Each month, GreenPal highlights one of its vendor partners to showcase the professionals who contribute to the company's lawn care network. This month, Tom Baltch, owner of Legacy Lawn Care in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, shared his experience and perspective on running a landscaping business.
Baltch began mowing lawns in 2001 after purchasing his first home. "I decided to start mowing lawns in 2001 when I bought my first house. I thought during high school that this would be a fun job but it wasn't until I had nearly an acre to mow that I decided, push mowing takes too long! I financed a commercial mower and needed to pay it off," he said.
While attending Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Baltch started taking on more clients among family and friends as a way to earn extra income. He explained, "At this time I was a freshman in college and trying to make extra money. I started mowing family and friends yards and slowly started to grow. I was in and out of college trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing. Eventually, I ended up with a B.B.A. in entrepreneurship from MTSU and a growing landscaping company."
Before focusing full-time on his own business, Baltch worked for another local landscaping company for two years while attending college. He also spent five years as a roofing laborer prior to that period.
Baltch has been involved with lawn care since childhood: "Since I was 10?!? I'm the first born on both sides so I was mowing my grandparents yards as a child!"
Describing his ideal client, he said: "A homeowner or property manager who wants a direct contact for any landscaping issue. Someone who doesn't want to worry about laboring on their property but wants an excellent curb appeal. I prefer to be responsible for keeping all grounds tidy and clean. This ideal client wants a full service company that offers an equal monthly payment."
On what he enjoys most about the industry, Baltch noted: "I enjoy all the different environments I get to work in. I'm the type of person that doesn't do well at a desk for extended periods of time. I get to work at so many beautiful locations on a regular basis and I also get to see horribly run down properties and transform them into landscapes that the neighbors are jealous of."
He listed several pieces of equipment used by Legacy Lawn Care including trucks, trailers, mowers from Toro and Hustler brands, as well as trimmers from Shindaiwa, RedMax, and Echo.
Asked about what sets his company apart from competitors, Baltch responded: "We are best at customer service. I will personally address any call and respond by or before the next scheduled visit. We also excel at full service contracts as it gives us the opportunity to offer our customers the highest quality curb appeal."
Legacy Landscaping employs three full-time staff members along with occasional part-time help; Baltch is currently seeking qualified foremen but does not count himself among employees.
The business primarily serves Murfreesboro but extends services throughout Rutherford County as well as Davidson, Williamson, Sumner, and Cannon counties.
According to Baltch's estimate based on property ratio rather than revenue or volume metrics: "90% residential 10% commercial (Per property ratio)."
Reflecting on rewarding moments in his career he stated: "My most enjoyable moment happens over and over. It is when I haven't been to a property I landscaped in a year or two and I come back and see all the growth. It is very rewarding to watch plants grow and landscapes mature into the design idea that I originally saw."
More information about Legacy Lawn Care can be found through GreenPal’s platform.