Despite being young in the lawn care field, seniors Jacob Corcoran and Draper Montgomery have started their own successful lawn care businesses. JC Lawn Care and Monty’s Outdoor Services LLC started for the benefit of the Chelsea community. More than just a part-time job, this is a full-time commitment and huge responsibility.
“I started it sophomore year, and it's because my first job was with a landscaping company, and I really enjoyed it,” Montgomery said. “I do online school, so I'm only at Chelsea till about noon, so that leaves me the whole rest of the day to work.”
Starting from just getting extra money and helping around the house turned into a full operating business. Getting their first customers from family friends and Facebook posts soon turned into a fully-booked work week.
“I've learned how to manage problems that we run into on the job. I've also learned to manage customers that could be unsatisfied [with the outcome] or [how] we need to tend to their needs,” Corcoran said. ”So I've learned a lot of lessons on how to handle certain situations that someone else my age might not know how to do.”
Some think being a student athlete is a lot, but being a business owner as well adds even more weight on the shoulders of Corcoran. Balancing his work-life ratio is tricky, especially for a high school student doing it on his own.
“The hardest part has been April to May when it’s really busy, and keeping track of everyone calling me and sending out estimates and then making sure I'm sending out invoices too,” Corcoran said. “I used to handle everything by myself, but two years ago, I started working with [senior] Mitchell Rezler, and if it's a big job, I'll have a few other guys from school come help.”
Finding employees is easy for these two, as they use their friends for extra pairs of hands. However, running a lawn care business isn’t just mowing lawns. It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything legal, organized, and profitable. In order to stay running, they have to do more than just keeping your grass green.
“I definitely get help, I hired an accountant last year, and then my mom helps me with all the billing,” Montgomery said. “I hired Caden Steele [(‘26)] as my only full-time worker, and a couple of part-time guys as well.”
A traditional work day for a high school student is an afternoon or weekend shift, but for Montgomery and Corcoran, the job schedules itself. From last-minute jobs to weather complications, the work schedule isn’t always easy.
“A typical work day during the week would be getting out of school and then going home and getting whatever equipment and trailers I need. If I need supplies, I'll run and get them, and then head right to the job,” Corcoran said. “A typical weekend starts at 7 am and then goes till 7 pm.”
A handful of other high school boys do lawn care, but what separates the average neighborhood mower from a city-known business is professionalism and time management. Starting isn’t easy, but the effort proved worthwhile.
“Figure out your worth pretty early,” Montgomery said. “Don't price things too cheaply just because of your age.”
