Lawn Care Vs Landscaping Vs Gardening: Whats The Difference
Lawn care, gardening, and landscaping businesses are three distinct types of businesses but they may also overlap in the types of services they offer. The common ground between these three types of business is that they tend to the property surrounding a home or commercial building.
Lawn care companies focus on keeping the lawn trimmed and looking good. As weve covered, this will almost certainly involve cutting the grass with a lawnmower, clearing brush, and the like.
Landscaping is more specific to designing and laying out a landscape. It involves strategically planting plants around the property, laying down bark or dirt, building hardscapes or otherwise determining what the landscape will look like.
Gardening is basically small-scale landscaping. This often includes building flower beds and small boxed gardens. It involves tending to the plants to keep everything looking great and healthy.
Lawn Overseeding & Slit Seeding
Both over-seeding and silt-seeding give your lawn the boost it needs to maintain root health.
Combined with aeration, over-seeding will thicken your turf, helping your lawn reduce the establishment of undesirable grasses and broadleaf weeds.
Silt-seeding is ideal for large areas where turf renovation is needed. This practice improves contact between the seed and soil because that contact is essential for proper lawn growth and development. Our lawn care specialists mechanically cut grooves into the soil and deposit seeds into the openings to provide the most effective soil/seed contact.
Trucks And Heavy Equipment
Your lawnmower, truck, and trailer will be your three biggest purchases. These three items alone can run you over $20,000. Commercial-grade lawnmowers run around $3,000. You can also expect to pay around the same amount for a trailer. When it comes to a truck to pull your equipment, you have the option to buy or lease. If you choose to buy, youre looking at between $15,000 and $20,000.
It is possible to start out with a used mower or other secondhand equipment. This could be a great way to minimize your start-up costs to get the cash flowing.
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How To Start Lawn Care Business
Do you ever think about starting your own lawn care business?
Russell Jeffcoat, owner of Legends Lawn Care in Blaine, Washington, did more than just dream about owning a business someday. He took decisive action by starting the lawn care business of his dreams, and then, earned $100,000 in his very first year!
Today, he rakes in between $500 and $6000 every time he takes his machines out and works on peoples lawns. Although he started his lawn care business with only $2,000 when he was a senior in high school, its a six-figure business now.
In fact, hes so busy, he often has to turn down work!
In this article, well go through the exact steps youll need to follow to start your own highly lucrative lawn care business. Lawn care is a $102 billion a year industry, and is expected to grow phenomenally with each passing year.
Youll discover everything you need to know on how to run a successful lawn care business. This includes tips like innovative ways to craft a business plan, getting your website ranked on Google, building long-lasting relationships with your customers, and a lot more!
If youre not interested in starting the business from scratch, consider buying an already established business here on UpFlip.
You can watch our two part interview with him here and here.
Without further ado, lets jump right into it.
Jump Right In Even If You Have Little Money
Russell says you dont need much to start your own mowing lawn services.
He says that even if you all you have is a lawn mower and a broom, you can start a lawn care business tomorrow:
He started his lawn care business with only $2,000. He bought a $200 blower and a $150 weed eater out of that money and kept the rest of it in reserve.
Soon, he had enough cash to buy some of his bigger equipment for 0% down financing. This included things like a tractor, a tilt deck trailer, and an industrial bush cutter.
The moral of this story?
Doing excellent work.
Soon, youll have funds to reinvest in your lawn maintenance business. And, remember Russells words if you run into obstacles:
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Start Your Own Lawn Care Business Today
Homeowners and business owners need reliable lawn care services. Start your own business to win over customers, grow your own small business and create a job you love.
As you build this new business, remember that customer service is key. Show up for your clients, and make sure your team does their best job every time. When your clients are happy, your businesss name will spread like wildfire and youll build a solid client base in no time.
Are you ready to take that first step today? This guide is here to help you on your journey so you can build a thriving business you enjoy.
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How Much Does It Cost To Start
Generally, a lawn business can be relatively cheap to get up and running. If you already have an appropriate transportation vehicle at your disposal, then the starting business cost can be as cheap as $755-1,360.
Typical starter expenses include:
- Registration costs $75-400
- Basic flyer marketing $10
But more advanced businesses might require further expenses, such as trucks, additional equipment, and more sophisticated marketing.
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Advertise In The Newspaper/magazines
Local newspapers and magazines are another great offline marketing idea for your lawn care business. Lawncare ads in these publications are better for targeting older demographics. Thats why its so important to figure out who your target audience is in advance. A local newspaper ad could help you gain a foothold in parts of your city and audiences you wouldnt normally reach online.
See If You Need To Be Licensed
Each state has its own criteria for whether you need to obtain a license for your lawn business.
To make it more complicated, you might need local licenses as well. So, you might have to take a trip to city hall and contact your states Secretary of States office to get the licenses you need.
Occupational License
Some municipalities require businesses to also get an occupational license, which is usually based on how much revenue you generate in a given year.
For example, in Fairfax County, Virginia, if you make more than $10,000 youll have to pay a flat fee of thirty bucks for your occupational license. If you earn anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000, the amount you pay goes up to fifty dollars.
You can search the Small Business Administrations website to determine the requirements in your state.
Fertilizer Applicator Certification
If youre fertilizing your clients lawns, you might need a fertilizer applicator certification.
The Environmental Protection Agency sets the guidelines for herbicide and pesticide applicators. However, every state sets its own regulations. Some states require that you complete one or all these things to get a lawn care applicator certification:
- Passing a written exam
- Passing a performance-based exam
- Using other standards approved by the EPA
You can find out what the policies are for your state by checking out its Department of Agricultural Resources website.
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Things You Need To Know About Richmond Hill Landscaping
Many people are looking for ways to care for their lawns. It is not hard to find a Richmond Hill Landscaping lawn care company that will help you with the task. But, it is important to know what questions you should ask before hiring a company. Here are seven things you need to know about Richmond Hill lawns before hiring a Richmond Hill Landscaping lawn care service:
1) What type of service do they offer?
2) How often do they visit?
3) What types of services will they provide?
4) Do they have experience with your type of grass?
5) Will they be able to provide references from previous clients?
6) Will they be able to provide pictures or samples of their work?
7) What is the cost associated with their services and how long
How To Get Lawn Care Customers Fast
Growing your lawn care business requires a three-prong approach. First, advertise your business through word of mouth with friends, family, and existing customers. Next, establish a digital presence with a Yelp Business Page,social media, and company website. Lastly, utilize more traditional techniques like print marketing, discounts, and referral incentives.
Get a free Yelp page
Promote your business to local customers.
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The Benefits Of Buying A Landscaping Company
Dont lose sight of why someone might want to buy your business. Keeping the benefits in mind can help you remain confident during any frustrating parts of the sale.
First, landscaping is consistently popular. According to a survey from the National Association of Landscape Professionals, 44% of all U.S. adults with lawns hire a professional to maintain them. Thats just a little under half of all lawns. A lawn care business has the potential to generate steady profits for a long time.
Another benefit of buying an existing landscaping company is the opportunity for acquisition. Dont be surprised if a competitor expresses interest in buying your business. They can expand their operation either by folding your company into theirs or operating the new company under the existing name.
Financing A Lawn Care Business
Getting the necessary tools and training to start a lawn care business can be an investment. Since the majority of individuals dont have such large sums of money readily available, many choose to apply for small business financing. Good funding options for lawn care or landscaping companies include:
- Equipment leasing. With so much high-value equipment needed to start a lawn care business, equipment leasing can be a great solution. Rather than buying equipment outright and paying a large sum upfront, this option gives you access to the equipment you need by paying a monthly fee thats a fraction of the cost.
- Small business loans. The most common type of business loans is offered by the Small Business Administration. These loans boast low interest rates and long repayment terms, making them ideal for business owners, and theyre also guaranteed by the federal government, meaning banks will be repaid up to 85 percent of the loan even if it defaults.
- 401 business financing. Once a little-known method of business financing, this method is becoming more popular. It allows business owners to use funds from their 401, IRA, or other pre-tax retirement plan to start or buy a business without incurring tax penalties.
- Unsecured loans. Similar to a credit card, this option allows business owners to borrow money and repay at will, without needing to put up any personal property as collateral.
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Choose Lawn Care Services To Offer
Not all lawn care businesses provide the exact same services to their clients. Deciding which services to provide will determine your budget and which equipment youll require.
Its worth starting with fundamental lawn care services to lock down your first clients. These include:
-
Shrub maintenance
-
Sod installation
Understanding what competitors provide and what your customers require can help determine which additional services to provide.
How We Chose The Best Lawn Care Services
We took a close look at about 20 companies offering lawn care services and selected our top picks based on the number of states served, services offered, website usability, and pricing. Plus, we considered customer satisfaction ratings, satisfaction guarantees, and affiliations with industry associations.
For instance, we picked Lawn Doctor as our best overall for serving homeowners and businesses given their 450 locations in 40 states, satisfaction guarantee, and high rating among its clients. And we selected TruGreen because it’s nationally recognized, serves all 50 states, is a member of the NALP, and offers mobile apps.
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Selling Your Business To A Competitor
Thinking of selling your business to a competitor? Theres a lot to consider. Especially if you’re thinking of selling to one of the big guys .
In almost every case, a competitor is going to pay you less for your business than an individual buyer.
Why? Because your competition doesn’t want many of the assets that make up your company. These include:
1. The brand and reputation youve established 2. Redundant members of staff3. Non-conforming equipment, software, or inventory
Send Professional And Thorough Lawn Care Quotes
Appearance really does matter when it comes to lawn care services and bids. That means you should be sending your customers formalized and professional quotes.
Quoting isnt just a means to an end with your jobsthink of the quoting process as a communication touchpoint. It helps you set professionalism and customer service expectations high.
Its easy to underestimate the importance of the quoting process. You send off a quote, carry on with other work on your to-do list, and wait for a response from your potential customer.
But your relationship doesnt begin once youve won the jobyour relationship starts the moment you speak with your client. You can improve the chances of winning their business by improving your process and communication.
How can you do that? Give more context to your quotes.
Dont be an estimator or an order taker, Stanley Dirt Monkey Genadek tells us.
Be an educator. Be a partner. Take the time to answer questions, explain what it all means, what needs to happen, and exactly what the outcomes are that can be expected, says Stanley.
You dont just go out and hand them a quote and walk away. You become their partner on their project.
This thorough approach to quoting builds trust and loyalty with your clients. Not only are your quotes professional looking, but you also show youre willing to go the extra mile to help.
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Selling Your Landscaping Business To An Individual
Selling your business to an individual is usually more profitable than selling to a competitor. This is because an individual buyer needs to purchase every aspect of your company as it is running today.
If your business value is in the $400,000 to $2,000,000 range, an individual buyer is the most likely candidate. However, as the business size and purchase price increase, the pool of individual buyers shrinks.
Once you’ve reached a certain size, the best buyer for your business becomes a strategic buyer or a private equity group.
Make Exclusive Offers To Clients When They Upsell Or Cross
Exclusive offers are a great way to entice customers to commit to additional services. Also, it makes them feel special and appreciated that it’s an exclusive offer. This is a win-win scenario for both you and the client.
For instance, if youre a lawn and landscape business, and youre already on site , then it makes sense to try to get multiple services out of one visit.
So, you might tell your customers that it would only be X dollars more to add on a mosquito control service while youre already at their home.
However, this upselling and cross-selling strategy doesnt only work for lawn care.
If youve installed a patio for a customer, you might offer them a friends and family discount to sign up for ongoing maintenance work from you. Youve already established a relationship, which makes them more likely to say yes.
Discounting a future service keeps your existing customers happy, which is good for two key reasons:
Giving exclusive offers on your services to existing clients at the front-end could very well lead to more work on the back-end.
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More New Business Columns:
But when new customers notice 13-year-old Dakota working alongside his father, it also gives Reidling the chance to tell their story.
“I always tell people, it started with him,” Reidling said. “It’s rare to see a young person like that show up on a job, treating customers with respect. They can’t believe how hard of a worker he is. Kids his age would rather be playing video games inside. But it’s his work ethic and his talent that sets him apart from the rest.”
Reidling’s Lawn Squad will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Grover T’s BBQ Restaurant in Milton.
For more information, visit reidlingslawnsquad.com or call 850-686-9848.
Kalyn Wolfe is a freelance columnist for the News Journal. Send new business tips to [email protected].
Create An Ultimate Lawn Care Business Plan In 7 Steps
Starting a lawn care business is a great way to become an entrepreneur with low barriers to entry. For the most part, it means you need to get out in the community, make connections and start caring for lawns.
However, there’s much more to having a successful business than day-to-day work. For long-term success, you need to create a lawn care business plan to help you think through daily operations and how youre going to generate revenue.
Some business owners view a business plan as a bunch of paperwork that needs to be filled out quickly. But a business plan represents the work you need to do to achieve your financial goals.
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Selecting Richmond Hill Landscaping
There are a few mistakes that you should avoid when hiring a Richmond Hill Landscaping landscaper. The first mistake is not knowing how to distinguish between good and bad landscapers. The second mistake is getting a quote that seems too good to be true. The third mistake is not doing your research before hiring the landscaper.
3 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Selecting Richmond Hill Landscaping:
Not knowing how to distinguish between good and bad landscapers
Getting a quote that seems too good to be true
Not doing your research before hiring the landscaper
