When Luke Wilkerson came to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) he had previous experience in the lawn care industry. This made a natural fit for him to enter into the self-employment program. Even though this business was going to be physically demanding, he was sure of himself based on his ability to control his schedule, work at his own pace, and his intimate knowledge of the industry.
Luke started the business in 2015 and currently has 35 recurring customers. He takes advantage of free online marketing resources such as Craigslist and Facebook to market the business. Workhorse Mowing has the ability to sustain itself year-round by changing focus during the fall and winter months. During fall, Luke will make a push for leaf collection and removal and during the long winter months, the business sustains by offering snow removal services.
Regarding his work with Portals, Luke said, “Working with Portals was awesome, they were fast, efficient, and friendly. They helped tremendously to get things moving forward.” About the process and working with VR on the self-employment program, “Be prepared to wait. Be patient and understanding of the process, and try to be resourceful in yourself to help move things along. Pond water doesn’t move, you have to throw in a rock to get a ripple.”
If you are inspired by the idea of starting your own business, or maybe you’re a counselor that has a candidate you believe is a good fit for self-employment, please contact us. We would love to help, and are passionate about getting people the assistance they need to be more independent.
To download a hard copy of Luke's spotlight, click HERE.