Young Sheppartonian hedges a path into lawn and garden maintenance game

By Caleb Francis

Jun 16, 2023

From grass-roots to green thumb: James Nugent recently started his business, Nugent’s Lawn and Garden Maintenance. Photo by Megan Fisher

At just 19 years old, James Nugent has started a business from the ground up.

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Launched in February this year, Nugent’s Lawn and Garden Maintenance, arrived not following a long-held entrepreneurial ambition but from a natural progression of circumstances and opportunities.

“I used to work at the Mooroopna golf course,” Mr Nugent said

“I left school after Year 10 and worked there as an apprentice. I was studying sports turf management, but I haven’t finished it yet.

“Owning my own business wasn’t really something I ever saw myself doing, I sort of just fell into it.”

Trimming the challenges: James Nugent said he had encountered a few challenges along his journey. Photo by Megan Fisher

Mr Nugent said the inspiration for his new venture began when he decided he wanted to change career direction, and started working alongside Ryan Kearney from Indoor Outdoor Handyman Services.

“He (Ryan) does some lawns so I just ended up tagging along with him,” Mr Nugent said.

“I just saw how doable it is and how I could do it too.”

He said the transition hadn’t always been smooth, especially at his young age.

“Sometimes I’ve turned up to jobs and they (the client) sort of don’t expect it to be me.

“They expect someone a little bit older.”

Mow-tivated: James Nugent said fellow landscapers had helped him find clients. Photo by Megan Fisher

Despite being young, Mr Nugent has already realised the realities of owning a business, particularly with factors such as weather impacting his work.

“Probably the main challenge at the moment is that things are slowing down with winter,” he said.

“I’d be working right now if it wasn’t for the rain.”

Mr Nugent also highlighted the challenge of securing clients.

“Finding clients is the nerve-racking thing,” he said.

“You go from having a full-time job and income to if you don’t have clients, you don’t have work.”

Cutting-edge tools: James Nugent, the young entrepreneur behind Nugent's Lawn and Garden Maintenance. Photo by Megan Fisher

To navigate this, Mr Nugent says he relies on referrals from other local lawn-mowing businesses and word-of-mouth recommendations.

“I’ve met Marc from Marc’s Mowing, Jason Whittaker and obviously Ryan (Kearney),” he said.

“They will get a call and say ‘sorry I’m too busy, here’s James’ number.’

“And then I can either say yes or no, and if I do a good job, they (the client) will introduce me to their friends.

“So basically, it’s word of mouth at the moment.”

However, undeterred by the challenges, he says he relentlessly persists in establishing his reputation in the industry, particularly as he understands the significance of thorough work.

“I think if you just take a little bit of time and make sure things are right, it will look 10 times better,” he said.