How To Start A Landscaping Business

What Is Involved In Running A Landscaping Business?

The primary focus of a landscaping business is trimming and cutting lawns. They may also plant a variety of plants, trees, shrubs and grasses, or replace sod when necessary. Some of the larger landscaping businesses even use organic herbicides and pesticides to eliminate pests.

New homeowners, who wish to replace a temporary lawn with marvelously manicured landscaping are major customers in the landscaping industry. Homes where both parties work do not have adequate time to maintain their lawn and require landscaping services on a daily basis.

Older individuals with higher incomes generally need landscaping renovations to refresh and maintain a beautiful lawn. An abundance of non-residential customers also require the services of a landscaping business such as apartment buildings, restaurants, corporate buildings, etc.

At least a portion of a landscaping business owner's day is spent keeping up with the essentials of the business. This is the time to pay all the bills, return or make any phone calls. In addition, some time must be spent taking care of paperwork, making schedules, managing client and employee relations as well as necessary marketing tasks.

Equipment Necessary To Run A Landscaping Business:

Mowers (electric, walk-behind, etc)
Blowers
Edgers
Trimmers
Truck
Clippers
Rakes
Wheelbarrow
Tractor with attachments
Landscaping Business computer software

The Cons Of Running A Landscaping Business:

Work tends to slow down during the winter months
Requires a great deal of heavy lifting and hauling of all types of machinery
May be required to handle toxic substances
Requires work with potentially dangerous machinery

The Pros Of Running A Landscaping Business:

A landscaping business is one of the easiest to start.
Being your own boss and working your own hours.
Outside work.
Usually there is plenty of work available to keep you busy
Easily expandable business

Skills Necessary To Run A Landscaping Business:

Ability to handle the necessary machinery adequately
Ability to maneuver a trailer pulled behind a truck
Ability to work outdoors, exposed to dust, noise, pests, weather, etc.
Experience in small engine repair
Ability to calculate basic math problems
Ability to speak fluent English; speaking Spanish is a plus, but not usually required

Licenses Necessary For Running A Landscaping Business:

You will need a business license. If you offer services requiring the use of toxic chemicals, you may have to obtain a license for handling such substances.

You may also be required to participate in a class on chemical handling, use, toxicity and storage. Check with the local authorities in your area for any additional permits or licenses that may be required to run a landscaping business in your state.

Associations:

American Nursery and Landscaping Association

Nursery & Landscaping Association Executives of North America

Association of Professional Landscape Designers

American Society of Landscape Architects

Employees & Job Requirements:

A crewmember must have good workmanship, manage their time effectively and be responsible. A crewmember must navigate to the jobs, do the manual labor, and be reliable to take on any task delegated to them by the supervisor and keep time records.

Approximate Minimum Startup Cost:

The cost of starting a landscaping business is relatively low; however, costs go up according to the services that you offer. You could realistically finance a landscaping business for less than $2,500.

12 Steps to Starting A Landscaping Business

Image of A Luxury home's yard

Before You consider a Landscaping Business, see 16 Questions to Consider Before Starting a Business
1. Ensure A Landscaping Business is for You!

You have a choice as to what business you're going to start, so start one that's right for you. Getting into the right business can dramatically increase your success. Get into the wrong business and your success rate drops. Read Five Secrets to Getting into the Right Business for more information.

2. Understand How A Landscaping Business Operates

How can you run a Landscaping Business if you don't know much about the business? What if you run into an issue that you can't or won't deal with? Then what? You're in a business that you hate working in and that's a problem. See Understand How a Business Operates for more information.

3. Make Sure there is a Profitable Market for Your Business

What's the use of starting a Landscaping Business that is not profitable? You'll be putting all your effort in something that can't support itself or you. There are a variety of issues when it comes to setting the stage for profitability. See Tips for Identifying a Profitable Market.

4. Create a Business Plan For Your Landscaping Business

A business plan is a must for any size business because it helps you stay focused, see the big picture, and get funding. It's something that you create when you start your business and then update as your Landscaping Business evolves. Read our free online guide on How to Write a Business Plan

5. Set up your Business Team

Setting up your team includes finding the right employees and professionals that will help you run your Landscaping Business.

You don't need to employ everyone you work with, but you will need a team of people you can depend on, which could consist of a lawyer, accountant, banker, and consultant, as well as professionals in your industry. See Creating a Business Team for more on this subject.

6. Get a Small Business Loan if You Don't Have the Money to Start

If you don't have the money to get started, then you'll need the necessary financing or you won't have the opportunity to start your Landscaping Business. This can be done as a small business loan, a personal loan, or other small business financing options.

For more on financing your Landscaping Business see our guide on Financing Your Small Business

7. Legalize Your Landscaping Business

In order to run your Landscaping Business legally you'll need to abide by government rules and regulations on the state and local level.

You'll need to do your research, determine what type of business (sole proprietorship, corporation LLC, etc.) to register, create and register your business name, and register your Landscaping Business with state and local authorities.

To go through the business registration process, see Chapter 6: Making Your Business Legitimate, starting with 6 Easy Steps to a Good Business Name.

8. Get Equipment for Your Landscaping Business

In order to run your Landscaping Business successfully and efficiently you'll need to acquire the right type of equipment. How can you run an online business without a computer? You can't! This is an important issue. See Acquiring Equipment for more on this topic.

9. Insure Your Landscaping Business

Make sure you have the proper insurance for your Landscaping Business. Without the right coverage you could lose everything you've worked for. For tips on insuring your Landscaping Business, see our free online guide: Insuring Your Small Business.

10. Prepare To Accept Money

You'll need a way to accept money, you can't depend just on cash or checks. You'll need to accept plastic: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. To do that you'll need to apply for a merchant account. See Setting Up a Merchant Account for more on this topic.

11. Set up Your Accounting System

Running a Landscaping Business requires you to collect taxes, and report your earnings. So it's best to set up an accounting system in before you start your Landscaping Business. See Setting Up Your Accounting System for more on this topic.

12. Acquire Customers for your Landscaping Business

In order to exist, every business needs customers. Getting customers is one thing you'll need to be good at. If you can master the tasks of getting customers, it's just like turning on a cash machine almost any time you want. See Acquiring Customers for more on this topic

See Also: Our Free Online Guide to Starting A Business

Landscaping Business Issues's:

Estimating Startup Costs - Find out if you're forgetting something

Business Location - Choosing A suitable one For Your Landscaping Business

Build or Buy A Business? - Buying an existing Landscaping Business

Landscaping Business Research:

Image of large Public Yard

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Business Builders For Your Landscaping Business:

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Business Insurance for Your Landscaping Business

Small Business Loans: Finance Your Landscaping Business

More Business Ideas:

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