What Do I Need To Start A Landscaping Business – I mentioned in my weekly Roundup post that a friend and I are considering starting a landscaping business.
In the end I decided not to have a small business. While that idea is currently on hold, we spent a lot of time discussing the various things that would need to be done or done to make the deal a reality.
What Do I Need To Start A Landscaping Business
Today I am going to share with you 5 things to consider before starting a landscaping business. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should serve as a good starting point for those considering starting a landscaping business.
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A landscaping operation can be as simple as a one-man lawn mower. It can be as complex as a company offering all services including grading, retaining walls, stormwater drainage work and more.
It may be unrealistic to offer every service on the go, but it’s important to know where you want to take your business. Wall care and sorting used to be our specialty. These projects are large enough that you don’t necessarily have a large number of clients to work on constantly, but they are small enough to be completed in a relatively short amount of time.
Equipment is one of the most important considerations before starting a landscaping business. The right heavy machinery – such as A landscaping business, like a Bobcat, and the right trailers and transport equipment are critical to the success of any landscaping business.
Think about it. Even if you’re adept at laying turf, there’s a good chance you’ll want to transport the material yourself to save money. All you need is a truck and a trailer.
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Repairs are inevitable with heavy machinery, so it’s important to have sufficient capital for worst-case scenarios. Let’s say you’re working on a retaining wall and your bobcut needs repairs. Do you have plenty of cash on hand to make the right repairs quickly so work doesn’t get disrupted? Or do you have a backup bobcat?
Assuming you are going to start your landscaping business with one (or two) partners, it is important that each person knows their roles and responsibilities. If responsibilities are not clearly defined from the start, a partnership can quickly fizzle out.
Unless otherwise stated in the legal document signed when the partnership is formed, everyone in the partnership has equal rights in the company, regardless of whether they are actively involved in it. This means that one of the partners can stop any daily work and still have the same right to profit as the partner who works on the site every day.
I personally see websites as a great opportunity for new businesses, especially landscapers. This is because many contractors are so used to working in this field that they neglect their website. Many look like they were made 10-20 years ago and haven’t been updated in years. Investing in a good website can help customers.
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In addition, businesses need to figure out how to collect payments. It would be odd if a company didn’t accept all types of credit cards, so it’s important to make sure your company provides this option from the start.
Many people starting a business – landscaping or otherwise – don’t realize the importance of insurance. Many things can go wrong on a landscaping construction site. I won’t rehash their list, but I will say that if you don’t have insurance, you could face significant legal fees as well as a potentially large settlement.
While finding customers, setting up payment systems and having working equipment are important, I would argue that insurance trumps everything else. The last thing you want is to build a successful business only to lose it all because you don’t have insurance coverage.
These are some things to consider before starting a landscaping business. There is a lot of money to be made in this industry. So if you’re frustrated with the many things it takes to start your business, realize that others are too. On the plus side, it has less competition.
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Have you ever thought about starting a business, only to put it on hold when you realized the obstacles you had to overcome to get started?
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David Carlson is the founder of Young Adult Money. He is a nationally recognized speaker and the author of The Student Loan Solution (2019) and Hustle Away Debt (2016). His views have been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cheddar, NBC’s KARE11, and others.
Lawn Care & Landscaping Services
Comments, replies, and other user-generated content are not served by this site or our advertisers. Responses have not been verified, approved, or otherwise endorsed by this site or its advertisers. It is not the advertisers’ or this website’s responsibility to ensure that all comments and/or questions are answered. With all that said, please leave a comment! But first you need to learn how to legally start and run a lawn care business so you can start mowing lawns and making a profit.
This guide will walk you through setting up, running, and growing your lawn care business so you can make good money doing what you love.
You can also watch our How to Start a Lawn Care Business video for expert advice in action:
To start a lawn business that actually stays in business, you want to make sure you’re doing it legally. Follow the steps below to legally set up and run your lawn care business.
How To Start A Landscaping Business
Before registering your company, you must choose a company structure. The structure you choose will affect how your business is registered.
If you have employees or operate your business as a partnership, you may need to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is a unique ID for your business, used for tax reporting.
After that, you will need to register the name of your lawn care business with your local government. The process varies depending on where you live:
Type “your city name + business laws” into Google to find your local lawn care business laws.
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A business license is essential to start your lawn care business. To find out what type of business license you need, contact your local Chamber of Commerce or Small Business Administration (SBA).
A typical business license and registration can cost anywhere from $75 to $400 per year, depending on your region.
In all states, you need a license to use a US-registered pesticide product. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some states require you to be certified through a sanitizer safety training program.
To find out if you need a license for a particular product or service you plan to offer, contact your local Department of Agriculture to learn about your state’s specific restrictions.
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Commercial lawn care insurance protects you, your business, and your future employees from injury, property damage, or other unforeseen events.
Set up a business bank account to keep your personal and business finances separate. You will also need this bank account so that you can:
Once you have your checking account set up, create a monthly budget for all expenses. This should include your paycheck, insurance, overhead, supplies, and marketing. You can adjust this budget from time to time.
Keep track of your income and expenses throughout the year so you can accurately file your taxes. Be careful who you pay taxes to in your country:
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You must decide what lawn care services your business offers so you can purchase the right equipment, set your prices, and market your services.
Start small and provide basic maintenance services like lawn care and mowing. This way you can attract your first lawn care clients and generate income without spending thousands of dollars on new equipment.
Once you have some repeat customers and positive cash flow, you can offer more specialized services that require new equipment and consumables, including:
To decide which services to add to your list, pay attention to what your customers are asking for — and what your competitors are offering.
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To start a lawn mowing business, you need a lawn mower and a van or truck for transportation. With enough skill and expertise, all it takes is one mower to offer the quality crop that will bring you repeat business and referrals.
Consider buying a grass trimmer for a more precise cut. These cut the grass close to places that your lawn mower cannot reach. You can also purchase edging to form lawn edges where they meet patios, curbs, and driveways.
Check out the tools and equipment Mullins Lawn Enforcement needs in this tour of their unique lawn care shop.
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