Built from the Ground Up: How One Young Entrepreneur Grew an Award-Winning Landscaping Franchise

When you meet the owner of The Grounds Guys® of South Louisiana and South Mississippi, one thing becomes clear immediately—this business was built on grit, family support, and an unwavering belief that hard work can take you anywhere.

His landscaping journey began at just 16 years old, with nothing more than a new driver’s license, a borrowed mower, and a borrowed trailer. “Mom and Dad told me I had insurance and a fuel bill to pay,” he laughs. “So, I started working.” That small beginning grew steadily, fueled by determination and long days spent earning every customer one yard at a time.

Today, his franchise delivers high-end, full-service landscaping solutions across South Louisiana and South Mississippi. The team serves residential and commercial clients with maintenance, irrigation, hardscape, softscape, and complex landscape construction.

From apartment communities and nursing homes to homeowners seeking expert design and installation, The Grounds Guys has become a trusted partner known for professionalism, reliability, and quality craftsmanship.

But success didn’t happen overnight.

The path into franchising was shaped by deep family roots. “I bought my first trailer with $1,000 borrowed from my grandparents,” he says. His grandmother later co-signed the loan for his first commercial mower—an investment that helped launch the career he loves today.

By 2016, after running independently for several years and graduating from college, he recognized that joining a franchise system could take his business to the next level. Neighborly® and The Grounds Guys offered the structure, support, and proven systems he needed to grow confidently.

The shop he purchased was nothing more than a shell. “It had no power meter installed yet—just a building sitting empty,” he recalls. He and his dad built the first office inside with their own hands. For two years, he worked from a folding white table before gradually expanding.

Today, the property has multiple offices, full fuel tanks, improved parking, and room for a growing fleet. It’s not flashy, but it’s functional—exactly what a hardworking landscaping operation needs. In 2025, Corey and his wife were recognized as The Grounds Guys Franchise Owner of the Year. A recognition that he and his wife are honored to bestow.

The landscaping industry is evolving fast—robotic mowers, advanced irrigation technology, and new tools are reshaping how teams serve customers. But he believes one thing will never change: “Hardworking individuals will always be the core of this business.”

That mindset has guided his team culture from day one and remains a driving force behind the franchise’s success.

Looking back, he remembers his parents once encouraging him to “get a real job with retirement and insurance.” He smiles at the memory: “Fifteen years later… call it success, call it what you will, but this is about as real as it gets.”

For this franchise owner, The Grounds Guys didn’t just offer a business opportunity.
It provided a pathway to build a life he’s proud of—one grounded in passion, persistence, and purpose.