As founder and president of his own landscaping company, Giuseppe Agrippa has built a reputation for precision, trust, and longevity. Starting the business at just 20 years old, Agrippa has grown his company into one of the premier names in landscaping in the Greater Toronto Area. Through years of hard work and hands-on leadership, he’s learned what it takes to thrive in a crossed and competitive business.
The StartUp Magazine sat down with entrepreneur Giuseppe Agrippa to discuss three lessons from his career in landscaping and high-end pool design.
1. Built Your Business on Reliability, Not Just Talent
“It’s really amazing how far it will take you when you meet basic standards of reliability,” says Agrippa. “When you deliver what you say you will, in the time frame and at the price you agreed on, you’re doing the most important part of building a successful business.” Agrippa prioritizes delivering a consistent experience that clients can count on. “If you try to cut corners at the end of a job, or ask for an extra few days or an extra few dollars, that’s what sticks with people. They don’t call back and they spread the word. But when you give them more than they asked for, they send their friends.”
2. Strategize for the Seasons
Landscaping in Canada has an often unpredictable rhythm. During the long winters, it can be tempting to lose focus, but Agrippa never pauses his business. “I’m planning a few seasons ahead, whether it’s refining new designs, working on permits, or training new staff,” says Agrippa. “There has to be an intentional mindset towards growth, even when the ground is frozen.” His business manages to keep the pipeline full and the team engaged, avoiding feast-or-famine cycles that plague many trades-based businesses during down seasons.
3. Don’t Stretch Too Thin
With an urgency to scale at all costs, many businesses get caught cutting corners when they expand too fast. But Agrippa has developed a reliable method of keeping things manageable. “We’re not trying to take on the biggest volume of jobs. But we do want to do big jobs the right way,” says Agrippa. By focusing on integrated projects that include landscaping, pool installation, and outdoor features, his team controls the full experience and maintains high standards. The result has been more referrals, stronger margins, and a brand that stands for quality over quantity.
In summary, entrepreneur Giuseppe Agrippa’s outlook on the landscaping business is refreshingly simple: treat people right, do excellent work, and never stop trying to improve the process. These three lessons from his career can provide some wisdom to any entrepreneur looking to build something that lasts.
