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To start a lawn service business you don't need as much start-up capital or other resources as some businesses might require. You simply need a few basic tools and the will to work hard in the sun. If you love the outdoors, smell of fresh cut grass, flowers, and using your imagination then starting a lawn service might just be your calling.
For those that believe there are too many lawn service companies already in existence, the work will be too strenuous or maybe you don't think you have a very green thumb and therefore won't succeed, there is good news for you. There is big money in lawn care services and plenty of work to go around. The following is a broad overview of the basics on how to start a lawn service.
Professional lawn care services crop up every day all over America and many succeed with little more than a few employees, a couple basic services offered and hard work. The key here is new lawns are created every day and with the growing demand for pristine yards people are turning to professional's to handle the dirty work. In our fast-paced society--and the need for attention--people can take care of both of these needs by letting someone else do their yard work. Couple this with the many businesses and office buildings that need to keep a neat appearance and you have a great demand for lawn care and landscape services.
The first thing you need to do is write a business plan. Even if you do not intend to apply for some sort of business financing it is a good idea to create a plan so that you have a roadmap or focus of sorts. Check out our article on business plans for help getting started on this crucial step to starting your lawn service business.
While writing your business plan you should determine whether you are going to do all the work yourself, or maybe you'll be a hands-on owner and hire employees to do all the manual labor while you run the rest of the business or take a hands off approach and let somebody else run the entire show. More than likely you will need to have some sort of involvement until revenue begins to flow. If you do not know anything about lawn maintenance and landscaping you should do plenty of research before hiring a crew supervisor. The crew supervisor will be responsible for training the employees that will be doing the actual labor and should be able to determine what kind of techniques and products you will be using. They might even know reputable employees that you could hire as you begin to grow the business.
After you get these basics in place you will need to determine what tools are necessary for you to carry out your services. At this point it is a good idea to consult with your crew supervisor or to visit a few different commercial retailers to gain an understanding of the various
types of equipment. Starting off you probably won't need much more than a lawnmower, trimmer and leaf blower depending on how many services you offer and the size of your client base. Most of the big equipment can be leased until you establish a large enough client list to produce a solid cash flow.
Here are some suggestions for lawn care tools that you may need:
- Lawnmowers, preferably commercial grade. You don't necessarily need a huge mower to start with but as your workload grows you will want to upgrade to a larger mower to increase productivity.
- Edgers
- Trimmers
- Leaf blowers
- Hedge trimmers
- Chainsaws
- Rakes
- Shovels
- Tillers
- Aerators
- Spreaders
- Sprayers
- Snow blowers - these are good for producing income during the winter months for those that live in snow prone areas.
Now it is time to spread the word and generate customers for your new business. The easiest way to generate business is word of mouth through family and friends. Another cheap and effective option is to print your own lawn service flyer to hang on doors in areas you are trying to target. When the phone calls start coming in schedule face-to-face appointments with the prospective clients to convey a professional image while going over your list of services and pricing.
Speaking of pricing you will need to draw up a pricing plan for all of the services you intend to offer. You should have at least a general idea of a pricing plan after putting together a business plan. The best place to start in determining lawn service pricing is to sample other lawn care businesses in your area. Set your prices accordingly but make sure not to set them too low. Don't be afraid to start high and work back down if needed.
As with any business--hard work, determination and passion--is what it takes to be successful. A lawn care business is easy to start because you can handle all aspects of the business on your own until the workload gets to be too much. Follow the basics and you could carve out a nice niche for yourself in the lawn care industry.
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