Lawn care is not limited to mowing grass by pushing a machine across your garden or lawn. There is much more to lawn care than what is visible. Every neighborhood has a rising demand for lawn care services, particularly for self-starters looking to explore the industry. Many people are launching their lawn care business as it comes with year-round demand in most regions, has scalable services, and has flexible start-up costs. The company is rewarding and accessible.
This blog covers the nuances of starting a lawn care business, including investment, setup, tools, legal steps, and pro tips.
Why Lawn Care is a Smart Business Idea?
Homeowners with a lawn or garden want the space to be neat and proper, as it increases the curb appeal of their properties. However, not everyone has the time or interest in managing and maintaining the lawn. Hiring professional lawn care services can be beneficial in such situations. However, the lawn care industry is at a juncture of convenience and necessity. Here are some reasons why professional lawn care can be a great business idea:
- Low Entry Barrier
No formal education or training is required to start a lawn care business. With basic ideas and knowledge of turf management, a few essential tools, and a proper work ethic, you can start offering lawn care services to customers within a few weeks.
- Demand Across All Seasons
This is probably the best part of this business as there is no off-season. Service demands are at their peak during the summer as this is the time for fertilizing and mowing. However, in the other seasons, there are a host of other services that lawn care companies provide. Some of these services include snow removal, leaf removal, dethatching, pre-emergent weed control, aeration, and many more. In warmer climates or the southern regions, there is great demand for year-round lawn care services.
- Flexible Growth Potential
A single person can start this business without many issues. You can scale up as per need or when you are ready. You can offer subscription-based maintenance packages, hire a crew, or add landscaping services.
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Lawn Care Business
Now that you have an idea that lawn care is a great business idea, here are the steps that you must take one by one to make a start.
- Step 1 – Define the Services Clearly
Before anything else, sit down and decide what services your business will offer to customers. You can plan about purchasing equipment or marketing materials later. Many things are included in the lawn care business, such as basic mowing and trimming, fertilization and weed control, edging and blowing, leaf and snow clean-up and removal, hedge and shrub maintenance, aeration and over-seeding, and more.
Most start-ups offer basic mowing and trimming services, along with edging and blowing. It is always good to start small and then expand. During the launch, you can offer 2-3 basic lawn care services and then expand with experience and knowledge. When you plan expansion, you also have to arrange crew and equipment.
- Step 2 – Collect Essential Tools and Equipment
A professional lawn care service provider must have the necessary tools and equipment in place to function properly. Do not compromise on the machinery quality as that might hamper work, causing delays and breakdowns.
Some Must-Have Lawn Care Tools and Their Uses
As a start-up lawn care service provider, here are some tools that you must have:
- Lawn Mower – This is the most important tool for this business. Initially, you can work with a gas or battery-operated walk-behind mower. A zero-turn mower or riding mower is suitable for large properties.
- Leaf Blower – With this equipment, you can accelerate the cleaning-up process and add a clean and professional look.
- String Trimmer – A string trimmer or weed whacker is perfect for tight corners, edges, and fence lines.
- Sprayers – These tools are effective for spraying and applying insecticides, herbicides, and other fertilizers.
- Hand Tools – You will need a couple of hand tools like shovels, spreaders, pruning shears, and rakes for smooth operations in the lawn/garden.
- Safety Gear – While taking care of the lawn, ensure that you are properly protected. Use safety gear like goggles, steel-toe boots, hearing protection, and gloves while working. These are required to safeguard from weeds, insects, and thorns.
Once you scale in the business, you will need other tools and equipment as well. Some of them include commercial-grade mowers, hedge trimmers, snow blowers (particularly in cold areas), core aerators, sod cutters, etc.
You will need a van or a truck with abundant space to store these tools and equipment and take them from one place to another. If the equipment is exceptionally huge, you might need to hire a trailer. In the early stage of the business, you can store the items in a small shed or a garage.
- Step 3 – Calculate the Expenses of the Start-Up
Compared to other service businesses, the lawn care business is comparatively affordable to start. The prices will vary depending on the company’s services and the gear’s quality in addition to the kind of equipment and tools that you are purchasing. We recommend that you set a budget so that you can choose the tools as per your convenience. If you have a flexible budget, you can check out tools that are of premier quality. In case of a fixed budget, you should compare the items available and then take your pick.
Initially, you can purchase used equipment or rent them to minimize upfront costs.
- Step 4 – Taking Care of the Administrative and Legal Setup
It is important to see that your lawn care business is legitimate and has a proper setup. This provides legal as well as financial protection and increases credibility with customers.
Here are certain things you must have for the business:
- Business Name – You must have a proper business name that everyone can remember.
- Business Registration – File sole proprietorship or LLC as per your state requirements.
- Business License – This license is needed for many home-based services in various states and counties.
- EIN and Business Bank Account – Always keep the personal and professional bank accounts separate for easy calculations.
- Insurance – Make sure you have general liability insurance for protection against damage or accidents.
- Other Certifications – Some states require specific certifications for applying pesticides and herbicides. Consult with the state’s Department of Agriculture.
- Step 5 – Right Pricing for the Services
Right from the beginning, you must be careful about using the right pricing. The charges should be reasonable – neither too low nor too high.
To ascertain the pricing of the services, there are certain crucial considerations like service complexity, size of the lawn/garden, service frequency, travel time and cost, and many more.
You can either charge weekly for the services or start with per-hour billing. In the initial stages, per-hour billing will be perfect.
- Step 6 – Getting the First Clients
Getting the first clients is the most challenging part of any business, and lawn care services are no different. As initial clients are mostly local, word of mouth and soft marketing will suffice.
Start a Google Business Profile so that you appear on ‘lawn care near me’ searches. Leverage the benefits of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and relevant online communities.
Talk about your services and share photos. Marketing materials like yard signage, door hangers, and flyers are also effective in targeting neighborhoods. Focus on referral programs. For every client referral, offer a discount on services or free mowing.
Once you gather a few regular clients, referrals work amazingly well. Politeness, consistency, and punctuality are strong pillars of this business.
- Step 7 – Business Management Behind the Scenes
A lawn care business must handle billing, scheduling, maintenance, and customer services. To handle admin work, you can use various online accounting tools, scheduling apps, and CRM software. These tools ease the admin work with client tracking, invoicing, route streamlining, tax handling, income tracking, etc.
- Step 8 – Scale When You Are Prepared
With experience and an increasing workload, you might be unable to manage alone. You can plan to scale your business at this juncture. You should hire part-time help and offer annual contracts to cover more homes and ensure smooth cash flow. You can also think of upselling the services and expanding into other horizons like landscaping or hardscaping.
Summing It Up
Starting a lawn care business is comparatively easier than other businesses. It does not require a considerable investment, nor does it require formal education and a degree. Professionals in this business must be polite and consistent and offer good customer service – to stay ahead of the competition. With experience, you can upscale in this business and offer tailored services to customers. Overall, lawn care services are a great business idea with good prospects. Make sure that you understand the client’s requirements and come up with a plan of action accordingly. Proper planning and accurate execution will ensure that you offer quality services to your customers every single time.
Also Read: Financial Literacy for Leaders: Essential Skills Every Business Owner Should Master
