What can a landscaping company’s design portfolio tell me about its work?
It shows the quality of the best work and the style the company wants to be known for. It does not show typical jobs, margins or who did the work. Ask which projects are recent, who designed and built them, and how they performed after installation.
A portfolio is a company’s highlight reel. It is useful, but it is chosen. Start by asking what share of the work it represents. A firm with striking design photos may spend most of its time on routine maintenance, and the opposite can also be true.
Check dates. Are the projects recent, or old work that no longer represents the team? Ask who designed each one and who built it, and whether that person is still around. If the best designs came from one person who is leaving, the portfolio may describe the past rather than the future. Ask to see projects in person, ideally a few seasons after installation, to see how plantings, stonework and drainage have held up.
Then match the portfolio to the revenue. Do the showcased jobs reflect what pays the bills? Ask about customer reviews, repeat clients and referral sources. A portfolio can also reveal the type of customer the company attracts and the sort of work you would be buying. Consider asking the seller for a few references from design clients. Ask the seller to explain the thinking behind the most striking projects. Someone who can describe the problems solved is more likely to have really done the work.
Key takeaways
- Ask what share of real work the portfolio represents.
- Find out who designed and built each project and whether they stay.
- Visit older projects to see how the work has aged.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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