis unfolds.
You will find:
- Role-play podcasts to help you retain customers
- Text to plug into emails and letters to your clients
- Ways to boost team morale as they work from home
or in the field - Tips to keep you and your staff healthy
- Ways to diversify your company’s income
- And more
The only way we will get through these times is together.
Helpful Tips
Now is the time to think about providing new services to provide additional value to current customers and help you find new ones. Here are a couple of thought starters. You also need to keep your team safe. We will be adding to these lists as we move forward, so bookmark this page and check back often.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Create a COVID-19 Flag Code for all cancels, delinquent accounts, etc. This will help you track this event’s effects on your business, help win-back efforts afterward, and may assist in securing needed funding.
FAQs
The current challenging events are generating many questions common to most businesses. View the FAQs and answers here
New Services to Consider
Add mulch delivery – You have the trucks and the staff. It’s not glamorous; however, it will be much appreciated in the new social distancing climate.
Add Perimeter Pest, Mosquito Control, Flea & Tick Control Services – You already have the equipment, if providing lawn spray services, these services provide vital protection for the public and utilize what you already have. Please check with your state and local municipalities for licensing requirements. If you would like more information and help making this transition, contact our experts at sales@realgreen.com.
The Gift that Keeps Giving All Year – Promote your services as gifts. We will all be spending more time outdoors in our own spaces this year. Providing friends and family members with lawn and pest service is not only thoughtful, but will help provide them a beautiful outdoor living space and protection from pest-borne diseases.
Keep Your Team Safe
Stagger Start Times – Social distancing is difficult in tight spaces. Consider having your technicians start and end their shifts at different times to minimize contact.
Sanitize Everything Often – Provide sanitizing wipes so technicians can wipe down machinery handles, vehicle interiors and office spaces.
Wear Gloves – Provide work gloves and encourage team members who typically do not like wearing them to start for their health and the health of their team mates.
Minimize Customer Contact – If your team is still knocking on doors, tell them to immediately step off of the porch and maintain at least six feet between themselves and homeowners.
Try to Go Paperless – The fewer items your staff has to handle, the safer they will be and the better off your customers will be too. Try to go digital wherever possible to minimize the items your team has to handle each day, pass to customers or mail to them.
Recorded Webinar: Budget Billing
Recorded Webinar: Go Paperless with Mobile Live
Recorded Webinar: Routing from Anywhere
Recorded Webinar: Mobile Live Estimates and 1-Step Sales™
Recorded Webinar: Harnessing Technology to Power Emergency Business Preparedness and Business Continuity
Slide Deck from: Harnessing Technology to Power Emergency Business Preparedness and Business Continuity
Are you still knocking on doors?
If so, please stay mindful of the current social distancing protocols. Please keep all of these protocols in mind, regardless of whether you are knocking on customers’ doors or not.- Knock and step off of the customer’s porch
- Stay at least six feet from any neighbors or customers who are home
- Go paperless and provide emailed statements and invoices whenever possible
- When touching any gates, doorbells, etc., use gloves
- Wash or sanitize equipment handles, vehicle interiors and your hands often
Industry News
Daily Facebook Live COVID-19 Response Update with Beth Berry each weekday at 11:00 AM EDST. You may view all video updates on our Facebook page @RealGreenSys
You may view the daily installment on this page, along with helpful links and the latest news from
- NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals)
- NPMA (National Pest Management Association),
- Project EverGreen
- Local Green and Pest Industry Associations when available.
- Helpful links to assist in maintaining business continuity
Collections can be particularly challenging during this time. While your business depends on it, your customers are particularly stressed right now too, Please read American Profit Recovery’s message and their current strategy.
Entrepreneur.com published 65 FREE tools to help your business get through this challenging event. As more people are working from home and states are advising against nonessential movement, it’s important to stay connected through technology.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Create a COVID-19 Flag Code for all cancels, delinquent accounts, etc. This will help you track this event’s effects on your business, help win-back efforts afterward, and may assist in securing needed funding.
Government & CDC Updates
We will be updating this section with helpful links to updates, articles and announcements to help you navigate this current crisis.
Current states with “Shelter in Place” mandates or pending announcements is growing daily. Please check your
- City/Town
- County
- State
for announcements, content and how it may affect your ability to conduct business.
IMPORTANT RELIEF NOTE: Once your local government officially requests economic injury disaster relief from the federal government’s Small Business Administration (SBA), your business may be eligible for the SBA’s relief loan program. This loan offers:
- Loans of up to $2 million
- Interest rates of 3.75% (2.75% for non-profits)
- Required collateral of $25,000 for all loans
- 30-year repayment terms
- Funds within 14-20 days
Continue to check if your area qualifies for loan assistance here.
NALP Response to “Life Essential” Business Operations: NALP has sent a letter to Federal, State and Local Officials, outlining why Lawn Care and Pest Control companies comply with “Life Sustaining” business activities, and should be allowed to continue services. You may read and download the current letter here.
NPMA recommends if you are in a state with a shelter in place order, print a copy of the order and print or have a link to the Department of Homeland Security Guidance Document on critical infrastructure. Additionally, you may also use this linked download form for your employees with information on pest control being an essential service in states with a shelter in place order.
From NPMA: The federal government has not yet issued a nationwide shelter in place mandate; however, should one be issued, pest control and extermination services have been deemed essential by the United States Department of Homeland Security in their memorandum released earlier this week. This means that the pest industry will likely be deemed essential in any federal orders. “Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.”
Helpful Links
General Information
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Frequently Asked Questions
- World Health Organization COVID-19 Page
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health COVID-19 page
Industry COVID-19 Links
- National Association of Landscape Professionals
- National Pest Management Association
- NPMA Essential Services Tracking (Shelter in Place)
- NALP’s March 24, 2020 Landscape Industry and COVID-19 Statement
