Oasis Lawn and Landscape LLC is a Winfield-based startup delivering customer-driven landscape care and snow plowing services in DuPage County. Oasis Lawn and Landscape started working with Doug Voegtle, a Program Specialist of the Illinois SBDC at College of DuPage, during the pandemic in June 2020. The business officially launched on July 7, 2020.
Entrepreneur Jason Parent, formerly in the restaurant industry, owns and operates Oasis Lawn and Landscape, and is pleased with Doug’s guidance. “I was a landscaping crew leader in Colorado for six years, so it wasn’t a completely new field for me. I wanted to set up my business the right way, but also get off to a quick start. Doug helped me do that,” says Mr. Parent.
Smart startups begin with a clear business vision. Jason’s vision is to grow from a one-man operation to 20 landscaping crews within three to five years. With a vision established, Jason and Doug dove into the basics: discussing the right business entity structure, understanding the tax consequences, finding a business-friendly bank to open an account, insurance obligations, and best practices for hiring future employees. “Doug pointed me in good directions to find legal, tax, insurance, and other key advice,” says Jason.
The pandemic limited meetings to virtual-only advising sessions but that didn’t slow their progress. Jason and Doug created a to-do list and researched industry reports. Jason identified a software for creating estimates and invoices. Together, they talked about a marketing mix of digital and door-to-door, and they worked on logo development.
Just weeks after signing up as an SBDC client, Jason launched his business, wrote his first estimate, and landed his first client. “We sent out a direct door mailer and it certainly paid for itself. Every dollar earned goes right back into my business. But I’m getting there,” says Jason.
We look forward to hearing what the next few summers and winters will bring for Oasis Lawn and Landscape. “Oasis enjoyed a very busy start to the Autumn of 2020,” says a proud Jason Parent. “Any and all advice, conversation, and knowledge that Doug Voegtle and the SBDC shares is very much appreciated.”
facebook.com/Oasis-Lawn-and-Landscape-LLC
Contact Information
Business Development Center
535 Duane Street, Office 233
Glen Ellyn IL 60137
(630) 942-2600
Email: bdc@cod.edu
Regular Hours
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Map and Directions