Tuesday, March 26, 2024
HomeMust ReadHow To Expand Lawn Care Business

How To Expand Lawn Care Business

- Advertisment -

S Of Growing A Lawn Care Business

How do I Expand my Lawn Care Business? #1

There are two main methods you can do that: by hiring employees that will work directly with you or by outsourcing all the projects. The latter method is also known as the contracting model.

Lets talk about each of them, in order for you to know what to expect, what possible shortcomings might raise along the way and what perks they offer.

How To Register A Lawn Care Business

It’s critical to understand how to start a lawn care business legally, and that’s where business registration comes to play. Your lawn mowing business must operate according to the law and get a business license.

A license allows you to operate a physical business, and it’s especially critical if you provide specialized services, such as landscape design, fertilization, pest control, etc. As you research how to start a lawn care business legally, visit the nearest commercial department or visit its website to know the specific licensing requirements in your state.

Your Lawn Mowing Service Area

Clearly stating your service location will help define your lawn mowing business and your services to potential customers. Identifying your service area will allow you to streamline the most essential and profitable aspects of your business.

Your service area is more than just your local area. Choosing specific service areas will lay out the rest of your business. The services you provide, the types of jobs you undertake and the price you charge are all dependent on your service area. Youll also want to focus advertising for your business on your service area for the best value on your marketing budget.

Here are some key things to consider when choosing a service area:

The property types in that area Knowing the types of properties in a given area can help you decide whether it is, or is a part of, your service area. Areas that are mostly industrial are going to need less lawn mowing and landscaping in general. However, light industrial areas that have many offices with lawns may pay a premium for fast, professional and continued commercial lawn mowing services.

The financial bracket of that area Not all areas have the same amount of disposable income. By identifying the average financial bracket of your service area, you will be able to price your services accordingly. Affluent areas not only bring people with more disposable income, but larger homes with bigger properties, on average.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Grass For Southern Lawns

The Annual Service Autopilot Conference

Everyone who attends the Service Autopilot Conference is starving to get ahead and grow.

This annual event is the perfect place to meet other business owners who are working to get to the next level.

The SA Conference is a place where you can:

  • Meet other like-minded business owners
  • Get inside access to upcoming features in Service Autopilot
  • Learn from leading industry experts and business owners alike

Plus, did you know that well-known authors like Mike Michalowicz and Marcus Sheridan spoke at our 2019 SA6 Conference?

And heres the best part: You dont have to be a Member to attend!

While there are Service Autopilot training opportunities at this conference, its primarily geared towards helping YOU grow.

Tip 2: Manage Your Equipment Spending

6 Tips for Marketing Your Commercial Lawn Care Company

We understand you may want to go out there and buy the best equipment you can find. However, you dont need to get yourself too far in debt before you even have routine customers. If you already have some handy lawn equipment, learn how to make do with that. Having every piece of equipment you can think of isnt that big of a deal your clients are only going to care that the job is getting done theyre not going to size you up based on the equipment youre using.

As you start bringing in money, put money to the side for equipment breakdowns and yes, new equipment. If you dont set aside a certain portion of the money you make, you might find yourself stuck with broken equipment when you need it the most. Imagine having a lawn mower that wont work when you need to mow a couple of lawns that day that certainly isnt going to be good for your business.

Don’t Miss: Is Sevin Insect Killer Lawn Granules Safe For Pets

Client Feedback & Testimonials

It is essential to take feedback from the clients. Their maximum satisfaction is what your business is looking forward to. You can record a video of their experience after hiring your services. These testimonials will increase the reliability of your services and will help you gain other customers trust quickly.

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Landscaping Business In Florida

It costs between $25,000 to $40,000 to start a landscaping business in Florida. Here is where your money will go during the startup period:

  • Equipment such as mowers, trimmers, edgers, leaf blowers, etc.
  • Smaller handheld tools such as shovels, rakes, pruners, lawn sprayers, buckets, bags,
  • Personal protective equipment like work gloves, earplugs, and eye protection.
  • Company vehicles such as trucks or vans to transport the crew, equipment, and tools from job site to job site.
  • Equipment trailer to haul larger equipment that wont fit in the vehicles.
  • Cost of a business license, business insurance, auto insurance, vehicle tracking and driver management software, etc.

Costs will vary depending on the size of the company youre starting with, how many jobs you have lined up, the size of your crew, and some internal policies such as providing your team with uniforms or not.

Since start-up costs are quite minimal for a landscaping business in Florida, it doesnt take a lot of capital to get started. With such low entrance fees, starting a landscaping business in Florida is a lucrative and viable option for someone with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Recommended Reading: How To Improve Drainage In Clay Soil Lawn

Previous Experience In Landscaping

When you present your business plan, your experience is one of the first things that people will look for. Fancy new machines and good looking logos are great, but when it comes to landscaping, people want to know that you know what youre doing. By adding your experience to your business plan, you can show them that youre a credible and professional business.

Listing your previous experience is more than just a way to look good in front of your clients and potential investors, its a way to help plot the course of your business. By specifying what experience you have and how much experience you received during that time, you can piece together what gaps in experience you have, what your strengths are, and good times to refresh yourself on certain skills.

Get The Required Business Insurance Licenses And Ein

Growing and Expanding Your Lawn Care Business

There are a few necessary forms of business insurance you need to obtain to conduct business at all. The most important is general liability insurance, which covers everything from the cost of repairs to legal fees to damages that need to be paid out if you or an employee accidentally causes damage. Accidents like running over a sprinkler head with the mower, for example happen, and you want to be covered when they do.

You might also need workers’ compensation insurance, depending on what state youre operating in, though as Clayton puts it, Many states require both insurances to operate a legitimate business regardless of whether you have employees or not. Workers’ comp covers you in the event an employee is injured on the job, from medical expenses to court costs.

Other forms of insurance that arent required, but may come in handy, include inland marine insurance , commercial auto insurance and commercial umbrella insurance .

Additionally, if youre looking to apply pesticides as part of your services, most states have a pesticide charter that needs to be acquired. Clayton calls this a very involved process and doesnt recommend it until youre well-established in your field.

Before you start operating your business, make sure you also have any business licenses you need for the state you’re operating in and that you’ve registered to pay taxes and received your employer identification number, also called a business tax ID number.

Also Check: Is Lawn Aeration Worth It

Increase Your Online Presence

With more than 86% of people turning to the internet to research before making a buying decision, its not enough to rely on word-of-mouth marketing. You must have an online presence to scale up your business. The following are some effective online marketing strategies on how to grow a lawn care business:

  • Claim your Google My Business Page to drive more traffic to your website.
  • Post on social media frequently to boost your word of mouth marketing, build positive brand awareness for your lawn care business, and increase customer retention.
  • Build your email list to send informational or promotional emails to your audience that build awareness and drive conversions.
  • Build a website to gain your company organic leads and the opportunity for even more business.
  • Have a profile on online review sites to develop a good online reputation for your landscaping business.

Create Print Marketing Materials

Print marketing may seem like a dated approach, but it still works. Consumers trust print ads 34% more than they trust search engine ads. Business cards, flyers, and lawn signs are three basic tools to land new customers. The more you get your name out there, the more likely youll receive calls from potential customers.

Carry a stack of business cards everywhere you go. You never know when youll meet someone and your business casually comes up in conversation. People are always on the hunt for a great deal. Make a good impression and theyll likely be open to the idea of receiving a quote from you.

Flyers are another effective lawn marketing technique. You can go door-to-door and leave flyers or door hangers at houses in your service area. You could even leave flyers on parked vehicles at a home improvement store. Include a new customer discount on these flyers and you may receive phone calls from potential customers.

Lawn signs are also a popular marketing technique for lawn care businesses. After a job well done, you can get free advertising by offering discounts, upgrades, or complimentary services for customers who place signs on their lawn.

For example, you can offer a 20% discount on their next lawn mowing service or provide free shrub trimming in exchange for the sign. Loyal and satisfied customers will be happy to help grow your business by leaving a sign in their yard.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Get Rid Of White Clover In Lawn

Building A Stable Customer Base

First, you need to know who your ideal customers are. Identifying the right customer base is critical for all aspects of growing your business such as pricing, contracts, services, and marketing.

Good lawns symbolize the pride of home ownership in America. In that sense, the ideal set of customers for lawn care businesses are:

  • Busy homeowners
  • Homeowners looking to sell their property
  • Elderly homeowners
  • Seasonal homeowners or snowbirds

Most American households mow their own lawns or take care of their gardening needs. But the above demography either dont have the time or the resources to look after their lawns despite their willingness to keep it pruned.

For them, its easier to pay local lawn care professionals to help them manicure their lawns and upkeep their gardens instead of doing it themselves.

Apart from the demography of private households mentioned above, theres another group of customers who need lawn care services on a regular basis:

  • Real estate companies who have multiple properties to manage
  • Rental property agencies or condominium associations
  • Residential and commercial properties
  • Schools, colleges, and estate properties
  • Local businesses and banks

These business establishments either have their own landscape employees or they hire lawn care experts on a regular basis. However, there is always a steady stream of demand for lawn care professionals who can offer better services at a competitive price.

Get An Employer Identification Number

Pros and Cons of Starting a Lawn Care Business

If your business is of the sole proprietorship variety, you wont need an employer identification number.

However, if youre planning on having employees work in your lawn business, youll need to get one to open a business account, apply for a business license, or to get a loan.

You can see what an application looks like here.

To get yours, apply at the IRS website.

Its totally free.

You May Like: What Is The Best Self Propelled Electric Lawn Mower

Pros To Starting A Lawn Maintenance Business

  • Anyone can start a lawn care business.
  • Low start up costs. You dont need to have a lot of money to start a lawn care business.
  • You dont need special experience in the lawn care industry to start a lawn care business.
  • There are many different ways to start this type of business.
  • Apps can help schedule and track jobs, invoice, and more.
  • Top 8 Pieces Of Equipment Youll Need To Start A Lawn Care Business

  • Vehicle

    Youll need a reliable vehicle to transport your equipment from job to job. Experts recommend a flatbed truck with a locking toolbox and a dumping mechanism that will allow you to unload topsoil without shovels.

  • Utility Trailer

    A trailer can be helpful when hauling heavy equipment that you dont want to hoist into a flatbed. A steel-mesh trailer can cost up to $1,200, but you can get by with a simple, single-axle trailer for about $800.

  • Storage Space

    Youll need space to store your equipment when youre not using it, which you can rent for a monthly cost. Alternatively, to save on the monthly cost if you have the room, you can use your own garage or even build your own shed.

  • Commercial Lawn Mower

    There are several types of mowers available from ride-on mowers to walk-behinds or a combination of both. You can even invest in a robotic lawn mower if you want to go high-tech! Youll likely want to start with at least one versatile mower and invest in more as you grow to handle a wider variety of lawns simultaneously.

  • Trimmers, Edgers, Blowers

    These tools allow you to not only trim hard-to-reach places, but they can also help you clean up your work to ensure a neat and tidy appearance for homeowners.

  • Spreaders and Sprayers

    Many clients will ask for fertilization or pesticide spraying to keep their lawn looking healthy, so its a good idea to have these tools on hand to handle these jobs.

  • You May Like: Who Sells Huskee Lawn Mowers

    Finding Clients: What Is The Ideal Client Like

    It’s simple the ideal lawn care client appreciates the above, and beyond service, you give them. As opposed to the undesirable price shopper that will go with the cheapest price they can get a year in and year out.

    But before you start looking for clients, you will want to consider the location of your business and your clientele.

    Heres All That Theres To Know About Starting A Thriving Lawn Care Business

    10 Reasons to Expand Your Lawn Mowing Business into Weed Control and Fertilization

    If you grew up like many American kids, you probably spent your childhood doing a few odd jobs like running your own lemonade stand, selling Girl Scout cookies, or mowing lawnsone of Americas most iconic summertime activities.

    Mowing the neighbors lawns, in particular, is something that many Americans do during their dog days of high school or college break to make a quick buck.

    And if you were one of them, lawn mowing probably gave you your first taste of a paycheck or perhaps sowed the first ever seed of entrepreneurship in you.

    While the job of manicuring grass has a low barrier to entry, the economics around Americas lawn care industry is no joke.

    Look at the research data, for instance. By the end of 2020, experts project that the lawn care industry in the US will generate a total of $97.8 billionwith an average spend of $503 per household on lawn care and gardening activities.

    Now thats some serious green to pour so much money on.

    On average, you can gross about $80,000 a year in revenue by running a successful lawn care business.

    Take a look at this industry statistics from 2018 to understand the market potential of a lawn care business in the US:

    But spending your summer weekends trimming grass is one thingturning it into a profitable business is another thing altogether.

    And since the hurdles to enter the lawn care business is pretty low, its also one of the most competitive small businesses out there.

    Recommended Reading: Should I Remove Clover From My Lawn

    Hire Lawn Care Employees

    Building a team of employees is a vital component of any lawn care business. You need different roles for different jobs.

    The more hires you have who can effectively take on the hands-on aspect of lawn care, the more time you can dedicate to off-lawn activities such as marketing, scheduling, employee management, and more.

    A few things worth considering when hiring lawn care professionals:

    • Devise a job description that clearly states the responsibilities required for the role.
    • Decide which jobs should be made for subcontractors, part-time, and full-time employees.
    • Carefully read every submitted resume and ask for references and background checks.
    • Prepare a methodical training program for hired employees.

    Decide What Services You Want To Offer And Whether You Want To Rent Or Buy Equipment

    The first step to starting a landscaping business is to acquire your arsenal of landscaping equipment. Once you decide which actual services you want your landscaping business to offer, you’ll know what equipment you need. Then it’ll be time to decide whether you want to buy it outright or opt for the cheaper option of renting.

    Starting out, you have the option to rent your equipment or to buy lower-grade equipment. But as your landscaping business grows, so will equipment needs and costs and you could easily spend the same amount on maintaining cheap equipment as the price of purchasing higher-grade machines.

    Most landscape contractors will need to spend five to 10 hours a week maintaining their equipment at first by sharpening blades or changing oil, spark plugs, air filters, fuel filters, and so on, says Clayton.

    So what are the basics of good landscaping equipment you’ll need to know when starting a landscaping business?

    There are a handful of manual tools any good landscaper should have at their disposal: shovels , wheelbarrows, tillers , and more powerful items like chainsaws and drills. But this isnt where the real expenses lie. The cost of larger equipment might surprise you.

    Most people don’t know this, but the riding lawnmowers that you see commercial landscape operators running cost over $12,000 themselves, says Clayton.

    Landscape contractors need to make even bigger investments, according to Clayton:

    Recommended Reading: How Much Should I Water My Lawn In Utah

    RELATED ARTICLES
    - Advertisment -

    Popular Articles

    - Advertisment -