How to Start a Goat Lawn Mowing Business

Start a goat lawn mowing business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Goat Lawn Mowing Business
2. Form your Goat Lawn Mowing Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Goat Lawn Mowing Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Goat Lawn Mowing Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Goat Lawn Mowing Business
7. Get Goat Lawn Mowing Business Insurance
8. Define your Goat Lawn Mowing Business Brand
9. Create your Goat Lawn Mowing Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your goat lawn mowing business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.

What are the costs involved in opening a goat lawn mowing business?

Starting a goat lawn service requires goats as an initial purchase. 

If you already have goats, you’ll need a trailer or vehicle for transporting them. Small livestock trailers average around $1,500. 

You’ll need to include goat care and feeding costs also. When the goats aren’t on a job, you’ll need shelter and food. 

Make sure your goats are up to date on any necessary annual livestock vaccinations as well. You can administer the needed vaccines yourself or have a vet do it for you. The cost per goat runs around $20. 

Advertise heavily for your first few months to establish a business name and identity. Create a website and personalize your goat crew. Connecting with clientele makes a big difference, especially with this endeavor. Factor in $250-350 to have someone build your website and another $50 for monthly maintenance. 

You’ll also want to budget for business insurance and the fees for filing an LLC or opening up a small business. Liability insurance covers you if the goats damage a customer’s property. Additionally, check locally to see if there are livestock fees you’ll need to pay. 

These are all cost estimates and are subject to change, depending on your location.

What are the ongoing expenses for a goat lawn mowing business?

Most ongoing expenses will focus on travel expenses and maintaining your goat herd. Vaccines, food, and animal care are all ongoing expenses. Fuel costs and service on your tow vehicle can also be included. Your business insurance and phone, internet, and website costs will also carry over every month. When totaled, a goat lawn mowing service does not have a lot of operating costs. 

Who is the target market?

A goat lawn service is geared towards younger, more ecologically conscious consumers. Goat mowing also capitalizes on a client’s affection towards animals. There is also a need amongst landowners with rugged conditions. Consider all of these groups for your marketing campaigns. 

How does a goat lawn mowing business make money?

Goats are rented for a block of time, at a set price, or the customer is charged per acre being serviced. 

How much can you charge customers?

Many goat lawn services charge by the acre. These costs can range from $300 to over $1,000, depending on the terrain and level of weed and brush management needed. 

How much profit can a goat lawn mowing business make?

Goat mowing is gaining popularity across the US, especially in more rural areas. The appeal of this eco-friendly business is also attracting more goat mowing businesses. On average, most goat mowing businesses are earning $1,000 a week during the grazing season. Winter, especially for snowy areas, puts a halt to most business. $30,000 - 40,000 annually is a reasonable estimate for this business’s yearly profits. 

How can you make your business more profitable?

Goat mowing is growing in popularity. Consider contacting farmers or goat owners in your area to see if they want to rent their goats or join a goat mowing organization. By teaming up with other goat owners, you can expand your business coverage and pull in more revenue. 

Consider using your goats for other projects not relating to mowing, such as photoshoots or school shows and events. Or, hire them out for goat-related businesses, such as goat yoga or animal therapy sessions.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your goat lawn mowing business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Goat owners looking to earn some extra money via their goat’s appetite may find this business a fun challenge. 

What happens during a typical day at a goat lawn mowing business?

Goat lawn mowing is an expanding niche idea. In essence, the goats are left on an area of land which requires weeds and grass maintenance. The area may be too vertical or the terrain too rough for a machine mow. The goats are able to roam over the land, eating weeds and grasses. With this in mind, the goat tender will more than likely be checking on their goats’ progress and will be transporting the goats to another location once they have finished. 

Additionally, a goat lawn mowing business will need advertising and readily available information about the services you offer. Creating an online presence, managing a website, answering calls, and directing ad campaigns constitutes regular work that will need to be done for your business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful goat lawn mowing business?

This business model will be too strange for some people. Others will love it and will gravitate toward you. You’ll need to understand how to talk to both sceptics and supporters, as well as everyone in between. Strong interpersonal skills help promote such a personalized business. Get accustomed to introducing yourself and striking up conversations. 

You’ll need to show customers how your goats will fit their needs. Know your goats well and educate people about what they offer. Showing off goats in demonstrations is a great way to drum up business too. 

Having experience running and marketing small businesses can also be very beneficial. You will more than likely be able to start your business as just an individual. Being well-rounded in running a business is important for success.

What is the growth potential for a goat lawn mowing business?

Since this is a relatively new business idea, initially growth may seem slow. Still, there seems to be an emerging market of eco-conscious consumers who may embrace the idea of animal/lawn symbiosis. Especially for a niche business, it is critical to perform some market research before getting started. 

Only certain areas of the country can support a business like this, and you’ll need to make sure you’re near such an area. Especially if you already own goats, consider initially making this a side business to see what the market actually produces for you.