Barings Landscape Design and Maintenance joined the Genshare business network in March 2025. As one of Melbourne’s go-to names in landscaping, Barings is an incredibly exciting and dynamic business, known for transforming gardens and outdoor spaces in Melbourne’s south east.
Over 27 years, founder Ben Baring grew his business into a highly sought-after and trusted partner for a broad range of landscaping projects, from construction landscaping to ongoing care and maintenance. Over the years, Barings has built a vibrant portfolio, ranging from elegant home gardens and commercial spaces, to offices, shops and parks.
What drew us to Barings was the very pronounced client loyalty and retention. The business enjoys a steady rhythm of work, and customers stick around because of the consistently impeccable results the team delivers. Many clients have been using the Barings service for well over a decade.
New leader Michael Spanos took over the business in March and is seeing it go from strength to strength.
We sat down with Ben to learn more about the history of the business, why he was ready to sell, and what made Genshare the buyer of choice.
What inspired you to start Barings Landscape Design & Maintenance?
"From a very early age, through my family, I was very passionate about gardening and horticulture. I went overseas and studied horticulture in the UK and then horticulture back here in Australia and then pretty much started up my own business in gardening."
How old is Barings Landscape Design & Maintenance?
"I started Barings close to 28 years ago. I actually started with a nursery and then got out of the retail sector and went into landscaping and garden maintenance."
What made you proud during your time as a business owner?
"I think the proudest was working very hard, and slowly graduating by putting on your first staff member, and then buying your first vehicle for that staff member, and just slowly seeing growth in the business. Seeing a lot of happy clients…keeping staff happy."
What was most important to you when considering a buyer?
"It was about having somebody who is going to look after and grow the business and keep it running with the same model as how I built it."
What convinced you to finally take the plunge?
"I’d done it for a long time, managing the whole thing myself, and it needed more people to grow it to a larger scale and just take it to the next level."
What’s important for your successor to consider?
"Just trying to keep what I implemented over the years, and hopefully keep everything going as I built it."
What advice do you have for others considering succession?
"I think it’s a case of interviewing the people who are prepared to buy the business to make sure they’re the right people to drive the business in the right direction."
How has life changed for you since stepping away from the business?
"I’ve been doing a lot more duties at home. It’s all good – a lot more family time."
Why did Genshare first interest you?
"I explored one or two other options that were both unsatisfactory, so when Genshare came along and told me that they wanted to keep the model very much as it was, I thought, these are the right guys to take it on."
What makes you confident about your decision with Genshare?
"When I’m told that they’ve got new people coming on, and they’re going to be suitable, I think that it’s a lot of weight off my shoulders as far as knowing that it’s going in the right direction."
How did Genshare ensure that the team, culture and values you built were protected?
"I think that’s down to the manager who has taken over my role forming rapport with all the staff, and making sure that they’re happy, and nothing’s going to change."
Why Genshare?
"They’re passionate about taking over business. They’re putting the right people in to drive the businesses. They’re a good bunch of people."
How would you describe your experience with Genshare in one word?
"Life-changing."
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
