From Engineering to Landscaping COO: Recurring Revenue, Smart Hiring & Systems That Scale

<p>In this episode of Do Small Business Like a Big Boss, host Aisha Jorge Massengill sits down with Doug Bonnell, Owner and COO of True North Landscaping, to talk about his journey from automotive engineer to leading and scaling a successful family-owned landscaping company.</p><p>This conversation covers the real-life lessons behind building a sustainable service business, creating recurring revenue, making strategic hires, and implementing systems that support long-term growth.</p><p></p><p>🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:</p><p></p><p>Why recurring revenue is the foundation of a stable service-based business</p><p>How to decide whether to hire, outsource, or acquire to fill business gaps</p><p>The systems and software that transformed operations and job costing</p><p>How Doug and his wife successfully work together in the business</p><p>What every entrepreneur can learn from the landscaping industry's referral culture</p><p></p><p>⏱️ Episode Timestamps:</p><p></p><p>00:00 – Introduction</p><p>00:35 – Guest introduction: Doug Bonnell &amp; True North Landscaping</p><p>01:17 – From automotive engineer to family business COO</p><p>03:03 – Taking the leap from corporate life</p><p>05:42 – Learning the business from the ground up</p><p>06:57 – Building recurring revenue through maintenance services</p><p>09:21 – Why recurring revenue matters</p><p>11:12 – Acquiring a competitor and expanding services</p><p>12:13 – Build, hire, or buy?</p><p>14:31 – Managing seasonality and workforce challenges</p><p>20:23 – Work-life balance as a business owner</p><p>23:43 – Running a business with your spouse</p><p>24:51 – Common mistakes customers make when hiring contractors</p><p>29:26 – Systems and technology that drive growth</p><p>32:12 – Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs</p><p>33:05 – What “Do Small Business Like a Big Boss” means to Doug</p><p>33:52 – Where to connect with Doug and True North Landscaping</p><p></p><p>👤 About the Guest:</p><p>Doug Bonnell is the Owner and COO of True North Landscaping, a high-end residential design, build, and maintenance company serving Northern Michigan. After earning an engineering degree from Western Michigan University and spending six years in the automotive industry, Doug joined the family business and has helped grow it into a 50-person operation with multiple service lines, including maintenance, irrigation, fertilization, and snow removal.</p><p></p><p>Connect with Doug:</p><p>LinkedIn: Doug Bonnell</p><p>Website: Tru