Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Araujo.
Hi Robert, 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?
GOLDGREEN LANDSCAPING LLC was founded by me, Robert Araujo, my brother Richard Araujo, and my sister Michelle Araujo. We are originally from Venezuela and moved to Greenville, South Carolina, in 2017. At the time, I was 24, Richard was 21, and Michelle was 16. We left our country due to political persecution: we were college students standing up for our rights, and unfortunately, that took its toll. I have a degree in industrial engineering, and Richard was a third-year architecture student. For our safety and future, we came to the United States with visas and later obtained our work permits.
Our first jobs were at a heavy manufacturing company, where we started from the lowest positions, as our English was limited. We worked there for four years. During those four years, we studied English as a second language and worked hard to obtain leadership positions and forklift certifications. Although we were grateful for the opportunities and earned a very good salary from the positions we achieved within that company, we always dreamed of being our own bosses: building something together, something with meaning and freedom.
One day, we helped a man with a landscaping project. We were curious, so we asked if we could work with him part-time to learn more. He generously taught us everything: how to use the machines, how to contact customers, and how the landscaping business worked. His support inspired us to take a leap of faith.
We pooled our savings and invested in equipment (with a lot of fear and nerves): a trailer, a commercial lawn mower (which cost us $8,000), weed eaters, blowers, hedge trimmers, and sprayers—everything we needed to get started. We were nervous, but committed. That mentor gave us our first client, and we did everything we could to achieve excellent results. It took us a whole day, but the client was very happy and even gave us a tip. That $40 was the biggest profit of our lives, not because of the money, but because it was ours.
A couple of days later, another client called: an elderly couple who needed help trimming the bushes in their yard. We accepted, offered them a very low price just to gain experience, and once again, they were delighted with the result. When I asked them how they found us, they said someone had recommended us: our first client. It was then that we realized word of mouth would be our most powerful marketing tool.
Since then, our reputation has grown thanks to recommendations from satisfied customers. As of April 2025, we have five annual contracts, including an entire residential complex, and more than 10 loyal customers who call us regularly. We’ve come a long way, but we’re just getting started. There are many landscaping companies, but our mission is to stand out by going above and beyond, paying attention to every detail, and always leaving a visible improvement. That’s what sets GOLDGREEN LANDSCAPING LLC apart.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not — it hasn’t been an easy road. Since the day we arrived in the U.S., my siblings and I have been on our own, figuring things out without any help or guidance. Investing all our savings into a business that could’ve easily failed was a huge risk and honestly, a scary step. But we believed in ourselves and in our vision, so we pushed forward with faith and determination.
In the beginning, one of our biggest struggles was communication. Our first language is Spanish, so explaining services, negotiating prices, and building trust with clients in English was very challenging at first. We worked hard to improve our English, took ESL classes, and made sure we were always learning — because we knew that good communication would be key to growing our business.
Another major challenge was pricing. Finding that balance between offering a fair price that keeps the client happy and doing enough to cover our costs and grow the business was something we had to learn through trial and error. In the early days, we underpriced a lot of jobs and often ended up barely breaking even or losing money. But every mistake taught us something valuable, and today I can say I’m proud of those struggles — because they helped shape us into better professionals and a stronger company.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about GOLDGREEN LANDSCAPING LLC?
GOLDGREEN LANDSCAPING LLC is a family-owned business founded by my siblings and me. We specialize in complete landscaping maintenance — including lawn mowing, weed control, shrub trimming, mulching, stone installation, and everything needed to make your yard look clean, beautiful, and just the way you want it.
What sets us apart is our attention to detail. We treat every job as if we were working on our own home. We don’t just do the basics — we go the extra mile to make sure everything looks perfect and the client is completely satisfied. That’s what our clients appreciate most about us, and that’s how we’ve built strong, lasting relationships with them.
We’re proud of being a small family business that works with honesty, passion, and dedication. Our mission is always to create a win-win — where we grow as a company while our clients feel happy, cared for, and proud of their outdoor spaces.
We also offer flexible services and packages to fit our clients’ specific needs. You can see more about what we do and check out our latest projects on our Instagram page: @goldgreen.landscapingllc. We love what we do, and we believe that passion shows in every yard we take care of.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes, absolutely. There are a few books that have had a big impact on both my personal mindset and the way I approach business. One of them is “Dare to Be Yourself” by Brian Souza — it really encouraged me to embrace who I am and to pursue my goals with confidence and authenticity.
Another book that shaped my mindset is “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. It taught me the importance of mindset, belief, and perseverance — especially as an entrepreneur. It helped me see that success starts in the mind and that consistency and faith are key.
Finally, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie has been a huge influence. As someone whose first language isn’t English, this book helped me understand the power of communication and human connection, which is so important when building trust with clients.
These books have not only helped me grow as a business owner, but also as a person. I recommend them to anyone looking to develop leadership, communication skills, and a winning mindset.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goldgreenlawncare.wixsite.com/my-site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldgreen.landscapingllc/
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/Fo2s4Jp
