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Judson Lindner is running Lindner Land Services out of Giddings, Texas, the town he was born and raised in. One year in, he's doing land clearing, excavation, site prep, pad building, stock tanks and cattle guard restoration across Central Texas, and he's staying booked! Josh sits down with Judson to talk about how a teenager actually breaks into the dirt world. Nobody's going to finance an 18 year old, so his parents played the bank. His girlfriend's parents sold him a starter skid steer and excavator package for what they still owed on it. Now he rents a dozer about four times a month and runs a 150 mile radius. They get into how Judson splits the business between ranch work around Giddings and commercial pad work up near Bryan and College Station, why he prices those two markets differently, and how to build a stock tank that actually holds water (the last builder on one of his jobs put it on a hill). Judson also breaks down cattle guard restoration, a service most contractors never advertise, and how word of mouth has turned it into steady work. On the sales side, they cover why you shouldn't try to compete with the cheap guys, how warranties and written contracts build trust with landowners, and why sending daily photo updates sells more jobs than any pitch. Then they look ahead: Judson's first full time hire, why sales has to stay out front as you scale, Josh's "shadow me, I shadow you, then I release you" approach to training operators, and where Lindner Land Services will be in five years. If you're young and thinking about starting your own land clearing or excavation business, this one's for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Judson Lindner of Lindner Land Services 01:21 One year in: machines, crew and services 02:38 From an insurance desk job to the dirt world 03:28 The starter equipment deal that launched the business 04:33 Financing a land clearing business at 18 05:17 Skid steer, excavator and renting a dozer 06:28 Landing the first job 07:41 A 150 mile service radius 08:16 Diesel costs and raising the day rate 09:55 Ranch work in Giddings, commercial work in Bryan 11:17 Marketing tip: look at what's inside (and just outside) your radius 13:18 Rodeo roping and staying busy 13:44 How to build a stock tank that holds water 16:32 What a stock tank costs 16:54 Favorite jobs: fence line clearing vs. road building 18:00 Selling to ranchers and landowners 19:23 Don't compete with the cheap guys 22:40 Warranties on tanks and culverts 26:16 Pricing land clearing: day rate vs. per acre 27:30 Why Bryan pays more than Giddings 29:48 Stacking services into turnkey jobs 31:23 Cattle guard restoration explained 33:23 What a cattle guard restoration costs 34:49 Communication, contracts and showing up on time 36:44 Part time operators for bigger jobs 38:03 Leading a crew at 19 and an entrepreneur's risk tolerance 41:23 Biggest mistake so far 43:35 Work life balance when you're 19 and hustling 44:45 First full time hire: operator or sales? 45:47 Why sales has to stay out front as you scale 48:39 Founder syndrome and the fear of hiring 49:08 Shadow me, I shadow you, I release you 50:00 Lindner Land Services five years from now 50:37 Start young: investors invest in the person 52:42 Advice for young guys getting into the dirt world 53:46 Where to find Judson CONNECT WITH JUDSON Website: https://www.lindnerlandservices.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lindner-Land-Services/61582528013688/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

Payton Wilson got turned down for a skid steer loan at 18 years old. He cowboyed for the next ten years. Then a buddy called him about an $80,000 job on a Bitcoin mine, and Payton bid the job before he owned a single machine. That one job paid for the skid steer, the mulcher and the trailer inside the first week. Today Payton and his wife Katie run 4W Land Management Services across three Texas counties: land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, demolition, drainage, pond builds, house pads and driveways. Twelve services on the website, and Payton explains exactly why that list keeps getting longer. He walks through the bidding system he built after underpricing a job by 30 percent, where he gives the customer a capped day range and eats the overage himself. He breaks down how a two culvert phone call turned into four acres of clearing, a demo, a house pad, and a one acre pond turned into a two and a half acre lake, all without moving his equipment off the property. He also talks about subbing out a pond job at cost just so he could watch a veteran operator work and learn how to build one right. Plus: why he calls his competitors instead of fighting them, what it actually takes to run a business with your spouse, and the advice he gives anyone who is six months out from buying their first machine. CHAPTERS 0:00 Meet Payton and Katie Wilson of 4W Land Management 1:22 Turned down for a skid steer loan at 18 2:56 The phone call that started the company 5:02 The first job was a Bitcoin mine 7:30 How he got job two and job three 9:34 Why word of mouth dries up on everybody 12:03 The job he had no business taking 14:33 How he bids jobs now so nobody loses 19:39 Knowing when a job is too big for you 21:19 Competitors who send each other work 25:42 Running the business with his wife Katie 38:09 Why 4W lists twelve services 39:56 Stacking services on one mobilization 41:56 Subbing out a job just to learn from a veteran 46:55 Why single service companies are getting stuck 48:32 How two culverts turned into a full site job 51:53 Cold calling real estate agents for work 55:26 Sales is really just conversation 58:54 What to say when they ask you to go cheaper 1:01:11 Advice before you buy your first machine 1:03:57 Set aside double what you think maintenance costs 1:07:52 Make sure you actually like the work CONNECT WITH PAYTON 4wlandmanagement.com If you got something out of this one, leave a review and subscribe so more contractors find the show. #landclearing #forestrymulching #excavation #demolition #contractorbusiness #dirtwork THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

Most land clearing and forestry mulching jobs are not lost on price. They are lost to the guy who quoted on the spot. LandWorkPro builds the bid off your own rates while you walk the property, then sends it, gets it signed, and takes the deposit before you leave the driveway. LANDWORKPRO PROMO CODE: BLUEGOAT Disclosure: Blue Goat Land Leads earns a commission when you sign up with promo code BLUEGOAT. Start at https://landworkpro.com and use promo code BLUEGOAT. You get the 7 day free trial PLUS A FREE MONTH on top, roughly 38 days to run LandWorkPro on real bids before you pay anything. No contracts and you can cancel anytime. Carson also backs it with a first month guarantee: if LandWorkPro does not win you a job in your first 30 days, he refunds it. Carson Crews runs Clear Ground Land Co. in Middle Tennessee with his dad Jamie, a heavy equipment operator with more than 30 years behind the sticks. Carson handles the back end: marketing, lead flow, and the schedule. A few bids in, he got tired of duct taping Jobber, GoHighLevel, and a Google spreadsheet together just to price a job, so he built the tool he wanted. That tool is LandWorkPro. WHAT LANDWORKPRO DOES It started as a pricing and bidding tool and grew into a scheduler, CRM, pipeline, and expense tracker. The two features Josh kept coming back to were voice to bid and the satellite map. Voice to bid lets you hit record while walking the property with the customer, then builds the quote from your own onboarding numbers. The satellite map lets you draw the exact work area on the customer's parcel, and that marked photo rides along on the quote, which kills the he said she said before anybody signs. Every account gets its own business number, so the bid texts itself the moment you approve it. THE PART THAT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY The most useful stretch of this episode has nothing to do with software. Carson breaks down the costs operators leave out of their day rate: maintenance, teeth on the mulcher head, insurance, marketing spend, and the line items that explain why a contractor can run twice the jobs and barely move his profit. His advice for anyone flying blind: figure out your true daily cost before you run your first job, because setting the foundation wrong is hard to dig out of later. Then do good work and go a mile past what you quoted, because in this trade reputation moves faster than marketing does. LANDWORKPRO PROMO CODE: BLUEGOAT https://landworkpro.com with code BLUEGOAT gets you the 7 day trial PLUS A FREE MONTH ON TOP. No contracts, cancel anytime. GUEST Carson Crews, Clear Ground Land Co. and founder of LandWorkPro https://landworkpro.com Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen. CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Carson Crews and Clear Ground Land Co. 01:24 Starting a forestry mulching company with his dad 04:37 Renting the first machine instead of buying 05:37 Running a Cat 299D3 and what it clears in a day 06:49 Working with family and playing to strengths 09:36 Where LandWorkPro came from 11:26 Duct taping Jobber, GoHighLevel, and a spreadsheet 12:47 LandWorkPro as scheduler, CRM, and expense tracker 15:14 Voice to bid and the problem it solves 16:41 Your numbers, not a national average 19:22 Why excavation and demolition require a site walk 21:47 Satellite parcel maps and killing scope creep 25:52 The hardest feature to get right 29:49 The costs contractors forget to price in 31:46 LandWorkPro plans and pricing 35:07 White glove onboarding and the 30 day guarantee 38:58 Advice for the operator flying blind on his numbers 41:13 Where to find LandWorkPro and the BLUEGOAT promo code 45:32 Paid in full in 77 seconds #landworkpro #landclearing #forestrymulching #excavation #dirtwork #landitpodcast THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

Justin Eberly of Eberly Earthworks joins the Land It Podcast to talk about building a land clearing, forestry mulching, site prep, grading, demolition and excavation business from the ground up. Justin spent eight years doing industrial HVAC test and balance work before officially launching his own company in 2025. In this conversation he walks through how he built his day rate from real machine, fuel and wear part costs instead of guessing, why he turned down a large subdivision development job that was already his to take, and the skid steer that died on the trailer an hour and a half from home with a month and a half of work already booked behind it. The center of the episode is one question Justin asks on almost every job: what is your intent for this property? On one recent job that single question moved a $2,200 mulching quote to roughly $40,000 gross by adding tree removal, stump work, dirt haul, a pad site and a driveway. Host Josh points out it is the same move that separates the land clearing contractors who stay flat from the ones who scale. Justin and Josh also get into the math of hiring your first employee and why adding three guys can leave you making the same money with a lot more responsibility, when it actually makes sense to travel for a job, how the name on your truck can quietly limit what customers think you do, and why Justin waited six months to invest in marketing and would not do it that way again. Josh writes about this same playbook in Land It in the Dirt World: Digital Marketing Playbook for Land Clearing, Excavation, and Demolition Contractors, available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:37 Eight years in industrial HVAC before the jump 02:42 The opening that made it possible to leave the job 06:24 A sole operator serving landowners and ranches 09:11 Weather, scheduling and why not to overbook 10:38 Turning down a big subdivision job 13:51 How Justin built his day rate from real costs 16:02 When it makes sense to travel for a job 19:30 Fuel, wear parts and what it really costs to run equipment 21:47 The skid steer that died on the trailer 24:07 The upsell question: what is your intent for this property? 26:57 From a $2,200 mulching job to a $40,000 site prep job 29:12 Why the smaller operator still has a niche 31:26 How to scale from a one man crew 37:16 Hiring to free up time and increase production 39:37 The real constraint on taking more work 43:33 Naming your company so it does not box you in 45:45 Where the business goes in the next five years 50:57 Do not be afraid to invest in marketing 55:22 Half a million views and zero jobs 57:22 Why drone and jobsite footage matter now 59:09 Wrap up Subscribe to the Land It Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or YouTube at youtube.com/@LandItPodcast. If the show helps you, leaving a review makes it easier for other dirt world business owners to find it. CONNECT WITH JUSTIN Eberly Earthworks — land clearing, forestry mulching, site prep and grading, demolition, excavation and pond building in Conroe and across the greater Houston area. https://www.eberlyearthworks.com/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

What actually works in marketing for land clearing, excavation, forestry mulching and demolition contractors? After more than 100 dirt world clients, we have a pretty clear answer, and this episode is us handing it over. Josh brings on Amanda Kroeker, Operations Director at Blue Goat Land Leads, for her first time on the show. Amanda oversees a team of 18 marketing pros focused on what works for getting the phone ringing in the dirt world and has worked with well over a hundred contractors in this industry. She sees what separates the guys whose phones ring from the guys who quit after two weeks and call marketing a scam. This is not a sales pitch and it is not theory. Almost everything in here is something you can go do yourself without hiring anybody. STUFF YOU CAN GO FIX THIS WEEK Run the Saturday Test: call your own number, fill out your own form, see what a real customer experiences Confirm the phone number on your website actually rings your phone Open your website on your phone, not your desktop, since 80 to 90 percent of visitors are mobile Fix your Google Business Profile primary category, which is wrong more often than you would believe Get back to every lead inside five minutes, or set up an auto text that buys you time Work the leads you gave up on after one attempt, because most buyers need five or more touches Make your name, address, phone, website and hours identical everywhere online Ask for the review at job close or before the final invoice, and reply to every one Put pricing ranges on your website with a disclaimer and get found in AI search faster Shoot job site video on your phone and stop waiting on a videographer THE BOOK IS OUT Land It in the Dirt World: Digital Marketing Playbook for Land Clearing, Excavation, and Demolition Contractors is live on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX Same playbook we run for our own clients, written so you can do it yourself. Every chapter ends with real action items plus a pro tip for guys who want to run it at a higher level. Websites, Google Maps, SEO, Facebook and Google ads, video marketing, AI search and follow up systems. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and why this episode is different 03:58 Why we wrote Land It in the Dirt World 04:07 If you have no digital presence, you basically do not exist 08:05 What the most successful dirt world contractors have in common 09:20 Josh texted 10 contractors. Only 4 ever called back 13:06 The number one reason campaigns underperform 14:11 Tagging leads good, bad and ugly, plus the 5 touch follow up rule 19:18 Market, message and media: the rule most clients ignore 20:20 What actually makes you different, and why it is not price 23:13 The Saturday Test: go be your own customer 25:12 Your website is your number one salesperson 30:32 Pro tip: build for mobile first 33:11 Google Maps and reviews 37:04 Choosing the right primary category on your Google profile 39:25 Where ads fit: Google, Facebook and YouTube 43:35 Why dirt work video works and why you should not wait on a videographer 44:58 AI search and why there is no such thing as ranking in AI 48:53 Why Reddit matters more than you think 50:31 NAP consistency and the two things most people forget 51:53 Pro tip: put your pricing on your website 56:09 Small budget? Here is where to spend it first 58:29 Financing: sell the monthly payment, not the total 01:03:26 The most misunderstood thing about marketing in this industry 01:08:09 Does any of this work if you are not in dirt work? 01:10:01 Closing Would rather hand it all off than do it yourself? Book a free demo at landclearinginsights.com Enjoying the show? Leave a rating and review. It helps other dirt world guys find us. THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

"Monday morning you're gonna have $300,000 in your bank account, and Wednesday you're gonna have six nickels. And payroll's on Friday, and you gotta figure it out." Scott started Clear Grade Contracting with about $800, a 40 foot camper, and no plan. His wife worked three jobs. Four months in, they were talking about bankruptcy. Then he put $2,000 on a credit card for Google Ads, leaned into asphalt paving, and did $1.8 million in eight months. In this episode of the Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel talks with Scott, a 13th generation dirt worker out of Jefferson, Georgia, about the things that actually kill new land clearing and excavation companies in the first 24 months, and what it took to get through them. What you'll learn in this episode: Why merchant cash advances are predatory lending, how they levy your bank account, and who is really behind themBusiness auto credit: the one thing to set up on day one that banks and dealers actually look at, no matter how much revenue you show themHow Net 30 accounts with quarries and supply houses cut Scott's rock cost nearly in halfThe legal exposure of mixing personal and business funds, including theft of payments for real property improvementsWhy paving ads produced a return when clearing and forestry mulching ads never didGeorgia's land disturbance permit and GSWCC requirements, and how they change your real cost per acreWhy bidding $5,500 an acre loses money once you count mobilization, erosion control, dumpsters, fuel, and knivesHow to figure your true monthly overhead carry, including the 10 percent you should be setting aside for breakdownsThe labor crisis in the dirt world, and why Scott hires 16 to 18 year olds and trains them from the ground upIf you're in your first two years of a land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, grading, demolition, or paving business, or you're thinking about quitting your job to start one, listen to this before you sign anything. Chapters 00:00 Cold open: do not fall for an MCA  00:15 Meet Scott of Clear Grade Contracting  00:51 13 generations in the dirt world  02:43 Starting the business with $800 and a camper  06:27 The bonfire conversation that landed a $25,000 job  09:47 Getting approved for the tractor with no money down  12:20 The pivot to asphalt paving and $1.8 million in eight months  15:10 Why Google Ads worked for paving but not for clearing  15:57 Georgia permits, erosion control, and real cost per acre  17:20 Why $15,000 an acre is the honest number  20:00 Hobbyists, side gig guys, and the race to the bottom  22:22 How to sell against the $150 an hour competitor  26:04 Overhead, breakdowns, and knowing your true monthly carry  30:09 The biggest bottleneck to growth right now  33:37 The labor crisis: retiring veterans, job hoppers, and green operators  38:28 Hiring teenagers and building loyalty  01:01:04 Conversion of funds and separating personal from business  01:03:00 Advice for anyone starting a dirt work business  01:04:00 Business auto credit and why lenders don't care about your revenue 01:06:30 Net 30 accounts and cutting your rock cost in half  01:09:15 From Chapter 13 and $100 to $1.6 million  01:14:16 Merchant cash advances: how the trap actually works  01:18:41 Where to find Clear Grade Contracting Guest: Scott, Clear Grade Contracting, Jefferson, GA Website: https://www.cleargradecontracting.com Hosted by Josh Stockel of Blue Goat Land Leads. Enjoying the show? Leave a review on Apple or Spotify, and subscribe on YouTube. It's how other contractors find us. #LandClearing #Excavation #Demolition #ForestryMulching #Grading #AsphaltPaving #ContractorBusiness #DirtWorld THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

What happens when a tech executive and a high-end residential craftsman go 50/50 on a land and site work company in Texas? You get TexTerra Solutions — a systems-driven, culture-first operation that's rewriting what it means to run a professional excavation and land clearing business. In this episode you'll learn: · How to structure a 50/50 partnership in a land clearing and excavation business · Why a holding company can separate equipment ownership from operations · How to position yourself as an exterior GC instead of just another sub · Why your back office and invoicing are a competitive advantage · How TexTerra flipped from 92% B2B revenue to 76% B2C in one year · How AI is being used as a strategic tool for small contractors · Why change management matters when rolling out new technology · How one job more than doubled their entire marketing and ad spend investment · Why a CRM is critical for scaling blue collar sales teams Whether you're starting a land clearing company, scaling an excavation business, or figuring out how to use AI and technology in the trades, this episode gives real-world insights from contractors actively building and scaling their business. Timestamps 00:00 Intro  01:00 Meet Charlie & Colton: What TexTerra Solutions Does  04:12 How a Tech Career & Dirt World Experience Became a Partnership  09:51 Structuring a 50/50 Ownership: Holding Company & Equipment  13:39 The Exterior GC Pitch: "Everything from the Gate to the Porch"  15:35 Vendor vs. Partner: Winning Long-Term Builder Relationships  17:30 "Show Your Work" — Why Presentation Wins More Jobs Than Price  21:40 Net Positive on Site & Invoicing as Marketing  29:54 Be Perceived as Different Before You Can Be Perceived as Better  30:46 Revenue Flip: 92% B2B to 76% B2C Through Marketing & Automation  34:26 Speed to Get Paid: Why B2C Cash Flow Changes the Game  39:47 The 24-Hour Pivot: Solving Problems Fast in a Small Business  42:33 AI in the Dirt World: Practical Use Cases for Small Contractors  48:55 AI Agents & Replacing Office Hats Without Hiring  56:29 The Legacy Project: Next-Gen Tradesmen & Business Acquisitions  59:11 Where Marketing Fits: Awareness, Automation, & Qualified Leads  1:01:05 Marketing ROI: One Job Doubled Their Entire Ad Spend  1:02:43 Why a CRM Matters for Blue Collar Sales Teams  1:08:48 Lead Attribution: Knowing Where Every Dollar Comes From  1:13:32 Wildest Field Story: Almost Drove a Skid Steer into a Septic Tank About the Land It Podcast The Land It Podcast is where dirt work meets real talk. Hosted by Josh Stockel, founder of Blue Goat Land Leads, the show features conversations with contractors in the land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, and demolition industries. Each episode breaks down what it actually takes to start, grow, and scale a dirt work business. ⭐ CONNECT WITH BLUE GOAT LAND LEADS & THE LAND IT PODCAST 📺 Blue Goat Land Leads YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlueGoatLandLeads 🎙 Land It Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast 🧑 CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUESTS — CHARLIE LISK & COLTON CUNNINGHAM (TexTerra Solutions) 🌐 Website: https://texterrasolutions.com  📘 Facebook: @TexTerra Solutions  📸 Instagram: @texterra_solutions THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

How do you price forestry mulching and land clearing jobs the right way? In this episode of the Land It Podcast, Josh Stockel talks with Noah Baldwin and Robert Moeller of Bad Hog Land Clearing about what it takes to build a successful land clearing business. After working for another contractor, Noah and Robert decided to start their own company and run it with a different approach focused on integrity, quality work, and long-term growth. They share the lessons they learned during their first few years in business — including equipment decisions, pricing strategies, and the mistakes that cost them money early on. In this episode you’ll learn: • How to price forestry mulching jobs correctly  • Why many contractors bid jobs too cheap  • How to calculate the real operating cost of your equipment  • What factors affect land clearing pricing  • The hidden costs contractors forget when bidding jobs  • Why forestry mulching is often the most profitable service  • The difference between buying leads and building real marketing If you're starting or growing a land clearing, forestry mulching, excavation, or demolition company, this episode is packed with practical insights from contractors working in the field every day. Timestamps 00:00 Intro  01:05 How Bad Hog Land Clearing started  05:00 Starting with rental equipment  07:30 Upgrading to a forestry mulching machine  13:30 Biggest pricing mistake new contractors make  16:00 How to price forestry mulching jobs  20:00 Average day rates in land clearing  26:30 Factors that affect pricing  31:00 Hidden equipment costs  33:00 Most profitable land clearing services  36:30 Marketing and lead generation  48:00 Scaling the business CONNECT WITH NOAH AND ROBERT Bad Hog Land Clearing — forestry mulching, land clearing, site prep, driveways and access roads, fire break mitigation, light demolition and excavation in Wimberley, San Marcos and across the Texas Hill Country. https://www.badhoglandclearing.com/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

Most contractors think insurance is just a formality—until an avoidable loss, equipment failure, or repeat claim sends premiums through the roof. In this episode, Josh sits down with John Adams, owner of West Pecan Field Services, who evaluates hundreds of operations every year and helps contractors eliminate blind spots, reduce risk, and keep more profit inside the business. John breaks down the simple habits, documentation practices, and operational tweaks that save contractors thousands—whether you’re an owner-operator or running multiple crews. In this episode you’ll learn: The biggest hidden costs contractors overlookWhy equipment strikes and small damages compound over timeThe most important habit that lowers insurance premiumsWhat underwriters really look for (and why they raise rates)How poor documentation destroys your loss run historyWhy repeat claim patterns cost more than the claims themselvesHow a simple 30-minute assessment can save thousandsThis is a must-listen if you want to run a cleaner, safer, more profitable dirt-world operation. 👤 Connect with Today’s Guest – John Adams (West Pecan Field Services) 🌐 Website: https://www.wpfieldsvcs.com/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpfieldsvcs 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/wpfieldsvcs 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpfieldsvcs 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wpfieldsvcs THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

In this episode of The Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel sits down with Dave Jacobus, owner of HLC Site Services, to talk about what it really takes to build and scale a commercial site work company that stands the test of time. Dave started mowing lawns in high school and now runs a respected commercial grading and site development company with multiple crews across North Carolina and beyond for the last 20 years. He shares how relationships and reputation have brought in more work than any ad campaign, what he learned transitioning from residential to commercial projects, and how he keeps operations running smoothly with a lean team. If you’re a land clearing, excavation, or site development contractor looking to grow your business with steady commercial work, this episode shows exactly how to do it the right way — by earning trust, building relationships, and delivering results. 🔑 Key Takeaways: How to grow from small residential jobs to commercial contractsWhy relationships and reputation create consistent workManaging multiple crews without losing controlAvoiding bad clients and burnout as you scaleLessons from 20 years of real-world dirt workConnect with HLC Site Services: 🌐 https://hlcssi.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Land It Podcast — where dirt work meets real talk. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Dave’s Background 02:00 – From Lawn Care to Site Work 05:00 – Managing Crews and Operations 09:00 – Shifting from Residential to Commercial Work 11:00 – How to Land and Keep Commercial Jobs 13:00 – The Power of Relationships and Reputation 17:00 – Lessons from 20+ Years in the Industry 22:00 – Building Supplier and Vendor Relationships 25:00 – Smart Growth & Final Takeaways CONNECT WITH DAVE HLC Site Services — commercial land clearing and grading, erosion, drainage and site restoration, stormwater and retaining structures, gravel and concrete installation across North Carolina. https://hlcssi.com/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

What does it take to start and grow a successful forestry mulching and land clearing business? In this episode of The Land It Podcast, powered by Blue Goat Land Leads, host Josh Stockel talks with Kyle Holp, owner of KR Forestry Mulching in Ionia, Michigan. Kyle shares his journey from pipeline welding to running a land clearing and excavation business — and the lessons learned in the first year and a half of building KR Forestry. In This Episode: How Kyle started KR Forestry Mulching after inheriting his father’s equipmentLessons from the first year in business — pricing, repairs, and scaling challengesWhy budgeting for equipment breakdowns is critical in land clearingHow KR Forestry landed its first civil contract through Facebook ads and marketplace leadsThe importance of branding, a sharp online presence, and professional marketingBalancing speed vs. quality and how to set client expectationsThe coolest project so far — clearing 20 acres for a disc golf courseWho Should Listen New and aspiring forestry mulching contractorsLand clearing and excavation operators looking to scaleDirt world business owners wanting practical lessons on branding, budgeting, and growthThe Land It Podcast is produced by Blue Goat Land Leads — helping land clearing, excavation, and demolition contractors get more leads, more calls, and more consistent growth. Watch more episodes and clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

In this debut episode of the Land It Podcast, Josh Stockel sits down with Colton Rains of R&M Dozer to talk about what it really takes to grow a successful land clearing and excavation business. Colton shares how he got started, the challenges of scaling a dirt work operation, and the strategies that have helped him land bigger, better land clearing and excavation jobs — even in competitive markets. From equipment choices to marketing moves, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for owner/operators who want to win more work and run a better business. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Colton turned a small start into a thriving land clearing companyThe importance of relationships in winning repeat and referral workHow marketing can help land you bigger jobs without wasting moneyLessons learned from both wins and mistakes in the dirt work industryIf you’re in land clearing, excavation, or demolition, this is a must-listen to gain real-world strategies from a contractor who’s in the trenches every day. 🎙 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations with dirt work pros who are making it happen. CONNECT WITH COLTON R&M Dozer Service — land clearing, lot clearing and land grading out of Goliad, Texas. https://www.randmdozer.com/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

In this episode of The Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel interviews Brandon and Don Barney, owners of Father & Son Hydro Jetting. With over 40 years in the plumbing industry, they share how they built a profitable, trust-driven plumbing and hydro jetting business — and why core values and customer relationships are at the center of their success. We cover: Why hydro jetting is transforming the plumbing industryHow to build a business on trust and referralsTips for scaling without sacrificing qualityThe decline of trades training and what it means for new business ownersLessons on legacy, leadership, and training the next generationWhether you're a business owner in plumbing, home services, or any skilled trade, this episode is full of practical strategies for scaling profitably and building a company that lasts. 🔗 Learn more about Father & Son Hydro Jetting: https://www.fshydrojet.com/ 🎥 Watch more interviews on The Land It Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LandItPodcast THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

In this episode of the Land It Podcast, host Josh Stockel sits down with Gary Lee, the unstoppable force behind Right on Time Junk Removal in Houston, Texas. Gary shares his powerful journey—from Army veteran to running a thriving junk removal and demolition company that’s reshaping properties and lives. They dive into: The transition from military life to entrepreneurshipWhy junk removal is more than just trash—it’s about trust, emotion, and opportunityHow Gary is scaling to $750K+ revenue while keeping quality highCreative ways he reinvests into his business and communityHis philosophy of saving the world “one mess at a time”The power of reputation, mentorship, and kingdom-minded business practicesYou’ll hear stories of resilience, real talk about growth pains, and inspiring insight from a man known in his circle simply as “Legend.” Whether you're in junk removal, demolition, or just trying to level up your hustle, this one’s full of gold. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Land It Podcast—where dirt work meets real talk. 🔗 Learn more at: https://rightontimejunk.com THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/

In this episode of the Land It Podcast, Josh sits down with Jayson Lang, owner of Rangefinder Excavation out of Midland, Texas. Jayson opens up about what it’s really like to scale a land services business from a single borrowed dozer to $5 million in annual revenue — all while staying boots-on-the-ground and fiercely loyal to his crew. You’ll hear real talk on: How to hire and keep top-tier employees (even when they eventually start their own companies)Surviving brutal jobs and economic downturns without racing to the bottomWhat it means to lead with grit, humility, and loyaltyThe power of relationships — from horse trading equipment to million-dollar subcontracting dealsIf you’re in the dirt world or just love a good story about resilience and leadership, this one’s for you. 📲 Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts — and if this conversation hits home, drop us a comment or review! CONNECT WITH JAYSON Rangefinder Excavation — ranch development, land clearing, pond builds, site and pad construction, drainage, culverts and demolition in Midland and across the Permian Basin. https://www.rangefinderexcavation.com/ THE LAND IT PODCAST Every episode, guest links and show notes in one place. https://thelanditpodcast.com/ WANT TO BE A GUEST? Have a story another dirt world owner could learn from? Tell Josh about it. https://thelanditpodcast.com/guest GET THE BOOK Land It in the Dirt World, the marketing playbook for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6698DPX LIST YOUR COMPANY The Dirt World Directory, a national directory for land clearing, excavation and demolition contractors. https://dirtworkdirectory.com/ MORE FOR DIRT WORLD CONTRACTORS Guides, tools and marketing help from Blue Goat Land Leads. https://www.landclearinginsights.com/