BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — It's like Uber, but for your lawn care. And now, it's in Buffalo. Greenpal is a new app that connects lawn care companies to customers.
"I thought that, hey, if you're gonna summon a stranger to pick you up to come take you to a restaurant, then at some point you're gonna do the same with lawn care," said co-founder Gene Caballero.
He started landscaping as a teenager to make extra cash. He then helped to create the app in in 2012, inspired by Uber.
"We just kind of make it easier for both parties to conduct business," said Caballero.
R.C. Lawn Care's owner Ronald Chrostowski has been using the app since it came to the area.
"Very convenient for the vendor, like us, and also the customer to pick a lawn care company," said Chrostowski.
When lawn care workers are out on the job, it's hard to answer the phone and make appointments, according to Chrostowski. Greenpal eliminates that problem.
Here's how it works. Customers simply go in, state their needs and select their vendor, according to Caballero.
"The notification comes up on my end saying that a customer in the area is interested in services, we'll give them the price, they accept the price, we give them a day and time to service their property and the payment will be shortly after that," explained Chrostowski.
The vendor then sends a picture to the customer to confirm it's complete and the customer pays the total, according to Caballero. 5% of the cost goes back to Greenpal.
You don't need to be a lawn care company to use it as a vendor.
Here are the requirements, you must:
- Be 18 years old
- Have pictures of commercial equipment
- Have references
- Have pictures of previous work
- Have a valid social security number
- Have a valid bank account
The app and website are free to use.
