Starting a lawn care business can be easy, especially if you already own most of the equipment you will need. If you have a green thumb and an eye for design you can even branch into landscaping. Learn what it takes to start a lawn care business from scratch and tips for being successful.
The first step in starting a lawn care business is to do your research. There are several things you will need to take into account before launching your business. The most important factor to consider is what services you will offer. Will you focus on mowing, fertilization, or landscaping? You will also need to decide what kind of equipment you will need and what your marketing strategy will be.
RELATED: Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Commercial Lawn
Once you have a plan in place, the next step is to get organized. This includes setting up a business bank account, creating a logo and branding for your company, and purchasing the necessary equipment. You will also need to develop contracts and pricing guidelines for your services.
The final step is to start marketing your business. Begin by creating a website and social media pages for your company. You can also distribute flyers and business cards in your local community. Network with other businesses in your area and attend local events. As your business grows, you may want to consider hiring employees or subcontractors to help you meet demand.
Researching Your Competition
We all know every town and city is full of landscaping companies, so one of the important factors in your lawn care business is how are you going to stand out. What can you offer that they can’t.
You will also want to look into local pricing. What are other lawn care companies charging, what type of schedule are they on, and how many services do they offer?
It’s also worth thinking about the services you can offer during the off-season. Some lawn companies offer snow removal and yard clean-up when it’s not mowing season.
Marketing
While you don’t have to have an extensive marketing plan starting out, you will need at least some business cards to hand out. You can also add magnetic decals to your vehicle for brand awareness and to give neighbors piece of mind when seeing new vehicles in the neighborhood. Handing out flyers is also a great way to get the word out.
Once you are ready to scale a little and dive more into marketing, we recommend setting up your website and social media pages. Make sure to have quality photos of your work, as well as before and after shots. You can also offer tips and advice on your blog or website. Which is great for customers but also helps with coming up in search results on Google.
You can also attend local events and meet with other businesses in your area to network. This is a great way to get referrals and find potential employees down the line. The local chamber of commerce can give you more information about upcoming events and opportunities that may benefit the company.
RELATED: 4 Clever Ways to Tell If Your Marketing Efforts Are Paying Off
Equipment for a Lawn Care Business
When thinking of startup costs, if you already have the equipment you can use you are ahead of the game. The most expensive part of starting a lawn care business is equipment such as commercial lawn mowers, blowers, weed eaters, and a trailer to haul them. Other necessary equipment may include a pressure washer, hedge clippers, and lawn edgers.
If you are starting from scratch, it’s important to do your research on the different types of equipment and what will work best for your business. You don’t want to purchase something that won’t be used or is too heavy for you to transport.
Business and Accounting
You probably won’t be hiring any contractors or employees in the beginning, so the next thing to get started on is setting up your business bank account and deciding if you want to be a sole proprietorship or an LLC.
Check with your local small business association to see if your city requires business permits or other legal documents.
You will also want to develop a pricing guide for your services. This will help you stay consistent with your pricing and avoid any surprises down the line.
One of the most important aspects of running a business is good bookkeeping. Make sure to keep track of all income and expenses, as well as tax information. You can find software to help you with this or hire an accountant to help you stay organized.
RELATED: Why Local SEO Is Important for Your Small Business
Tips for a Successful Lawn Care Business
- If you have houses in the same neighborhood, tend to those on the same day to decrease gas costs.
- Offer referral incentives to help gain clients.
- Don’t offer additional services until you master one. The riches are in the niches.
If you are looking for a new career (or profitable side hustle), lawn care may be the one for you. Lawn mowing is not only a service people need year-round but it’s also something easy to start, with very little startup costs and equipment needed. First things first: if you already have lawnmowers or other equipment from another job, great! Start there. If not, research the different types of equipment and what might work best for your area.
The post How to Start a Lawn Care Business appeared first on Business Opportunities.
Originally published on Business Opportunities : Original article