When you’re just starting a business, it’s important to know just what supplies you might need to make sure you’re successful. So what can you expect when you’re starting your own landscaping business? What tools do you need? What intangible items can help benefit your business?
The nine essentials you need to run a landscaping business are, some sort of experience or education, a landscaping or business license from your state, lawn care business insurance, lawnmowers—both push mowers and commercial lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, edgers, and string trimmers, leaf and debris blowers, fertilizer spreaders and sprayers, various gardening and lawn care hand tools and finally vehicles and trailers.
When you’re just starting, there’s information that you should have for your landscaping business. But what experience do you need, and what education is necessary? What kind of tools should you be getting? Read on to find out more about how you can find early success in your business just by having the right tools.
Some sort of experience or education
Your experience or education is something that you must bring into a landscaping business. It doesn’t mean you have to have an advanced degree—typically, landscapers only need a high school diploma or an equivalent. That being said, you should at least make sure you have some relative experience before starting your own landscaping business. Whether it’s working for another business before you start your own or even finding a mention within the industry, you can learn from them the ins and outs of the landscaping industry before you even start.
There are options if you wish to pursue this at a higher educational level. Some colleges and universities offer landscaping degrees or even business degrees that will assist you in creating your business. While it’s not necessary, a business degree will always help you when you start your own business. Other degrees that can help you are degrees in economics, marketing, communications, and even leadership—again, while these are not necessary, they will only help you in the long run.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Landscaping Business
A landscaping or business license from your state
This is an essential that will vary from state to state, but in the long run, it’s something you still need. Some states require you to acquire a landscaping license—Alaska, North Carolina, Oregon, and Tennessee, to name a few—while in others, you don’t need one.
On the other hand, you should have a business license. In most states, if you want to operate as a fully-fledged, legal business, you need to have your business license. A fee is usually associated with both the landscaping and the business licenses which is determined by your local or state governments. Look into those to find out what your requirements might be.
While this is not required, a pesticide license may also be helpful for your landscaping business. Some states require it if you’re using pesticides—you’re looking for something called a “Commercial Applicator License” or a “Qualified Applicator License” depending on the area. This can also apply to fertilizer licenses, as well.
You can also look into getting a sprinkler system or irrigation system license. This is another optional license, and it can depend on your area whether you need to seek it out or not.
Lawn care business insurance
One of the other essentials you need before you start your lawn care business is getting the proper business insurance. While there are several avenues you can take, you can consider general liability protection, health insurance, automobile insurance, workers’ compensation, and any other liability insurance options. While lawn care can be cut and dry, there are potential situations where you or your employees could get injured. Talk to a lawyer to make sure you’re covered.
What Can Your Lawn Business Do In The Winter?
Lawnmowers—both push mowers and commercial lawnmowers
If you want to get the most bang for your buck, you’re going to need several types of lawnmowers. While it’s one of the most expensive tools you’ll get, it’s also going to be your most used. Make sure you’re investing in your mower as you will likely be using it all day, every day—and make sure you have variety. You’re not going to be able to get into tight spaces with a large commercial, zero-turn riding mower, so you’ll need a push-behind mower too. In most cases, you’ll spend up to $6,000 on a walk-behind mower, and one of the state-of-the-art zero-turn radius riding mowers can cost up to $16,000.
Hedge trimmers, edgers, and string trimmers
String trimmers, sometimes known as weed whackers, are also essential to your lawn care experience. These can add a finishing touch to your work around things you can’t trim, like flowerbeds or even mailboxes. Hedge trimmers also can speed up the process allowing you to cut shrubs and hedges easily. Consider whether you want a cordless or electric version when you make your purchase. Edgers can do a lot of the work a string trimmer does, but it can help you create a better border if necessary. Weed whackers can be purchased for around $400, while hedge trimmers typically cost about $500. An edger usually costs around $1,000.
Leaf and debris blowers
While you can use them for many different things, leaf blowers are an integral part of your lawn care business. It can help clean debris off of sidewalks, and entrances, while allowing you to also clean up leaves during the fall. These can also help you in rectifying safety issues for your clients by removing any debris that could cause personal injury. These typically cost about $400 on the average end.
Fertilizer spreaders and sprayers
If you’re in an area where you’re permitted to use pesticides and fertilizer, you’re going to need a way to disperse them. A spreader can help you save time and money, along with keeping things clean for you and your customers. Sprayers can also help you control fertilizer and pesticide application by being a little more precise than a spreader. Depending on the type, a spreader can cost a few hundred dollars. A sprayer, depending on what you use, can cost anywhere between $15 to over a grand.
What Makes A Good Landscape Architect
Various gardening and lawn care hand tools
While you now have all the large items you’ll need to start your business, you’re going to need smaller hand tools. Some of those include:
- Buckets
- Lawn bags
- Shovels
- Rakes
- Pruners
- Gloves
- Ear and eye protection
- Steel-toed work boots
- Comfort items such as seats or knee pads for wedding
Vehicles and trailers
You’re going to need a way to transport your supplies and tools to your job site, so you’re going to need a vehicle and a trailer that is capable of doing so. Make sure you understand that whatever vehicle you use, may get dented in the process of loading and unloading equipment. The cost of a vehicle or trailer is dependent on what kind you get and what you need for your equipment.
While this is not at all a comprehensive list, these are your main essentials before starting your own landscaping business. As you grow and learn about what you want out of your business, you may find that other items will benefit you and your team. You may find that certain tools aren’t used as much on your projects, or that you might need a different tool altogether. Regardless, make sure you use what tools best suit you and your team, and plan accordingly. Keep safety first—make sure all your employees, including yourself, are protected against weather, whether it be heat or cold. Keep their eyes and ears protected against any potential harm. A focus on their safety will go a long way—not just with them, but with your customers. The better you treat your workers, the more likely people will see you as a trustworthy, honest, hardworking, focused, compassionate company with their needs and wants in mind.
What Should Landscape Designers Include In Their Design?
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my landscaping business more legitimate for potential customers?
To make yourself more legitimate and trustworthy within the landscaping industry, you can seek out certification with the National Association of Landscape Professionals. This group, known as the NALP, can make your business even more legitimate by giving you accreditation. While it does cost around $500, it will provide peace of mind to your customers knowing that you are accredited.
What are the benefits of proper landscaping?
There are many reasons you should have landscaping at your home or business. While it helps the environment by promoting wildlife safety and soil pollution, it also helps reduce the use of natural resources and increases sustainability. Water management is improved, along with keeping residents cool and cleaning the air. On the more intangible side of things, it can protect homes and buildings, provide a good first impression, improve property values, and promote community ties.
To learn more on how you can start your own landscaping business, check out my startup documents here.
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Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Landscape Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a landscape business owner at a job site, driving down the road or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Landscaping Business Boss: I want to help landscape business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.