Jacob Carmichael, a junior finance major, is the founder of Deerfoot Landscapes, a lawn care and landscaping company committed to quality workmanship, dependable service and strong customer relationships. Built on values of hard work, integrity and attention to detail, the company strives to serve clients with excellence while reflecting Christ through honesty, humility and genuine care for others.
What is the story of your business? How did it start?
I started push mowing yards with a cheap push mower I found on the side of the road, my dad’s weed eater and blower, and a truck that I had worked hard the summers prior to pay for. I wanted a way to pay for college while also doing what I love, and landscaping provided me with the avenue to do so. From then on, I began to grow the company and take on more clients as time progressed and am continuing to do so today.
What has been the most challenging part of launching your business? How did you overcome this?
The most challenging part has been keeping systems in place. I heard someone say once that anyone can cut grass, but not everyone can run a grass cutting business, and it is true. Anyone can learn how to use a zero turn and perfect weed eating, but not everyone can deal with clients, financials, scheduling, quotes, legal work and all the things that take place in the background, especially while working. It can be very overwhelming after working a thirteen-hour day knowing you have to go home and work on your computer for another two hours. I overcame this by designing an app on Codex that puts all of this information together in one place so that is easier to manage and automate. It keeps track of everything I need, from revenues, expenses, mileage, routes, quotes, messaging, leads, equipment and much more. It has made it much easier to balance working in the field and actually building the business and brand that I love.
What is the goal behind your entrepreneurial pursuits? What do you envision for your business?
I have a few goals. Personally, a goal of mine is and always has been to come out of college debt free. Finances are something that I am passionate about and remaining debt free is important to being able to start a life after college, as I have to pay for most of my school. A goal for the business is to be able to scale it to where ultimately, it can run without me. I love what I do in the field, but I am extremely passionate about building the brand. I take pride in my work and want to be able to build a brand that I love and am proud of. When people think of Deerfoot Landscapes, I want them to think of a premium landscaping company that provides the best service - better than any other landscaping company. Not just in the actual quality of the job, but in how they are treated and how they feel. I want to operate the best landscaping company in the Birmingham area.
Does your business have a social mission or purpose? If so, explain how your business is redemptive in a Christlike manner?
We service people and honor Christ by giving whatever job we have our all. We work hard, treat people with respect and care for others. I think we currently service about five widows and make sure that their yards are taken care of and check in on them by talking with them when we come to visit. We try to treat others the way that Christ would treat them, even if people are upset with us.
How do you see your company having an impact on the Samford and/or Birmingham communities?
Specifically at Samford, I know that we have serviced about eight to ten college students by maintaining their yards. We are able to take the burden of cutting the yard off of their shoulders so that they can balance everything else that college students have going on. The same for all of our other clients. We want to make sure that they never have to stress about making sure the yard is cut, but also that their yard looks better than anyone else.
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