This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Local Boys Ring Up Profit With Landscaping Business

Austin Bostock and Sean Morton have partnered this summer to provide neighbors with professional landscaping at competitive prices.

When Austin Bostock skates down the ice as a forward for University of Illinois, he's got two things on his radar: his teammates and the goal.  

Things aren't much different in his life off the ice.    

This summer, in between coaching hockey and practice, Bostock runs a full-service landscaping business with his friend, Sean Morton. The company BND (Boy Next Door) Landscaping serves 20 households in and around the Fox Point neighborhood.    

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I'd like to add about ten more lawns over the summer," Bostock said.  "But I could never grow this business without Sean. He's my homebase when I'm still in Champaign."   

Two years ago, a college senior in the neighborhood put his landscaping business up for sale. Austin did the quick math and realized after an initial investment he could quickly turn a profit.   

Find out what's happening in Barringtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Last summer was our first year and we took a hit because we had to invest in equipment," Bostock said.  "But my loan (co-signed by his father) was easily paid off by the end of the summer."   

Austin, who will be a sophomore at University of Illinois this fall, hired his friend's brother, Morton, a BHS senior, to assist with the manual labor; but more importantly, to grow and track the business while Austin was still at school. In early spring, Sean walked the neighborhood handing out business cards and pitching their services. The neighbors seem to like the idea of local boys taking care of their lawns.    

"There isn't a professional landscaper I've had over the years that can compare to the work these boys do," neighbor Terese Keenan said. "They show up on time, they're polite and engaging, they get the work done quickly and completely. And they're such good kids, it just feels right to support their business."      

Keenan is not alone in her appreciation of the Bostock and Morton's work. The business has grown two-fold since last summer.  And, with two commercial walk-behind mowers hauled on a trailer, BND means business.          

The boys work the landscaping business on Thursdays and Fridays, since most homeowners want their land spruced up for the weekend.  The brunt of their work is mowing, but they've also ventured into fertilizing and mulching. BND matches their competitors prices and they have the added advantage of living in the neighborhood.  Homeowners can call them over for a quick spot job if necessary. 

"Sean and I will do just about any job we're asked," Bostock said.  "Just the other day, after we cut her lawn, a neighbor asked for help moving boxes. We said 'sure."   

A National Merit Scholar and captain of the BHS hocky team, Bostock was recruited to the University of Illinois for his hockey skills. He gets his work ethic and drive from his parents.   

"My mom and dad inspire me more than anyone, by their hard work and commitment to their family," he said.  "They have always been there for me supporting my love of hockey since I was six-years-old." 

Today, Bostock and Morton earn more in two days than they would at a five-day-a-week job.   

"Sure the work is a lot harder," Morton said.  "But I prefer short bursts of hard labor more than long weeks of working at a boring job. I'm saving a little more than half of my income for spending money in college, so I won't have to rely on my parents for money."   

A member of Future Business Leaders of America, Morton hopes to major in aerospace engineering at U.of I, Purdue or Madison. As  a BHS track team member, he raised $1800 for Relay for Life his freshman year.   

Both young men agree, providing a needed service to neighbors and making good money to boot, is the best summer job they could have. 

"When pitching to new clients, we stress the fact that we are neighborhood boys who work just as hard as the big companies and that their business will assist us in our college careers," Bostock said. "Our slogan is 'Neighborhood service at a great low price.'"

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?