How to Start A Lawn Care Business

If you're considering a lawn care service, learn the steps needed to create a successful business.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Basic lawn care equipment: Mower, Edger (weed eater) & Blower.

1. Many people have considered starting their own lawn care service, but feel that they couldn't be successful. The truth is, almost anyone can successful in this type of business. The experience needed is very basic, almost everyone has mowed the lawn, pulled weeds, etc., in the past. Here I will give a brief overview of getting customers, for step-by-step instructions on the entire business, see the link in the resources box below the article.
2. A lawn care service is not a technical field. Actually, it's far from it. You are simply providing a service that property owner's don't have time, or don't want to do themselves.
   Another benefit to this business is that you can get started in a very short period of time. The easiest way is to make a professional looking flyer and hang it in MANY local stores that offer free bulletin board posting. Be sure to use the type that allows you to pull the number tags off of the bottom so that you don't have to replace the entire flyer each time someone needs your info.
3. Once you have completed hanging flyers (which should only take a few hours), start calling your local real estate agents. Inform them that you can provide basic lawn care services for any vacant homes that they may have listed. Odds are they have a property, or know of one, that needs upkeep now!
4. Once you have completed the above steps, which should take no more than a day, if your budget allows, I HIGHLY suggest doing a flyer insert into your local newspaper. I am not talking about classified ads, which may cost more than doing a stand alone insert of a full page flyer into the same paper. Print the flyer on a brightly colored paper stock, yellow is best. This will get you a large amount of business and referrals.
5. When you start doing jobs, always deliver More Than Promised. Do a little extra weed pulling, pick up the sticks in the yard and haul them away for the owner, etc., to ensure repeat business in the furture, as well as endless referrals.
6. How To Charge.
   Another setback in starting a business is knowing how to price your services. This is actually a very simple process. First, estimate your entire cost (including gas, oil, etc.) and add 10% to that. Then figure how many hours you feel it will take and multiply that by the amount you feel you should be paid per hour (NO LESS THAN $20). Add those two numbers together and add 30% to cover your taxes and insurance.
   This will guarantee a good profit after all costs.
   *See Link In Resources Box Below For Even More Information.*

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in an area with multiple subdivisions, this could be a great place to get started. I recommend contacting the president of the subdivision and explain the services you offer that are available to the residents.
• Don't offer a service you have not yet become efficient at. If you would like to offer an additional service in the future (aeration, landscaping, etc.) practice on your own lawn, and lawns of friends and family. Once you become a pro at that service, start offering it immediately.