If the idea of being out in nature and working on yards and landscapes sounds great to you, you might have considered a future of owning your own landscape business. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself what exactly goes into owning one of your own, and how much of a paycheck you’d take home every year. Starting your own business can be a dream come true for many, but it’s good to have all the facts before getting started!
A landscaping business owner can on average expect to make around $60,000 per year. This breaks down to a monthly salary of about $5,000 a month. Location plays a huge role in how much you can make though with Tennessee leading the pack with an annual salary of $78,921 and Georgia being the lowest paid at only $52,554 (ziprecruiter.com).
Now that we’ve taken a look at how much you can make, let’s take a look at how much money it takes to set up a landscape business, what tools you’ll need to do so, how location plays a role, what kind of a timeline you can expect as far as setting one up and how to build up a clientele. This will give you a realistic idea of what you can expect if you decide to pursue this business any further, and will help you determine if it is something you’d like to put your time into.
How much money does it take to set up a landscape business?
You need on average around $15,000 – $20,000 to gather all of the needed elements and successfully get started. You could always get started with less, say $5,000, but this would be getting started with the bare essentials (I’ll go into detail below) and not investing in a truck or some sort of vehicle to haul your equipment upfront. You could also invest a lot more, such as $50,000 before getting started, but this recommendation is more for those who want to have all the tools ready before getting started, and who want to invest in a top-of-the-line truck and trailer as well.
Keep in mind, that you can always start your business with a used truck and trailer and work your way up to a more advanced one as your business grows. You can also purchase tools as your business grows and the jobs coming in call for them. This way your initial capital goes towards all the essentials, and you gather more tools as you take on jobs that require them.
What Is Your Landscape Job And Is It Right For You?
What are the items you need to invest in to get started?
Some items would be a huge help to have upfront, such as common gardening tools, a lawn mower, a way to fertilize the grass, a trailer to carry your tools, and a truck to pull the trailer from place to place. Of course, there are always ways to get around some of these tools and improvise until your business picks up, and there are companies that rent tools out to people for this purpose. But make sure you have the absolute bare essentials ready so your first job provides just as great a service as your hundredth job, and you can build up your clientele from the get-go.
Here is a comprehensive list I found on upflip.com and their cost. The list gives more than just the bare essentials, but you can decide for yourself what you’d like to invest in right off the bat, and what you’d feel comfortable waiting on. I’ll link the full article below.
- Lawn mowing/maintenance: $130
- Removing a tree stump: $300
- Leaf removal: $355
- Asphalt paving: $500
- Tree and shrub maintenance: $800
- Deck sealing and waterproofing: $880
- Concrete removal: $1,000
- Patio or path repair: $1,350
- Deck repair: $1,725
- Installing sod: $1,850
- Driveway repair: $1,650
- Resloping/contouring: $1,950
- Fountain installation: $2,600
- Pond installation: $3,100
- Landscape installation: $3,300
- Patio and path installation: $3,900
- Landscape design: $4,400
- Installing a retaining wall: $5,400
- Building a deck: $7,650
Location, Location, Location
You’ve probably heard the popular phrase by Harold Samuel that the three things that matter in buying property are location, location, and location! This could not be more true for starting a landscaping business. Surprisingly, it doesn’t always have to do with warmer weather either. Alaska is number nine on the list of where landscaping businesses make the most money! It may help to do a bit of research on which states currently have the highest demand for landscaping opportunities, and consider relocating before setting up your landscaping business. I’ve included a link below from totallandscapecare.com that takes into account seven different factors, such as cost of living and job availability, and has a list compiled of the best cities for landscapers to live in.
Why Mowing Lawns Is The Perfect Summer Job
What kind of timeline can you expect to start a landscaping business?
Well, it depends on what you already have. Let me explain. Say you already have the capital ready to start your business, then all you would have to do is go out and purchase the equipment you need. But let’s say you need to apply for a loan before you can get started. This would mean you have to take the time to apply for the necessary loan before you can buy what you need. These days, many loans get approved instantly, but many still take three to seven business days to go through. There are also some necessary licenses and insurances that you need to get approved for before you can get started. I found a list on nerdwallet.com that includes general liability insurance, employment law liability insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, and any other local licenses your state requires.
Depending on where you live, this process could take anywhere from several weeks to several months. While you’re waiting for these licenses to get approved, make sure you work on anything else that you need to get set up, including developing your pricing guide and networking with potential clients. This will help you get the business started as soon as the licenses come together.
How you can build up your clientele
So now you’ve put all the other pieces together. You’ve got your licenses in order, and your tools ready, and you are set to get to work! You look around and you realize you don’t have any customers yet! I’ll share with you how to work around this dilemma, so by the time you even get started you’ll have clients lined up and ready to go.
Social media is your best friend. Even as you’re waiting for your licenses to come through, get on your Facebook, Instagram, and whatever other apps you have, and let everyone know that you are starting a landscaping business. Let them know what your prices are and maybe even give them a discount for being one of your first customers. Make sure they know exactly how to contact you if they want to schedule an appointment and make sure to be consistent with your campaign. One post will not be enough, you have to stay at it and be relentless about getting your company name out there.
Next, word of mouth. I know I said social media was your best friend, but there is still no replacement for one of the oldest methods of marketing. Tell your friends and families, and ask them to tell their friends and families. If you are at your local gardening store, let people there know and make sure you give them your business card or a way to contact you so they will when they are ready.
If your community has any type of networking or social events, make sure you make an appearance there to let people know about your company and when they can expect you to get started. Overall, be relentless and unforgiving about getting your name out there and what you can deliver. This way, when people need landscaping, they won’t doubt in their minds about who they will contact. This in turn ensures that you have a steady stream of business lined up by the time you get started!
Putting it all together
Getting any kind of business started can be a stressful ordeal. But having the tools at your disposal to do so makes the whole process so much easier. You now know what kind of capital you need to have ready, what tools you need to purchase, what licenses you need, and how you can grow your clientele. Now that you have all the facts, it’s up to you to decide if opening a landscaping business is the right fit for you. Best of luck!
We Answer: Can Landscaping Be Done In Winter?
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment should you start with to open a landscaping business?
It depends largely on the amount of capital you are starting your business with. If you are starting with a large amount of cash, it may make sense for you to buy all of your equipment upfront. The list we looked at from upflip.com gave us a pretty good idea of what tools a landscaper might need. So if you have the money to do so, by all means, do! If you have a smaller budget, however, just get the essentials, whatever you will need to get your first job done to perfection! You can always build up your tool arsenal as your business grows.
What licenses should you get before opening your business?
This will largely depend on what state you live in. Most states will require some sort of general liability insurance, employment law liability insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance which cover your basics. Check with your local government to see what is required in your jurisdiction to make sure you cover all your bases.
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.