The Lawn Care Business Purchasing Guide

Most lawn care owners will need the following equipment to get started:

Truck ($10,000 - $50,000) Equipment Trailer ($1,000 - $5,000) Riding Mower ($1,000 - $5,000) Push Mower ($200 - $1,000) Trimmer ($50 - $300) Edger ($80 - $350) Hedge Trimmer ($50 - $300) Leaf Blower ($100 - $500) 30 gallon Lawn Bags ($5 - $20 per 10)

5 gallon Gas Containers ($20 - $50 per container) Oil ($5 - $20 per container) Eye and Ear Protection ($5 - $20 each) Gloves ($10 - $30) Blade Sharpener ($20 - $400) Small Tool Kit (hammer, hand saw, drill, etc.) ($20-$100) Assorted Lawn Tools (spade, hose, pruners, shears, rake, etc.) ($10-$50 per item)

You should plan to budget approximately $30,000 - $40,000 for initial purchasing.

When starting a lawn care business, it is important to purchase the correct equipment. Since your business will use this equipment every day, it is vital to ensure quality and durability. Lawn care equipment can be purchased both online or in various home improvement stores, and you may be able to get a good deal on second-hand products. Just make sure the equipment is in good working condition before making a purchase.

The following are some of the most important buying decisions that your lawn care business will have to make. We outline the key considerations you’ll need to keep in mind when making these purchases and provide some popular options.

Truck

In order to pull a trailer full of lawn care equipment, you will need a powerful truck. Obviously there are hundreds of truck options, but we recommend buying one used to save some money. This is especially helpful if you have a limited startup budget.

When buying your truck, make sure to pay attention to the model, miles per gallon, and engine strength.

Truck prices fluctuate based on geographical region and model, so here are a few useful websites to get you started:

• CarMax
• Cars.com
• Autolist

Equipment Trailer

An equipment trailer is necessary for a lawn care business. It must be large enough to fit and support all of your equipment. Plus, there must be a ramp to drive your mowers up onto the trailer. Trailers come in many shapes and sizes, so look around a bit until you find the one that works best for your needs.

• Simple Trailer ($1,075)
• Trailer with Railings ($1,935)
• Various Types of Trailers ($900 - $5,500)

Riding Mower

There are a variety of brands and styles to choose from. When purchasing your riding mower consider these key variables:

• How many acres on average will you mow?
• What type of terrain will you be mowing?
• Are there a lot of obstacles in the lawns?
• Do you want to be able to add attachments to your mower?

Once you have answered these questions, you can purchase the right riding mowers, either used or new.

Lawn Tractor

This mower is traditional and operates with a steering wheel. They are ideal for ½ - 2 acre lawns and are compatible with various attachments.

• John Deere Lawn Tractor ($2,399)
• Troy Bilt Lawn Tractor ($1,199.00)

Garden Tractor

This mower has a similar design to lawn tractors and the ability to use attachments. However, they have more powerful engines and transmissions. This mower is better for mowing several acres.

• Husqvarna Garden Tractor ($2,399.00)
• Cub Cadet Garden Tractor ($2,599.00)

Zero-Turn-Radius (ZTR) Lawn Mower

ZTR mowers are great for lawns with multiple obstacles. Although it is not as versatile as the tractors described above, it is faster and more efficient around flower beds, trees, landscaping, and other obstacles. This is the most common lawn mower used for lawn care businesses.

• Husqvarna ZTR Mower ($2,999.00)
• Toro ZTR Mower ($3,899.00)

Push Mower

A push mower is necessary for smaller lawns and regions of the yard you cannot access with a riding mower. Like a riding mower, there are a variety of brands and styles. However, in order to save time and energy, most lawn care businesses use durable, self-propelling push mowers. A used or push mower will be sufficient for your business. 

Push Mower

• Troy Push Mower ($269)
• Husqvarna Push Mower ($379)

 

 

Lawn care equipment can be purchased both online or in your local home improvement stores. While buying equipment in person is easy and immediate, online purchasing is usually cheaper.

Here are some popular resources to get you started:

The Home Depot 

Home Depot is a very popular home improvement store, and there is likely one in your area, making this an easy way to pick up equipment. They offer membership benefits that benefit frequent customers.

Power Equipment Direct

This online business offers mowers and other lawn care equipment that can be shipped to you. Their equipment does tend to be on the more expensive side, but has plenty of good reviews from other buyers that you can consult if you're unsure what models to buy.