Ep. 56: Lessons in Growth: Escaping the Owner-Operator Trap With Kerry & Jill Cline

Roots of Success

Think running a landscape company with your spouse is a recipe for disaster? Think again. Kerry and Jill Cline are living proof that partnership—at work and at home—can become your biggest business superpower. This candid conversation peels back the curtain on how they built C&S Lawn Service & Landscaping: from passing out flyers as a teenager to scaling up with peer support, adopting game-changing software, and building a culture of accountability and trust. Find out what it takes to get out of your own way, empower your team, and finally move from chaos to control, no matter how long you’ve been “too busy” to change.

THE BIG IDEA:

Growth comes from learning and taking action.

KEY MOMENTS:

[04:09] Building a Business Beyond Friends [08:00] Family Business Decision [11:16] Streamlining Hiring and Organization [14:59] Trust and Financial Clarity [16:58] Hiring Smarter Mentors for Growth [20:34] Inaction Despite Learning [24:32] "Software Adoption Success Story" [28:59] Team-Centric Financial Transparency [30:20] "Aligning Personal and Professional Goals" [34:13] Empowering Teams through Management [37:30] "Elevate Through Mentorship"

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are the benefits of joining a business peer group?

2. How can husband and wife successfully run a business together?

3. When should I hire a fractional CFO for my small business?

4. How do I transition from working in my business to working on my business?

5. What is open book management, and should I use it in my company?

6. How do I build a strong company culture in the landscape industry?

7. What’s the best way to implement systems and processes in a small business?

8. What are some challenges of hiring friends and family in your business?