Despite the Slump, 12 Green Industry Companies Make Inc. 5000

Despite the significant industry slump over the past two years, it is interesting to note that at least 12 green industry companies made this year’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.  The list is based on three-year revenue growth (2009 versus 2006).  The top green industry company on the list grew a whopping 710% over the three year period. The following companies made the list (in order of ranking)t: 418         Complete Landscaping Systems (Wichita, KS) 2180 Clean Air Gardening (Dallas, TX) 2889 Eastern Land Management  (Stamford, CT) 2919 Lewis Tree Services (West Henrietta, … Read more

SWINGLE LAWN, TREE & LANDSCAPE CARE ACQUIRES TROPIC GREEN LAWN & TREE CARE OF DENVER

Denver, CO. – Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care, now celebrating 63 years in business, today announced their acquisition of Tropic Green Lawn & Tree Care customers to strengthen their brand and market position along Colorado’s Front Range communities from Castle Rock to Fort Collins. Bob and Robert Siebers, former owners of Tropic Green, said “We worked very hard on our search for a Colorado based company with exceptional customer service and the expertise you have come to expect to take over our valued customers’ care. After carefully considering several options, we are excited to announce that Swingle Lawn, Tree … Read more

When is an Expiring Tax Cut Really a Tax Increase?

Until recently, it has seemed a forgone conclusion that the Bush-era tax cuts, set to expire at December 31, 2009, would in fact expire.  Of course, those “tax cuts” included the reduction in the capital gains rate from 20% to 15%. This is a complicated political issue indeed, especially since letting those tax cuts expire was a specific campaign commitment of President Obama.  Bush tax cuts became something of a dirty word during the past campaign. Political realities have set in.  People have begun to recognize that “letting tax cuts expire” means the same thing as “a tax increase.”  Economists … Read more

Why Some Businesses Don’t Sell

A good friend of mine is fond of saying that there is a buyer out there somewhere for any business out there – you just have to find them.  While there is a degree of truth to that statement, it doesn’t tell the whole story.  It is estimated that less than 20% of businesses that are listed for sale actually sell. Over the past couple of years, many businesses have not sold and many would blame a combination of general economic conditions and a lack of financing.  There  is a lot of truth to that explanation.  However, many businesses actually … Read more

No Help on Small Business Lending Until At Least September

From the Denver Business Journal See you in September — that’s the message Congress sent to small businesses looking for help in getting loans. Before leaving Washington for its August recess, Congress failed to complete action on legislation that would make Small Business Administration loans more available and provide community banks with up to $30 billion in cheap capital for use in making small business loans. Chances of the Small Business Jobs Act being enacted before September ended when the Senate failed to resolve a procedural dispute on the legislation before the House recessed July 30. This means SBA lenders … Read more