Common Sense Business and Pricing Strategies for Landscape Contractors

Make more money with your landscaping business by learning about estimating, bidding, marketing, calculating overhead, and more.

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Course Status Notice – Canceled

Common Sense Business and Pricing Strategies for Landscape Contractors on March 13, 2025 has been canceled. Registrants will be contacted. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: Common Sense Business and Pricing Strategies for Landscape Contractors
Course Code: AL0307CA25
Date of Most Recent Offering: March 13, 2025 Canceled

Date: March 13, 2025 UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Check-in time: 8:30 am) UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Location: Operator Training Center (OTC), 16 AG Extension Way, New Brunswick, NJ (Directions & Map) UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Format: Classroom course UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Registration Fee: $210 per person UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Early Bird Discount Fee: $195 per person (expires March 6, 2025) UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Registration Closes: March 11, 2025 UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

Certificate iconThis class is part of the Landscape Business Management Certificate Program and the Landscape Management II Certificate Program.

You’re doing lots of work, but are you making enough money? Invest one day and learn things that will last you a lifetime, as two of New Jersey’s most successful landscape contractors, Mark Borst and Chris James, discuss what they do and how they do it.

Mark and Chris encourage all questions. Come and consult with two of the best!

  • Estimating and Bidding
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Calculating Overhead
  • Managing Work Crews
  • Effective Work Flow
  • Job Costing
  • And More!

Who Should Attend?

This class is a great source of information for anyone involved in the business operations of a landscape company. Past participants have included:

  • Arborists
  • Field Managers
  • Horticulturists
  • Landscape Company Owners
  • Landscape Foremen
  • Operations Managers

Meet Your Instructors

Mark Borst, Borst Landscape and Design

Headshot of instructor Mark Borst

Mark Borst, BSLA, CLT, president/owner, founded Borst Landscape and Design in 1989 and has grown the company into one of the largest design/build, lawn care, and landscape maintenance firms in northern New Jersey. His company prides itself on being a forerunner with its Organic Fertilization and Tree and Shrub care programs. He received a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Rutgers University and is a member of Professional Landcare Network Association. He spearheaded the formation of New Jersey’s Certified Landscape Technician testing program and now serves on the Advisory Board for Landscape Architecture at Rutgers University.

Chris James, Chris James Landscaping, Inc.

Headshot of instructor Chris James

Chris James has operated a successful full-service landscape company, Chris James Landscaping, Inc, and snow and ice management company, Snow and Ice Solutions, Inc., for more than 35 years. He employs more than 20 people with sales of more than two million dollars annually. Chris has provided landscape industry consulting since the late 90’s through Vander Kooi and Associates. Since 1998, through his snow and ice solutions company, he has provided training and education to property and facility managers, as well as private contractors. He consults on slip and fall cases and has also performed workshops at local, state, and national conferences. His clients have included highway authorities, universities, and regional medical centers. Both his landscape and snow businesses have won state and national awards.

Student Reviews

Most useful aspect of the course: “Knowledge and experience of presenters. They were really able to relate to all business sizes since they’ve been there themselves.”

– Past Participant

“[I learned] How to figure out the actual labor rate of my crews [and] some good marketing ideas.”

– Past Participant

“Amazing; really broke down what’s important with business paperwork.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

The Common Sense Business and Pricing Strategies for Landscape Contractors course is approved for 0.6 Rutgers CEUs (6 contact hours).

Meals

No breakfast will be provided. Lunch will be available for pre-registered attendees only.

NOTE: If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please alert us at least one (1) week in advance of the course start date so that we can make reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations for special requests made after that time.

Course Requirements and Policies

coronavirus icon COVID-19 Policies for Face-to-Face Classes

Please visit our policies page for the latest information.

Red checkmark in circle iconPre-registration/Walk-Ins

Pre-registration is required. We’re sorry, but we cannot guarantee a seat, materials, or meals for walk-in registrants.

Icon of map marker over folded mapLocation Changes

Location is subject to change; registrants will be notified in the event of a change.

Red car iconCampus Parking Policy

All visitors must register their vehicles ONLINE to park on campus. Please follow the guidelines below. Failure to comply with these policies may result in a citation.

  • A link to register your vehicle will be provided in your course confirmation email. Please be sure to complete this important step prior to traveling to campus.
  • When you park on campus, be sure that your license plate is unobstructed and visible from the driving aisle.
  • All Rutgers faculty/staff/students must use their regular Rutgers permit and park in the nearest lot assigned for their permit type.

email iconEmail Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

  • If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
  • If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
    • Your full name
    • The shared email address that needs to be changed
    • Your unique email address
    • A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $35 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about Common Sense Business and Pricing Strategies for Landscape Contractors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Headshot of Rutgers Program Coordinator Joe Canzano

Program Coordinator: Joe Canzano
848-932-7317
joe.canzano@rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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