How to Start a Landscaping Business

How Do I Start My Own Landscaping Business?

You have a passion for the outdoors and making it even more beautiful. If you’re ready to turn that passion into a small business, you may be wondering how to start a landscaping business. From cutting lawns to planting flowers and trimming bushes, running a business requires hard work.

That’s why we’ve put together a six-step guide to help you start your landscaping business. Whether it’s creating a business plan or getting landscaping insurance, we’ve got your back, and we’re here to help landscape business owners like you.

1. Choose a Business Name

Every business needs a name. A good name tells potential customers in the local markets what a business is and the type of work it does. So, for a landscaping business, your name could incorporate some common industry terms, like:

Green
Lawn care services
Landscaping

But don’t forget to be creative. A unique and creative name can make your business more memorable and stand out from the competition.

2. Create a Business Plan

Before starting a business, you need to know what your objectives are and have strategies in place to achieve your goals. That’s what a business plan does.

A business plan is a formal document that helps explain to people outside of your company what your business does. There’s more than one way to create this document, but it’s a good idea to include these five components in your landscaping business’ plan:

An executive summary: Think of this as your elevator pitch. Why should customers or clients care about your business? What services do you provide and what advantages can you offer?
Market research and strategies: Describe your market analysis and strategy. This section can include sales forecasts, milestones, advertising and how you compare to competitors.
Business description and structure: Explain how your business works and the landscaping services or products offered. You can also describe the legal structure of your company.
Management and personnel: Provide biographies of your business’ executives and managers. Describe how their expertise can help your business succeed.
Financial information: This section is where you provide numbers to back up what you described in your organization and marketing sections. You can include projects, balance sheets and cash flow statements.

3. List Your Startup Expenses

It’s a good idea to list your startup expenses to know how much you’ll need to get your lawn care business up and running. Some expenses landscape professionals may have include:

Applying for a business license
Getting business insurance
Buying equipment, such as a commercial mower or trimmer
Obtaining safety equipment, like headphones

Remember, every landscaping business is unique. Depending on how you operate your business, your specific needs and expenses may be different.

4. Get the Necessary Business Licenses and Permits

Check your state laws to make sure you get the right business licenses or permits. Don’t forget to apply for the appropriate licenses at the federal level, too. For example, many states require a sales and tax permit if a landscape company will provide certain services or products. Tip: Learn whether business insurance is tax-deductible for landscapers.

5. Protect Your Business With Landscaping Insurance

Every business faces unique risks. Getting landscaping insurance and the right types of coverage can help protect your business. Some essential coverages you can get include:

General liability insurance to help protect you from claims that your landscaping business caused bodily injury to someone else or property damage to somebody else’s belongings.
Commercial auto insurance to help keep you and your employees safe on the road if you drive company-owned vehicles for business purposes.
Workers’ compensation insurance, which gives your employees benefits to help them recover from a work-related injury or illness.
Commercial property insurance to help protect your owned or rented landscaping building and equipment.
Business income insurance, which helps cover the loss of income if your landscaping business has to close because of covered property damage.

We know the risks and challenges landscapers face on a daily basis. That’s why we offer business insurance coverages specialized for the lawn care industry, such as:

Herbicide and pesticide application
Snowplow operations
Inland marine insurance

For example, let’s say your landscape business switches to a new bug killer. After using it, you find out that the homeowners got sick because of a chemical in the pesticide. Our herbicide and pesticide coverage can help cover this kind of claim and protect your business.

Our specialists can help you create a customized policy to help protect your business. Get a landscaping insurance quote today.

6. Get the Word Out

Starting a lawn care business means you have to get the word out about your company. In fact, marketing is a key component to learning how to start a business. You can get the word out about your landscaping business by:

Creating business cards
Using social media to engage customers or promote coupons
Offering demos for potential clients

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Landscaping Business?

It can cost an average of $5,000 to $15,000 to start a landscape business. The total costs vary and can depend on a variety of factors, including:

Equipment
Services offered
Whether you’ll own or rent a physical space
Insurance coverages

Whether your business focuses on lawn maintenance or providing additional services, like leaf blowing or winter cleaning, you may need to use credit cards or small business loans to start your company.

Get a Landscaping Insurance Quote

We know the ins-and-outs of the landscaping industry. Our specialists understand the risks and challenges you face as you run your business. Whether you have coverage questions or need help filing a claim, we’ve got your back. Get a landscaping insurance quote today and learn how we can help protect your business.