During the summer, many teenagers have regular domestic responsibilities like mowing and pruning the lawn. Even though the job market can be challenging for teenagers, they can find ways to make money with a little perseverance and creativity. These opportunities include exploring options with a company that hires teenagers and working as an independent contractor or aspiring to be an entrepreneur who sells and provides services themselves. But lawn care isn’t only a career for kids looking for a paycheck—it can also be a lucrative activity for people searching for full- or part-time work. You may expand your lawn care firm from a one-mower operation to a $1 million enterprise. But before teens can start mowing lawns and making money, they will need to learn how to launch and manage a lawn care business.
To start a lawn care business as a teenager:
- Conduct proper market research.
- Find and choose a mentor.
- Plan your business strategy and include your goals.
- Decide what lawn care services to offer.
- Select a legal structure for your firm and file for a business name.
- Get a business license.
- Get lawn care business insurance.
- Choose your location.
- Develop a marketing strategy.
- Set up your equipment.
- Focus on customer service.
Want to run your own company as a teen, be your boss, and earn money working outside? This manual will show you how to start, run, and expand your lawn care business so you may earn well and pursue your passion.
Conduct proper market research
Determining whether opening a lawn care service as a teenager is feasible in your community is advisable. Create a brief survey asking individuals about their lawn care requirements and what you can do to satisfy them. This will give you knowledge about important areas to concentrate on as you prepare your lawn care firm.
Additionally, you can go to competing lawn care companies in your neighborhood or nearby towns (if they exist). Ask them about the services they provide and their standard fees. This will give you inspiration and a plan for starting your own lawn-mowing company.
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Find and choose a mentor
You believe you can maintain lawns, but can you operate a lawn care company? Training under the supervision of an expert is crucial. To gain this information, most people will need at least three weeks, but few people will want to work for nothing for that long, but it is an easy financial decision to make. In three weeks, you should learn how to schedule work, operate equipment, set quality standards, provide customer service, and, if your mentor allows, maybe even do some administrative and peer work.
Plan your business strategy and include your goals
Every successful business requires a strategy, but every great business begins with a plan. You can stay focused on your final result and know the precise measures you need to take to succeed by developing your business strategy from the start.
The service you will deliver when starting a lawn care company is very obvious: lawn care. But to set reasonable prices and sell your company successfully, you must identify who and where you serve.
When creating your company plan, some questions to consider asking yourself are as follows:
- What kinds of clientele am I looking for?
- Which region(s) /area(s) do I wish to serve?
- Whom do I compete against? How can I become unique?
- How much should I charge to stay in business?
- What services ought I to provide?
- What channels will I use to promote my company?
As you plan, include financial targets for the future and growth goals to start. Next, decide which cities and communities best suit your business’s ability to provide these services. Choose the areas where you are most likely to be successful. Don’t confine yourself to your immediate area.
It pays to have some strategy to keep organized and progress toward your end goal, even though you don’t want to get too far ahead because you will learn a lot as you go along. The logistics can always be worked out later.
You will also establish your primary brand at this time and determine what distinguishes your small company from its rivals. Make a profile of your ideal client and base your entire strategy on it. All future marketing plans will be created to engage with that specific target, and your brand, including your company name will be created to appeal to them.
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Decide what lawn care services to offer
To buy the proper equipment, set your prices, and market your services, you must identify your company’s lawn care services. Start modestly by providing simple lawn care services like mowing and pruning. By doing this, you may start acquiring customers for lawn care services and earning money without investing thousands of dollars in new machinery.
Lawn care services comprise:
- Mowing and routine lawn care
- Periodic services
- Fertilization
- Lawn aeration
- Installation of mulch and gardening tasks
- Pest and bug control for the lawn
- Cutting and clipping trees
Consider what your clients request and what your competitors provide when choosing which services to add to your list.
Select a legal structure for your firm and file for a business name
Before you register your business, you must select a business structure. Your choice of structure will impact how your firm is registered.
A brief method for picking the ideal structure is provided below:
- Sole proprietorship– If you manage your activities alone and seek total control over your business, you are automatically registered as a sole proprietorship.
- Partnership – Select this business form if you operate your company with two or more people still legally regarded as independent contractors.
- LLC – Limited liability company. They largely shield you from personal liability. LLCs are frequently chosen by medium- to high-risk firms.
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Get a business license
You must have a business license to launch your lawn care service. Contact your local Small Business Administration or your local Chamber of Commerce to learn what form of business license you require (SBA). Depending on your location, a business license and registration can cost $75 to $400 per year.
To use any substance approved as a pesticide by the US Environmental Protection Agency, you need a license from your state (EPA). Some states mandate that you complete a pesticide safety education program to become certified.
Consult your local Department of Agriculture to learn about the regulations in your state to determine whether you need a license for a particular good or service you want to provide.
Get lawn care business insurance
Business insurance for lawn care providers shields you, your company, and potential employees from financial harm brought on by accidents, property damage, or other unforeseen occurrences.
Depending on the coverage you require, you can select from a variety of insurance types:
- General liability protection
- Health protection
- Automobile insurance
- Compensation for workers
- Policy for business owners
- Liability for employment practices
Choose your location
Most lawn care service owners prefer to serve their local communities out of convenience. However, some are more selective about where they operate. The deciding factor is where you are most likely to attract profitable (and high-paying) consumers.
Can you locate an untapped customer base that needs lawn care services? Exists a place where there are a lot of potential clients but minimal competition for jobs? This must be considered when deciding on your service area.
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Develop a marketing strategy
Next, decide how you will advertise and promote your company to attract clients. Door-to-door solicitation, postcard printing, and newspaper advertising are a few strategies. You can also collaborate with other website owners as well.
If you are not operating from your home find a centrally positioned location for your headquarters once you’ve decided on an area. You’ll just require a small workplace and somewhere to store your equipment.
It’s a good idea to pick a location close to a highway so you can go to your job sites fast. Saving even a small amount of time or mileage when traveling to and from work will add up.
Set up your equipment
Gather the tools and supplies you’ll need to launch your lawn-mowing enterprise. Make sure you and your crew (if you have one) have a dependable way to go from a client’s house or office to the following assignment.
It’s a good idea to list the equipment your lawn-cutting business will need to succeed. Of course, you’ll start with a lawnmower, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the greatest. Start by using a standard trimmer. But you’ll probably be able to mow more quickly if you use a motorized mower (and accomplish more each day). Buy this as soon as you have the money. Additional lawn care supplies, including a lawn trimmer possibly grass seedlings, and herbicides, will also be needed.
Focus on customer service
Concentrate on providing excellent customer service in addition to your knowledge of lawn care. By offering warm, considerate service, you may increase the number of recommendations that come from word-of-mouth marketing. People might be picky about how their lawn looks, so be prepared to go above and beyond to satisfy them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a teen lawn care business owner get paid?
Your payment may differ according to the neighborhood where the client resides and even the particular lawn in question. You might bill per hour, earning between $5 and $15 a time. Alternatively, you may charge by the lawn, earning $5 for a small, simple lawn or $100 for a huge, complicated yard. The major determinant of pricing in this instance is the size of the yard.
How can I grow a small lawn mowing business to be profitable?
If your services are high quality, others will hear about you and refer you. Make flyers or business cards, and distribute them to your current clients’ and neighbors. Place your flyers in prominent locations around town, such as church bulletin boards, where people will see them. Give your friends some money as a thank you when they suggest to you a customer and encourage them to do so.
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.