We were lucky to catch up with JaRon Dent recently and have shared our conversation below.
JaRon, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
My mom had a member at the bank she worked at that had a lawncare business. He was looking for help, so my mother volunteered my services. I was fired after my first season because I wasn’t strong enough to keep up with the demand. The owner was great because when he fired me, he gave me a lawnmower. I used that push mower to start my business.
I got my first client by knocking on doors in my neighborhood and asking neighbors if they wanted their grass cut or leaves raked.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I got into this field of work at the age of 12. I was hired by a lawncare company at 12 in my area. I wasn’t strong enough to keep with the pace of work. I was fired at the end of the season. The owner gave me a lawnmower when I was let go. I used it to start my own business. I went door to door in my neighborhood until I could I drive. My mom and younger brother were a big help in the beginning. My mom drove me and my equipment around in the back of her 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. My younger brother and I worked together mowing yards for about 8 years. We saved up together and bought a pick up truck to haul our equipment around the neighborhood. Word of mouth spread over the years and our 8 weekly yards grew into 65 clients. Back then we had a push mower, weed eater, broom, and rake. Today I have two trucks, three trailers, commercial zero turn mowers, walk behinds, trimmers, back-pack blowers, hedge trimmers, and a host of other items to make jobs more efficient.
Today was have 60 clients that we service from St. Louis, Mo to Springfield, IL. We work by appointment only. Word of mouth referrals are still our strongest methods for leads. Occasionally, we post before and after pictures of our work on Facebook and Instagram.
We offer full outdoor property maintenance. Our services include mowing, trimming, edging, blowing. hedge trimming, leaf clean up, gutter cleaning, pruning, and residential landscape installation.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My business has been built over time. It has literally come by the means of hard work, dedication, and determination. We are 100% debt free. We own all of our equipment, trucks, and trailers. I was raised primarily by my grandmother who taught me the value of saving and investing in the things that you need but not necessarily want. The majority of my extra income has gone back into building the business. I took advantage of some free business courses at SIUE to help me learn more about entrepreneurship.
Word of mouth is the best advertisement. Do a great job for a good price and your business will flourish.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The lesson that I have unlearned was the value of having a degreed profession versus a skilled trade was more valuable. Many people in the trades industry are not respected, but are a true necessity to society. We are essential to our community. Our skill set is able to bring value to homes, neighborhoods, and communities alike. Several people I worked for or come into contact with talk down to you and even look down on you because your job is physical and you get dirty.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @DENTLAWNCARE
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Dentgrass
