Today we’d like to introduce you to Astrid Morales.
Hi Astrid, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Everything started as a side hustle back in 2018. My husband, Ezequiel Garcia, was working full-time in construction, but he had past experience in lawn care. He started doing weekend jobs to bring in extra income and quickly realized there was a real demand. Clients would often tell him how hard it was to find honest, fair businesses.
At first, it was just him handling jobs on Saturdays, then adding Fridays as calls increased. Eventually, he balanced part-time construction with the lawn care business for a couple of seasons before taking the leap to run it full-time.
I joined him early on, working hands-on at customers’ homes. After a few seasons, we hired help and I shifted to behind-the-scenes roles such as organizing schedules, managing the website, invoicing, and keeping operations running smoothly. Eventually, we got so busy that we even had to hire bookkeepers and other support to keep everything organized.
When we were asked to do this interview, our first thought was, “Oh no, who is going to do it?” because this business really could not exist without both of us. My husband handles jobs, clients, and employees while I manage all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the business running.
Along the way, we have learned that growing a business is not just about the money. If that were our only focus, we would likely be bigger by now. Instead, we focus on building relationships with every client, listening to their concerns, delivering exactly what they need, and setting fair, transparent prices. Communication and trust are key.
Our commitment to reliability, quality, and honesty sets us apart. We tell customers upfront what we can do and what we cannot, so there are no surprises. Our name is Affordable Lawn Care, but “affordable” does not mean cheap. It means a fair price for high-quality work.
A major milestone for us was securing our first commercial contract, which was a huge step in growing the business. Looking ahead, we hope to expand our services to new communities beyond our current area between Sanford and Fayetteville, continuing to deliver exceptional service wherever we go.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a business has definitely not been a smooth road for us. Neither of our families has experience running a business, so we had to learn everything as we went. We made some mistakes along the way, including a few bad investments, which I think many first-time business owners experience. The important thing is to learn from them and keep moving forward.
We also had to figure out how to run the business efficiently and improve our financial literacy. Winter was especially challenging because jobs decreased significantly, particularly since most of our customers are residential and some prefer to have all their leaves cleaned up in the spring rather than during the winter. Another ongoing challenge has been finding reliable, consistent employees who can work throughout the season.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Affordable Lawn Care and Landscaping Services is a full-service lawn care and landscaping business serving clients primarily between Sanford and Fayetteville. We specialize in residential and commercial lawn care, hedge trimming, mulch and flower bed maintenance, leaf cleanup, and keeping outdoor spaces healthy and beautiful.
What sets us apart is our commitment to reliability, honesty, and quality. We talk openly with every client, providing upfront pricing and clear expectations so there are no surprises. We focus on building lasting relationships, listening to clients’ needs, and delivering exactly what we promise.
We’re especially proud of the long-term relationships we’ve built over the years. Our very first client is still with us today, and many customers come back year after year. A lot of our new clients come through referrals, while others find us through our positive reviews on Google and social media. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the trust our clients place in us and the confidence they have in our work
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe the qualities that have been most important to our success are attention to detail, work ethic, adaptability, integrity, consistency, and communication, as well as other qualities that have helped us grow and maintain strong relationships with our clients. We take pride in doing every job thoroughly, being reliable and consistent, and adjusting to our clients’ unique needs. Honest communication and integrity are at the core of our approach. Together, these qualities, along with others we have developed along the way, have allowed us to build trust, earn repeat business, and grow our company successfully.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://affordablelawncyrohh.wixsite.com/alcl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALCAffordablelawncare2018/
- Other: https://g.page/r/CYSNh-MF4_AVEAo
Image Credits
Affordable Lawn Care & Landscaping Services LLC
