Small investment, big rewards for Cambria County lawn care business
James Britt took a big risk to launch his own lawncare company.
Starting a business can be like having a beautiful car with no engine; if you don’t have the right business “insides,” your business won’t operate correctly. Startup Alleghenies coach Blake Fleegle helped James Britt of Lawn-N-Order Lawn Care Services understand how to get the internal workings of budget and goals in line to run a successful operation.
Stretched thin, living paycheck to paycheck, Britt couldn’t take a big risk, but he needed to earn more. He took the couple hundred dollars he had in the bank and bought a lawn mower and weed eater. What started as a side hustle has now flourished into a profitable venture.
“I went around the neighborhood looking for people who needed their grass cut, and I never thought I would love it the way I do,” Britt said. “As I continued to develop new skills, it has turned into an art, and it’s no longer just cutting grass.”
I love being able to give back to my community. My next goal is to create 8-10 jobs to hire youth and get them excited about putting in hard work.
“Our service is top-notch,” Britt said. “It is our passion that sets us apart from other outfits. We don’t miss a single detail and ensure each customer has complete satisfaction.”
“James exudes passion and professionalism in every job,” Fleegle said. “He is a great example of how sometimes just starting with what you have can reap big rewards in the long term.”
“I never thought I’d love it the way I do,” Britt said about his startup.
When he first started, Britt still held his full-time job at the galvanizing plant and eventually made more money after work than during the day. “By the grace of God, the business was growing, and there was a market to capitalize on,” he shared. “We expanded from lawn and landscaping to include commercial and residential cleanup and hauling.”
Continuing to exude compassion for his community is a priority for Britt’s business. “I love being able to give back to my community,” he said. “My next goal is to create 8-10 jobs to hire youth and get them excited about putting in hard work.”
It is our passion that sets us apart from other outfits. We don’t miss a single detail and ensure each customer has complete satisfaction.
He said he started mowing lawns to make extra cash for his family, but business isn’t easy and needed to find a deeper reason to keep growing the business. “I do it to be an example to my family and community,” he shared. “I made poor choices in my past. It was at a low point in my life that I experienced the grace of God. And now, I want to show everyone how good God is and how He has a purpose for every life.”
Britt offers this advice for other entrepreneurs: “Business isn’t easy, but when you keep God first, success is possible—the grit inside of you grows into a determination to succeed.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
