Are you an outdoor-loving fella’ that enjoys being your own boss? Does the prospect of serving Mother Nature excite you? Are you okay with working with mud and possibly, on a bad day, stepping in dog doo?
If that’s you, then a lawn mowing business sounds like an industry you may be interested in. More importantly, lawn care pros will tell you that the lawn care business is a good way to make money.
Of course, before lawn service companies made their fortune, they first started from the ground up. Possibly, without guidance, these entrepreneurs encountered major hiccups along the way before building their successful lawn care business.
Landscape Marketing Hero is here to prevent that from happening.
So before collecting the tools for the trade, the first step is understanding how to start a lawn mowing business. If that interests you, keep on reading. We’ll also give you valuable tips on starting a lawn care business to give you a boost.
Is There Profit in a Lawn Mowing Business?
People say money doesn’t grow on trees, but does it grow on grass? Let’s see.
The lawn care business is a rapidly growing sector in the US. IBIS world tells us that there are 632,895 lawn-mowing businesses in the country in 2022. That’s roughly 150 thousand more than what we had five years prior.
That data says a lot about the income potential of the lawn care industry. Projection Hub reveals the minimum, maximum and average income of a lawn care business:
- Minimum = $50 thousand
- Maximum = $1.1 million and beyond
- Average = around $300 thousand
But this doesn’t show you the whole story. After all, lawn mowing businesses are just like any other business – they have their own set of expenses. For example, you’ll need to factor in the cost of lawn equipment, gas, and maintenance. You’ll also need to consider advertising and marketing costs, as well as insurance.
In addition, lawn care businesses can be seasonal, so you’ll need to factor that into your calculations as well. You may make most of your money during summer, but you’ll need to account for slower periods like winter.
All of these factors will eat into your profits, so keep them in mind when you’re calculating your income potential. A low income is normal when you’re just starting out. You have all the opportunity to grow your company into a trusted grass cutting business with appropriate time and effort.
The best way to learn more about the industry is to talk to someone who’s already in the business. They can give you first-hand advice on what it takes to succeed– that happens to be us.
The secret is simple. Start leveraging your marketing and advertising efforts young because this will give your company a significant boost. In a digital age world, the lawn mowing business with the best online presence wins the race. Landscape Marketing Hero can give that to you. All it takes is grabbing our FREE growth guide and going from there.
Key Things You Need To Know When Starting Lawn Mowing Business
It may seem like all you need to start a lawn mowing business is a lawnmower and some business cards. But if you want a successful lawn care business, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are 10 key things to know before starting your lawn mowing business:
Start with a Problem
All homeowners will agree that nothing beats the scent of freshly cut grass and the view of a uniform lawn. Unfortunately, many homeowners or even businesses don’t have the time of day to do it themselves. This is where a lawn mowing business like yours comes in.
While mowing the lawns of busybodies is already one problem out of the way, the lawn care industry is vast. There is more to it than cutting grass, and scaling your business will mean expanding your offers.
Here are other solutions you could offer to solve problems:
- Fertilization and pesticide services
- Weeding and mulching
- Landscape design and architecture
- Planting native and appropriate vegetation
- Seasonal services (spring leaf raking and winter snow removal)
Of course, the more services you offer, the higher money you need. You may slowly introduce new services in your arsenal once you have the budget for them. In the meantime, a wheelbarrow, lawnmower and the basics will do.
Your Passion
Some people choose lawn care on a whim because there are no other business models available. However, this means doing something they may not like which leads to burnout or quitting after a rough patch.
The lawn mowing business can be exhausting, but if you’re passionate, it won’t feel like work at all. That’s why we asked those questions at the beginning of this article. You’ll find great satisfaction in providing lawn care services. And nothing beats seeing the results of your hard work– a luscious, green lawn that your clients love.
If you don’t have a passion for lawn care, there are two things that can happen. First, you learn to love the industry (because it does grow on you). Second, you force yourself to like it but this will take a toll eventually.
A lawn mowing business requires a lot of hard work and dedication. People who are up for the challenge may be onto a successful enterprise.
How Well You Understand The Lawn Mowing Market
You may have years of experience mowing lawns for your family, friends and neighbors. But running a lawn mowing business is a different animal altogether.
To be successful in this industry, you must understand the lawn mowing market. This includes understanding your target clients, what they want and what they’re willing to pay for your services.
You must also be aware of the competition. Since being a lawn mowing business only requires a lawnmower, competition is to be expected. Who are they? What services do they offer? How much do they charge? Understanding all this will help you set your rates and marketing strategy.
Don’t underestimate the importance of research. Knowing your lawn mowing market inside and out is crucial to the success of your lawn mowing business.
Your Own Strength, Skills, and Time
Of course, you can’t start a lawn mowing business without lawn mowing skills. If you don’t have any experience, consider getting a job at a local lawn care company to learn the ropes.
You should also take some time to consider whether you’re physically capable of doing the work required or not. Lawn mowing isn’t easy work and it can be tough on the body of people not used to it. Unless you can hire people from the get-go, it’s best to build strength first before doing lawn care.
Finally, think about how much time you’re realistically able to commit to your lawn mowing business. If you only have a few hours a week to spare, don’t take on too many clients.
Having a Mentor is A Huge Advantage
In the lawn mowing business, as with other businesses, hiccups and hurdles happen naturally. Industry mentors can help you avoid these problems because they’ve been through them before. They understand the ropes better and are far more experienced with changes in the market.
Our CEO, Gabe Arnold, has been in the exact position as you. Confused and dazed as to how the lawn care industry works and everything in between. But he has managed to grow his own business and is now committed to helping those that come after him.
If you need a mentor, consider contacting us and we’ll get you set up.
Your Business Plan
Your business plan is the central piece of your entire lawn care business. It should outline your company’s goals, strategies, target market, and how you plan on making money.
Creating a lawn care business plan may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are tons of templates and examples online to help guide you through the process. The most important aspects you need to consider when building your business plan are:
- Target market. Who are you going to be mowing lawns for? Homeowners? Businesses? Property management companies?
- Marketing strategies. Once you’ve determined your target market, you need to figure out how to reach them. This is where your marketing tactics come in. Will it be social media? SEO? Google Ads? Traditional advertising?
- Pricing structure. Finally, you need to know how much you will charge for your services. This is the most vital part as it can make or break your business. Price too low and you become sketchy and questionable. Price too high and customers will cease to do business with you.
Your Team
You can do your lawn mowing business alone as a startup, but eventually, you’ll need a team. This is especially true if growing is a part of your goals. Since it’s a physically demanding job, you’ll need able-bodied, reliable, honest and hardworking people.
Finding these people is never easy, but it could be when you know how to fish them out of obscurity. Through effective advertising, Landscape Marketing Hero can find and build the A-team for your business. Contact us.
You Need To Spend on Structural and Legal Expenses
Here’s the thing. You can’t just buy a lawnmower and tell people to hire you. A license and permit to operate make the legal personality of your lawn mowing business. Without them, you are operating illegally which could earn you some charges.
Every state has its very own business licensing requirements, so I recommend you do your research first. Some might not require a license for mowing lawns, but do if you plan to expand to pesticidal services.
Next, set up your legal lawn care business. If you already have employees for your lawn mowing business, you need to be a legal business entity. Setting up a Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corp or partnership are some of your options. They protect you from being held liable for any debts or legal issues your business might face.
Equipment and Materials are expensive
Notice that only after the nitty gritty are out of the way do we proceed with the materials and equipment. The tools you will need will set you back a few thousand dollars. You will also need a truck or trailer to haul your equipment around.
Here are the most common tools needed for a lawn mowing business:
- Lawnmower
- Edger
- Blower
- String trimmer
- Pruner
- Mowing goggles
- Ear muffs
- Gardening gloves
- Gas cans
- Lawn bags
- Business cards
- Website
There’s more to this if you plan on expanding your lawn care services and cross-selling other related solutions. But don’t worry, there are ways to finance your lawn care business startup costs. For example, you can look into lawn care business loans or lawn care equipment financing options.
You will also need to think about lawn mowing insurance. This is important to protect you from any liability in case someone gets hurt while you’re working on their property.
Marketing online doesn’t need to be expensive
There’s not one person on the planet that requires lawn care services who are not on the internet. That said, marketing online puts you in the place where your market already is. But when it comes to marketing online, a lot of business owners feel like they need to spend a fortune.
While there are tons of marketing fronts you need to look into like:
- Content marketing
- Social media marketing
- Advertising on Google, Facebook, etc.
- Search engine optimization
Spending a ton is not necessarily true. Why? Because with effective online marketing and advertising, the ROI far outweighs your investment.
Of course, you need time-tested and reliable marketing experts to give you that sort of results. Guess what? Landscape Marketing Hero could, and all you have to do is download our FREE growth guide to get started.