If you are looking to establish a new business venture and wondering how to start a landscaping business, this is the blog for you. With a low barrier to entry, it’s a good place to start a business venture in the contracting space. Starting a landscaping business is not as challenging as other businesses, as it requires less paperwork, if you are starting small. You can start a landscaping business with just a few tools and insurance, as an entry point. However, it does come with some challenges – from navigating challenging weather conditions to adhering to local guidelines, numerous factors need consideration when launching a landscaping venture. In this article, we have broken down the steps you need to follow to start a landscaping business.
Do Your Research on Starting a Landscaping Business
The first crucial step in launching a landscaping business is comprehensive research. This encompasses understanding naming rules and regulations to identify your target customers. Key aspects to research before formulating a business plan include:
- Area of Landscaping: Investigate the requirements and investments associated with different landscaping segments, such as residential, commercial, or detached homes. Select a sector aligning with your expertise, budget, and licenses.
- Target Audience: Analyze demographics and psychographics in your chosen area. Identify existing companies, assess customer needs, and uncover unmet demands to attract the right leads for your landscaping business.
- Paperwork: Anticipate and plan for the various paperwork requirements, from registering your company name to obtaining necessary licenses and permits.
Decide On What Services You Will Offer
A landscaping business can offer a multitude of services to the people, including but not limited to mowing, de-weeding, mulching, pruning, lime application, dethatching, cleanups and more. Some landscaping companies also offer larger projects like landscape design, concrete work, installation of ponds and outdoor patios, paving pathways and much more. Deciding on what services you want to offer will not only help you get the right people and equipment but also help you understand the investment and licensing required. However, before you start on your own list of landscaping services to provide, make sure you research the competitors in your area. This will give you a good idea of what is offered and what is needed – for example you may find that there is an excess supply of one service but a limited supply of another – which can also help you find your business niche.
How to Start a Landscaping Business – The Plan
Developing a business plan is pivotal in setting up operations and ensuring long-term success. Include the following in your business plan:
- Company name and registration
- Office space registration if needed
- Licenses and permits if needed
- Company structure and management if starting a larger business
- Equipment acquisition (buying or leasing)
- Identifying projects and service areas
- Estimated costs and expenses
- Business size considerations
- Investments and financial planning
- Administration and marketing strategy
While this list covers essential elements, tailor it to your business type and sector. Include a roadmap and timeline for setting up the business, providing a solid foundation for success.
Register Your Landscaping Company
The official start of your business is registering it but fortunately for smaller businesses in landscaping, this process isn’t complicated. This process offers insights into tax requirements and safeguards against naming duplications. During registration, determine your business type—sole proprietorship, partnership, co-operative, or corporation. If you are just starting out and on your own, sole proprietorship would be the way to go.
Get the Right Licenses, Permits, and Certifications
Although the barrier to entry is low, there maybe some licensing requirements for operating heavy machinery. There are also provincial laws in place which dictates whether certain trees can be cut etc. so look into local laws before venturing into the business. The city often has several regulations when it comes to landscaping, so make sure you understand the scope of your work and what you are allowed to do.
Get Your Business Covered by Insurance
Comprehensive insurance coverage is vital for landscaping businesses. Consider coverage for business interruption, business vehicles, and equipment to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances. As landscaping is extremely dependent on weather, it’s a good idea to get business interruption insurance so you don’t lose money if bad weather takes over and brings your work to a halt. If you are considering recruiting a team, this is also a good time to consider employee insurance.
Secure Funding for Your Business
Whether you are using your savings or taking a loan, it’s a good idea to have your finances in order before starting a landscaping business. As the business can be of any size, it typically doesn’t require a lot of investment in the initial stage – making it a good choice for people who are just starting out. As you expand your business, you can look into Government grants, loans etc.
Build a Team of Workers if Needed
If you have decided to work on commercial properties, you will need to recruit a team of members who can help you take on larger projects. When you hire members, make sure to check if they have relevant experience or licenses required to work in the industry. If you offer seasonal work, consider hiring contract workers so you can rotate your teams as required by every season.
Buy or Lease the Required Equipment
Depending on your scope of work, decide whether to buy or lease equipment. Consider long-term leasing contracts and explore options that include maintenance services. If you have decided to stay in landscaping, it may be a good idea to buy the basic equipment which you will always need. You can always rent seasonal equipment to save investment in the initial stages.
Decide On The Business Accounting
Maintain meticulous records of expenses, investments, and equipment paperwork. Decide if you need to hire a bookkeeper or administrative assistant for accounting, payroll, and tax management. Keeping a track of your expenses and accounts can help you understand what’s working and what’s not when you sit down for business planning for the future.
Decide On The Business Goals
If you have decided to be in the landscaping business for long-term, you need to plan the next steps needed to grow your landscaping business. You also need to account for weather conditions and interruptions and how to pivot your business in the winter months, when landscaping work slows down. Many landscaping businesses pivot to snow removal in the winter months after offering services for winterizing gardens and covering up trees. This pivot helps keep a steady income flow. However, pivoting to another business also means renting extra equipment for the season and hiring the seasonal workers as required by your business.
Have A Marketing Strategy in Place
To spread the word about your business and get new clients, you will need to have a marketing strategy for your landscaping business. Develop a robust marketing strategy, including:
- Website setup: Establish an online presence with a company website for local listings and SEO benefits. When people look up your business, they are more likely to trust it if they can find a legitimate business website with all the required information.
- Online profile listings: Claim profiles on platforms like Google My Business and Yelp for local visibility. However, do your research on each of these platforms as they can offer different benefits to different businesses. Also look into local listings or small business directories that others may be using in your area.
- Social media engagement: Social proof is perhaps one of the largest factors in homeowners’ minds when hiring someone in today’s digital landscape. Apart from starting your own social media pages, also joining homeowner groups on Facebook to target the relevant audience for your business.
- Email marketing: Build an email list for engagement, sharing trends, promotions, and updates. While the list building may be tedious and slow, it does reap benefits in the long-term and keeps your business on top-of-mind.
- Review management: Reviews are the cornerstone of every successful business – so make sure to ask your customers for reviews, when you complete projects. Keep an eye on these online reviews to manage your online reputation and protect it against any unnecessary or false claims.
- Advertise Locally: Once you have identified where you want to work, spread the word about your business with flyers and business cards.
- Networking Locally: Networking in your industry and in local communities can helo you get clients in your areas of operation.
Join HomeStars for Tailored Landscaping Business Marketing Solutions
HomeStars offers a valuable platform for landscaping professionals seeking to expand their clientele. By joining, you gain access to a comprehensive profile showcasing your services, licenses, and past projects. HomeStars provides customization options to align offerings precisely with homeowner preferences, enhancing the chances of attracting ideal clients.
Trust indicators like the Star Score and the Verification Badge instill confidence and credibility. Rigorously vetted customer reviews protect your profile from unwarranted negative feedback, enhancing your business’s reputation. Qualifying for the Best of Awards from HomeStars, reserved for the top 2% of service professionals, significantly boosts profile visibility, setting your business apart in the industry. All these powerful tools can help you create a credible and strong online presence which is sure to attract clients for your business.
For more information on how HomeStars can assist in marketing your landscaping business, contact us today!
