Starting Small, Thinking Big: How 15-Year-Old Sam is Building MS Lawn Care Into a Real Business

Mejire Arijaje
Apr 27
4 min read

Updated: Apr 27

In a world where most teenagers are worried about their next assignment or their next TikTok post, Sam — founder of MS Lawn Care — is busy building a brand, knocking doors, running crews, quoting jobs, and dreaming about his future in business and real estate.

At just 15 years old, Sam is showing everyone what it looks like to start small, stay focused, and think big.

We sat down with Sam for Beyond the Brand to talk about how he got started, what it’s really like running a landscaping business while balancing

school, and why he believes starting young is the best decision he ever made.

It Started With a Push Mower and a Dream

Sam didn’t come from money.

He didn’t start with a bunch of fancy equipment, investors, or a trust fund. He started with what he had: a basic push mower, a vision, and a willingness to knock on doors.

“I walked downstairs and told my mom, ‘If I cut this many lawns a week, I could make X amount of money,’” Sam laughs. “She looked at me like I was crazy.”

But crazy ideas often turn into something real.

He teamed up with a friend, Mikey (the “M” and “S” in MS Lawn Care), and they hit the streets — door-to-door, lawn-to-lawn, pitching their services with no equipment, no business cards, just determination.

The first job?

Way bigger than he thought — clearing an entire overgrown area, hauling debris, and learning the hard way that landscaping is about a lot more than just mowing.

Instead of quitting, Sam leveled up.

He took the money from that first job, bought basic tools, printed business cards, and reinvested every dollar back into MS Lawn Care.

Balancing Business and Being a Teen

Building a business at 15 isn’t just about learning how to mow lawns or plant flowers.

It’s about learning how to balance everything else life throws at you.

Sam still goes to school full time.

He still has homework.

He still wants to hang out with friends and be a teenager.

But after school, while most kids are playing video games or scrolling social media, Sam is knocking on doors, quoting new jobs, working on weekends, and making sure his small team is ready to deliver for their clients.

“It’s not always easy,” Sam admits. “There are nights where you’re tired, or days when customers aren’t happy. But if you stay positive and stay professional, people notice.”

His attitude toward client service is far beyond his age.

Instead of reacting emotionally, Sam learned to stay calm, stay respectful, and think long-term — knowing that word of mouth could either build or break his reputation.

Family Support: The Backbone Behind the Hustle

One thing Sam doesn’t shy away from is giving credit where it’s due.

“My mom — she’s everything,” Sam says. “She drives me to jobs. She helps manage the schedule. She supports me when things get hard.”

Sam’s father, a former business owner himself, also became a mentor — teaching Sam how to estimate jobs, manage cash flow, and handle customers the right way.

His brother helped find his first real work truck, and even friends pitched in when needed.

Lesson:

No entrepreneur builds something alone.

The people you surround yourself with — especially early — can either slow you down or speed you up.

Sam’s story proves that having the right support system isn’t “optional” — it’s critical.

Starting Smart: Tools, Marketing, and Mindset

Sam learned fast that it’s not about having the best tools — it’s about having the right mindset.

Early on, he used a basic mower, borrowed equipment, and even loaded everything into his mom’s Nissan before he could afford a trailer and truck.

Later, he upgraded: buying a trailer, investing in business cards, creating branded t-shirts, and even moving into direct mail marketing through the Levittown Link.

He didn’t overcomplicate it.

He just kept stacking wins — one door, one job, one client at a time.

His advice to other young entrepreneurs?

“You don’t have to start fancy. Stay in your boundaries. Build slow. Save your money. Keep reinvesting into yourself and your business.”

It’s the blueprint a lot of adults could stand to remember.

Handling Hard Clients and Hard Days

It’s not all wins and happy customers.

Sam shared how he learned — the hard way — to manage upset clients, scheduling mix-ups, and miscommunications.

One woman even got upset when Sam showed up a day earlier than expected — but instead of arguing, he handled it professionally and offered to make it right.

“Sometimes you just gotta stay calm,” he says. “If you argue, it becomes a bigger problem. I always stay respectful — because bad news travels faster than good news.”

It’s a maturity most business owners struggle to master.

And it’s part of why MS Lawn Care continues to grow — even in a competitive market.

What’s Next for MS Lawn Care?

Sam’s not stopping at landscaping.

He’s planning to expand into hardscaping — building patios, walkways, and outdoor living spaces — and eventually hiring enough staff that he can focus on running the business instead of being in the field every day.

Long term?

He’s eyeing real estate investing — saving profits, flipping houses, and building long-term wealth, all before he’s even out of high school.

“I don’t see myself sitting in a college classroom for four more years,” Sam says. “I’m already learning by doing. I want to build my own thing — and I know it’s possible.”

Final Takeaway: Start Where You Are

Sam’s story isn’t just inspiring because he’s young.

It’s inspiring because it proves something important:

You don’t need the perfect setup to start.

You don’t need thousands of dollars.

You don’t need permission.

You need work ethic.

You need courage.

You need to bet on yourself — even when nobody else does yet.

Sam bet on himself with nothing but a push mower, a dream, and a plan to figure it out along the way.

If he can do it at 15 — what’s stopping you?