So, you want to open a landscape business. And yet, you need to know how much it costs as well as the steps involved to begin a successful business.

Indeed, it takes time and money to open a prosperous landscape company.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Landscaping Company?

If you’re looking to start a landscaping company, you can expect to spend up to $250,000 or more according to ProfitableVenture.com. These costs include the following:

• Registering your business in the U.S.
• Hiring a lawyer to help you navigate licenses and permits.
• Advertising and marketing materials.
• Hiring a business consultant to help you with business and marketing plans.
• Buying insurance including workers’ compensation, general liability, and property insurance.
• Leasing or buying office space
• Redesigning your office space to suit your landscaping business.
• Phone, internet, and other utility expenses.
• Operational funds covering three months of salaries, bills, and other regular expenses.
• Start-up expenses, such as furniture, stationery, and software.
• Digital and print marketing expenses, including website development, printing brochures, and flyers.
• Landscaping equipment, including trucks, aerators, edging tools, herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. You also need to purchase equipment for the application of pest and weed controls as well as fertilizers.
• Buying office furniture, gadgets, and signage.
• Hosting an open house party including food, decorations and gifts for your guests.
• Incurring miscellaneous costs that crop up at the last minute.

The above list varies in cost depending on where you live. Plus, you need to figure in federal, state, and local taxes. On top of the taxes, you also need to factor in pesticide, herbicide and possibly fertilizer licenses and certifications so you can use them legally.

All of this costs money. So, $250,000 won’t be the final tally until you count all the hidden costs along with the expenses listed above.

You need to do your homework, and you may need to start small, so you avoid going into bankruptcy or debt. For free business advice, contact your local SCORE office to help you design a business plan and approximate costs for starting a landscaping business in your region.

Before You Hang Up Your Landscape Business Sign…

It takes a lot of planning and work experience to create a successful landscape business. You should be certified as a Landscape Industry Certified Manager as well as belong to a landscape trade association, such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) or the Irrigation Association (IA).

By taking these steps—getting your certification and joining a trade group, you’re telling your ideal client that you’re serious about your profession and your company’s credibility.

If your region is saturated with landscape businesses, you should think about specializing in an area, such as

• Landscape and Lawn Maintenance: As a lawn and landscape maintenance company, your mission would be to take care of residential lawns and landscapes.

• Lawn Care: Some business owners focus solely on lawn health care. This niche includes fertilization packages, pest and weed services, as well as aeration, overseeding, and dethatching services.

• Sod Farmer/Installer: You can specialize in growing sod and even installing it for homeowners. You grow turfgrass in your fields with cool or warm season grasses. Then you cut the sod to match the homeowner’s lot and install it for them.
• Landscape architecture: You can specialize in designing different outdoor rooms, including a kitchen, a poolscape and a living room. Plus, you can include landscape lighting, audio/visual set-up as well as water features to bring the indoors outside.
• Landscape contractor: You’re a one-stop shop for your commercial and residential clients. You design the landscape as well as hire plumbing, lighting, and electrical contractors to create a beautiful backyard.
• Landscape design/build: You design commercial and residential customers’ landscapes, including their hardscapes, such as outdoor kitchens, poolscapes, arbors, pergolas, and water features. Then, your building crews take your design and create an outdoor space for the customer.
• Irrigation services: You can specialize in irrigation services along with any of the niches above. When you’re an irrigation contractor, you can install sprinkler systems as well as maintain them throughout the growing season.

How K-Rain’s Premier Contractor Program Works for You

If you want to own a lawn care or landscaping company someday, consider adding an irrigation certificate to your resume. You can stand out from your competitors when you have an additional service to give to your customers.

To set yourself apart from your competitors even more, join our Premier Contractor Program. The Premier Contractor Program works like a loyalty club. You earn cash for every K-Rain product you buy through an authorized distributor. You can become a Premier Contractor by filling out our enrollment form.

Sources:

“Certification Benefits.”

“How to Start a Lawn Care or Landscaping Business.”