Starting a Landscape Maintenance Business: A Tremendous Opportunity
Many individuals, especially young people, want to know about getting jobs or how to earn cash. If a person has access to a small or large pickup and the ability to buy some basic equipment, starting a small landscape maintenance business can be a gratifying and pleasant option.
This business makes sense and one can become an entrepreneur by accruing the basic knowledge and skills by self-study, inquiries and practice. It is better, in my opinion, than working at an entry-level job that has low pay, questionable opportunities for growth and being subject to the demands of others. While jobs can build discipline and character, being in one’s own business can establish personal sovereignty, direct accountability to one’s own clients and unlimited opportunity for development.
Doesn’t this sound more exciting than punching a time clock?
In landscape maintenance, the establishment of steady accounts is like “money in the bank.” As long as those accounts can be serviced, it is money one can “count on.” The person can establish his or her own hours and schedule, and if the business grows successfully, it is entirely possible to start hiring employees as assistants, before long.
Equipment Needed
I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this. A truck will be required and if you don’t own one, it will be your biggest expense. You could trade your car for a truck and use this as your personal vehicle, as well. For those that already own a truck, this initial cost will be eliminated.
A general list of industry equipment will be a couple self-propelled quality lawn mowers, an edger (hand held is best, in my opinion), hedge trimmer, sprayer, fertilization unit, hand tools and some tools that might come in handy but may not be necessary at first. You may consider new or pre-owned equipment.
Getting Business
Basic, low-cost advertising is usually the most efficient and practical. An ad in the skills and services section of your newspaper should be highly effective if worded properly, and I would recommend craigslist and other online methods. The latter did not exist during the time I was in the industry.
The use of creative flyers is also very helpful, as is gaining new business by word-of-mouth from satisfied existing clients. Some creativity, aggressiveness and providing great service with “extras” should bring in a lot of new business, enabling your company to grow.
How to Charge for Services
There are two avenues for income in landscape maintenance: Steady, ongoing clients and one-time jobs or “cleanups.”
For the steady clients, you can provide a basic mowing service (that includes edging) for a fee that is comfortable for both you and your customers. As additional services are needed, you can charge as they’re provided. Such add-on services could include hedge trimming, fertilization, thatching, aeration, over-seeding and so forth. You could, however, incorporate some or all that is desired into a monthly fee.
How you establish your price structure is entirely up to you, and of course, your clientele.
For one time customers, it is reasonable to charge a higher fee. You may be traveling a bit out of your way, or off your existing route. Large cleanups of debris and quick beautification can mean a charging a higher rate. The customer is only paying one time and usually expects to pay a premium.
Specialty Services Explained
Here are some of the common add-on services:
Shrub and Hedge Trimming
This will require a hedge trimmer, and there is usually a lot of work needed, both with steady and one-time customers. It’s simply a matter of learning to do a good job, but it’s not hard. Study about the particular plant life in your area and become familiar with the best practices.
Thatching
Lawns accumulate a layer of debris called “thatch.” A special machine called a “thatcher” is required, and at first you may want to rent one from a rental yard. It will just a bit of practice to learn how to thatch, and you’ll want to be careful not tear up the clients’ lawns, because this is a rather intense treatment. If you’re able to obtain your own thatching machine, additional profits can be made from this service, mainly in the spring and fall.
Aeration
Aeration is a procedure that “plugs” the lawn, punching little holes that allow water and fertilizers to penetrate. Again, you can rent the machine, but if you can obtain your own, this can be performed as a specialized service for reasonable profits. Aeration is normally done following thatching, but many companies that specialize in lawn fertilization try to incorporate aeration, while ignoring thatching.
Hauling
At times, you may need to hall away debris, and this can be regarded as “going with the territory.” You will need to determine the location of your landfill and the pricing involved.
This has been a broad overview of starting your own landscape maintenance business. You’ll need to see about licensing requirements in your area and talk to your accountant about bookkeeping.
I assure you, the most important factor is excellent customer service that will completely outshine your competition. This will require a high degree of enthusiasm and powerful creativity on your part. Hopefully, you are now motivated to proceed and get started in this exciting industry!
SOLE SOURCE: Marty K, a knowledgeable expert from 10 years experience in the landscape industry.
