How to Start a Responsible Landscaping Business

Start a responsible landscaping business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your responsible landscaping 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 important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Responsible Landscaping Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a responsible landscaping business?

Although you may be able to purchase an independent landscaping business turnkey from a retiring owner, you’ll more than likely be starting your own business or buying into a franchised landscaping operation. Franchising can be a great way to start if you don’t have a lot of expertise or investment capital. You will also be representing a known name in the industry, which helps with customer retention and acquisition. 

You’ll also have a proven business model to adhere to, which can give you some great insight into the steps you’d need to take if you decided to branch out on your own. You will be paying a franchise fee to the parent company, but most franchise opportunities make it very reasonable, as it’s in their best interest to have successful franchise owners.

In contrast, starting your own business will ensure you see 100% of profits, but you’ll also incur 100% of the costs for the start-up. If you are experienced in small business finances and have a natural green thumb, you may be more successful going it alone, as you can build your business from the ground up. There will be competition to contend with, but by positioning yourself in a niche market of ecologically mindful lawn care, you have a good chance of standing out in the crowd. You may also find that you can set your prices a bit higher to match your specialties, as the economically stable customers are more likely to be attracted to a green business solution for their landscaping needs. 

In both cases, your start-up costs will range, depending on how big or small, independent, or franchised. Average costs can start around a few thousand to buy equipment and a trailer or upwards of six figures for a fully-functioning franchise. Some essentials will include:

• Lawn equipment, including mower(s), weed eaters with various edging and trimming attachments, leaf blower(s), gas tanks, hand tools, and a trailer to haul the equipment
• Eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides
• Possibly a vehicle upgrade or a dedicated work truck or van
• T-shirts, with business logos and other work apparel
• Magnetized company advertising, business cards, or even a company vehicle advertising wrap
• Website
• Marketing and other standard business expenses
• Accounting and CRM software applications for proper management of accounts
• Business insurance for your company and employees
• Landscaping contractor licensing and associated fees

What are the ongoing expenses for a responsible landscaping business?

Equipment maintenance, fertilizer and pesticides, gas, and consumables, such as yard waste bags will constitute a majority of your costs. Additionally, wages for employees will also factor in, as your business grows. You will also need to factor in advertising costs, website maintenance, and any company clothing or accessories, such as gloves, hats, dust masks, and goggles.

Who is the target market?

Clients may range from residential customers to medium to large businesses with multiple properties and outdoor spaces. The type of customers will most likely determine the size and scope of your business and crew. The added element of providing an ecologically sensitive approach to landscaping will also attract more eco-conscious consumers, as well.

How does a responsible landscaping business make money?

Successful landscaping companies make their money from contracted customers. Most landscaping businesses offer annual and semi-annual, or possibly seasonal service terms, which outline the basic services agreed upon and the frequency of the visits.

How much can you charge customers?

Pricing varies depending upon the location and demographics as well as the services offered. Price other lawn and landscaping services in your area and determine a reasonable yet competitive price. Build pricing guides for customers, as well, which explain basic services and the sliding scale for specific services and products.

How much profit can a responsible landscaping business make?

A successful landscaping and lawn maintenance small business can expect to make anywhere between $40,000 and 80,000 annually. Your profit margins will fluctuate by the size and scope of your business. Offering green options may cost a bit more if they are hard to find in your region, but you should be able to price accordingly for this type of service. When determining your profit and sales goals, be sure to consider that this industry is seasonal and plan accordingly.

How can you make your business more profitable?

As has been our focus, your business should promote the eco-friendly methods your business offers. Make this a focal point without making it the only substantial difference you have from your competition.

Consider teaming up with local and regional groups who also focus on cleaning up and protecting our natural spaces. You may even want to have your company participate in neighborhood clean-ups and national celebrations, such as Arbor Day or Earth Day. Positive exposure and connectivity can influence many customers to seek you out.

You can also consider offering weekend classes to help customers and consumers enact eco-friendly practices in their homes and gardens, regardless of if they use your service or not.

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 responsible landscaping 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.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an art consulting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

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?

Do you enjoy working outside and with plants? Are you also socially and ecologically active and aware? Combining knowledge of landscaping best practices with ecologically smart techniques and options is the focus of this modern business model. If you have experience in business or finance, agricultural training, or have a strong desire for working hard and ecologically-friendly, this could be the job for you.

What happens during a typical day at a responsible landscaping business?

For most landscapers, day to day activities include servicing the outdoor spaces of customers, managing inventory and supply levels, and canvassing for new customers. Most landscaping businesses begin their days pretty early to make the most of more reasonable temperatures and outdoor conditions. In addition to the landscaping itself, maintenance on lawn machines, edgers, and trimmers, as well as service vehicles is also a critical part of the routine.

A new focus on greener solutions for products and techniques will additionally require some research and inquiry to determine where you can find more ecological options for fertilizers, pesticides, use of native and drought-tolerant plant species, and more efficient options for managing clippings and yard take away. Fortunately, this is a growing area of interest, which offers numerous angles of input from landscapers, scientists, and other related professionals.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful responsible landscaping business?

Make no mistake, starting a landscaping business is hard work, both in the field and in the books. You build sweat equity from the daily work you perform, but your name and reputation must be curated properly. The work is there, but you need to be prepared to hit the ground running and plan on dedicating at least two years to building and developing the business through customer acquisitions, proper advertising and marketing, and equipping you and your crew with reliable tools, supplies, and vendors. Developing a realistic business model first will allow you to consider the numerous scenarios and associated costs.

A friendly and engaging personality is somewhat necessary for garnering customers. You’ll have to be able to sell your business and articulate how you’ll perform a superior service over your competition. You must also be able to engage in physical labor, especially if you start as a small outfit. The work may be harder than relying on a crew, but your overhead will be significantly lower. 

Your knowledge of plants and horticulture/agriculture will also be on display, so make sure you’re regularly studying up and adding to your palette of services. And finally, a sound business mind is needed. You, or a partner, will have an initial uphill challenge to raise capital unless you can secure outside investors from the start. Either way, your business acumen will also greatly contribute to the success of your business.

What is the growth potential for a responsible landscaping business?

Landscaping businesses tend to be fairly lucrative, whether small or large. Your success will be determined by your work ethic and the attention to detail you show your customers and their green spaces. And again, the added element of Earth-conscious products and techniques will bode well with many new and future customers, as consideration for our world is garnering more positive and vested attention.