You thrive in the outdoors, take pride in a job well done, and are ready to take a career leap and start your own lawn care business. There is a lot of opportunity in this steadily growing, $153-billion U.S. industry. There is also plenty of competition, so you’ll want to take the proper steps to set up a legitimate business that is positioned to deliver quality service to customers in your market.
You might have heard about fly-by-night landscapers who go into “business” with a truck, mower and little insight into the financials, insurance, marketing or logistics of running a successful lawn care operation. Many eventually fail because they’re not making a profit and losing customers to more reputable companies.
Ready to take a professional approach?
Set your lawn care business up for success with this step-by-step guide.
Meet the market demand: decide on service offerings
Determine the lawn care services you will offer based on homeowners’ needs in your area. Survey the market by asking neighbors and community members what types of landscape services and projects they would hire a professional to handle.
Mowing is always in demand, and this service includes edging and cleanup. But by diversifying your service mix to include additional landscape maintenance offerings, you can offer more value and convenience to customers. For instance, you might also provide tree and shrub pruning, mulching, and spring and fall cleanup.
Other lawn care services include lawn installation, and planting annuals and perennials. Some customers are interested in establishing pollinators and including native plants in their landscapes.
You might decide to offer lawn care services such as fertilization and weed control. If so, be sure to check your state and local municipality’s licensing requirements.
Identifying your service mix will help you determine what equipment is necessary.
Set up shop officially: legal, insurance and licensing
Check on business licensing requirements in your area. If you’ll focus on mowing services only, you might not need a license. However, licensing and certifications are generally required if you will apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer.
Also consider necessary insurance to protect your business and personal assets. Talk to an insurance professional about the services you will offer and the equipment you will purchase. General liability insurance is a must, and if you will hire employees, you will likely need a workers’ compensation policy. Business equipment protection coverage can cover equipment. Remember your vehicle, too, and ask about a commercial auto policy. The bottom line: Reduce exposure to risk by taking into account all of the what-ifs that can happen when running a business.
It’s also a good idea to consult with an attorney or an accountant to properly set up a legal business entity. Take these important steps to get your house in order before stepping foot on a customer’s property.
Invest in lawn care equipment: partner with a servicing dealer
As a lawn care professional, you’ll spend hours in the field operating equipment. Consider an average workweek and the number of hours you will spend on a mower. You need equipment that is built tough and delivers a high quality of cut, while also providing unmatched comfort with ergonomic features.
Equipment maintenance is also an important factor. Service-friendly equipment with fewer grease points and easy access to belts and filters reduces maintenance so you can spend your time more profitably—in the field caring for clients’ lawns.
A servicing dealer can guide you when selecting equipment so you purchase exactly what your business requires. Sure, dealers sell equipment. But reputable servicing dealers are a valuable business partner. They can offer education, equipment maintenance advice and information about financing so you can build a fleet.
Your dealer can also help you explore ways to improve productivity and profitability. For example, mower implements allow you to efficiently deliver additional services while saving labor.
Curious about alternative fuels? A Grasshopper dealer can walk you through the advantages of clean diesel and the benefits of air-cooled and liquid-cooled gas mowers. This way, you will understand all the options before you invest in a commercial-grade machine or fleet.
Sales and marketing: pricing and your target audience
You’re in business to make a profit, not just break even. To sustain a successful lawn care operation, you must price services accurately. What are reputable competitors in your market charging for services? Conduct some market research and ask around.
Remember, there’s a cost to doing business that includes your equipment, maintenance, parts, fuel and vehicles. Your pricing also should factor in overhead expenses, along with labor and related costs if you will hire employees or an administrator to handle bookkeeping and invoicing. It’s a good idea to consult with an accountant if you’re not sure how to establish a fair price that will produce a profit.
Your target customer also factors into pricing. Will you provide residential or commercial services? What is the average size of your ideal customer’s property and the price range of their home? What are your customers’ pain points? What services are they willing to pay for?
By identifying your target audience and aligning pricing to the market, you can focus on reaching the ideal customer for your business. Social media platforms allow you to create an online presence for your business. Engage on community platforms such as Nextdoor, and start free Yelp and Google Business profiles so you can collect positive reviews from your customers. All of these steps can precede a business website if you’re not ready to take that step.
Also, enter the market with a professional appearance by designing a logo for marketing materials, T-shirts, hats and decals for your truck. Free tools like Canva allow you to create a logo without any design experience.
While marketing today is largely digital, flyers and business cards are a cost-effective way to canvas neighborhoods in your target market and get the word out about your business.
Plan for growth: fuel your business with equipment and resources
What’s next for your new lawn care business? Always think ahead. Sustaining and growing a successful landscape business requires a dedicated equipment partner that can support your expansion with the tools and resources you need to thrive.
Lean on Grasshopper Mowers as a ready resource for business insights, mowing tips, maintenance pointers and best practices to improve your performance.
We invite you to test-drive a Grasshopper Mower at one of our servicing dealers, and remember to ask about financing offers. Our library of how-to videos and newsletter provide helpful information. Thinking about starting a lawn care business? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs.
