How to Start Your Own Lawn Care Company
Independent lawn care businesses have staying power that many other small businesses do not. Grass will always need mowing, and flowers will always need maintenance. In the real estate market, it is crucial that homes have attractive curb appeal. Lawn care businesses can help accomplish this. A lawn care business can have a great deal of profit potential. Those that wish to begin this type of venture should master not just gardening basics, but business and legal aspects as well.
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Things You'll Need
- 1. Adequate monetary capital to start your business
- 2. Business license
- 3. Business insurance
- 4. Business tax ID number
- 5. Power mower
- 6. Power edger and trimmer
- 7. Fertilizer spreader
- 8. Rake
- 9. Leaf blower
- 10. Lawn care trailer
- 11. Business brochures
- 12. Business cards
Instructions
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Create a business plan. This is a particularly important step given the competition for business in the lawn care field. Decide what sort of services you plan to provide. What clientele do you plan to market to? Consider your business plan as a blueprint for how your business will operate.
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Figure out how much money you will need to start your lawn care business. Expenses will include the purchase of equipment, licensing, business insurance and advertising. Planning ahead will prevent financial resources from running dry just when you are getting started with a new venture.
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3
Secure your small business license, permit and tax identification number. Every state has its own requirements for documentation of lawn care businesses. An excellent resource to consult is the U.S. Small Business Administration at sba.gov.
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4
Obtain small business insurance. Many insurance companies offer plans specific to lawn care businesses. The types of insurance you should consider include equipment coverage, property damage and liability coverage.
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Purchase the necessary lawn care equipment. You will likely need to start off with the basics, which include a mower, an edger and trimmer, a rake, a blower, a fertilizer spreader and perhaps a trailer.
As you begin to obtain more clients with more specific gardening requests, your equipment needs will grow as well.
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6
Print business cards. Business cards are an important aspect of marketing your services and getting your name out to the public. The design and slogan of your business cards should be unique. In most cases, the initial printing of your business cards should cost no more than $100.
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Advertise your services. It is not necessary, at first, to spend a great deal of money on advertising. Often, you can accomplish just as much just by going door to door through neighborhoods, introducing yourself and explaining your services and providing the homeowner with your business card. Another inexpensive advertising strategy is placing brochures for your business at local lawn and garden centers.
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