Some entrepreneurs are driven by profit. Others by growth targets or personal ambition. For Justin Hayden, owner of AC Yard Services, the motivation has always been simple – and increasingly rare: the customer comes first.
When asked how he powered through the grueling early years – balancing a full-time insurance career by day and running his landscaping company on night and weekends, easily logging 80 hours a week – his first answer wasn’t about the money. It was about showing up for people who were counting on him.
“I just wanted to make it easier for customers to have someone they could rely on. If someone’s counting on their yard to look perfect for a backyard party on the weekend, they shouldn’t have to wonder if the work will get done.” – Justin Hayden
That mindset has shaped the growth of AC Yard Services from a two-customer, one-mower operation to a million-dollar business serving clients across Southern Maine and Bethel.
Justin launched AC Yard Services in 2007 with what you might call a modest setup. He had a $750 two-wheel-drive Ford Ranger, a hardware store push mower, and a string trimmer. He started out with a small ad in the local paper. That first season, he picked up two customers. The second year brought 11.
Growth was steady but intentional. While working full-time at local insurance company, Justin made sure every call or email got a same-day response. He split his day into service blocks – using lunch breaks to return morning inquiries and evenings for afternoon messages. Nights were for estimates and smaller jobs, weekends for larger mowing jobs and property maintenance.
In those early years, he also juggled snow plowing, often working overnight before changing into office attire in the company bathroom and heading straight into his insurance job.
By 2015, he’d built the business large enough to leave his day job. As many entrepreneurs find, once he was able to put 100% of his attention into his business, growth accelerated. In just two years, AC Yard Services doubled its revenue.
In 2023, Justin made his biggest business move yet: acquiring a Bethel-based landscaping company. The expansion was significant – not only did it increase AC Yard Services’ geographic footprint, but it also pushed revenue past the million-dollar mark for the first time.
The transition came with challenges. The Bethel company’s systems were different, and staffing needed to be restructured. But Justin’s operational mindset and willingness to handle much of the administrative work himself kept the change smooth for customers.
Today, AC Yard Services has maintained that million-dollar revenue level for three years in a row – a benchmark many small businesses never reach – while remaining profitable and focused on service.
While Justin’s story is inspiring, it’s not just about hard work – it’s about priorities. Whether you’re starting out or looking to grow, lasting success comes from earning trust first. The profit will follow.
His early years weren’t fueled by marketing tricks or chasing quick wins. Instead, he built a reputation for dependability – and that reputation became a growth engine of its own.
Prompt replies aren’t just polite – they’re a signal that you value the client’s time. Justin made it a rule to get back to every inquiry within four hours.
One good job gets you hired, but it’s consistent excellence that keeps you on the client’s calendar year after year.
Reliability is an underrated marketing tool. When people can trust you to show up and deliver when you say you will, they’re more likely to recommend you.
As Justin puts it, “If you make it easy for customers to work with you, you’re already ahead of most of the competition.”
These aren’t marketing tactics; they’re the foundation of a reputation. And a strong reputation is a growth engine all its own.
Now operating in both Southern Maine and the Bethel area, AC Yard Services offers year-round property maintenance – from lawn care and pruning to snow removal and seasonal cleanups – for both residential and commercial clients.
Despite the growth, Justin has stayed true to the same priorities that got him started:
It’s a simple formula, but one that’s increasingly rare – and incredibly effective.
We’re proud to have AC Yard Services as part of the Pine Tree Connect community. Their story proves that with dedication, clear priorities, and a focus on the customer, small businesses can grow into thriving, sustainable operations.
You can learn more about their services at ACYardServices.com and see why Maine homeowners and businesses trust them to keep their properties looking their best – season after season.
Since 2007, AC Yard Services has been known for our reliability, professionalism and affordable prices. We have two locations, one in ...
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Landscaping & Property Maintenance Home & Garden Home & Residential Services
Noelle has been a marketing professional, and a published author and copywriter for over 20 years. Her work has been featured in both print publications and online media, where she has written on a broad range of topics. She owns Castle Media Co., assisting businesses with their marketing and digital media needs, specializing in website development, content marketing, social media, copywriting, and blogging.
