You might feel like you’re starting your business too late for your industry. But your future self will be incredibly thankful you started when you did. That’s the case for this week’s Wild Business Growth Podcast guest, Bryan Clayton. Bryan is the Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPal and Peachtree Inc. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast platforms.
Episode 193: Bryan Clayton – Lawn Care Luminary, Co-Founder of GreenPal and Peachtree
Bryan Clayton, the Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPal and Peachtree Inc., joins the show to share his journey from cleaning up cigarette butts at McDonald’s Drive Thrus to building multimillion-dollar lawn care businesses. Hear how to become a second-time founder, where to focus your time, remove friction for your customers, Bryan’s favorite hidden gem island, and Mario Kart track. This episode covers everything from Big Macs to Easter Island. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- How did Bryan get McDonald’s as a client
- Where was his mindset when he started GreenPal
- What percent of his time was focused on technology vs. people
- Has it been more of a challenge to vet homeowners or lawn care professionals
- How does Bryan make sure the homeowners don’t feel they’re paying too much
- What’s his #1 growth-driving tip
- When does delegation not work out
- Who’s the best Mario Kart character
Connect with Bryan at GreenPal.com and Instagram @BryanMClayton.
Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.
Show Notes
- Intro & McDonald’s
- [0:29] Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
- [0:39] Connect with Bryan at GreenPal.com and Instagram @BryanMClayton
- [2:04] Starting off hot
- [2:38] How did Bryan get McDonald’s as a client
- [4:16] Customer
- [4:24] Cold Calls
- [4:42] Franchisor vs. Franchisee
- [6:27] Walgreens
- [6:33] Invoice
- [6:44] Big Mac, Baked Apple Pie, Extra Value Meal
- [8:32] Customer Service
- [8:42] Ronald McDonald
- The GreenPal Story
- [9:18] Where was Bryan’s mindset when he started GreenPal
- [9:56] Identity Crisis
- [11:32] Podcasts
- [12:05] Software
- [12:14] Employees
- [12:41] The Social Network
- [13:44] Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, Postmates, Instacart
- [14:18] App
- [15:31] The Startup Owner’s Manual by Steve Blank & Bob Dorf
- [15:46] The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- [16:04] User Feedback
- [16:48] PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- [18:39] Starbucks
- [20:06] Credit Card
- [20:27] What percent of Bryan’s time was focused on technology vs. people
- [20:39] Whac-A-Mole
- [21:14] The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
- [21:51] Product Design, SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- [22:24] Triage
- [22:43] Revenue
- [23:32] Intercom
- [25:02] Negative Friction, CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
- [25:13] Emails
- [25:20] Gmail
- [25:39] Startups
- [26:31] Has it been more of a challenge to vet homeowners or lawn care professionals
- [27:04] Product vs. Service
- [27:25] Bentley
- [28:49] Clients
- [29:13] How does Bryan make sure the homeowners don’t feel they’re paying too much
- [31:08] Take Rate
- [31:22] Angie’s List
- [31:39] What’s Bryan’s #1 growth-driving tip
- [32:40] Marketing, Social Media
- [33:44] Sales
- [34:16] It is confirmed sexy
- [34:52] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- The Unusual: Pet Peeves, Quirks, and Weird Talents
- [36:07] What’s Bryan’s biggest pet peeve
- [36:24] “People who are always late live longer“
- [36:34] What’s a quirk Bryan has
- [37:34] That’s a word
- [37:42] Entrepreneur
- [38:03] 80/20
- [38:16] Super Mario Bros.
- [38:47] When does delegation not work out
- [39:00] Code
- [40:19] Ted Lasso “Believe” Sign, Notre Dame Sign
- [40:28] Super Mario Kart, Bowser, Toad, Yoshi, Princess Peach, Mario
- [41:12] Well done. Super
- [41:28] What’s a weird talent Bryan has
- [41:48] Martial Arts, Krav Maga, Muay Thai Boxing, Boxing, Kickboxing
- Rapid-Fire Q&A
- [42:58] San Andrés
- [43:32] Easter Island
- [44:33] The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey, Audible
- [45:38] Prince’s Hot Chicken
- [46:01] Shoutout Jon & Mark! Hattie B’s
- [46:27] Rainbow Road
- [47:11] Connect with Bryan at GreenPal.com and Instagram @BryanMClayton
- [47:33] What are Bryan’s Final Thoughts
- [47:42] Marc Andreessen
- [49:39] Follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And 5 stars on Apple Podcasts & Spotify if you’re feeling super nice
- [50:03] Check out the Wild Business Growth Podcast on GoodPods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
- [50:07] Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn @MaxBranstetter
- [50:10] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo
What is the Wild Business Growth Podcast?
Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.
How do you start a podcast?
Interested in starting a professional-sounding podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.
Thanks for listening to Bryan Clayton on the Wild Business Growth Podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth Podcast and tell a friend about it. And enjoy your front yard or some else’s front yard with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!
