Starting your very own lawn business is a great way to move towards a life of freedom, flexibility, and entrepreneurship. Whether you have always lived as an entrepreneur or if you’re ready to start the next chapter of your life, you will first need to create a working lawn business plan that is ideal for the vision you have. When you are ready to begin building your lawn company and promoting the services you have to offer, there are a few tips to keep in mind while you are completing the process of drafting your final lawn business plan.
1. Understand What It Means to Own a Lawn Care Company
When you first begin drafting your lawn business plan, you will want to become familiar with the process of owning a lawn care company and what that entails. Keep in mind that owning and operating a landscaping company or a lawn business will vary based on the state and region you intend to operate in and the type of services you plan to offer. Learning about what it means to be a landscape designer or the operator of a lawn business is possible by getting to know others who are also actively engaged with the industry at networking events near you and even online, virtually.
Immersing yourself in lawn care communities, locally and online, can also help you learn more about what it means to own and operate a lawn care company today, especially if you are entering the market for the first time independently. While you are in the process of researching the requirements for owning and building a lawn care business from the ground up, be sure to take a bit of time to determine what certifications and types of licenses or insurance you will also need before you can get started. Filing the proper paperwork and paying any start-up fees required by your state or city will also mitigate potential issues down the line once you are running your business and offering services to residential and commercial clients near you.
2. Purchase Necessary Equipment
Those who are in the process of devising a lawn business plan will need to keep the type of equipment they will need to get started in mind. Investing in lawn care tools, supplies, and equipment, such as trailers for sale and local truck bed liners is essential when you intend to run the business on your own. If you are planning a lawn care service, create a list of the solutions you will be offering to prospective clients to determine the type of equipment and tools you’ll need to invest in and purchase before you can promote your local company. When you need to take a bit of time to purchase the necessary equipment required for your business, you can do so by turning to local retailers and, in some cases, even online sellers and manufacturers, depending on the type of equipment you need at the time, your current location, and your budget.
If you are new to working in the lawn care and landscaping industries, it is highly advisable to learn more about the most reliable brands, manufacturers, and retailers that may be most relevant to you and your operations. Research equipment manufacturers online to learn more about the quality of the products they produce. When you want to get to know even more about a particular brand, retailer, or manufacturer near you, you can also do so by seeking references, testimonials, and reviews from past clients and customers online.
3. Learn About Excavation Services
If you are thinking of going into the lawn and landscape industries, you will likely need to familiarize yourself with excavation services and providers near you, depending on the type of work you accept and the projects you are interested in taking on with your new business. Anytime a client requires excavations, you may need to work with a local contractor or even seek an excavator rental company for the equipment you will need to get the job done. When you are already familiar with local excavators and rental companies near you, it will be much easier to streamline the process of renting the equipment you require when a client is in need.
Finding a professional and reputable excavator contractor or company near you can be done with a bit of research, locally and in some cases, even online, depending on where you intend to excavate for your next project. Searching for excavators locally can be done by asking those you know in the area for recommendations, especially other business owners or those who are also working in landscaping and lawns at the same time as you. You can also research different contractors and excavation rental companies online, where you can compare machinery, available rental dates, pricing, and locations. Using an excavator that is rented can save time without requiring you to invest in a brand-new excavator on your own, especially when you are just starting.
4. Research Garden Maintenance
While you are creating your official lawn business plan, be sure that you are confident in your knowledge of the gardening services you intend to offer and even ongoing garden maintenance. From knowing how to install a basic garden watering system to removing plants and trees with essential safety protocols and equipment in place, there are many different aspects of gardening and landscaping that you may need to familiarize yourself with before moving forward with your pursuit. Understanding the ins and outs of garden maintenance will come in handy when it is time for you to attract new customers and build your clientele.
If you want to get to know more about the basics of gardening, you can do so by completing local gardening and agricultural courses at a nearby college or university, in addition to enrolling in an online or virtual program, depending on your preferences. For those who prefer to learn at home or at their own pace, you can also find the fundamentals of gardening in various books and with the use of videos and guided tutorials online. Joining online groups and gardening communities is also a way for you to learn more about the tricks of the trade as you become more familiar with how to maintain the gardens of your future clients.
5. Understand Safety On the Job
When you are done with your lawn business plan and you’re reviewing your intended business model, it’s important to keep job safety in mind at all times. If you intend to offer tree cutting services with your lawn care business, you will not only need to invest in the proper equipment and gear, but you will also need to provide all staff members who work for your business with the most suitable training necessary. Additionally, you may also need to opt for new insurance plans based on the potential risks of the type of jobs you are currently accepting and the services you offer as a lawn care business.
Investing in proper safety gear and equipment whenever you are providing tree-cutting services is imperative. Not only are you investing in the gear and equipment to prevent damage to your client’s home and surroundings, but you are also doing so to protect yourself and those who are working for you at the time on the job. You will always be required to utilize the right safety gear and equipment when you are taking on riskier jobs to protect yourself legally and financially, even if you have insurance as a business.
6. Consider Other Services to Offer
When you’re in the process of creating your lawn business plan and you want your business to stand out as much as possible, consider other services you can offer. Providing additional services along with standard lawn care and ongoing maintenance can help attract new clients while appealing to a much broader audience altogether. From offering gutter replacement solutions to gutter leaf guard installation services, expanding the list of deliverables you currently provide is one of the greatest ways to build a professional reputation for yourself and for any lawn care business and brand you are working to establish.
If you are pondering the idea of expanding the services you intend to offer with your planned lawn care business, but are unsure of where to begin, spending a bit of time researching local competition can help. Learning about the local competition you will be going up against will provide valuable insight into the different services that are currently available, pricing, and the type of equipment that is used for clients in your preferred areas to work. To better understand the types of services that are currently being offered and promoted near you in the lawn care industry, turn to official online reviews or reviews posted on social media in your area or community.
7. Have a Plan for the Winter Months
Those who are creating a lawn business plan while living in an all-season location will also need to create a plan of action for the winter months. Preparing ahead of time for potential winter months is a way to protect yourself financially without disrupting your household’s stability. Because you will not have much work in the way of lawn care when you are working during the winter, you may want to consider investing in a snow plow to offer alternative solutions, such as snow plowing for customers and clients in need.
If you are thinking of investing in a snow plow, but are unfamiliar with different snow plows on the market or if you’ve never worked with snow professionally in the past, you may want to take a bit of time to visit a local snow plow dealer near you. Snow plow dealers can provide valuable insight into the type of snow plows that are right for you, high-quality brands, and even pricing that aligns with your current budget and the type of equipment you will require for the season. You can also take the time to get to know more about the top brands of snow plows online ahead of time before making an investment that can ultimately provide you with the income source you need during the coldest months of the year.
8. Market Your Lawn Business
Even after you have completed the final draft of your lawn business plan, you will need to create a winning marketing strategy, whether you intend to promote your services locally in your own community or if you’re interested in expanding your reach with an online presence. Developing a brand, logo, and even a slogan can help your lawn care business stand out, especially if you are working in a location that is currently saturated with additional lawn care providers and well-known companies in the area. Creating an online presence is always recommended, whether you intend to work as an independent landscaper or if you have plans to create a thriving business with numerous employees.
For those who are leaning towards marketing their lawn business with the use of local solutions, fliers, radio advertisements, and even printed promotions in newspapers can help spread the word. Connecting with other business owners in the area for cross-promotional networking opportunities is also a way to help spread awareness when it comes time to open the doors of your lawn care business to the public. You can also use a variety of online marketing methods to promote your lawn care services. From traditional SEO tactics and social media marketing to content marketing and traditional PPC, or pay-per-click marketing, there are many viable methods to promote lawn care businesses and services today.
Anytime you are thinking of starting a lawn care business, you will need to take your time to ensure your existing lawn business plan is exactly as intended. Understanding what goes into drafting a lawn business plan will not only allow you to get started on your own but will also help you feel much more confident in the decisions you will be required to make for your lawn business along the way. The more actively engaged you are with the process of creating, managing, and overseeing the operations of your lawn business, the more likely you are to find it viable to remain in business for years, if not decades, to come.
