Path to Innovation

Cat 907m

James Doyle’s path to starting his own business traces the familiar narrative of a hungry entrepreneur not content with his circumstances. Fresh out of high school, he gained experience working as an equipment operator for a paving contractor that did milling work for the Connecticut DOT, while also doing landscaping work on the side in his spare time. Due to the seasonal nature of the paving job, he came to the realization that he was cut out for bigger and better things. In late 2016, Doyle began to consider his options. “It was a good job where I gained a lot of experience operating equipment, but eventually I got tired of punching somebody else’s time clock and getting laid off in the fall,” Doyle says. “I had always done a lot of small stuff on the side—various projects for neighbors, friends and family—and learning the trade from other guys in the landscaping industry. “It got to the point where I lost a couple jobs due to not having insurance, and that was another eye opener,” he recalls. “It was fun to do it for quick weekend money. But if it was something that I really wanted to do, I had to be legit. After considering his options, the 22-year-old launched Innovative Lawn & Landscape in early 2017 with a truck and trailer. Working the greater Litchfield County area from his home base of Torrington, Doyle outgrew his original setup within three months and began renting equipment to keep pace with demand. By the end of first year, Doyle had cemented relationships with several commercial accounts for lawn care and snow removal, while also offering excavation and landscape construction services. This led to investing in more trucks and equipment, including the acquisition of a mini excavator which he financed in early 2018. But after making a year’s worth of payments, Doyle was still underwater on the loan. The cost to finance it was astronomical.

Compact track loader moving snow

 

Innovative Lawn and Landscape Testimonial

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