Employee STEALS $50K.... Leaves Business Owner HOMELESS

This is the toughest business turnaround we've had yet. Mike from Atta Boy Lawns had an employee embezzling over $50,000 from him and it put the business and Mike in a rally tough spot. Watch to the end where we catch up with Mike 2 months after our visit to see where he is at now.
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:17 Employee Embezzles $50,000
00:05:01 Taking Loans to Get Out of Debt
00:09:16 How Employee was stealing
00:10:09 Best way to do Estimates
00:14:56 The Stress of Debt
00:22:06 How to Get out of Debt
00:25:59 Laying off Employees
00:28:20 Deferring Debt Payments to Bank
00:29:29 Improve Close Ratio
00:32:24 Failing Business Reality
00:34:54 2 Months Later...
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[@MikeAndes]

Apply to be on the turnaround show! IT'S FREE thanks to all the support from the community! MikeAndes.com/turnaround

[@giovannigiorgio8962]

Hello Mike A. I pray that you are well and that you have a good day today.

[@Bowhunterohio]

Keep your head up. You will make it. Talk with your team. Be honest with them but don’t be negative. You be positive with your team because when they see their boss being positive and knowing you can make it then they won’t doubt you. You got this. Just remember to be involved. Have daily meetings in the morning and evening when the days over. Know what’s going on and what jobs is open and what was completed. Make sure you sign off on everything including bids, gas, and all equipment. Everything should be signed off by you. You made some mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s part of life. It’s just how you move forward that will define who you are.

[@TheTuttleCrew]

I love these videos! Mike you have a gift from God and the encouragement you are these families are amazing! Praying for you and yours in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord!

[@csuiteunfiltered]

What an amazing episode. Thank you to Mike and his team at Atta Boy for their transparency and willingness to help us learn. They will make it through this.

[@mikepeterson8037]

There are a lot of businesses where employees steal from you. His situation is more common than you would think. Treat your business like a casino pit boss make sure no one is stealing from you.

[@Movingcompanyhustle]

The fact that Jobber doesn’t have a process for tracking deleted jobs like that is very concerning.

[@mahirzuko]

The fact that that guy stole 50k to get the owners attention tells me that the owner was not interested in the company or partying off somewhere while he left all the grinding to the leader that stole him off.

[@HeresMinx]

@@mahirzuko a dude who is willing to sell his home, is willing to do anything to keep his business afloat.

[@user-jn5cb6sp5p]

​@@mahirzukoOR Heres a thought, when you're making well over $1.5M it might be hard to notice a couple hundred $$ going thru the cracks each week. And like the other comment said, that man literally sold his family's home, just to keep the business and the other families In the company afloat. Would you be willing to do that? I know I couldn't.

[@chimbo84]

POS systems have always required manager approval to void a sale. How is this basic concept not yet understood by Jobber? This needs to be an administrative setting.

[@Jpizzle4]

500k business for example and only 8k in the bank man that’s scary. So close to closing up shop at that amount

[@maxicanamerican2023]

This is why the stacking of business credit is soooo important, so that when needed in any scenario it’s already available.

[@mckinneysoutdoorservice1231]

This was a great episode, over 15 years and I still feel the trust relationship with employees from time to time, this hits home, thanks for sharing.

[@lawnmowing8143]

Humble guy. I wish him much success. I've had a similar situation. I had a partner taking care of hardscapes. He lost control, did a lot of coke and wasn't making any money on his jobs. I was able to get rid of him legally and turn my business around. I'm grateful for getting rid of him and saving my business. I still have the effects of his actions on my business, but I've learned from this and will never trust blindly again. Working on getting my business stronger and pay off debt.

[@curbappeallawncarellc4263]

videos like this are what have been keeping me going lately. im in dark places in my head. mike and mike thank you for an awsome video. and mike i know you and your company and team will pull through and be crushing things and back on top in no time.

[@LiamSunstrum]

Unreal episode ! I really believe he will turn it around. We were in a very similar situation a year ago and I 100% feel for this guy. Some of the toughest times teaches you the best lessons and I really hope the business turns around.

[@purogto32]

your gonna make it brother, keep going don't give up.

[@hooksandhornstv1010]

The irony of watching this video was having a jobber ad at the beginning before being able to watch it

[@pjsites1985]

Thanks for all your help and hard work. Really appreciate this series and everything you’re doing.

[@LaughingRandomly]

He's a nice, humble guy. Good to have as a boss, BUT we have to know our employees. It just seems that he got complacent. I wish he, his family and his business a full recovery. And thank you for sharing. 🙏🏻😎

[@territ1231]

A million dollar company, but the guy only embezzled 50,000.. why can't he recover?

[@dontdogarage]

I seen multiple items on the property that could easily pay what was lost.

[@domenico7483]

How much do you think is net profit ?!!! Its not huge and taking volume like that can ruin u

[@darkfireBikes]

If the company makes a million dollars, is a million dollar company. But if it costs a million and 1 dollars to run, it's a million dollar company in debt

[@Kaleke09]

@@dontdogarage Well, Most of said items are used to complete jobs. Jobs are his profit, You cut out the equipment, Then you cut out his profit. You cut his profit... Then he's really screwed.

[@sgbbco3981]

I respect your mission and content. Showing people the realities of running a small business and what it takes to make it work is valuable information that we all need.

[@TotallyNotillegal]

Probably the best turnaround so far. The update at the end was rhe icing on the cake. I think itd be worth it to wait 2 mknths after going to update it in the same video.

[@boscage7057]

Man, I feel your pain! It’s so hard balancing an unconditional trust relationship with employees while still maintaining some degree of monitoring. I think, in this case, it really comes down to management by abdication vs delegation

[@MRsilverngold]

It wouldn't matter what Mike did that dude would of found a way to rob him,he should do everything he can to make sure there's proof to convict that dude,

[@itsmedaveh5516]

God Bless you and your family. I pray that things turn around for you. Keep fighting for you, your wife and the kids. You will WIN!

[@S-cm7nx]

Mike thank you for making these videos ! Your confidence definitely rubs off on people !

[@Mayolawncare2024]

Thank you Mike I learn a lot from your videos

[@nicolettedavis2030]

I was the general manager of a large landscape company for 26 years. Just retired in August 2024. So many things in this episode I can relate to. We barely made it through the 2008 recession and COVID. The 2 Owners were focused and kept morale up during the tough times. When I left, the company was doing really well and had lots of money in the bank. During the recession and its aftermath I never thought the company would come out as well as it has. The ATA BOY owner initially looked like he was beaten down, but Mike’s input and suggestions gave him some clarity. At the end he seemed to be in a better place as demonstrated by his improved affect and greater energy. He will make it. With the exception of the joker who stole from him it sounds like he has assembled a good team.

[@Kingike415]

The crazy thing is there are bonds and insurance policies you can buy in case of an employee stealing but the small mom and pop businesses never actually have that coverage

[@Unduplicatable]

Besides the unnecessarily added drama, this was a good watch. As for him crying, I feel that for real without the music… it’s so devastating to put countless hours of your hard work EVERY DAY into your job, only for just one coworker to ruin it all.

[@HiddenZeroJs]

Start off slow, start off solo, grow with what profit you generate after expenses and continue to grow your clientele. Buy equipment used and fix it when it breaks down and when business grows buy new and better equipment same goes with trucks. It’s not easy but that what i have been doing for the last 7 years, The business is growing and debt free from the beginning. Most people want fast & easy route accumulate huge amounts of debt, grow fast and then struggle to get by. I have dreams of having land/ shop and some employees, one step at a time and we’ll meet our goals.

[@granddaddyHerps]

I worked for a small used car lot and our finance director embezzled upwards of 100k+ over several years before they caught it. Made me realize how loose the payment system was there. I don't feel sry for the owner because he wasn't an honest man. Call it karma if you ask me.

[@HigherStandardsKY]

Amazing video

[@chrisekigbo7748]

All the best to him, I can relate to some degree. He deserves better and I also hope he stays strong to turn his business around. A lot of lessons from this

[@jvick953]

I've worked for a business going under. It's not fun😢. Thanks Mike great videos are really on point for where we're headed in this economy

[@joshpsn-xapexxtrashx2091]

Hey my hometown 🤘🏽 this wa crazy. An to see you actually coming to these parts of the US man that says a lot not many people care about us in this area we're the lost the forgotten people. The hillbillies ect. But were people just like anyone else thanks for helping these guys out.🤘🏽

[@Eremon1]

Hopefully things turn around for this guy and his company. Seems like a pretty solid dude.

[@rangerbat9295]

This is a great man. I know I could use his help with my business. Business is hard to run.

[@happyman5389]

I wish and pray for the best for this owner . He learned a lesson which will make him stronger now he'll have procedures to make sure nothing to bad happens . I admire this man and believe he's got it. I learned that Mike has provisions set for example when the employees need the estimator to xome out and explain the provision set means that the estimator needs to do a better job at explaining

[@fredrickscott6977]

Could you sell off the tree services devision as a going concern in order to raise the. Working capital and clear any DEBT .??

[@slynn5138]

Nothing is worse than an employee that steals from you. Not only are they hurting you and the business, they’re also hurting themselves right out of a job once the company is not profitable and goes under. Unfortunately, most thieves are too stupid to understand this concept. They steal whatever they can and move on once they get caught. It’s a hard cycle to break, but most of these people have a background that follows them. If you do your due diligence prior to hiring more than likely their past issues will show up. Also, go with your gut. I own a large contracting company in Southern California so I’m always hiring potential employees. It’s astonishing the things we discover doing our background checks. Not too long ago we were looking for a runner to bring materials to our job sites. While doing the background check on someone interested, we discovered he had six DUIs. Six of them! And he interviewed for a job that entails driving all day.

[@TheChrisFox]

This guy is a real man.

[@eddierios8636]

mike watching your videos gave me the motivation to start a landscaping business with my buddy that i grew up with he had the experience i had the money to get it off the ground and equipment. since i had a full time job already i trusted him to handle the incoming calls and put them into a ipad with a app service like jobber i put out the money even to cover his rent for 6 months to get started. my buddy ended up taking full advantage pocketing every job. we would get a lift on a tree job he would make up expenses and other stuff like he caused damage to something he had to go a repair a fence etc. but wouldnt keep receipts to say he even spent money on something. the money wouldnt go back into the company acount every job would have costs to do it no profit to show for it. its a nightmare. as a partner i gave him 50/50 when all he came to the table with was experience and labor i supplyed a truck trailers all equipment now its tax time and i dont know what to do i backed out of the company 9 months in but he uses my equipment because he dont have anything i gave him to this month to get stuff and he hasnt goten his own equipment after a 90 day heads up.

[@Likethetacosauce]

Oh shoot! This episode is in my area!!!

[@Visionstelevision-wu1lu]

When it comes to the money I'll take care of that thank you! I'm over the money directly payments taxes I'm looking over payroll and making sure it isn't going overboard at payroll. We don't take cash unless it's an emergency and I'll be there for that too.

[@austinmackay6644]

Nice vid

[@shawnkelly5374]

Ryan from Victory Service said watch your videos. Easy Money. I’m a new subscriber now

[@MikeAndes]

Welcome aboard! Which video did he mention it? I would like to thank him

[@shawnkelly5374]

He just said go watch one of Mike’s videos during his live stream

[@Skinny..90]

It was Ryan's last live he did. Someone asked him a question and he recommended to watch your videos​@@MikeAndes

[@squirrelatwork]

So many people want to scale but in most cases it would benefit most to stay mom and pop and

[@forestdweller512]

Praying for that man and his family.

[@PaulFinestone-ud9sw]

I am sorry that you had to go through this. Employee dishonesty is a key coverage that every business should have insured as part of their Business Owners Package Policy. This would also cover your property and liability exposures. I am a California Insurance Agent for commercial business and the amount of employee theft is very large. Also, you need to sitting down with your accountant on filing this capital loss to offset income. Also, forgive me, but if you have $150,000 of equity in your home you don't have to sell it. Pull out $85,000 as a home equity loan and get stable and keep the home.

[@finaltouch1962]

Just because you have a business doesn’t mean you know business

[@ukiemanserg5163]

No one is born knowing business. Except maybe you ?

[@BoZo-lh4oo]

U learn by trying new things i hot my own business im learning as I go I’ve made a couple bad moves but still learning n growing I never doubt God got me

[@Almightycreator888]

Yeah he killing his business with those small price job its pretty cheap

[@Youpeeipay]

And just because u own” Augusta lawcare doesn’t mean u understand business. Augusta in my city is garbage , I take work from him all the time and I’m more expensive. The difference is - quality of work

[@thatguy7085]

This happened to a friend of mine… he was robbed and lost his business… was then homeless.

[@addamjenkins75]

3 inches, bags, wtf ?!?! The angle of that dump trailer hooked to that truck is atrocious. It's going to hurt when all those old trucks clap out.

[@user-jm2gv2oy8p]

Dude, even our business owner probably has that same thought (even after closing a $100k landscaping job), I know I have that same thought too. We are humans, and we make mistakes. You were always good enough. This experience happened to you because the next step is going to be bigger and better. Not everyone makes it or even makes it CLOSE to where you are. Legitimately. I also believe a lot of successful people in this business have gone through some of the things you are going through now. Keep your head held high.

[@gonelucid]

Bro thinks high fives are gonna stop theft 😂

[@larrysorenson4789]

My wonderful 20 year great friend, attorney and business partner embezzled $50,000 from me. NEVER have a partner.

[@danielpowell5119]

Great video man can you create a video about dealing with customers that insist on be your highest priority at all times thank you have a good day

[@OffThePathPrints]

I just had to click on the video to say if you spent 50k on that truck(thumbnail) you sir already got jacked

[@Rediguana33]

Great episode Mike! God bless you brother. Going out to struggling business owners, showing them the love of God and imparting knowledge you’ve accumulated along the way. Question to anyone. I don’t know much about jobber. Is there really no history log or logs they can pull up to show activity? I have to believe there is something on the back end that details a customer ID of who was deleting jobs

[@dylanstevely1443]

If you have to worry about a customer counting the amount of bags you use and so on , you got the wrong customer

[@abclawnworks9127]

How in the heck did they steal the truck? Glad to see things are taking a turn for the better!

[@_just_dante_]

To look at this video and see a father cry is hard to watch because somebody tried to destroy what he put his life into

[@Trildin]

You do this free? That's dope, good work

[@christophereverett5695]

you can turn the grindings into mulch they have machines out there just for this to save your company more money in the long run

[@xroda_]

Wow it’s just crazy how messed up the employee was

[@gervaldofrancisco7794]

Damn.. that ending 😭💔

[@TH-eb5ro]

Transparency is more important. Companies who hide information from the customer are creating their karma. He is correct, you sell a service. They can use an online calculator to figure out the number of bags or just ask at a store that sells mulch. Owner needs to get his health checked, this is how we get heart issues. Are they in a position to do snow removal? A business owner takes on great risk, hope all goes well.

[@ClockworkGFX]

It doesn't really snow much in Johnson City.

[@3chodabs195]

Dude trying his damndest yall are haters he's so self aware it's admirable

[@startingtech3900]

Lol mike implying “giving the guys hi fives” would help them not steal like they did from this guy 😂 (love mike thought that was funny)

[@matthewsiahaan1312]

Typical guru trash advice

[@TheNathanLarsen]

Yup, I've had providers who've let me down too. Trailers stolen. Money gone. Jobs messed up. But I've had to shift my mindset. Instead of seeing them as villains, I've learned to think like they do. Now, I pay them a percentage of each job, and that's it. No pay-for-performance, just a fair percentage. If they fail to fix a botched job, they don't get more work. And if customers don't pay up on multiple jobs, they don't get paid either. Establish a contract with your team, so they operate as partners under your direction. Don't hand over the reins. Of course this is just what has worked for me. It might now work for everyone.

[@Jbmc65]

Jeered, I got an estimate for 2 big trees and trim one they wanted $6000.00 so I trimmed the one myself first time doing it, I won’t do the big ones unless I rent a lift

[@RaspingPompano2]

My heart goes out to this guy! This video is breaking my heart because most of the videos the people are buying brand new trucks and equipment they don’t need. This guy is selling his home not to fail. I have a question about mulch, wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy truck loads and not just bags of mulch? Am I missing something like how mulch is sold and measured?

[@BassingwithRyan]

Hi Mike!

[@MrRevil3]

Poor guy. I hope his wife is solid.

[@HlfBakedTrades]

Restarting from nothing sucks ass but it can be done... You gonna be ok brother I promise.

[@terrilewis172]

Hope the stealing dude owns some property to lien throught court. Deleated items still live in your computer they need to get it out. Best to them all.

[@SimpleMan-hg3dx]

How sad this poor guy obviously got no help from what they call the family or team he works with this is why people don't want to work or own a business under business like this

[@jimmieblue6262]

NEVER under any circumstances let anyone handle money think like a crook. And keep your work and money.

[@peterstevens6555]

Kia Ora & Good Afternoon from North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand …sad news bro, hope ya get through this bro…

[@joecummings1260]

Million a year in revenue, and he didn't have a 50k emergency fund? 50k is nothing today, the guy should have had at least 100k for emergencies. And WTF with trusting an employee? How long did he know the guy?

[@danielmaher4701]

It’s not a million dollar business. Mike embellishes the truth. He’s already been caught more the once. So if you halve it you might be close to what the business actually turns over. But also this guy has way too many leaches on the payroll.

[@pccleric]

IT guy with 25+ years experience. This is why you do NOT give admin permissions to everyone that has access to the system. I am sure that the system they were using had permission levels setup not to give someone access to delete items from the system. It was just not being used. On the other hand it sounds like a case of my profits, our losses.

[@giovannigiorgio8962]

GPS your vehicles

[@godw1ll99]

at least he is able to recognize and admit it all starts with him and he tried to rectify the problems but failed and that is ok. his biggest problem isnt the employee stealing because he recognized the problem and is capable of fixing it, its the debt that he failed to calculate properly before taking it on that is really screwing him. that is not something you can just fix with a simple change.

[@gonelucid]

Jeez this show is so dramatic.. intro is wild. 😂

[@robertmccall8666]

I feel for the guy but he trusted the wrong guy and that guy stole from him and as a business owner you have to watch all the money... Sad situation. You need to audit your own people often just to make sure everything is above aboard.

[@Offroaddisturbance]

What are good ways to start bringing in potential clients

[@tunercars3]

the problem with current customers asking for new estimates is if they can only afford the current service and not extra but just want to see how much to see if that can budget for it hounding them could turn them off all together and then you lose any new and current services provided setting a limit on the quote is meaningless because if the customer can't afford it yet setting a time limit isn't going to speed the customers ability to pay for it there is a lot of good in this but also a lot of bad also letting people go in the winter and not using them for other things will not make them come back just like the businesses bills don't stop in the winter neither does the workers so letting them go and then asking them to come back after they had to find new work is not going to happen

[@robertross804]

sorry 4 your loss we had family so friends rob us more than once what state r you in?

[@sdrammm696969]

I feel this business owner😩

[@happys104092243]

His mess up was giving that guy more access to the app then he should of had. I use jobber. I can add jobs but i don't have the ability to delete jobs. Because i don't have that ability. This guy gave his worker full access to everything in the app.

[@xxbambamxx7261]

I mean, if you can't catch an employee stealing from you, then you don't have much control over you're buissnes, or you have terrible routines controlling 😫 As a buissnes owner, you are in charge of all the aspects, or you have to hire someone to keep an watch over everything....

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

I assume he didnt have GPS on the trucks. I think he would have found out what happened sooner if he knew his trucks were constantly at unpaid customers homes.

[@alexanderbecker6480]

How did you NOT know he was doing jobs?

[@ShawnT_1JZ]

was that a 240sx at the entrance of his shop? sell it lol,

[@joegosselin2888]

This man’s business issues weren’t caused by someone stealing from him that was just the straw that broke the camels back

[@tidrel7497]

If you love the home so much, why don't you get an equity off of it instead of selling it. That would make sense and that way the business bills can be taken care of right away.

[@vallanddess]

I thought the same. Get a HELOC. I personally wouldn't risk my home for the business, but to move the family in a mobile home is a serious and unneeded downgrade.

[@OscarHernandez-xo4lt]

Insane interest rates is probably why

[@rogerbritus9378]

He can't because of all these loans he has already. His income is too compromised, and the bank won't lend without income being 3x the monthly debt payment

[@joelhernandez-kn2hp]

He needs to select the most profitable customers and cut back on payroll and he has to start working in the field to save money on labor

[@demerclopez2622]

Lol sometimes a customer will take an estimate to your competitors

[@cammos]

God bless u bro ur a bigger man than me. 🙏🙏🙏

[@wilsonbobcatservice4151]

$50k is not much money to lose. A million dollar company should be making atleast $100k profit. Easy. With a salary of $85k

[@Gator-357]

This is what happens when you live above your means and get everything on credit. One little thing and you're eating out of the dumpster. I have zero sympathy for people like this.

[@stevenpike7857]

As an accountant, this is so sad to see. These honest people trying to run a business getting taken by these thieves. I was hired at an A/C "mom and pop" company. They're accounting process was "kitchen table," and after implementing professional level accounting controls caught two of their 12 employees stealing from them. Put together the case and gave it over to the DA and they were arrested and charged (later found guilty). Before I left for a better opportunity working for the county, I spent some time teaching them about accounting controls and basic accounting practices that help protect their business. Broke their heart they learned these two were stealing from them. They were "very close" to their employees.

[@Lawn-Stewards]

Holly Molly.. initial thoughts is I'm noticing a trend of people being in debt to pay guys? Makes me never want to hire guys. Seems so common

[@thystaff742]

Mobs have offed guys for far less.

[@jonport_]

👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

[@Dwolfe656]

Born and still and always around JC this is horrible ):