News that Impacts your Business
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Helping Your Business Grow
Real Green Systems is here to help you and your company weather any storm — we are completely dedicated to helping our customers grow their businesses. Our lawn care software, landscaping software and pest control software offer the solutions you need to make running your service business as seamless as possible in any situation.
We’ll be updating this page regularly with up-to-date, helpful information, so check back often.
Real Green Cares
Straight Talk Series with Bill Nunan – In this two-part series, Real Green President and CEO, Bill Nunan, discusses his first year at Real Green and what’s next for us and our software solutions.
Watch daily Facebook Live response updates with Beth Berry each weekday at 11 a.m. EDT. You may view all video updates on our Facebook page @RealGreenSys
Help oppose the Anti-Pesticide Legislation threatening the Green Industry
Double Down on Digital Marketing
Nicole Reatherford provides insight on how to jumpstart your efforts through digital marketing, maximizing your visibility on Google, how to use digital content, and so much more.
SWOT Analysis with Fred Haskett
It’s crucially important to continue marketing your business. Fred Haskett and Beth Berry discuss how lawncare companies can effectively promote themselves right now and why performing a SWOT analysis — considering your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – is especially necessary as part of your strategic plan.
PEST Analysis
Now more than ever, your business will benefit from a PEST analysis – assessing external Political, Economic, Social and Technological influences. A solid PEST analysis can help you target your business operations to become more competitive in the marketplace. Fred Haskett from Harvest Group explains the why and how.
Relevant Webinar Recordings
Urgent: Payroll Protection Program
Emergency Financial Strategy
Routing from Anywhere
Go Paperless with Mobile
Mobile Live Estimates & 1-Step Sales™
Budget Billing
Access Past Webinars
FAQs
The current challenging events are generating many questions common to most businesses. View the FAQs and answers here
New Services to Consider
Add 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.
Helpful Tips
Here are some helpful tips and information from organizations outside of lawn care, landscape and pest control:
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.
A Letter from Real Green’s President & CEO, Bill Nunan in response to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay-At-Home Order
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.
Your customers are spending more time on social media. .Check out our recent blog and leverage the extra traffic to educate them on the importance of lawn care to them and their community. It may help drum up support, should lawn care in your state be deemed non-essential.
Facebook is offering grants (which do not have to be repaid) to small businesses affected by COVID-19 amounting to $100 million in cash grants and ad credits.
- 30,000 small businesses in 30 countries will be selected to receive grants
- Applications will be open in upcoming weeks
- Grants may be used to help with rent, cover operational costs or keep your workforce going
Sign up here for updates on the Facebook Grant Program here
Google announced they are committing $340 million in Google ad credits to all small and medium-sized businesses with existing accounts. Here are a few details: (more info here)
- Businesses advertising directly with Google or through partners are eligible
- Business must have an active account since Jan 1, 2019
- Ad credits will be applied directly to qualifying accounts
- Ad credits expire Dec 31, 2020
- Credits may be used for all Google and YouTube ads
- Credits will be distributed worldwide
Industry News
Download the Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program Handbook published by National Association of Landscape Professionals. This guide to developing skilled workers and administering the industry’s Department of Labor approved training program is free. You may also find out more at landscapeapprenticeship.org
Lawn & Landscape Latest Survey Results
Green Industry results from the L&L survey assessing the impact of COVID-19 on businesses.
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
For tax-relief provisions affecting individuals and small businesses, we always, we encourage you to consult with your own tax and legal counsel to determine what’s best for you; however, tune in to this session presented by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, for an overview.
Green Care Communities
ProjectEverGreen has this to say about living outdoors this season: During this unique time in our society, Project EverGreen encourages you to visit your local park or simply take a walk around the block… view full message
Real Green Partners
Trade Publications
Government & CDC Updates
Helpful links to updates, articles and announcements to help you navigate today’s business challenges.
Government Information for Businesses
- Download the new Department of Labor Poster
- Flex Week Overtime Calculation Guidelines
- New OSHA Safe and Sound recommendations
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- New OSHA Guidance for Workplace Safety
- OSHA Return to Work Best Practices PDF Download
- Environmental Pesticide Control
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.
National Association of Landscape Professionals
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.
National Pest Management Association
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.”
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.
Helpful Links
General Information
- State Pesticide Applicator Requirements
- Ready for Robots – Lawn and Landscape
- State Advocacy Issues
- State Licensing Requirements
- US EPA – Glyphosate Interim Regulation Review Decision Case #0178
- Get to Know Your Representatives
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Frequently Asked Questions
- World Health Organization Page
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health page
- U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance
- Complete Your Disaster Loan Application Here – Expires September 30, 2020
- Disaster Assistance
- Drone Photography Basics
- Federal Registration for Commercial Use Drones
- Do Not Call Registry FAQs from the Federal Trade Commission
- Do Not Call Alert Quick Guide for Service Assistant
Industry Resources
- NALP – Election 2020 links
- FIFRA Act support letter template download
- NALP – CARES Act Updated Information as of June 23, 2020
- National Association of Landscape Professionals
- National Pest Management Association
- NPMA Essential Services Tracking (Shelter in Place Doc)
- NALP Essential Services Tracking (Shelter in Place by State)
- NALP’s March 24, 2020 Landscape Industry and COVID-19 Statement
- Saluting Branches
- How to Cultivate Diversity and Inclusion in the Green Industry
- HNA Award Submissions
- Turf Magazine Small Business Guide to Loans
Other Resources
- OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces
- OSHA Prevent Worker Exposure
- Consumer Reports Coronavirus Resource Hub
Useful Links
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